The Wrong Kind of AI? Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Labor Demand

Daron Acemoglu and Pascual Restrepo

No 12292, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Artificial Intelligence is set to influence every aspect of our lives, not least the way production is organized. AI, as a technology platform, can automate tasks previously performed by labor or create new tasks and activities in which humans can be productively employed. Recent technological change has been biased towards automation, with insufficient focus on creating new tasks where labor can be productively employed. The consequences of this choice have been stagnating labor demand, declining labor share in national income, rising inequality and lower productivity growth. The current tendency is to develop AI in the direction of further automation, but this might mean missing out on the promise of the 'right' kind of AI with better economic and social outcomes.

Keywords: innovation; inequality; tasks; artificial intelligence; jobs; automation; productivity; technology; labor demand; wages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J23 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16 pages
Date: 2019-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-big, nep-cmp, nep-ict, nep-ino, nep-ltv, nep-pay and nep-tid
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (29)

Published - published in: Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, 2020, 13 (1), 25 - 35

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Related works:
Journal Article: The wrong kind of AI? Artificial intelligence and the future of labour demand (2020)
Working Paper: The Wrong Kind of AI? Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Labor Demand (2019)
Working Paper: The Wrong Kind of AI? Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Labor Demand (2019)
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