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Automation, AI & Work

Laura D. Tyson and John Zysman

American Academy of Arts & Sciences, 2022

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How will AI affect society? Professors Laura D. Tyson and John Zysman see AI technologies playing an enormous role in the ongoing automation of work. In this detailed paper, the authors look at the effects of automation on the workplace over the last three decades to gain insight into what the future holds. The picture looks grim: Automation has reduced the share of good jobs for all but the most skilled workers. However, the authors argue that this tech is, ultimately, what people make of it. The right policies can make all jobs good jobs and share the productivity gains of AI more equitably.

Summary

AI is turbocharging the automation of routine jobs.

Over the last 30 years, automation has replaced humans in many low-skill and medium-skill jobs. AI continues and amplifies the trend of automating tasks that humans used to do. Paired with robots, AI optimizes already-automated tasks. It also extends the reach of automation to cognitive tasks.

Current AI is task specific. It can replace humans in low-demand, routine physical and cognitive tasks. AI cannot currently replace humans in tasks that require real-world knowledge, reasoning, judgment or social interaction.

AI will continue existing automation trends: generating more jobs, but fewer good jobs.

Because AI extends the scope of automation, it will likely continue the trends of the last 30 years, especially in the manufacturing...

About the Authors

Distinguished professor of the Graduate School at University of California, Berkeley’s Haas School of Business Laura D’Andrea Tyson is an economist and former chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. John Zysman is professor emeritus in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley and co-founder of the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy.

Automation, AI & Work

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Summary

AI is turbocharging the automation of routine jobs.

AI will continue existing automation trends: generating more jobs, but fewer good jobs.

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