Artificial Intelligence in 2030

Modern artificial intelligence is expected to be one of the most consequential technologies in history.But there is a big debate over what those consequences will be: Will the technology power an age of prosperity, in which humans work less? Will it be used to wipe out humanity?In a discussion at the DealBook Summit moderated by Kevin Roose, a technology columnist for The Times and a co-host of the Times tech podcast, “Hard Fork,” 10 experts discussed the greatest opportunities and risks.

Here’s what they said.The opportunitiesIn a live poll, seven of the experts indicated they thought there was a 50 percent chance or greater that artificial general intelligence — the point at which A.I.can do everything a human brain can do — would be built before 2030.

But most of the potential opportunities experts pointed out could materialize well before then.Josh Woodward, vice president of Google Labs, said A.I.

could help humans create in different mediums, for example.Peter Lee, the president of Microsoft Research, pointed out a wide range of potential applications:“We might be able to do things like drastically speed up drug discovery or find targets for drugs that are currently considered undruggable.Or we could predict severe weather events days or even a couple of weeks in advance.

Even mundane things like, I don’t know, making your vegan food taste better or your skin tone fresher looking.”A.I.can personalize lesson plans for students, said Sarah Guo, the founder of Conviction, a venture capital firm.

She added that a similar approach could make everything from specialized medical services to legal advice more accessible.The technology could also have a broader impact on daily life, Guo said.“I think we’re going to continue to have a market economy, and people will see a significant part of their value to be society and their identity be determined by their work,” she said.

But she added that expectations for what “an improved speed of sci...