The Application of AI in 90% of Cases Has Not Led to an Increase in Labor Productivity — Sechin

In 90% of cases, the application of artificial intelligence technologies has had no effect on labor productivity, stated Igor Sechin, Executive Secretary of the Commission under the President of the Russian Federation for Strategic Development of the Fuel and Energy Sector and Environmental Security, at the Energy Panel of the XXIX St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

He noted that significant growth in labor productivity is expected from artificial intelligence and robotization. McKinsey experts estimate the total economic potential of artificial intelligence in the range of 17 to 26 trillion dollars.

"According to recent research, about 70% of companies around the world actively use artificial intelligence in their work. However, in 90 percent of cases over the past three years, the use of these technologies has not affected labor productivity in any way," emphasized Sechin.

According to Igor Sechin, this phenomenon was described by Nobel laureate in economics Robert Solow 40 years ago. The author wrote, "you can see the computer age everywhere except in productivity statistics," and the Solow paradox is that labor productivity growth in the US in 1970-1980 slowed by two percentage points, to 1%, despite a nearly 100-fold increase in computing power.

"Despite the low returns on AI investments, the share of software in the capital expenditures of high-tech companies accounts for 35%-45%, while in the industrial sector, it reaches up to 15%. Furthermore, these investments are exempt from property tax," noted Sechin.

He emphasized that new technologies are forming a transition to a new socio-economic order. "We're talking about fundamental changes in the development of society as a whole, with robots replacing humans. Demographics and a human being as a personality could lose their significance in the face of an army of machines if we just passively watch. We must clearly understand what kind of genie we're letting out of the lamp," said Sechin.

At the same time, it is no longer just business leaders who are talking about the risks associated with artificial intelligence, but also religious authorities. Igor Sechin mentioned that it was exactly this topic that the first encyclical " Magnifica humanitas " by Pope Leo XIV was dedicated to, which spoke that "AI must serve humanity not concentrate power".

Sechin also pointed out the strengthening connection of technology companies with the US defense complex - the value of contracts numbers in the tens of billions of dollars. He recalled that Anthropic's technologies were used in Pentagon operations, and cooperation was implemented through Palantir - a key contractor of the American defense sector.

" Intelligent systems for controlling people on the battlefield are being tested. People are effectively becoming expendable combat robots controlled by artificial intelligence. The situation could become unmanageable. What logic will artificial intelligence use to make decisions: commercial, political, or military?", summarized Sechin.

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Rosneft Oil Company
June 6, 2026