Anthropic Teams Up with University of Chicago for AI Economic Impact Study
Timothy Morano Oct 27, 2025 22:56
Anthropic partners with the University of Chicago's Becker Friedman Institute to explore AI's influence on labor markets, productivity, and economic distribution, enhancing research on AI's economic effects.
Anthropic has announced a strategic collaboration with the University of Chicago’s Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) to delve into the economic implications of artificial intelligence (AI). This partnership aims to investigate AI's effects on labor markets, productivity, and economic distribution, according to Anthropic.
Research Focus and Objectives
The collaboration will provide BFI faculty economists with access to Anthropic's Claude for Enterprise, alongside training sessions on applying AI in economic research. Virtual workshops will also be held to measure AI’s economic impacts. This initiative builds upon Anthropic’s existing Economic Index, which tracks AI’s long-term effects on the economy.
The fast-paced evolution of AI technology poses challenges in assessing its societal and labor market impacts. By combining Anthropic’s data with BFI’s economic expertise, the partnership seeks to address key questions surrounding productivity measurement, labor market transitions, and distributional impacts of AI.
Insights from Experts
Benjamin Krause, Executive Director at BFI, emphasized the importance of economic tools in understanding AI’s societal impact. He noted that the partnership provides a structured framework for University of Chicago economists to conduct rigorous analyses that inform policy discussions.
Sarah Heck, Head of Policy, Programs and Partnerships at Anthropic, highlighted the role of the Economic Index in providing foundational data. She remarked that collaboration with BFI economists is crucial for maximizing research value, given their expertise in labor markets and policy implications.
Expanding Research Methodologies
This partnership aims to expand research methodologies used to study AI's economic impact, ultimately offering policymakers and researchers more comprehensive insights. The Economic Index reveals that AI usage varies across the economy, with complex patterns that challenge simplistic narratives about automation. By working closely with BFI economists, the initiative seeks to develop a nuanced understanding of these patterns and their implications for economic policy and workforce development.
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