A task force convened by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) and Nvidia has released preliminary findings on how artificial intelligence is transforming labor and the economy, highlighting ten key areas of impact. The report, presented at SCSP’s annual AI+Expo, aims to inform policy discussions and future workforce strategies.
The task force emphasizes that AI is distinct from previous general-purpose technologies because it extends into cognitive work, affecting foundational skills. The transition is expected to be unpredictable, with AI simultaneously expanding some jobs while eliminating or transforming others. New data collection and analytics are needed to assess changing skill sets and hiring patterns.
At the task level, workers must understand how AI may automate or augment key tasks, potentially reconfiguring roles without changing job titles. The impact on entry-level jobs remains unclear, but increased use of AI could disrupt traditional career pipelines. Adoption of AI will vary across sectors based on incentives, workflows, and institutional constraints, meaning its use is not inevitable in all areas.
Shifting skills will require not only digital and technical expertise but also enduring human traits like critical thinking and adaptability. Education must be reimagined from a front-loaded system to a flexible model that uses AI as a training tool. AI can be deployed to improve worker performance by expanding access to high-productivity tools, but outcomes depend on usage, beneficiaries, and worker adaptability.
The task force calls for unified national action, recognizing that the speed, scale, and complexity of AI require coordination across government, industry, and educational institutions. “The window for proactive intervention is open,” the authors concluded, urging investment in workforce development to ensure broad sharing of AI’s benefits. For more information, visit scsp.ai.
