Curated on
October 25, 2023
A study carried out by a team of social scientists and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) suggests that artificial intelligence (AI) is indeed a game-changer for the future of professional work. They conducted experiments on the integration of AI in work, particularly the GPT-4, showing that consultants who utilized AI outperformed those who did not. The AI-enabled consultants performed their tasks more rapidly with higher quality results and completed a greater number of tasks on average. Additionally, they observed a skill-leveling effect, where those with lower initial performance saw a significant improvement when using AI.
The study introduces the concept of the 'Jagged Frontier' which represents the capabilities of AI. On some tasks, AI significantly excels while on others it completely fails. The paper also discusses the potentials of AI integration in work processes through two approaches: The Centaur, which maintains a clear delineation of roles for AI and human labor, and The Cyborg, an approach that deeply intertwines human efforts with AI. The study suggests that AI is already a major disruptor to contemporary work practices and emphasizes the need to strategize its use for more productive and ethical outcomes.