The White House has issued a sequel to its October report on how the U.S. should approach artificial intelligence and its effects on various groups and institutions. Today's report focuses on the potential economic effects of AI, and while it's far from a dark outlook, it does warn that with improper handling, automation could drive further inequality in this already deeply divided country.

"You look at the last couple decades, we have seen an increase in inequality," said Jason Furman, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, on a press call discussing the paper. "In part that increase has been because of a technological fact: that technological innovation, more recently, has helped complement people with higher skills. So we now have a few decades of experience with technology helping to contribute to inequality."