In this article for IMF Finance & Development, Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson argue that techno-optimism, based on a widespread belief in the “productivity bandwagon,” is at odds with history and especially inapplicable to the current trajectory of AI, which emphasizes automation. In order to foster shared prosperity, AI should be deployed to complement workers rather than replace them. Drawing on research from their book, Power and Progress, and the recent policy memo on pro-worker AI, Acemoglu and Johnson offer five key recommendations to shift AI development in a more human-complementary direction.