Berggruen Institute

Berggruen Institute đź’ˇ Ideas for a changing world.

06/18/2026

Should we be giving algorithms MORE power? Andrew McAfee, MIT economist, argues that favoring our own decisions is just more proof of our poor judgment.

Watch the full episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3zOahZhEEo

06/15/2026

For the first time ever, the developed world is doing more with less. Andrew McAfee, MIT economist, almost didn’t believe it. But it’s true, he says.

Watch the full episode here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3zOahZhEEo

In 2019 Nathan Gardels, the editor-in-chief of Noema Magazine, co-founder and a senior adviser to the Berggruen Institut...
06/12/2026

In 2019 Nathan Gardels, the editor-in-chief of Noema Magazine, co-founder and a senior adviser to the Berggruen Institute, made an appearance at the Commonwealth Club.

It is now becoming clear that AI innovations are increasingly decoupling productivity growth and wealth creation from jobs and income. The value created by intelligent machines is flowing mostly to those who “own the robots.” In the US, the top 10% who own 93% of all equities. Meanwhile, the value of labor — and its bargaining power to reap a piece of the pie — is rapidly diminishing. Indeed, the public, whose data is exploited to train AI models, generally has no claim to the new wealth created from the raw material of their information.

A social contract that addresses this dynamic would foster an ownership share for all in the wealth generated by intelligent machines built on the public's data and that are displacing gainful employment. The aim is to enhance the assets of the general population in the first place — predistribution — instead of only seeking to patch up inequality by redistributing the income of others after the fact. We call this “universal basic capital”.

Watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuYvMldjwk8&list=PLyYCSKWs8iYhDsi6d4jf2hMJ7XVjmv6Oi&index=2

06/11/2026

New tech, same freakout? MIT economist Andrew McAfee says AI might be new, but the fears around it are typical. (And show no real signs of coming true this time either.)

Watch the full episode here:

https://youtu.be/k3zOahZhEEo?is=rsVHW7sGK-pyHRkw

06/08/2026

In 2019 Nathan Gardels, the editor-in-chief of Noema Magazine, co-founder and a senior adviser to the Berggruen Institute, made an appearance at the Commonwealth Club.

It is now becoming clear that Al innovations are increasingly decoupling productivity growth and wealth creation from jobs and income. The value created by intelligent machines is flowing mostly to those who "own the robots." In the US, the top 10% who own 93% of all equities. Meanwhile, the value of labor — and its bargaining power to reap a piece of the pie - is rapidly diminishing. Indeed, the public, whose data is exploited to train Al models, generally has no claim to the new wealth created from the raw material of their information.

A social contract that addresses this dynamic would foster an ownership share for all in the wealth generated by intelligent machines built on the public's data and that are displacing gainful employment. The aim is to enhance the assets of the general population in the first place — predistribution - instead of only seeking to patch up inequality by redistributing the income of others after the fact. We call this "universal basic capital".

Watch the video here:

https://berggruen.org/news/universal-income-is-a-handout-but-universal-basic-capital-is-ownership

What does democracy require in an age of polarization, inequality, and technological transformation?Watch 2025 Berggruen...
06/03/2026

What does democracy require in an age of polarization, inequality, and technological transformation?

Watch 2025 Berggruen Prize for Philosophy & Culture Laureate Michael Sandel in conversation with Professor Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford. Together, they explore the moral and civic questions at the heart of contemporary public life—from democracy and meritocracy to the common good and the implications of AI and social media.

Sandel’s work has challenged millions around the world to think more deeply about justice, markets, ethics, and what we owe one another. This conversation offers a timely reflection on how democratic societies can renew civic life in an era of profound change.

Watch the full discussion:
https://www.youtube.com/live/6dLXFbUGuFs?si=vJfeMiJPXFdfRSVL

As democratic institutions face growing pressure around the world, what does meaningful civic renewal look like today?On...
06/02/2026

As democratic institutions face growing pressure around the world, what does meaningful civic renewal look like today?

On 4 June at 18:00, Casa dei Tre Oci welcomes Michael Sandel, 2025 Berggruen Prize Laureate for Philosophy and Culture, for a lecture in the Geophilosophy series: Democracy in Peril: Paths to Civic Renewal.

Drawing from decades of work on democracy, justice, and civic life, Sandel will examine the forces driving authoritarian populism and the failures of mainstream politics to address growing public discontent — while offering a vision for rebuilding democratic culture and shared purpose.

Free event, subject to availability. Register via link:
https://www.youtube.com/user/oxfordbsg

05/31/2026

Will oil and gas soon seem as bad as slavery? Nils Gilman says our use of fossil fuels and treatment of the mentally ill should stop us in our tracks.

Watch or listen to the full episode on Futurology.

https://youtu.be/cHCiDVv63Sk

05/29/2026

Was Silicon Valley’s conservative turn about economics or accountability? Berggruen Press Editor-in-Chief Nils Gilman pins the flip on a backlash to the reckonings of .

Watch or listen on Futurology.

https://youtu.be/cHCiDVv63Sk

How must our ideas transform to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world?Join us for a vital conversation between...
05/27/2026

How must our ideas transform to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world?

Join us for a vital conversation between 2025 Berggruen Prize Laureate Michael Sandel and Ngaire Woods, Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford. Together, they will delve into the philosophical and political frameworks needed to navigate our current global inflection point.

While in-person seating at Oxford is limited, the Berggruen Institute invites our global community to participate via the live broadcast, including the audience Q&A.

Date: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Time: 5:30 PM BST

Access the Livestream here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/oxfordbsg

Address

304 S Broadway
Los Angeles, CA
90013

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Berggruen Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Berggruen Institute:

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category