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Billions of dollars have been invested into generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology this year alone, but the impact of that investment on the global economy and the future of work remains unclear.
The Wall Street Journal reports that venture capitalists have invested $64.1 billion in generative AI so far in 2024, driven by the belief that the technology will generate massive profits, despite uncertainties about when or whether these investments will fully pay off.
The report reveals that nearly a third of all VC investments in 2024 have targeted AI companies, the highest proportion on record.
Substantial increases in investments have fueled massive growth for well-known AI developers like OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT.
Other rapidly expanding tech giants, such as Nvidia, have greatly benefited from the AI hype, reaching a trillion-dollar valuation last year. Nvidia continues to ride this hype wave by investing substantially in data center operations and new hardware catering to developer demands.
Although generative AI has captured the attention of millions of users, the Wall Street Journal reports far fewer users are opting to pay for premium versions. Across the workforce, companies are still experimenting with how to incorporate AI into their workflows — and many employers still do not have an official AI-related work policy addressing the technology.
The initial hesitancy surrounding AI has analysts and investors on edge, but it’s likely stemming from the lack of guardrails related to a whole range of issues unaddressed by legislation.
For example, the California state assembly recently approved Senate Bill 1047, which would require tech companies to conduct safety tests on their AI models prior to public release. The legislation is designed specifically to limit the potential risks posed by advanced AI technologies — from cyberattacks and deepfake technology to biowarfare.
These kinds of guardrails addressing AI-safety and legal issues are few and far between. It’s reported that current AI investments will require future revenue generation in the hundreds of billions.
Executives from leading tech firms including Google and Meta are telling investors to be patient, suggesting it will take years for AI advancements to translate into meaningful financial returns.
The data suggest that while the AI investment boom is here and driving tech forward, the full economic impact of these investments, especially on how it will switch up the labor market and jobs dynamics, are expected to come into full effect at a far different time in the future.
