Open AI’s ChatGPT, a generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology, has been found to significantly boost productivity for workers, according to a study conducted by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US. The findings, published in the journal Science, highlight the substantial benefits of using AI tools like ChatGPT in tasks such as writing cover letters, delicate emails, and cost-benefit analysis.
The study involved 453 college-educated professionals across various occupations, including marketers, grant writers, consultants, data analysts, human resource professionals, and managers. Participants were assigned two occupation-specific writing tasks, such as drafting cover letters for grant applications and composing emails related to organizational restructuring. Experienced professionals in the same occupations evaluated each submission without knowledge of whether ChatGPT was used.
The results were striking. Participants who had access to ChatGPT-3.5 completed their tasks 40% faster than the control group, while their work quality evaluations increased by 18%. The data also revealed a decrease in performance inequality between workers, indicating that individuals who initially received lower grades in the first task benefited more from using ChatGPT for the second task.
Shakked Noy, a doctoral student in MIT’s Department of Economics, emphasized the potential impact of generative AI on white-collar work. What we can say for sure is generative AI is going to have a big effect on white-collar work, Noy stated. However, he also acknowledged that it is still too early to determine whether the technology’s influence will be positive or negative and how exactly society will adapt to it.
While the study demonstrates the time-saving capabilities of ChatGPT, the researchers acknowledged that further research is necessary to understand society’s response to the proliferation of generative AI. Factors such as the potential impact on wages, particularly for low-paid workers, and potential increases in wage inequality need to be carefully examined.
Whitney Zhang, another doctoral student involved in the study, stressed the importance of comprehensive research in formulating suitable policies to address the challenges and opportunities presented by generative AI. If we think this will boost wages for lower-paid workers, that’s a very different implication than if it’s going to increase wage inequality by boosting the wages of already high earners. I think there’s a lot of downstream economic and political effects that are important to pin down, Zhang added.
While ChatGPT demonstrates its efficacy in enhancing productivity for workers in certain tasks, it is essential to navigate the impacts of these technologies thoughtfully. As generative AI continues to advance, it is crucial to consider the long-term effects on the workforce, economy, and society at large.
