Ray Dalio: The US Economy is Dependent on Artificial Intelligence!

Ray Dalio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, holds a pessimistic view regarding the United States economy. Even with the rapidly rising stock market and increasing gross domestic product (GDP), Dalio points out that this optimistic outlook conceals future economic challenges.

Dalio emphasized that the economy's heavy reliance on the top 1% of the workforce is a significant issue. He also noted that the stock market and the economy, which are closely tied to artificial intelligence (AI), are fraught with challenges faced by workers in numerous sectors. In a statement at the Fortune Global Forum, he said, "You can't look at the US in general today."

At the same time, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) is planning to lay off over 14,000 corporate employees, exemplifying the impact of AI on the labor market. This represents about 10% of the company's corporate workforce. Companies continually seek new ways to enhance revenue and profit margins, and AI is seen as a tool to achieve these goals.

The retail sector has long been using self-checkout systems to reduce cashier dependency. Artificial intelligence is not only affecting the retail workforce; the British Film Institute released a report indicating that AI threatens the economic foundation of the UK's screen sector. This development is also concerning for Hollywood.

Dalio's concerns stem from considering the impact of artificial intelligence on GDP. The expenditures on AI by notable technology companies significantly contributed 1.1% to GDP growth in the first half of 2025. During this period, AI contributed more to GDP growth than the spending of American consumers.

In contrast, the potential for artificial intelligence to become an economic growth engine carries the risk of creating greater inequality between AI workers and others. Dalio notes that 60% of workers are inefficient, and this percentage could rise with the increase in the AI workforce. If jobs are replaced by AI, it is likely that consumers will have less money to spend.

It is important to note that the economy has not yet reached this stage; however, as the impact of AI on the workforce continues, considering consumption patterns becomes crucial.