Artificial intelligence and data center spending are delaying the return of inflation to the Federal Reserve's 2% target, Governor Lisa Cook said. Cook identified the technology as the primary economic risk for 2027, warning that current inflationary pressures are not slowing down and questioning when productivity gains will be sufficient to offset the cost of the AI buildout.

Price pressures in the coming months will likely be sustained by AI demand and supply chain disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East and higher oil prices, according to Cook. While she warned that the U.S. was under-prepared for a related skills shortage, she stated that the current labor market is strong enough to withstand a potential increase in interest rates.