Ray Dalio Warns: AI, Robots to Deepen Inequality, Reshape Jobs

* Automation boom may disproportionately benefit the wealthy, requiring new government policies. * Recent job market data and cautious investor sentiment reflect growing economic uncertainty. Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warned on "The Diary of a CEO" podcast that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics could create profound societal and economic imbalances. Dalio described the current excitement around AI as a “crazy boom.” He cautioned that these innovations will disproportionately benefit the wealthiest 1% to 10% of the population while displacing a significant share of the workforce. To meet these challenges effectively, he called for new redistribution policies. Dalio’s comments resonate with recent job market trends. On September 13, 2025, Cryptopolitan reported that U.S. payroll growth averaged only 29,000 jobs per month over June, July, and August 2025, a rate too low to stabilize the unemployment rate. Major sectors, including leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and retail trade, all reported significant job losses. A recent study found that jobs previously exposed to AI have declined by 13% since 2022. Stanford University reported similar decreases for early-career professionals, aged 22 to 25, in AI-affected industries. Dalio also predicted that highly intelligent humanoid robots could replace professionals in fields like law, medicine, and accounting. He emphasized that redistribution policies must go beyond direct cash payments. Handing out money to underutilized workers, he warned, could lead to “unintended consequences.” Other experts echo some of Dalio's concerns. For instance, Roman Yampolskiy, a professor of computer science, argued that while AI might create abundant free time, it could also cause a “99% unemployment rate” as automation extends into both physical and cognitive labor. Meanwhile, market sentiment around AI shows mixed signals. On September 13, CoinDesk reported strong performance in AI stocks, with companies like C3.ai posting substantial gains. However, early September reports from Goldman Sachs indicated that investors are growing more cautious. Ryan Hammond, a U.S. equity strategist at Goldman Sachs, highlighted that AI-related capital expenditures might have already peaked. Goldman noted that reverting to earlier spending levels could affect S&P 500 sales growth, but the firm maintained that current valuations do not suggest an AI bubble.