Michael Muthukrishna
@michael.muthukrishna.com
Prof. #LSE. Author: A Theory of Everyone. Researching & spreading the word on how humans evolved & what that means for us today. www.atheoryofeveryone.com
Reposted by Michael Muthukrishna
You can register here: contextualscience.org/the_cbs_supe... @myacbs.bsky.social @michael.muthukrishna.com
The CBS Superlab
What is the CBS Superlab? With the release of the ACBS Task Force Report on the Strategies and Tactics of Contextual Behavioral Science Research, high-level discussion around how to roll out the propo...
contextualscience.org
December 27, 2025 at 7:22 AM
You can register here: contextualscience.org/the_cbs_supe... @myacbs.bsky.social @michael.muthukrishna.com
One-size-policy-recommendations-do-not-fit-all.
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
Grateful to colleagues at @UNDPasiapac and to the global group of scholars who contributed. A genuinely international effort at a critical moment.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
13/15
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
Grateful to colleagues at @UNDPasiapac and to the global group of scholars who contributed. A genuinely international effort at a critical moment.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
13/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:59 AM
One-size-policy-recommendations-do-not-fit-all.
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
Grateful to colleagues at @UNDPasiapac and to the global group of scholars who contributed. A genuinely international effort at a critical moment.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
13/15
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
Grateful to colleagues at @UNDPasiapac and to the global group of scholars who contributed. A genuinely international effort at a critical moment.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
13/15
But AI can drive development and narrow gaps - we offer differentiated policy roadmaps:
• By starting point
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
12/15
• By starting point
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
12/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:59 AM
But AI can drive development and narrow gaps - we offer differentiated policy roadmaps:
• By starting point
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
12/15
• By starting point
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
12/15
As well as real and potential opportunities:
• AI tutors in remote or multilingual settings
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
11/15
• AI tutors in remote or multilingual settings
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
11/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:59 AM
As well as real and potential opportunities:
• AI tutors in remote or multilingual settings
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
11/15
• AI tutors in remote or multilingual settings
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
11/15
We discuss AI development traps, such as:
• Dependency on foreign cloud/models
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
10/15
• Dependency on foreign cloud/models
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
10/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
We discuss AI development traps, such as:
• Dependency on foreign cloud/models
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
10/15
• Dependency on foreign cloud/models
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
10/15
The report discusses the risks and opportunities across 3 channels:
👨👩👦👦 People: Uneven access to health, education, security, and data visibility
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
9/15
👨👩👦👦 People: Uneven access to health, education, security, and data visibility
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
9/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
The report discusses the risks and opportunities across 3 channels:
👨👩👦👦 People: Uneven access to health, education, security, and data visibility
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
9/15
👨👩👦👦 People: Uneven access to health, education, security, and data visibility
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
9/15
Even within countries, the GDP per capita of Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai are similar (~$30,000) while the GDP of the poorest Malaysian state, Kelantan, would rank in the lower half of an Asia-Pacific countries list.
8/15
8/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Even within countries, the GDP per capita of Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai are similar (~$30,000) while the GDP of the poorest Malaysian state, Kelantan, would rank in the lower half of an Asia-Pacific countries list.
8/15
8/15
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar are struggling with reliable electricity let alone internet.
7/15
7/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar are struggling with reliable electricity let alone internet.
7/15
7/15
Without deliberate policy choices, AI will drive another Great Divergence.
China is building foundation models and Singapore's Ministry of Education have begun training the next generation with the new competencies needed for the AI era.
6/15
China is building foundation models and Singapore's Ministry of Education have begun training the next generation with the new competencies needed for the AI era.
6/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Without deliberate policy choices, AI will drive another Great Divergence.
China is building foundation models and Singapore's Ministry of Education have begun training the next generation with the new competencies needed for the AI era.
6/15
China is building foundation models and Singapore's Ministry of Education have begun training the next generation with the new competencies needed for the AI era.
6/15
As with the Great Divergence, some countries have the infrastructure, institutions, data, skills, and governance to race ahead on the back of this new intelligence, while others risk being left behind, at best renters rather than owners of the future.
5/15
5/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
As with the Great Divergence, some countries have the infrastructure, institutions, data, skills, and governance to race ahead on the back of this new intelligence, while others risk being left behind, at best renters rather than owners of the future.
5/15
5/15
Over the past year, I’ve been working with @UNDP on a report that we hope intervenes are a critical moment in history.
AI is reshaping the world at a much faster rate than the steam engine, electricity, shipping container, or internet.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
4/15
AI is reshaping the world at a much faster rate than the steam engine, electricity, shipping container, or internet.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
4/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Over the past year, I’ve been working with @UNDP on a report that we hope intervenes are a critical moment in history.
AI is reshaping the world at a much faster rate than the steam engine, electricity, shipping container, or internet.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
4/15
AI is reshaping the world at a much faster rate than the steam engine, electricity, shipping container, or internet.
www.undp.org/asia-pa...
4/15
It took till the 1980s/90s for the Great Convergence to begin in parts of East, Southeast, and South Asia. It's still ongoing. Again it was a combination of technology, culture and people, state capacity, and institutions.
3/15
3/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM
It took till the 1980s/90s for the Great Convergence to begin in parts of East, Southeast, and South Asia. It's still ongoing. Again it was a combination of technology, culture and people, state capacity, and institutions.
3/15
3/15
Western Europe and its offshoots in North America and Australasia surged ahead on the back of industrial technologies, access to energy, and supporting culture and institutions. Asia, Africa, and Latin America fell behind leaving themselves vulnerable to exploitation.
2/15
2/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Western Europe and its offshoots in North America and Australasia surged ahead on the back of industrial technologies, access to energy, and supporting culture and institutions. Asia, Africa, and Latin America fell behind leaving themselves vulnerable to exploitation.
2/15
2/15
Grateful to colleagues at UNDP in Asia and the Pacific and to the global group of scholars who contributed. A genuinely international effort at a critical moment.
13/15
13/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Grateful to colleagues at UNDP in Asia and the Pacific and to the global group of scholars who contributed. A genuinely international effort at a critical moment.
13/15
13/15
• By starting point
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
One-size-policy-recommendations-do-not-fit-all.
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
12/15
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
One-size-policy-recommendations-do-not-fit-all.
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
12/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
• By starting point
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
One-size-policy-recommendations-do-not-fit-all.
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
12/15
• With steps at time horizons: 0–12 months, 1–2 years, 3–5 years
• And by sector (health, education, finance, agriculture, biodiversity, governance)
One-size-policy-recommendations-do-not-fit-all.
Our North Star (or Southern Cross) is simple:
Leave no mind behind.
12/15
• AI tutors in remote or multilingual settings
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
But AI can drive development and narrow gaps - we offer differentiated policy roadmaps:
11/15
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
But AI can drive development and narrow gaps - we offer differentiated policy roadmaps:
11/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
• AI tutors in remote or multilingual settings
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
But AI can drive development and narrow gaps - we offer differentiated policy roadmaps:
11/15
• Diagnostics in clinics without specialists
• Climate and disaster modelling for Pacific Island countries
• SME credit access through alternative data
But AI can drive development and narrow gaps - we offer differentiated policy roadmaps:
11/15
• Dependency on foreign cloud/models
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
As well as real and potential opportunities:
10/15
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
As well as real and potential opportunities:
10/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
• Dependency on foreign cloud/models
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
As well as real and potential opportunities:
10/15
• Automation without productivity
• Pilots that never scale or can't without dependence on ongoing foreign investment
• Limited ability to govern or adapt systems
As well as real and potential opportunities:
10/15
👨👩👦👦 People: Uneven access to health, education, security, and data visibility
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
We discuss AI development traps, such as:
9/15
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
We discuss AI development traps, such as:
9/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
👨👩👦👦 People: Uneven access to health, education, security, and data visibility
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
We discuss AI development traps, such as:
9/15
💱 Economy: Divergent productivity gains and job exposure
🏛️ Governance: Big differences in state capability, trust, and readiness
We discuss AI development traps, such as:
9/15
Even within countries, the GDP per capita of Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai are similar (~$30,000) while the GDP of the poorest Malaysian state, Kelantan, would rank in the lower half of an Asia-Pacific countries list.
The report discusses the risks and opportunities across 3 channels:
8/15
The report discusses the risks and opportunities across 3 channels:
8/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Even within countries, the GDP per capita of Kuala Lumpur and Shanghai are similar (~$30,000) while the GDP of the poorest Malaysian state, Kelantan, would rank in the lower half of an Asia-Pacific countries list.
The report discusses the risks and opportunities across 3 channels:
8/15
The report discusses the risks and opportunities across 3 channels:
8/15
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar are struggling with reliable electricity let alone internet.
7/15
7/15
December 2, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea and Myanmar are struggling with reliable electricity let alone internet.
7/15
7/15