What Peter Thiel has said about Artificial intelligence

Thiel predicts AI will substantially increase productivity and act as a disinflationary force.

“I think in aggregate, on a macroeconomic level, AI will increase productivity a lot. It will be a fairly disinflationary force in our economy”

The Builders: Peter Thiel: “We Need to Hit the Accelerator as Hard as Possible” on AI (Oct 22, 2026) · Listen from 11:51

Thiel says AI startup pitches are strong on growth but weak on explaining any monopoly, suggesting benefits will be widely distributed.

“they're narratives of growth, of terrific technology. They are incredibly weak on the monopoly story”

The Builders: Peter Thiel: “We Need to Hit the Accelerator as Hard as Possible” on AI (Oct 22, 2026) · Listen from 12:45

Thiel argues that banning AI would leave the U.S. with almost no economic growth, resembling Europe or Japan.

“But I would say if we had outlawed the internet and if we now outlaw AI, there will be virtually no growth”

The Builders: Peter Thiel: “We Need to Hit the Accelerator as Hard as Possible” on AI (Oct 22, 2026) · Listen from 19:29

Thiel argues the internet did not generate enough growth and that AI is a bigger technology than the internet.

“The problem in some ways was that the internet wasn't big enough. It added some growth. It wasn't big enough. I think AI is bigger than the internet”

The Builders: Peter Thiel: “We Need to Hit the Accelerator as Hard as Possible” on AI (Oct 22, 2026) · Listen from 21:17

Thiel says he views AI leaders such as Musk, Amodei and Altman as more good than bad and easily scapegoated.

“I score them as far more good than bad across the board. I think they very easily get demonized and scapegoated”

The Builders: Peter Thiel: “We Need to Hit the Accelerator as Hard as Possible” on AI (Oct 22, 2026) · Listen from 55:14