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Productivity J-Curve

/ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvɪti dʒeɪ kɜːrv/ The shape of delayed returns.
Definition An economic pattern observed with all General Purpose Technologies (electricity, computers, AI). When a revolutionary technology is introduced, productivity initially drops or stagnates. This is because organizations must invest time and money to restructure their entire way of working to fit the new tool. Only after years of expensive "intangible investment" does the curve swing upward, often decades later (the "Solow Paradox").

The Efficiency Dip

We are currently in the dip. Companies are buying AI, hiring consultants, and retraining staff—all costs that lower immediate output. The "Six-Month Revolution" ignores this fundamental law of economic history.

The Verification Tax

Unique to Generative AI is the "Verification Tax"—or the "Vigilance Burden." Unlike deterministic software (which either works or crashes), probabilistic AI generates confident errors (hallucinations). This forces the human user to act as a permanent debugger, fact-checking every output. This added labor often negates the speed gains of generation, extending the trough of the J-Curve until systems reach "Level 3" maturity (calibrated trust).

Field Notes & Ephemera

Field Note: You cannot put a jet engine on a stagecoach and expect it to fly. You have to build an airport. Building airports takes time.
Stratigraphy (Related Concepts)
Bazaar of Integration Cognitive Offloading Solow Paradox General Purpose Technology Economic History

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