Experts Discuss AI's Impact on Productivity

Google executive James Manyika cautioned that the promised productivity gains from AI are not guaranteed and will require significant efforts and innovations to be realized, echoing past observations about technology's limited impact on productivity statistics. Meanwhile, Senapathy ‘Kris’ Gopalakrishnan remains optimistic about AI, viewing it as a transformative wave for India's tech industry, emphasizing its broad applicability across sectors. Companies like Alorica are adopting AI tools for customer service, enabling communication in 200 languages without cutting jobs, suggesting that AI may not be the job killer many fear. Research also shows that many employees are underutilizing AI, primarily using it for double-checking work rather than its full potential, indicating a need for better training and integration. Experts believe that while AI will alter job landscapes, it will create new opportunities rather than lead to mass unemployment as seen in past technological shifts. Overall, the narrative around AI is mixed, with both caution and optimism regarding its impact on productivity and employment.