Ark's Wood Sees Leap in AI-Driven Productivity Gains

Cathie Wood, CEO of Ark Invest, highlights a 2.8% year-over-year rise in U.S. nonfarm productivity, attributing the gains to accelerating AI adoption across industries. The 2.8% increase surpasses historical trends, signaling a potential economic shift driven by AI-driven automation and efficiency tools in sectors like manufacturing and services. Wood predicts productivity growth will climb further as AI integration deepens, potentially reshaping labor markets and corporate profitability in the coming years. The comments were made during a March 2026 Bloomberg Television interview, emphasizing AI’s role in sustaining above-trend productivity gains amid global economic uncertainty. Analysts suggest the data could prompt policy debates on AI’s long-term impact, including workforce displacement and the need for reskilling initiatives.