Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are revolutionizing economic production around the world. While research about the effects of AI on a many social and economic outcomes is already underway, to date there are few high-quality field experiments that examine the real-world effects of introducing Al tools in the workplace, and fewer still that examine these effects in the context of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

UNU-WIDER, with generous support from Schmidt Sciences’ AI at Work initiative, is organizing a portfolio of rigorous research into the effects of AI technologies on firms, labour markets and labour market outcomes—such as efficiency, employment, retention, productivity, and earnings—in LMIC contexts. This research will explore, for example, the potential of generative AI to: facilitate talent acquisition for firms, ease the transition of students from school to the workforce, and to improve business outcomes for small entrepreneurs and the self-employed in LMICs.

Key questions

• Can AI tools, when used by firms for recruitment or jobseekers for finding employment, improve the overall match between employers and employees?
• Can adoption of AI tools improve the pace at which employees, including  informal or self-employed workers, acquire skills relevant for their work?
• What are the impacts of use of AI on firms and workforce outcomes, for example with respect to productivity, sales growth, workforce size, labour force retention, formality, etc.?
• Do we observe any negative effects from AI adoption, such as reductions in employment or increasing inequality if certain workers are displaced?

Watch this space

All the activities, publications, events, opportunities to engage, and other outputs of this project will be here!