The Lawfare Podcast Scaling Laws: The AI Economy and You: How AI Is, Will, and May Alter the Nature of Work and Economic Growth with Anton Korinek, Nathan Goldschlag, and Bharat Chander
Nov 14, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Anton Korinek, a prominent economist from the University of Virginia, Nathan Goldschlag from the Economic Innovation Group, and Bharat Chander of Stanford tackle the complex impacts of AI on jobs and the economy. They explore how AI could outperform humans, the theories behind layoff narratives, and the necessity of scenario planning for future labor shifts. They address skepticism regarding rapid automation, propose data needs for better understanding, and caution against policies that could hinder economic dynamism.
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Mixed Economic Views On AI's Impact
- Economists split on AI's productivity effects: many see gains but remain skeptical about transformative impact.
- Current evidence shows limited overall labor displacement but hints at concentrated effects for some groups.
Agents Shift AI From Complement To Substitute
- Chatbot-style AI tends to complement human work through turn-taking interactions.
- The rise of autonomous AI agents could shift AI from augmentation to direct job displacement.
Measure Adoption Longitudinally
- Collect richer, longitudinal measures of AI adoption at both firm and worker levels.
- Track how firms use AI and how adoption changes demand for skills over time.
