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The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI

Author

Listed:
  • Alexander Bick
  • Adam Blandin
  • David J. Deming

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a potentially important new technology, but its impact on the economy depends on the speed and intensity of adoption. This paper reports results from a series of nationally representative U.S. surveys of generative AI use at work and at home. As of late 2024, nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population age 18-64 uses generative AI. 23 percent of employed respondents had used generative AI for work at least once in the previous week, and 9 percent used it every work day. Relative to each technology’s first mass-market product launch, work adoption of generative AI has been as fast as the personal computer (PC), and overall adoption has been faster than either PCs or the internet. Generative AI and PCs have very similar early adoption patterns by education, occupation, and other characteristics. Between 1 and 5 percent of all work hours are currently assisted by generative AI, and respondents report time savings equivalent to 1.4 percent of total work hours. This suggests that substantial productivity gains from generative AI are possible.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Bick & Adam Blandin & David J. Deming, 2024. "The Rapid Adoption of Generative AI," NBER Working Papers 32966, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:32966
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    Cited by:

    1. Fiedler, Alexandra & Döpke, Jörg, 2025. "Do humans identify AI-generated text better than machines? Evidence based on excerpts from German theses☆," International Review of Economics Education, Elsevier, vol. 49(C).
    2. Zara Contractor & Germ'an Reyes, 2025. "Generative AI in Higher Education: Evidence from an Elite College," Papers 2508.00717, arXiv.org.
    3. Fabian Kosse & Tim Leffler & Arna Woemmel, 2025. "Digital Skills: Social Disparities and the Impact of Early Mentoring," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1222, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    4. James Bono, 2025. "Randomized Controlled Trials for Phishing Triage Agent," Papers 2511.13860, arXiv.org.
    5. Jacob Dominski & Yong Suk Lee, 2025. "Advancing AI Capabilities and Evolving Labor Outcomes," Papers 2507.08244, arXiv.org.
    6. repec:osf:osfxxx:h6a7c_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Aaron Chatterji & Daniel Rock & Eduard Talamàs, 2025. "Transformative AI and Firms," NBER Chapters, in: The Economics of Transformative AI, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    8. Liu, Yan & Wang, He & Yu, Shu, 2025. "Labor Demand in the Age of Generative AI : Early Evidence from the U.S. Job Posting Data," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11263, The World Bank.
    9. James Bono & Beibei Cheng & Joaquin Lozano, 2025. "Randomized Controlled Trials for Conditional Access Optimization Agent," Papers 2511.13865, arXiv.org.
    10. Sugat Chaturvedi & Rochana Chaturvedi, 2025. "Who Gets the Callback? Generative AI and Gender Bias," Papers 2504.21400, arXiv.org.
    11. Liu, Yan & Huang, Jingyun & Wang, He, 2025. "Who on Earth Is Using Generative AI ? Global Trends and Shifts in 2025," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11231, The World Bank.
    12. Zara Contractor & Germán Reyes, 2025. "Generative AI in Higher Education: Evidence from an Elite College," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0359, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    13. Anastasios Evgenidis & Apostolos Fasianos, 2025. "AI news shocks and the macroeconomy: evidence from UK patent data," IFS Working Papers W25/48, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    14. Eleanor W. Dillon & Sonia Jaffe & Nicole Immorlica & Christopher T. Stanton, 2025. "Shifting Work Patterns with Generative AI," NBER Working Papers 33795, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    15. Bertomeu, Jeremy & Lin, Yupeng & Liu, Yibin & Ni, Zhenghui, 2025. "The impact of generative AI on information processing: Evidence from the ban of ChatGPT in Italy," Journal of Accounting and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(1).
    16. Masayuki MORIKAWA, 2024. "Macroeconomic Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Productivity: An estimate from a survey," Discussion papers 24084, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    17. Peeyush Agarwal & Harsh Agarwal & Akshat Rana, 2025. "What Work is AI Actually Doing? Uncovering the Drivers of Generative AI Adoption," Papers 2510.23669, arXiv.org, revised Oct 2025.
    18. Contractor, Zara & Reyes, Germán, 2025. "Generative AI in Higher Education: Evidence from an Elite College," IZA Discussion Papers 18055, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    19. Piyush Gulati & Arianna Marchetti & Phanish Puranam & Victoria Sevcenko, 2025. "Generative AI Adoption and Higher Order Skills," Papers 2503.09212, arXiv.org, revised Jun 2025.
    20. Kiran Tomlinson & Sonia Jaffe & Will Wang & Scott Counts & Siddharth Suri, 2025. "Working with AI: Measuring the Applicability of Generative AI to Occupations," Papers 2507.07935, arXiv.org, revised Dec 2025.
    21. James Bono & Alec Xu, 2024. "Randomized Controlled Trials for Security Copilot for IT Administrators," Papers 2411.01067, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2024.
    22. Henry A. Thompson, 2024. "AI and the law," Papers 2412.05090, arXiv.org.
    23. Fabian Kosse & Tim Leffler & Arna Woemmel, 2024. "Digital Skills: Social Disparities and the Impact of Early Mentoring," CESifo Working Paper Series 11570, CESifo.
    24. Lukas B. Freund & Lukas F. Mann, 2025. "Job Transformation, Specialization, and the Labor Market Effects of AI," CESifo Working Paper Series 12072, CESifo.
    25. Leonardo Gambacorta & Tullio Jappelli & Tommaso Oliviero, 2025. "Exploring household adoption and usage of generative AI: new evidence from Italy," BIS Working Papers 1298, Bank for International Settlements.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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