Anthropic's Jack Clark: AI could lift US GDP to $44 trillion by 2030

what happened

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark said artificial intelligence could speed up economic growth and scientific discovery far beyond automating today's jobs. Speaking at the 2026 Per Jacobsson Foundation Lecture, held on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, he cited a scenario modeled by Anthropic economists. In it, US GDP reaches roughly $44 trillion by 2030, almost 50% above the current $30.77 trillion.

Clark argued that AI is no longer just getting better at tasks people already do. He said models are beginning to accelerate the research process itself and called it a feedback loop: stronger AI helps make discoveries, those discoveries improve infrastructure, and better infrastructure enables even more capable systems. He also warned that policymakers have “a small number of years” to prepare for risks, including biological and cyber weapons.

Stocktwits reported that in after-hours trading on Friday, SPY, which tracks the S&P 500, slipped 0.26%, QQQ lost 0.27%, and DIA fell 0.21%. The AIQ fund dropped about 3.2% during Friday's session, while IYW declined nearly 3%. Retail sentiment toward the S&P 500 ETF was bearish at the time of writing.

why it matters

Technology funds fell more sharply than the broader market that day, so AI-linked stocks remain sensitive to statements about future growth. Forecasts of this kind are speculative, and investors will likely weigh them against company valuations and regulatory risks rather than treat them as a near-term earnings signal.

market impact

US tech stocks: AI growth forecasts draw attention, though tech ETFs fell on the session

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