---
title: "Pros and Cons to New Tech: Stupidity, Productivity, and Whales"
summary: |-
  A recent commentary piece in the *Washington Post* argued that the main cause of strong productivity growth in 2023 was not artificial intelligence but rather a surge in new business creation. But that confuses correlation with causation.
date: "2024-05-29"
issues: ["Productivity", "Artificial Intelligence"]
authors: ["Robert D. Atkinson"]
content_type: "Op-Eds & Contributed Articles"
canonical_url: "https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/29/ai-scarlett-johansson-technology-environment/"
---

# Pros and Cons to New Tech: Stupidity, Productivity, and Whales

Luke Pardue argued in a recent *[Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/01/us-productivity-upswing/)*[ commentary piece](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/01/us-productivity-upswing/) that the main cause of strong productivity growth in 2023 was not artificial intelligence but rather a surge in new business creation.

Rob Atkinson responded in [a letter to the ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/29/ai-scarlett-johansson-technology-environment/)*[Post’s](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/29/ai-scarlett-johansson-technology-environment/)*[ editors](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/29/ai-scarlett-johansson-technology-environment/), noting that U.S. labor productivity growth did indeed rebound to 2.7 percent—nearly double the rate of the prior eight years—which is a great thing, because productivity is the key to wage growth. But to suggest business start-ups caused this rebound is to confuse correlation with causation.

[Read Atkinson’s letter](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/29/ai-scarlett-johansson-technology-environment/).

---
*Source: Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF)*
*URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/05/29/ai-scarlett-johansson-technology-environment/*