Five things you need to know about AI

MIT Technology Review senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven gave a talk at SXSW London in June 2026 naming five themes that define artificial intelligence right now. Drawn from the publication's first annual AI10 list, the themes run from how AI has turned mundane for office work to its near-term dangers, a rising public backlash, its growing role in science, and an uncertain long-term path. He told the audience to treat the shift as a marathon, not a sprint.