Book Launch: "The Collision: What AI Does to Us" by Eric So

MIT IDE Director Sinan Aral will join Eric So for a moderated discussion exploring what AI is doing to us—and how we can ensure it strengthens, rather than diminishes, human capabilities.

With the rapid adoption of generative AI both at home and work, there is little empirical evidence what affect this has on people and culture. Eric So delves into how this technology is changing the way we think, make decisions, and create. The Collision: What Does AI Do to Us?—set for publication in October 2026, examines how AI is already reshaping human thought and the potential for harnessing AI’s power to amplify, rather than eroding our skills. Eric So integrates his MIT research findings with engaging storytelling, making the book a captivating read for parents, professionals and anyone who wants to use AI sensibly.

Eric So is the Sloan Distinguished Professor of Global Economics and Behavioral Science at MIT Sloan and the research lead for the IDE's AI in Financial Markets and Decision-Making. Much of So’s current work is in applied AI, examining both sides of the human-machine interface, including how people interpret and respond to AI advice and how AI systems themselves develop emergent behaviors when deployed in real-world organizational settings.