Cathie Wood tells CNBC that AI-driven growth above 7% may soon look "conservative," reshaping GDP, rates and oil prices.

Cathie Wood said on Friday that artificial intelligence could lead to economic growth of over 7% per year globally in the next three to five years. That would be more than the economic growth of the Industrial Revolution.

The ARK Invest CEO and CIO made these comments on the CNBC interview show "Squawk Box" which was published September 25, 2026.

At a glance: Wood predicts that real GDP growth will be over 7% for several years, nominal GDP growth of 6% to 8% and eventually rise to 5-7%. She also predicts that oil could eventually settle near $30-$35 a barrel as electric transportation cuts into its demand. The interview took place that morning following U.S. futures ticked up and oil fell roughly 2%.

What did Cathie Wood say about artificial intelligence and economic growth?

Her comments were blunt: "We think that during the next three to five years, we will be seeing regularly and perhaps on average growth north of 7%," Wood said. Then she added, "I actually think that 7% is going to look conservative in hindsight."

This is no small statement, as economic growth has not historically approached this rate.

Why does Cathie Wood compare artificial intelligence to the Industrial Revolution?

Wood cited the economic growth during the Industrial Revolution. Previously, the world's real GDP growth averaged just 0.6% annually for approximately 400 years before the Industrial Revolution raised it to around 3%. Wood said that the current situation could actually surpass the Industrial Revolution growth, since artificial intelligence is not advancing alone, but also converges with the advance of robotics, energy storage, blockchain infrastructure and multiomic sequencing.

What will artificial intelligence mean for interest rates and national debt?

More economic growth, Wood argued, will change the dynamics between government debt and taxes. Rather than the government relying on higher taxes to offset deficits, Wood thinks that the productivity gains of artificial intelligence could allow the economy to grow its way out of its debt problem. Wood also cited the late 1800s and early 1900s as a time when inverted yield curves did not always indicate an oncoming recession; she used this as an argument to dismiss the importance of today's yield curve.

What did Cathie Wood say about oil prices?

Wood said that electric transportation was driving down the demand for oil. She said that 57% of global oil demand is for transportation and she therefore expects crude prices to eventually fall to $30-$35 a barrel; not as a crash in the short term, but rather a long-term new normal. WTI crude was trading near $92 a barrel on Friday morning, so this would be a significant move lower if it occurs.

How did the market react to Cathie Wood's comments?

ARKK, the flagship ETF for ARK Invest, rose about 0.6% in premarket trading. More generally, the futures for the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq-100 tracking funds all ticked up on the morning of the interview.

More to Know: Wood made these comments as the market was volatile for stocks. The Dow was poised to have a fourth consecutive week of declines as of Thursday, but the Nasdaq had risen over the same period.

Additionally, Wood's comments about oil prices came the same day as rumors of renewed talks to open the Strait of Hormuz, which had pressurized crude prices.

Business Fortune believes, Wood's comments reflect ARK's thesis: disruptive technology compounds faster than most economists believe and the current artificial intelligence cycle is no exception. Realizing a growth rate of 7% would be a forecast, not a fact.

FAQs

What did Cathie Wood say about artificial intelligence and economic growth?

She said that artificial intelligence could lead to economic growth of over 7% annually globally in the next three to five years.

How does Cathie Wood's artificial intelligence growth forecast compare to the Industrial Revolution?

She said that the convergence of technologies like artificial intelligence, robotics, energy storage, etc. could produce economic growth larger than the jump from 0.6% to around 3% seen in the Industrial Revolution.

What oil price does Cathie Wood expect?

She expects that the demand for oil will eventually cause crude prices to settle near $30-$35 a barrel.

Did Cathie Wood's comments affect the stock market?

ARKK rose about 0.6% in premarket trading and the S&P 500, Dow and Nasdaq-100 tracking funds all had small gains on the morning of the interview.

Where can I see Cathie Wood's full CNBC interview?

The full CNBC interview with Wood was broadcast on CNBC's "Squawk Box" and is available on CNBC's video website, dated September 25, 2026.

Sources
Stocktwits . CNBC