Concepts and Challenges of Measuring Production of Artificial Intelligence in the U.S. Economy

Much of the current literature on the economic impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) focuses on the uses of AI, but little is known about the production of AI and its contribution to economic growth. In this paper, we discuss basic concepts and challenges related to measuring the production of AI within a standard national accounting framework. We first present a variety of examples that illustrate how both the production and use of AI software are currently reflected in macroeconomic statistics like Gross Domestic Product and the Supply and Use Tables. We then discuss a broader approach to measurement using a thematic satellite account framework that highlights production of AI across foundational areas, including manufacturing, software publishing, computer and data services, and research & development. The challenges of identifying and quantifying AI production in the national accounts using existing data sources are discussed and some possible solutions for the future are offered.