How will Language Modelers like ChatGPT Affect Occupations and Industries?

36 Pages Posted: 6 Mar 2023 Last revised: 17 Apr 2023

See all articles by Edward W. Felten

Edward W. Felten

Princeton University - Center for Information Technology Policy; Princeton University - Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs; Princeton University - Department of Computer Science

Manav Raj

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department

Robert Seamans

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business

Date Written: March 1, 2023

Abstract

Recent dramatic increases in AI language modeling capabilities has led to many questions about the effect of these technologies on the economy. In this paper we present a methodology to systematically assess the extent to which occupations, industries and geographies are exposed to advances in AI language modeling capabilities. We find that the top occupations exposed to language modeling include telemarketers and a variety of post-secondary teachers such as English language and literature, foreign language and literature, and history teachers. We find the top industries exposed to advances in language modeling are legal services and securities, commodities, and investments. We also find a positive correlation between wages and exposure to AI language modeling.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, language modeling, occupation, technology

JEL Classification: J23, J24, O31, O33

Suggested Citation

Felten, Edward W. and Raj, Manav and Seamans, Robert, How will Language Modelers like ChatGPT Affect Occupations and Industries? (March 1, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4375268 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4375268

Edward W. Felten

Princeton University - Center for Information Technology Policy ( email )

Sherrerd Hall, Third Floor
Princeton, NJ 08544
United States

Princeton University - Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs ( email )

Princeton University
Princeton, NJ 08544-1021
United States

Princeton University - Department of Computer Science ( email )

35 Olden Street
Princeton, NJ 08540
United States

Manav Raj

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department ( email )

The Wharton School
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6370
United States

Robert Seamans (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - Leonard N. Stern School of Business ( email )

44 West 4th Street
Suite 9-160
New York, NY NY 10012
United States

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