Cathie Wood Says Spending $4,000 a Month on AI Could Cost Less Than Hiring an Employee

Cathie Wood of ARK Invest believes businesses could increasingly rely on AI tools instead of hiring additional employees.
She says ARK’s chief futurist increased monthly AI spending from around $20 on ChatGPT to between $2,000 and $4,000 across AI tools.
Despite the higher software costs, the company’s CFO reportedly sees no major concern, as the tools could reduce the need to hire and train an assistant.
Wood expects this pattern to spread across businesses, allowing existing employees to handle more work without expanding headcount.
Meanwhile, traders reportedly see a 92% probability of technology layoffs increasing in 2026, highlighting concerns about AI’s potential impact on employment.