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China Shock Compared to AI Impact

Fortune1 min brief

In brief

  • China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001 and its export rate grew 30% each year from 2001 to 2006.
    • This growth led to a shift in labor and the US lost around 4 million manufacturing jobs.
  • Some economists compare this to the rise of AI.
  • Tech companies are using AI to justify layoffs, with Snap cutting 1,000 roles and Klarna expecting to shrink its workforce by one-third by 2030.
  • The impact of AI on labor may not be a bad thing.
  • The US unemployment rate remained low after China's WTO entry.
  • Cheaper goods from China also helped boost manufacturing productivity.
  • AI is expected to have a similar effect, accelerating business formation and productivity gains across the economy.
  • The future of work will likely be shaped by AI.

Read full story at Fortune

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