Lecture Abstract:

An AI‑centered industrial revolution is emerging and rising rapidly. This revolution will be categorically different from its predecessors, as it promises to revolutionize human intelligence and transform every aspect of society. Industrial revolutions have only emerged under certain institutions and, in turn, have strengthened those institutions. Thus, they are never confined to races in science, technology, industry, or commerce; they are also races of institutions. Drawing on patterns from past industrial revolutions—particularly how institutions affected or interacted with these transformations—alongside the most recent data, this talk will discuss why and why these dynamics mattered historically and remain relevant today. The analysis offers insights into the much‑debated issue of the U.S.–China AI race.