Anthropic economist explores steering AI to augment workers
Anthropic’s Chief Economist Peter B. McCrory said his team is investigating whether the company’s AI can be directed toward helping workers rather than replacing them. At an Institute of Politics forum on Wednesday, McCrory discussed ‘operationalizing directed technical change,’ an economic idea that innovation could be intentionally guided to complement labor. He admitted uncertainty but framed…
Key points
- Anthropic’s economist tests if AI can be steered to augment rather than replace workers
- Claude has not automated every task in any occupation, per Department of Labor data
- McCrory expects AI adoption to widen inequality due to higher-paid user base
McCrory noted AI’s current role in complementing skilled workers, citing no occupation fully automated by Anthropic’s model Claude. He warned adoption trends may widen inequality, as higher-paid workers lead AI uptake. The forum also touched on broader economic impacts, including a question about AI’s role in the U.S. missile strike on Iran’s Minab elementary school, where officials reportedly overrelied on AI-assisted targeting systems. McCrory emphasized Anthropic’s commitment to mitigating risks while ensuring broad benefits.
Anthropic Chief Economist Says Company Is Exploring Ways to Steer AI Toward Augmenting Workers
thecrimson.com · 24 September 2026
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