economy

Fed Governor Cook Addresses AI's Economic Impact at Oakland Tech Week

Summarized from FRB: Speeches

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook spoke at Oakland Tech Week on artificial intelligence and its implications for the broader U.S. economy.

Fed Governor Cook Addresses AI's Economic Impact at Oakland Tech Week

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook delivered opening remarks at Oakland Tech Week, an event cohosted by the Kapor Center in Oakland, California, offering the central bank's perspective on how artificial intelligence is shaping economic conditions across the United States.

The appearance signals growing Fed interest in understanding AI's role as a structural force in labor markets, productivity, and financial stability — areas the central bank monitors closely as it sets monetary policy. Cook's willingness to engage with a technology-focused audience underscores the Fed's effort to broaden its analytical lens beyond traditional macroeconomic indicators.

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Oakland Tech Week, held in partnership with the Kapor Center — an organization focused on tech equity and inclusion — provided a platform that brought together innovation leaders and policymakers. The venue choice reflects ongoing conversations about whether the economic benefits of AI will be broadly distributed or concentrated among a narrow slice of industries and workers.

While the full text of Cook's remarks was not detailed in the source, Fed officials have increasingly flagged AI as a topic warranting serious examination, given its potential to reshape employment patterns, boost productivity, and introduce new risks to financial systems. Any signals from a sitting governor on these themes carry weight for markets and policymakers alike.

Continue reading at FRB: Speeches for the full text of Governor Cook's prepared remarks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q.Who is Lisa Cook and why is she speaking about AI?

Lisa Cook is a Governor on the Federal Reserve Board. She delivered opening remarks at Oakland Tech Week to address how artificial intelligence is affecting the U.S. economy, a topic of growing relevance to the Fed's policy work.

Q.What is the Kapor Center and why did it cohost this event?

The Kapor Center is an organization focused on technology equity and inclusion. It cohosted Oakland Tech Week, providing a venue that connects innovation leaders with broader conversations about equitable economic outcomes from emerging technologies like AI.

Q.Why does the Federal Reserve care about artificial intelligence?

The Federal Reserve monitors AI because of its potential to reshape labor markets, boost productivity, and introduce new financial stability risks — all of which influence the economic conditions the central bank must assess when setting monetary policy.

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