We analyse the effects of the ban of ChatGPT, a generative pre-trained transformer chatbot, on individual productivity. We first compile data on the hourly coding output of over 8,000 professional GitHub users in Italy and other European countries to analyse the impact of the ban on individual productivity. Combining the high-frequency data with the sudden announcement of the ban in a difference-in-differences framework, we find that the output of Italian developers decreased by around 50% in the first two business days after the ban and recovered after that. Applying a synthetic control approach to daily Google search and Tor usage data shows that the ban led to a significant increase in the use of censorship bypassing tools. Our findings show that users swiftly implement strategies to bypass Internet restrictions but this adaptation activity creates short-term disruptions and hampers productivity.

翻译：我们分析了禁止使用ChatGPT（一种生成式预训练转换器聊天机器人）对个人生产力的影响。首先，我们整理了意大利及其他欧洲国家超过8000名专业GitHub用户的每小时编码产出数据，以评估该禁令对个人生产力的影响。通过将高频数据与禁令的突然宣布相结合，采用双重差分法，我们发现意大利开发者的产出在禁令实施后的前两个工作日下降了约50%，随后逐步恢复。运用合成控制法分析每日谷歌搜索和Tor使用数据表明，该禁令显著增加了使用规避审查工具的行为。我们的研究结果表明，用户迅速采取策略绕过互联网限制，但这种适应行为造成了短期干扰并阻碍了生产力。