AI may actually shrink GDP: count real output, not dollars
moultano · x · 2026-09-13
The author pushes back on the idea that AI will boost GDP, arguing it could even go down. Looking at the money is a red herring: the better measure is the amount of goods and services GDP actually captures in each scenario. A plumber's work counts toward GDP, while a ChatGPT query barely does—so AI substituting for human labor could shrink measured GDP.
Related event: Physicist Fixes Dishwasher with ChatGPT, Sparking Debate on AI Lowering GDP(5 posts)→
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