Using artificial intelligence for economic research: An agricultural odyssey

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence tools have been shown to substantially increase productivity in a range of different contexts. I discuss the potential and limitations of the current models, and the evidence on how economic researchers can best make use of generative artificial intelligence in their work. To illustrate these points, I show how the data analysis tools of ChatGPT can be used to address a specific question: the accuracy of agricultural forecasts—and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of artificial intelligence in data cleaning, data analysis and producing graphs and illustrations.