To some, the only good thing about work is the pay. “A job is where you don’t have fun,” says a character in “A Lie of the Mind”, a scorchingly sad play by Sam Shepard. But most Americans would disagree. In a Pew poll, 84% said their jobs were fulfilling most or some of the time. As someone who enjoys his job an indecent amount, I find the possibility of an AI jobs apocalypse terrifying. Even if artificial intelligence generates so much wealth that people can be compensated for their lost wages—which is more than plausible—where will they find a sense of purpose? 

Our cover story outside Britain this week argues that governments should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. So far, labour-market data offer no evidence that AI is destroying lots of jobs. But the models are improving so fast that it would be rash to discount the chance that they will. There are plenty of ideas for how to cushion the blow, if it comes. They range from Danish-style flexicurity to the partial nationalisation of AI firms. Governments should not wait for conclusive proof of a jobs apocalypse before starting to build a better safety-net. If they do, it may be too late. 

In Britain our cover story (and today’s Insider show) is not about a billion vulnerable jobs, but one. After disastrous local election results for the ruling Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer seems to be on his way out. As I write, Britain’s prime minister is expected to face one or more serious challengers from within his own party; his health minister, Wes Streeting, resigned today. Our leader argues that it would be better for the country if he went. Granted, his unruly party could pick a reckless or leftist successor. But a wounded Sir Keir has no chance of providing the leadership Britain needs to revive growth and prevent a populist takeover after the next general election. A leadership contest, though messy, might find a new prime minister with the necessary gumption.