Anthropic Launches Its Economic Futures Program: Mapping AI’s Impact on Tomorrow’s Economy
Introduction
Anthropic, the AI research company behind the Claude language model, has unveiled its Economic Futures Program. This new initiative will fund and guide research into how advanced AI systems might transform global economies, labor markets, productivity, inequality and more. By investing in clear, evidence-based studies now, Anthropic hopes to help governments, businesses and communities prepare for rapid shifts ahead.
Why It Matters
As AI models grow smarter, they can automate tasks, boost company profits and reshape industries. But they can also widen skill gaps, disrupt jobs and strain public budgets. We need solid data and creative thinking today to make good policy choices tomorrow. Anthropic’s program aims to fill that gap by bringing together economists, sociologists, data scientists and policymakers to explore scenarios, test ideas and share insights.
Program Details
• Funding and Scope
– Anthropic has earmarked up to $20 million over two years to support research.
– Grants will range from $100,000 to $1 million per project.
– Roughly 10 to 15 research teams will be selected in the first round.
• Research Themes
1. Productivity and Growth: How will AI models affect GDP, innovation rates and industry output?
2. Labor Markets: Which jobs and skills are most at risk or poised for growth? How can workers adapt?
3. Inequality and Inclusion: Will AI widen income gaps within and between countries?
4. Policy and Governance: What tax, education and social safety-net policies will help societies thrive?
5. Global Development: Can AI accelerate growth in emerging economies, or will it create new bottlenecks?
• Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
– Awarded teams will join a network of scholars, technologists and policy experts.
– Anthropic will host virtual workshops, quarterly check-ins and public webinars.
– All non-proprietary findings, data sets and models will be made open access.
• Timeline
– Application window opens now and closes on August 15, 2025.
– Grant recipients will be announced in November 2025.
– First public workshop is scheduled for January 2026.
What Anthropic Says
“We believe economics holds the key to ensuring AI benefits all,” says Jack Clark, Head of Strategy at Anthropic. “By funding rigorous, open research today, we can guide policy and industry toward positive outcomes and avoid pitfalls. Our aim is to build a vibrant community of experts who tackle these questions head-on.”
How Researchers Can Apply
Eligible applicants include academic institutions, think tanks, nonprofit research groups and multi-disciplinary teams. Proposals should:
• Define clear research questions linked to one of the program themes.
• Demonstrate a solid research plan with data sources and methods.
• Outline expected deliverables—reports, data releases, policy briefs or software tools.
• Commit to open-access sharing of non-sensitive findings.
Applications are reviewed by a committee of economists, AI specialists and policy experts. Anthropic will provide feedback to all shortlisted teams, whether or not they receive funding.
Why This Program Stands Out
1. Scale: Few private AI firms have allocated tens of millions of dollars to economic research.
2. Interdisciplinarity: It bridges computer science, economics, sociology and public policy.
3. Openness: All non-confidential work will be shared, fostering wider collaboration.
Potential Outcomes
• Robust forecasts of AI’s contribution to global GDP over the next decade.
• Detailed maps of which occupations are most vulnerable to automation.
• Policy toolkits for governments to retrain workers or adjust tax frameworks.
• Case studies on how AI can boost productivity in manufacturing, healthcare, education and agriculture.
• New metrics to track AI’s impact beyond mere output—such as well-being, job quality and digital inclusion.
3 Key Takeaways
• Anthropic commits $20 million over two years to study AI’s economic effects.
• Grants of up to $1 million will back 10–15 interdisciplinary teams.
• Research will be open access and tied to themes like growth, labor, inequality and policy.
3-Question FAQ
Q1: Who can apply for the Economic Futures Program?
A1: Universities, think tanks, nonprofit labs and mixed teams of economists, data scientists and policy experts. Individual researchers can join multi-person teams.
Q2: What kinds of projects does Anthropic want to fund?
A2: Projects that explore AI’s impact on GDP, jobs, income distribution, global development or related policy questions. Proposals should offer clear methods and promise open-access outputs.
Q3: How will research findings be shared?
A3: Anthropic will host workshops, publish reports on its website, and deposit data and code in open repositories. Sensitive or proprietary details will be protected, but core insights will be public.
Call to Action
Are you ready to shape the future of work and policy in the AI era? Visit www.anthropic.com/economic-futures to learn more about the Economic Futures Program, download application materials and submit your proposal by August 15, 2025. Join a community committed to building a fair and flourishing economic future with AI.
By investing now in rigorous, open research, we can turn uncertainty into opportunity—and guide AI toward benefits that reach everyone.
