So far some of the main effects are quite egalitarian:
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds the potential to either complement knowledge workers by increasing their productivity or substitute them entirely. We examine the short-term effects of the recent release of the large language model (LLM), ChatGPT, on the employment outcomes of freelancers on a large online platform. We find that freelancers in highly affected occupations suffer from the introduction of generative AI, experiencing reductions in both employment and earnings. We find similar effects studying the release of other image-based, generative AI models. Exploring the heterogeneity by freelancers’ employment history, we do not find evidence that high-quality service, measured by their past performance and employment, moderates the adverse effects on employment. In fact, we find suggestive evidence that top freelancers are disproportionately affected by AI. These results suggest that in the short term generative AI reduces overall demand for knowledge workers of all types, and may have the potential to narrow gaps among workers.
That is from a new paper by Xiang Hui, Oren Reshef, and Luofeng Zhou, via Fernand Pajot. And here is an FT summary of some key results.
I would stress this point, however. As more ordinary life and commerce structures itself around AI, more and more AI-driven or AI-enable projects will become possible. That will favor those who are good at conceiving of projects and executing them, and those longer-run effects may well be less egalitarian.
The post Labor market evidence from ChatGPT appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION.
Comments
Post a Comment