AI investment triggers ‘Dutch disease’ in the United States

The United States is experiencing a phenomenon described as ‘Dutch disease’ due to the rapid surge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) investment. This economic trend occurs when a sudden boom in a specific sector—in this case, AI and the construction of data centers—monopolizes capital, energy, and labor, potentially neglecting other vital industries like housing.

Economist Jason Furman of Harvard University suggested that investment in technology and software accounted for 92% of U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025, even as non-technological sectors faced difficulties. While the AI boom is driving significant growth, there are concerns regarding the nature of the labor market shifts.

Reports indicate that AI-related activities have created approximately one million jobs in the U.S., largely driven by infrastructure and data center construction, while roughly 200,000 jobs have been lost due to automation. However, questions remain regarding the long-term stability, wages, and career progression of these new roles compared to the positions they replace.