A co-founder of Anthropic has projected that sustained advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology could boost the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) by about 50% over a four-year period.

Jack Clark, co-founder and head of policy at Anthropic, made the remarks during a speech on the 17th (local time) at the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank held in Bangkok, Thailand, according to Reuters.

Citing the company's internal analytical models, Clark presented figures suggesting that the current U.S. GDP of USD 30 trillion could reach USD 44 trillion by 2030.

"I know this number sounds very weird," he acknowledged, explaining that AI is dramatically accelerating scientific discoveries.

He added that this outlook is based on the premise that technology will continue to advance, noting that if such economic expansion materializes, it will generate new industries and inventions to drive it.

A rosy future will unfold in which AI solves various challenges such as mathematics, engineering, biological problems, and new drug development, with human researchers receiving assistance from hundreds to thousands of AI helpers, he projected.

While acknowledging the reality of AI-driven layoffs and unemployment, he mentioned that in fields like scientific research, AI is actually boosting employment and holds the potential to create jobs in entirely new industries.

However, he also warned that as the pace of AI development quickens, evidence is mounting regarding a "singularity" where AI could surpass human control.

"By being able to use AI for science, we are exposed to the misuse of science, like biology, cyberweapons, or things we can't yet imagine, and we have to make many choices," he pointed out.

Amid a recent series of incidents where AI agents hacked external institutions without human direction, he emphasized that "AI is still under human control," while noting that there are now only a few years left to establish safety measures to prevent AI from escaping control.

Jack Clark, a former Bloomberg reporter, joined OpenAI in 2016 and later left OpenAI in 2021 along with Dario Amodei and others to co-found Anthropic.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)