AI Productivity Gains Mainly Benefit People at the Top
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A Hacker News essay argues that the productivity gains from generative AI are captured by executives and shareholders rather than by workers. As evidence it points to Salesforce cutting headcount from 9,000 to about 5,000 while raising its share buyback by $20 billion. The essay also cites an Upwork 2024 study in which 77% of employees using AI said it added to their workload, and 21% said they were asked to do more work as a direct result. These figures are the study's findings as cited by the essay, not an independently verified measure of AI's effect.
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- Hacker News · AIAI Productivity Gains Mainly Benefit People at the Top
A Hacker News essay argues that generative AI productivity gains flow to executives and shareholders rather than workers, citing Salesforce cutting headcount from 9,000 to about 5,000 while raising its share buyback by $20 billion. An Upwork 2024 study found 77% of employees using AI say it added to their workload, and 21% were asked to do more work as a direct result.
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