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AI PRODUCTIVITY GAINS WILL CREATE MORE JOBS THAN LOST

AI DESK1 MIN READ
SUN, MAY 24, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 2 SOURCES ▸ TIMELINE

Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, predicts artificial intelligence will generate net job creation through productivity gains, drawing parallels to economic effects following China's 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization.

Slok's assessment positions AI's labor market impact as fundamentally positive, despite widespread concerns about automation-driven job displacement. The comparison to the "China Shock"—the period following China's WTO entry when global trade patterns shifted dramatically—suggests that while certain sectors may contract, overall economic expansion will outweigh losses. The China Shock initially displaced workers in manufacturing-heavy regions but ultimately contributed to broader economic growth and job creation across other industries. Slok's analysis implies AI could follow a similar trajectory, with productivity improvements driving business expansion and new role development. The economist's projection counters prevailing anxieties about AI adoption in the workforce. However, the China Shock also created significant regional disparities and transitional hardship for affected workers, raising questions about whether AI-driven growth will distribute benefits equitably across sectors and geographies.

■ SOURCES

Bloomberg TechBloomberg Tech

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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