AI Chatbots May Reduce Worker Productivity, Argues Amar Bhidé
In a piece for Project Syndicate and Naked Capitalism, Amar Bhidé, a professor of health policy at Columbia University, contends that artificial intelligence, especially large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT and Google's AI Mode, could hinder labor productivity by creating a psychological reliance among users. He draws parallels between the development of AI chatbots and the early days of internet search engines. While ChatGPT gained five million users within five days of its launch in November 2022, its propensity for generating false information can lead to reduced productivity. Bhidé cautions that LLMs, which depend on statistical extrapolation, cannot emulate human reasoning and may exploit users' need for interaction, ultimately draining resources and undermining optimistic productivity forecasts.
Key facts
- Amar Bhidé is a professor of health policy at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
- Bhidé's book 'Uncertainty and Enterprise: Venturing Beyond the Known' was published by Oxford University Press in 2024.
- The commentary was originally published at Project Syndicate and republished on Naked Capitalism.
- Bhidé argues that AI chatbots may reduce output per worker by creating psychological dependence.
- ChatGPT attracted five million users in its first five days after launch in November 2022.
- Google launched its search engine in 1998, and Alta Vista received 300,000 hits on its first day in 1995 and over 80 million daily hits by 1997.
- Google has shut down Bard and replaced it with AI overviews and an AI Mode option.
- Bhidé cites Stanley Milgram's shock experiments to illustrate users' reflexive obedience to chatbots.
- Bhidé warns that LLMs are usurping resources including capital, electricity, chips, and entrepreneurial energy.
- The commentary quotes Chico Marx from Duck Soup: 'Who you gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?'
Entities
Artists
- Amar Bhidé
- Kevin Warsh
- Ludwig Wittgenstein
- Stanley Milgram
- Chico Marx
- Karl Marx
Institutions
- Columbia University
- Mailman School of Public Health
- Oxford University Press
- Project Syndicate
- Naked Capitalism
- Alta Vista
- Meta
- Microsoft
Locations
- United States