The AI productivity delusion
freemalaysiatoday.com Sep 29, 2026

The AI productivity delusion

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

The article argues that the prevailing debate over AI’s impact on productivity is misguided, labeling it an “AI productivity delusion.” While optimists claim massive efficiency gains will drive economic growth, and skeptics doubt such gains, both overlook AI’s potential to undermine capitalism itself. The author contends that traditional measures of productivity—output per labor hour—will show AI as a success, yet if productivity is gauged by monetary value per labor unit, AI could be disastrous. Past revolutions expanded market size and monetary output despite displacing jobs, but AI’s deployment in Western service sectors may compress markets by automating professions such as paralegals, coders, and accountants, reducing the value generated per worker. The piece urges a redefinition of productivity beyond monetary metrics.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · By exposing how AI could shrink the monetary value of labor, the article warns that conventional growth models may fail, prompting policymakers to rethink economic frameworks before widespread automation erodes market demand.