The Economic Impacts of Artificial Intelligence: A Multidisciplinary, Multi-book Review
Journal of Economic Literature · 2026 · [{"name": "Kevin A. Bryan", "affiliation": ["University of Toronto"]}]
中文摘要
本文评述了过去十余年间社会科学家考察人工智能（AI）经济影响的七本著作。这些著作提供了有价值的洞见——将 AI 视为廉价预测、采用过程中的架构性障碍、作为经济资产的数据、以及实施层面的挑战。然而，对于许多 AI 研究者认为颇有可能出现的变革性情景，它们几乎未能提供任何指引。经济学家在阐释如何在现有生产函数中运用 AI、谁将受益以及为何受益等方面已取得长足进展；仍待补足的，是为那些忧虑劳动流转急剧上升、科学发展、劳动—资本转移或生存风险的政策制定者提供严谨的建议。（JEL C45, C80, D83, O31, O36）
Abstract
This essay reviews seven books from the past dozen years by social scientists examining the economic impact of artificial intelligence (AI). These works offer valuable insights—AI as cheap prediction, architectural barriers to adoption, data as an economic asset, implementation challenges. However, they offer little guidance when it comes to the transformative scenarios considered plausible by many AI researchers. Economists have made great progress in explaining how to use AI within existing production functions, who benefits, and why; what remains needed is rigorous advice to policymakers concerned about rapid increases in labor churn, scientific development, labor–capital shifts, or existential risk. (JEL C45, C80, D83, O31, O36)