A study from Stanford University has stirred up the tech world. According to economist Nicholas Bloom, the surprising 2% annual increase in U.S. productivity since 2020 is not due to artificial intelligence, but to remote work. This growth, which left former Fed Chairman Jerome Powell perplexed, began before the AI boom in 2022, challenging the usual industry narratives.
The remote factor as a driver of technical efficiency 🚀
Bloom argues that telecommuting has optimized key processes: fewer commutes mean more effective hours, while the reduction of in-person meetings and the automation of administrative tasks have freed up time for deep work. This structural shift, measured in total factor productivity data, suggests that collaborative technology and labor flexibility have a more immediate impact than AI models still in the mass implementation phase.
Meanwhile, AI sits on the bench 🤖
So it turns out that the real driver of productivity is not a language model that writes poems, but a simple internet connection and pajamas. While big tech companies were selling us a future with avatars and virtual assistants, the key was not having to get up early to sit in traffic. In the end, it seems the biggest technological advance of the decade is not going to the office.