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 11, 2025
In a fascinating discussion, Nathan Goldschlag, a director at the Economic Innovation Group, Bharat Chander from Stanford, and Anton Korinek, a UVA professor, dive into the transformative impact of AI on jobs and the economy. They explore the nuances of augmentation versus automation, the complexities behind large layoffs, and the need for better data on AI adoption. The trio emphasizes scenario planning for future developments, critiques misguided policy approaches, and offers advice for students navigating the evolving job landscape amid AI advancements.
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Economists' Mixed View On AI Productivity
- The median economist is skeptical about large productivity gains from current AI compared to many technologists.
- Yet some economists model transformative impacts and recognize early signs of occupation-specific declines, especially for entry-level roles.
Chatbots Complement, Agents Replace
- Chatbots currently complement human work due to turn-taking interactions, which promotes augmentation rather than replacement.
- The shift to autonomous AI agents could turn that complementarity into direct displacement of tasks and jobs.
Measure True AI Adoption Over Time
- Collect detailed, longitudinal measures of AI adoption at firm and worker levels to identify true economic effects.
- Track how firms use AI, training provided, and subsequent changes in labor and skill demand over time.