# The Heterogeneous Productivity Effects of Generative AI

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2403.01964 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.01964/

## Key facts

- Cited by 2 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 6 of its 35 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 4 Mar 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [The Impact of AI on Developer Productivity: Evidence from GitHub Copilot](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.06590/) (2023)
- [How is ChatGPT's behavior changing over time?](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.09009/) (2023)
- [GPTs are GPTs: An Early Look at the Labor Market Impact Potential of Large Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.10130/) (2023)
- [Is Stack Overflow Obsolete? An Empirical Study of the Characteristics of ChatGPT Answers to Stack Overflow Questions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.02312/) (2023)
- [Are Large Language Models a Threat to Digital Public Goods? Evidence from Activity on Stack Overflow](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.07367/) (2023)
- [AI Oversight and Human Mistakes: Evidence from Centre Court](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.16754/) (2024)

## Built on by (most cited first, 2 of 2)

- [Generative AI in Sociological Research: State of the Discipline](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2511.16884/) (2025)
- [Adoption and Impact of Command-Line AI Coding Agents: A Study of Microsoft's Early 2026 Rollout of Claude Code and GitHub Copilot CLI](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.01418/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We analyse the individual productivity effects of Italy's ban on ChatGPT, a generative pretrained transformer chatbot. We compile data on the daily coding output quantity and quality of over 36,000 GitHub users in Italy and other European countries and combine these data with the sudden announcement of the ban in a difference-in-differences framework. Among the affected users in Italy, we find a short-term increase in output quantity and quality for less experienced users and a decrease in productivity on more routine tasks for experienced users.