Building Pro-Worker Artificial Intelligence (NBER w34854)

Key Takeaways

This NBER working paper presents a comprehensive framework for developing AI technologies that enhance rather than replace human capabilities:

• Defines pro-worker technologies as those that make human skills more valuable by expanding worker capabilities
• Distinguishes five categories: labor-augmenting, capital-augmenting, automating, expertise-leveling, and new task-creating
• AI’s potential as a collaborator extending human judgment is currently underexploited
• Market failures and pro-automation ideology lead to underinvestment in pro-worker AI
• Nine policy directions identified to promote worker-augmenting AI development