This new paper explains how middle class jobs may change for the better thanks to AI
𝐀𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐠 𝟏𝟔 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
If you were at all intrigued by my essay arguing that generative AI represents an opportunity to remake bureaucracies to better serve human needs, check out labor economist David Autor’s new NBER working paper: Applying AI to Rebuild Middle Class Jobs.
The paper makes a powerful case that the value of expertise will change in ways that empower knowledge workers, something I desperately want to be true and believe is in our power to make true. The political economy of cultural technologies—decisions made and enforced through governments and markets about generative AI—is how I have come to think about the big picture. Henry Farrell’s latest post is really good on this but mostly focused on intellectual property.
I am more interested in how labor changes in the coming years. That’s where David Autor’s paper comes in. Here is my favorite line: “My thesis is not a forecast but a claim about what is attainable. AI will not decide how AI is used and its constructive and destructive applications are boundless.”
Here is my favorite paragraph:
The unique opportunity that AI offers humanity is to push back against the process started by computerization — to extend the relevance, reach and value of human expertise for a larger set of workers. Because artificial intelligence can weave information and rules with acquired experience to support decision-making, it can enable a larger set of workers equipped with necessary foundational training to perform higher-stakes decision-making tasks currently arrogated to elite experts, such as doctors, lawyers, software engineers and college professors. In essence, AI used well can assist with restoring the middle-skill, middle-class heart of the U.S. labor market that has been hollowed out by automation and globalization.
I urge you to read the whole thing: Applying AI to Rebuild Middle Class Jobs.
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𝑨𝑰 𝑳𝒐𝒈 © 2024 by Rob Nelson is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Looks like an interesting read, thanks for sharing. Pinning the paper for later.
From a quick look, seems like some similar arguments as in this piece I read earlier this week: https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/news/the-turing-trap-the-promise-peril-of-human-like-artificial-intelligence/