As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to develop, there is growing concern over its potential to replace workers. This talk will explore the role of AI in the workplace, specifically focusing on the rise of chatbots and conversational agents like ChatGPT. Professor Gans will examine the current state of AI technology and its potential to disrupt various industries and job sectors, and how policymakers can prepare for the upcoming disruption and the opportunities created.

About or Eminent Speaker

Joshua Gans is a Professor of Strategic Management and holder of the Jeffrey S. Skoll Chair of Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Rotman School of Management, the University of Toronto. Joshua is also Chief Economist of the University of Toronto's Creative Destruction Lab and a Research Associate of the NBER in the Productivity, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program. Joshua is managing director of Core Economic Research and a Senior Consultant with Charles River Associates. 

Joshua’s research looks at technological competition and innovation, economic growth, publishing economics, industrial organisation and regulatory economics. This has culminated in publications in the American Economic Review, Journal of Political Economy, RAND Journal of Economics, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Journal of Public Economics, and the Journal of Regulatory Economics. He has co-authored two books on artificial intelligence: Power & Prediction: The Disruptive Economics of Artificial Intelligence (HBR Press, 2022) and Prediction Machines: The Simple Economics of Artificial Intelligence (HBR Press, 2018) and twelve other books.

How to find Productivity Commission offices

The Productivity Commission is a little hard to find, the office is located on level 8 in the Two Melbourne Quarter building. To find the offices you:

• Set down in front of 697 Collins St (pictured below). Look for a café called Sergy Boy.
• Walk past the spiral staircase towards Flinders St, past the doors for One Melbourne Quarter (on your right), past the Sushi Shop (also on your right) and you should find the doors for the Two Melbourne Quarter building.
• Go in, walk straight ahead to the lifts and select floor 8.