# Patterson Says AI Investment May Add to Inflation and Borrowing Pressures

By Token Post

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/insights/38661
Published: 2026-10-23T04:00:10.000Z
Updated: 2026-10-23T04:00:10.000Z
Section: Insights & Views

> In Oct. 7 comments, she said AI spending could support growth while competing for workers, materials and financing.

Rebecca Patterson, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, said Oct. 7 that AI investment could support U.S. growth while intensifying competition for workers, materials and financing.

Patterson said construction workers and materials used for AI projects could be harder for other sectors to secure. She also said AI-related borrowing could compete with financing for corporations and the federal government.

She cited a 4.2% U.S. unemployment rate for September 2026 and said inflation was above the Federal Reserve’s target. Patterson also said the U.S. would issue about $2 trillion in debt in 2026 to fund the deficit.

The fiscal 2026 budget deficit was estimated at $2.0 trillion. That deficit estimate is a separate measure from gross Treasury debt issuance.