The Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation on Economic Growth: The Case of the Labor Market and Productivity

The article analyzes the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation on economic growth through the labor market and productivity channels. The study uses statistical-comparative, structural and logical analysis methods based on official and international statistical data for Uzbekistan for 2023–2026, the “Digital Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy and the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030, as well as foreign empirical literature. The results show that AI affects growth in three ways: by raising total factor productivity, by reallocating tasks, and by creating new occupations. At the same time, the share of small business in employment (74.9%) is markedly higher than its share in gross domestic product (52.2%), which means that relative labor productivity in this sector is about 70% of the average level. This shows that diffusing AI tools precisely to low-productivity sectors is a major opportunity and, at the same time, a skills challenge. The article concludes with proposals on retraining of personnel, adoption of digital technologies in small business, data infrastructure, and measurement of the effects of AI.