As concerns over artificial intelligence triggering mass unemployment continue to stir public and political debate, David Sacks, the Trump administration’s AI and crypto czar, is pushing back—hard. Speaking Tuesday at the Amazon Web Services summit in Washington, D.C., Sacks dismissed predictions of large-scale job losses as overblown and driven by what he called a “doomer cult” that is misjudging both the risks and the opportunities of AI.

“Personally, I don’t think it’s going to lead to a giant wave of unemployment,” Sacks said. “It’s actually very hard to replace a human job entirely. It’s easier to replace pieces of it.”

A Growing Divide in AI Forecasts

Sacks’ remarks come in stark contrast to recent warnings from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who cautioned last week that AI could eliminate up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years. In interviews, Amodei emphasized the speed of innovation as a key threat, arguing that humans may not adapt fast enough to the pace of AI advancement.

“I think we do need to be raising the alarm,” Amodei told CNN. “AI is starting to get better than humans at almost all intellectual tasks.”

But Sacks maintains that the apocalyptic job-loss predictions are overblown and overlook AI’s potential to drive U.S. economic growth, not stall it. He argued that AI would enhance productivity, not replace it wholesale, and could push economic growth rates to 4–5% annually.

An Optimist’s Perspective—with Caveats

Sacks did not completely dismiss the challenges AI poses. He acknowledged that disruption is inevitable and that retraining workers and students will be essential to ensure people can shift into new roles created by AI.

“There will be some retraining that is required, and I don’t want to minimize that,” he said. “But I think it’s going to be a really bright future.”

His optimism, however, was coupled with a warning against overregulation. Sacks argued that restrictive AI policy could choke innovation and hamstring U.S. competitiveness—particularly as China races to close the gap in AI capabilities.

AI and National Security: A Narrowing Race with China

Sacks also sounded the alarm on China’s rapidly advancing AI capabilities, warning that Beijing is only three to six months behind the U.S. in terms of technological development.

“China is not years behind us in AI,” he said. “It’s a very close race.”

This competitive urgency is informing the Trump administration’s approach to AI regulation. President Trump is currently pushing for a 10-year moratorium on enforcement of state-level AI regulations, including those that target hiring discrimination or explicit deepfake content—drawing sharp criticism from advocacy groups and academics.

Public Concern, Private Acceleration

Despite reassurances from officials like Sacks, a recent Pew Research survey found that 65% of U.S. adults believe AI will reduce jobs in the next 20 years. More than half say they are “extremely” or “very” concerned about job losses due to AI.

That anxiety reflects a growing disconnect between government optimism, corporate acceleration, and public unease. Tech leaders continue to push for faster deployment, while civil society groups warn that social safeguards and ethical guardrails remain underdeveloped.

Amodei, despite his own AI enthusiasm, reflected this tension in a comment that encapsulates the dual-edged nature of the technology:

“AI could one day help cure cancer. But at what cost in terms of jobs?”

The Debate Continues

David Sacks believes the right response to AI’s rise isn’t fear—it’s preparation and momentum. His vision is one of economic growth, upskilling, and global leadership in AI innovation. But critics argue that failing to take job displacement seriously—especially among vulnerable entry-level workers—could lead to deeper inequality and social disruption.

As Washington weighs its next steps, one thing is clear: The AI debate is no longer just technical or economic—it is deeply political.