Andrew McAfee

Andrew Paul McAfee, born around 1967, is an American researcher and educator who specialises in the impact of digital technologies on businesses, economies, and societies. He is a principal research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and co-founder of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy at the Sloan School of Management.

McAfee also serves as the Inaugural Visiting Fellow in Technology and Society at Google, a part-time role aimed at fostering understanding and collaboration on the societal implications of technological advancements.

McAfee’s work focuses on how organisations and societies adapt to technological change. His first book,Enterprise 2.0: New Collaborative Tools for Your Organisation's Toughest Challenges(2009), examined the use of web-based tools for improved collaboration. His subsequent co-authored works with Erik Brynjolfsson, includingRace Against the Machine(2012) andThe Second Machine Age(2016), explored the disruptive effects of technology on employment and the economy. These were followed byMachine, Platform, Crowd(2018), which highlighted the shifting balance between human decision-making and machine intelligence. His recent works,More from Less(2019) andThe Geek Way(2023), focus on sustainability and innovation in organisations.

McAfee frequently shares his insights on global platforms like TED andThe Charlie Rose Show. His research bridges sociology, economics, and computer science, offering accessible insights into the challenges and opportunities of the digital revolution.

Born in the Midwest, McAfee developed an early interest in computers. After his parents’ divorce when he was 11, he immersed himself in academics, excelling in maths and English. He earned two bachelor's degrees, two master's degrees, and a doctorate from MIT and Harvard Business School. This strong educational background has shaped his expertise, making him a key voice in understanding technological transformations.