Imagine that artificial intelligence delivers much of what its advocates promise: Businesses become more productive. Routine administration takes minutes instead of hours. Scientists discover promising drugs and materials faster. Energy networks become easier to manage. A small company gains analytical capabilities that once required an entire department. By familiar economic measures, there would be much to celebrate.

Now widen the picture. Are people becoming more capable of shaping their lives? Are the gains reaching those who need them? Are natural systems becoming healthier? And as machines become better at writing, analyzing, remembering, and recommending, are they strengthening human capability or encouraging us to exercise less of it? These are economic questions too. They point towards what may become the next frontier of economic progression: an architecture that becomes better at generating more of what matters, by recognizing that social, economic, ecological, and technological progress are deeply intertwined.

One economy, four connected systems

We have become accustomed to dividing reality into manageable pieces. Economic ministries deal with growth. Social ministries address health, education, and inequality. Environmental agencies focus on climate, biodiversity, and pollution. Technology policy concentrates on innovation and competitiveness. The divisions make administrative sense. Life itself is less cooperative.

Take a data centre. Economically, it represents investment and productive capacity. Technologically, it provides the computing power behind AI. Socially, its significance depends on what that power enables, which jobs it changes and who benefits. Ecologically, the same facility needs electricity, water, equipment, minerals and land. One investment moves through four systems at once. The numbers make this tangible. Current energy........

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