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Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier | Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard

Sep 30, 2023 - d3.harvard.edu
A recent study conducted in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Harvard's Digital Data Design Institute investigated the impact of AI on knowledge worker productivity and quality. The study evaluated the performance of 758 consultants and found that AI, specifically ChatGPT-4, significantly increased task performance, speed, and completion rates. However, it also highlighted a "jagged technological frontier," where AI excels in some tasks but not in others. Two distinct patterns of AI use were identified: "Centaurs," who divided tasks between themselves and the AI, and "Cyborgs," who integrated their workflow with the AI.

The research suggests that the debate should shift from a binary decision of adopting or not adopting AI. Instead, the focus should be on evaluating the value of different configurations and combinations of humans and AI for various tasks within the knowledge workflow. This approach recognizes the potential of AI to enhance productivity while acknowledging its limitations in certain areas.

Key takeaways:

  • For tasks within the AI frontier, ChatGPT-4 significantly increased performance, boosting speed by over 25%, human-rated performance by over 40%, and task completion by over 12%.
  • The study introduces the concept of a “jagged technological frontier,” where AI excels in some tasks but falls short in others.
  • Two distinct patterns of AI use emerged: “Centaurs,” who divided and delegated tasks between themselves and the AI, and “Cyborgs,” who integrated their workflow with the AI.
  • The paper argues that the focus should move beyond the binary decision of adopting or not adopting AI. Instead, we should evaluate the value of different configurations and combinations of humans and AI for various tasks within the knowledge workflow.
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