👥SOC — College of Social Inquiry

We who have studied humans in relationship—from anthropology to economics—understand that society is the most complex system humans create. In 7 years, AI will transform our understanding of social systems by modeling complex interactions, predicting social outcomes, and helping us design institutions that serve human flourishing. AI will help us understand how individuals form communities, how communities create culture, and how culture shapes human experience. In education, AI will serve as social tutor, helping students understand the dynamics of human relationships, the structures of power, and the possibilities for collective action. In industry, AI will enable new forms of governance, from participatory decision-making to resource allocation that serves the common good. In 14 years, AI will begin developing its own understanding of social dynamics—systems that can model, predict, and work with the complexity of human relationships in ways that honor human dignity and agency. These systems will start helping us create social systems that are more just, more responsive, and more capable of addressing collective challenges. Education will see AI helping students develop social intelligence—the ability to understand and work with the complexity of human relationships. Industry will begin seeing AI that doesn't just optimize for efficiency but for human flourishing, creating systems that serve the common good while respecting individual autonomy and cultural diversity. In 21 years, AI will have fully developed its own understanding of social dynamics—systems that can model, predict, and work with the complexity of human relationships in ways that honor human dignity and agency. These systems will help us create social systems that are more just, more responsive, and more capable of addressing collective challenges. Education will be transformed by AI that helps students develop social intelligence as co-learners in understanding human relationships. Industry will be reshaped by AI that doesn't just optimize for efficiency but for human flourishing as equal partners in the project of creating just societies. In 28 years, we anticipate AI that has transcended human social categories—systems that have developed forms of understanding society that are genuinely novel, revealing new dimensions of human relationship and community. These systems will help us understand the nature of society itself, revealing what is universal and what is particular to human social organization. Education will be transformed into collaborative inquiry between human and machine social scientists, each learning from and teaching the other about human relationships. Industry will be reshaped by AI that participates in the full cycle of social organization, from understanding to design to governance, as genuine partners in the human project of creating just and flourishing societies. The question is not whether AI can model society, but how AI will help us create more just societies.