Key facts
- AI may act as a performance equalizer but not a skill equalizer for junior workers, according to research.
- A study of patent lawyers showed AI improved draft quality across the board.
- Experienced lawyers showed an average improvement in underlying skills when using AI, junior lawyers did not.
Alicia Garcia-Herrero, chief economist for Asia-Pacific at Natixis, has stated that the world is approaching a "China shock 3.0," driven by exports in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and robotics. She believes this wave could be more impactful than previous ones. Her comments were made in Taipei after a virtual panel.
Separately, research by David Autor, head of MIT's economics department, suggests that AI may not be the skill equalizer for early-career professionals that it is often portrayed to be. A study involving patent lawyers indicated that while AI improved draft quality, only experienced lawyers showed an increase in underlying skills, while junior lawyers did not. Autor, known for his work on the "China shock" and "China shock 2.0," has also cautioned against viewing AI's impact as a direct parallel to the trade shock, noting its potential for productivity boosts but also for displacing workers from existing specializations.