White House Economist Hassett Says AI Is Creating Jobs, Not Eliminating Them

National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said Monday, September 28, 2026, that artificial intelligence is creating jobs rather than eliminating them, citing academic research showing firms adopting AI see sales, employment and wages rise significantly. "The firms that don't employ AI start to fail," Hassett said in an address to the Economic Club of New York, adding that labor market stress from AI is concentrated among workers at non-adopting firms. His remarks contrast with public sentiment. Pew Research Center found in June that 71% of U.S. adults expect AI to erode employment over the next two decades, with 73% of adults under 30 holding that view — up 12 percentage points in two years. Hassett projected that U.S. AI investment will total $10.3 trillion from 2025 through 2032, averaging 3.63% of GDP annually, and said annual GDP growth could reach 4% absent external shocks. The Atlanta Fed forecasts 5% annualized growth for the third quarter.