Golden Plateau (noun)
Pronunciation: /ˈɡōldən pləˈtō/
Definition of Golden Plateau
- A theoretical economic and technological state in which artificial intelligence enhances white-collar productivity — such as legal research, bookkeeping, writing, and strategic planning — without reaching general or superintelligent levels.
- A stable period marked by increased efficiency across knowledge-based sectors due to widespread AI adoption, leading to net job creation in AI-supported roles rather than mass displacement.
Examples of Golden Plateau in a sentence
- “We haven’t hit the singularity, but this golden plateau has already made accounting and legal workflows twice as efficient.”
- “The golden plateau gave rise to a new class of professionals: AI-literate managers and prompt engineers.”
- “Rather than replace humans, the golden plateau era created demand for those who could collaborate with AI tools.”
Etymology
Coined by Shaun Connell on June 11, 2025, as AI adoption surged in business and administrative sectors. The term blends “golden” (suggesting prosperity or advantage) with “plateau” (a leveling off of upward momentum), to describe a beneficial but non-transcendent phase of AI integration.
Related Terms
- Automation dividend
- AI augmentation
- Post-automation economy
- Technological equilibrium
- Mid-intelligence era
