Why are people building AI systems?

Abstract

Most people radically underestimate the potential impact AI could have, thinking a best case might be a small percentage of GDP growth. Actually, most actors in the frontier AI space aim to build systems that will have a much greater impact - possibly capturing almost half of wages in developed countries. Additionally, many other actors are already building AI systems with very different motivations, and this is likely to become more varied as nation states start getting involved.