The Impact of GPT-4 on Jobs

A recent analysis by OpenAI and the University of Pennsylvania estimates that large language models like GPT-4 could heavily affect 19% of jobs, which are mainly higher-income jobs such as writers, web and digital designers, financial quantitative analysts, and blockchain engineers. Unlike earlier waves of automation, generative AI such as GPT-4 can perform tasks that were typically viewed as creative, such as writing and producing graphics. The worry is not large-scale unemployment but rather that relatively well-paying white-collar jobs will be replaced with this new form of automation. However, generative AI could also help people gain skills to compete with those who have more education and expertise. A study involving hundreds of college-educated professionals indicates that AI can “upskill” people who are having trouble finding work and revitalize the workforce.

ChatGPT is about to revolutionize the economy. We need to decide what that looks like.