LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman unveils ‘super agency’ vision at TED AI conference, takes subtle shot at Elon Musk

Reid Hoffman, the LinkedIn co-founder and prominent tech investor, offered an optimistic vision for artificial intelligence on Tuesday, introducing his concept of “super agency” that frames AI as a tool for human empowerment rather than replacement.

Speaking at a TED AI conference fireside chat with CNBC’s Julia Boorstin in San Francisco, Hoffman previewed themes from his upcoming book on super agency, positioning AI as the next frontier of human capability enhancement.

“If you look back at technology, it actually massively increases human agency,” Hoffman said. “Each of these major technological leaps give us superpowers.” He drew parallels between historical innovations like horses and automobiles to today’s AI systems, which he characterized as “cognitive superpowers.”

AI election risks and regulation: Silicon Valley leader pushes back on concerns

The timing of Hoffman’s messaging appears strategic, coming amid growing anxiety about AI’s impact on jobs and democracy. While acknowledging concerns about job displacement and election misinformation, Hoffman maintained that transition challenges are manageable.

On election integrity, Hoffman downplayed immediate risks from AI-generated deepfakes in the 2024 race, though he acknowledged future concerns. “Undoubtedly, there is some use of AI crime and misinformation… but it doesn’t yet have a significant impact,” he said, suggesting technical solutions like “encryption timestamps” could help authenticate content.

Hoffman also defended California Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent veto of sweeping AI regulation, praising instead the White House’s approach of seeking voluntary commitments from tech companies before implementing specific rules. “Having essentially vague, uncertain penalties and uncertain evaluations is a very good way to quell the future development of emerging technology,” he argued.

Enterprise AI opportunities: Where startups can still compete with big tech

For enterprise leaders watching AI developments, Hoffman emphasized that despite the dominance of large tech companies in developing foundation models, opportunities remain for startups building applications on top of them. “There’s a massive amount of AI now,” he said, pointing to areas like sales, marketing, and computer security as fertile ground for innovation.

Notably, Hoffman envisioned AI democratizing access to expertise, describing a future where everyone with a phone could access “the equivalent of a GP everywhere in the world.” This vision aligns with growing enterprise interest in AI assistants and automated customer service solutions.

Silicon Valley’s political divide: Tech leaders split on AI policy and regulation

The discussion revealed tensions in Silicon Valley’s political landscape, with Hoffman addressing what Boorstin characterized as a rightward shift among tech leaders. The conversation took a pointed turn when Hoffman appeared to criticize fellow tech leader Elon Musk’s support of Trump, without naming him directly.

When discussing tech leaders’ rightward shift, Hoffman questioned the motives of “some people who are out there campaigning and spreading pretty wild conspiracy theories… not just on x.com but in other places.”

He suggested such support might be driven by “self-interested” pursuits like “getting government contracts,” rather than genuine policy convictions. The veiled reference to Musk, who has pledged millions to Trump’s campaign and frequently posts pro-Trump content on his X platform, highlights growing divisions among Silicon Valley’s elite over the upcoming election.

Hoffman, a prominent Democratic supporter and backer of Vice President Kamala Harris, attributed some of the broader rightward movement to “single issue voters around cryptocurrency” and business interests seeking favorable regulation. He emphasized that a “stable business environment you can invest in is much more important” than pursuing narrow interests like corporate tax cuts.

Future of work and AI’s next chapter

Hoffman’s vision suggests a fundamental shift in how we should think about AI adoption. While much of Silicon Valley frames artificial intelligence as a replacement for human work, his “super agency” concept positions it as an amplifier of human potential.

“Humans not using AI will be replaced by humans using AI,” Hoffman predicted, arguing that the real divide won’t be between humans and machines, but between those who embrace AI’s capabilities and those who don’t.

The stakes of this transition extend far beyond Silicon Valley. As AI capabilities expand, Hoffman’s optimistic vision will be tested against mounting concerns about job displacement and technological control. But his core message is clear: the future belongs not to those who resist AI, but to those who learn to harness it as a tool for human empowerment—even if that means fundamentally rethinking what it means to be human in an AI-enabled world.