The last wave of automation hype created little productivity growth

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The last wave of automation hype, which occurred in the 2010s, resulted in the lowest rates of productivity growth. Labor productivity growth rates measure the progress of technology in the economy, but they include increases in efficiency from both human labor and the use of robots. This contrasts with the perception that productivity growth rates only measure the productivity of workers. Looking at the data, it becomes clear that the hype surrounding automation did not translate into significant productivity gains. Instead, the 2010s were marked by insecurity for workers. The recovery from the Great Recession was also not as robust as anticipated.

Paris Marx is joined by Aaron Benanav to discuss OpenAI’s claims that generative AI will take our jobs, how previous periods of automation hype haven’t resulted in mass job loss, and why we need to ensure it doesn’t further empower employers.

Aaron Benanav is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and the author of Automation and the Future of Work. Follow Aaron on Twitter at @abenanav.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham and part of the Harbinger Media Network.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Aaron wrote about why chatbots won’t take your job for the New Statesman.
Microsoft is rolling out generative AI in its enterprise software services and its Azure platform.
The Writers Guild is proposing contract language on AI in scriptwriting to ensure writers still get the credit.

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