AI and the Delusions of Increasing Productivity

290 · oftwominds-Charles Hugh Smith · Aug. 10, 2026, 9:10 p.m.
Summary
The blog post critiques the idea that AI enhances productivity, arguing that much of it is consumer burden disguised as productivity gains. It discusses corporate America's tendency to offload responsibilities onto consumers, the illusion of increased GDP, and the deterioration of product quality, suggesting that actual productivity is not improving but rather being masked by financial metrics that ignore consumer experiences.