Artificial intelligence is already with us at every step: from search engines and maps to online stores and offices.
It is reshaping the job market, creativity, and the way people consume content—often without users even realizing it. The latest WEI report, “AI: A Guide. The Current Landscape, Directions for Development, Hopes, and Pitfalls”, highlights both the opportunities and the risks of this technological revolution.
"The rise of AI will make life richer, better, more interesting, and then, without any fuss at all, be taken for granted, as electricity and cars are,” noted Matt Ridley, one of the authors published by our publishing house.
“Yet the same old, all-too-human ethical and political dilemmas about how much power to allow the state, or private enterprise, will persist.” This report is meant to serve as a guide through the complex and fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence.
As the title suggests, they aim to map out the current landscape of AI, offering a clear-eyed view of where we stand today. They explore the directions for development that lie ahead, from workplace integration to household adoption, while also reflecting on the hopes AI inspires—greater efficiency, creativity, and prosperity—as well as the pitfalls it presents, from overreliance to ethical ambiguity.
At Warsaw Enterprise Institute we believe that although there are valid concerns surrounding AI, the free market ensures that AI will flourish for the better. They hope to equip readers with the understanding needed to navigate AI not with fear or blind enthusiasm, but with informed confidence and a focus on human flourishing.
Main conclusions of the report:
? Artificial intelligence is already deeply embedded in everyday life, powering common tools like search engines, maps, email filters, and fitness apps—yet most users remain unaware of how frequently they interact with it.
? Next-generation virtual assistants and AI agents will become proactive, emotionally responsive, and highly personalized, moving beyond task execution to anticipating needs, adapting to user moods, and operating autonomously in both homes and workplaces.
? The proliferation of AI-generated content is blurring the line between real and synthetic, raising urgent demands for clear labelling standards, as most people struggle to distinguish AI-produced texts, images, and videos from authentic ones.
? The creative market will self-regulate AI adoption, with consumers showing strong preference for human-authored work when origin is known, even though blind tests often reveal a bias in favour of AI-created art, music, and writing.
? AI will significantly reshape the labour market by automating routine and repetitive jobs, especially in sectors like administration, retail, law, and design, while simultaneously increasing efficiency and productivity in high-skill roles.
? Small businesses stand to gain the most from generative AI, using it to streamline operations, reduce costs, and compete with larger enterprises by automating marketing, content creation, and customer service at minimal expense.
? AI-powered emotional companions and therapy bots are on the rise, offering comfort, support, and mental health tools to lonely or anxious users, yet they fundamentally lack real empathy, self-awareness, and the capacity for reciprocal human relationships.
? Despite its cognitive-like capabilities, AI does not possess true human intelligence, as it lacks consciousness, intuition, abstract reasoning, and moral judgment—qualities essential to understanding the world in a human way.
? Excessive regulation could stifle AI innovation and global competitiveness, whereas a free-market approach based on competition, transparency, and user trust can ensure both safety and rapid technological advancement.
? Poland has emerged as a surprising leader in AI adoption within the EU, outpacing countries like the U.S. and U.K. in everyday use, though professional implementation still lags—mainly due to public concerns about privacy and job loss.
