Gen AI Adoption Surpasses Early PC and Internet Usage, Study Shows

Generative AI adoption is outpacing historical trends for transformative technologies, with widespread use across industries and demographics just two years after ChatGPT’s public release, according to a new study by researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Vanderbilt University, and Harvard Kennedy School.

Rapid adoption rates: Generative AI has achieved a 39.4% adoption rate among Americans aged 18-64, with 28% using it at work, surpassing the early adoption rates of personal computers.

• It took three years for PCs to reach a 20% adoption rate, highlighting the accelerated uptake of generative AI.
• The accessibility of tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini has contributed to this swift adoption.

Widespread use across industries: Generative AI adoption is not limited to the tech sector, with significant usage observed across various occupations and educational backgrounds.

• One in five “blue-collar” workers regularly use generative AI on the job.
• Usage rates exceed 40% in management, business, and computer occupations.
• Notably, one in five workers without a college degree use generative AI regularly at work.

Demographic disparities in adoption: The study reveals that generative AI usage patterns mirror existing workplace inequalities, potentially exacerbating labor market disparities.

• Younger, more educated, and higher-income workers are more likely to use AI on the job.
• Workers with a bachelor’s degree or higher are twice as likely to use AI as those without one (40% vs. 20%).
• This trend could further widen the gap between different segments of the workforce.

Task-specific applications: Generative AI is being employed for a variety of workplace tasks, demonstrating its versatility and potential to enhance productivity.

• Writing tasks top the list, with 57% of users applying AI in this area.
• Administrative tasks, interpreting text or data, and information searching are also common applications.
• Usage rates at work exceeded 25% for all ten tasks included in the researchers’ list.

Potential impact on labor productivity: While still in its early stages, generative AI shows promise in boosting U.S. labor productivity.

• Researchers estimate that 0.5% to 3.5% of all U.S. work hours are currently assisted by generative AI.
• Assuming a 25% increase in task productivity, this could translate to a labor productivity increase of 0.125 to 0.875 percentage points at current usage levels.
• However, the authors caution that these estimates are speculative due to the technology’s early adoption stage.

Implications for the future of work: The rapid and widespread adoption of generative AI across industries and demographics signals a significant shift in the workplace landscape.

• The technology’s ability to assist with a wide range of tasks suggests its potential to reshape job roles and skill requirements across various sectors.
• As adoption continues to grow, it will be crucial to monitor its impact on workplace dynamics, productivity, and inequality to ensure equitable benefits and address potential challenges.