ZeroHedge posted on X on Monday, October 12, 2026, sharing analysis from Rabobank regarding the Federal Reserve's current stance on artificial intelligence and inflation. The post stated: "Rabobank: 'Warsh's proposal to incorporate the deflationary effects of AI into the Fed's forecasts also seems to have been delayed, as Fed members are currently more concerned with its short-term inflationary effects. These are not contradictory schools of thought on AI: the short-term costs of adoption may ultimately be priced out, while long-term productivity gains could drive disinflation within the next few years, according to the Fed's Lisa Cook. For now, however, AI appears to be inflationary, particularly with respect to computer software and accessories, which have bucked the deflationary trend for the first time since 1998, with prices continuing to rise since the beginning of 2026'".
The report comes as the Federal Reserve grapples with economic signals. Recent Gokhshtein Media coverage noted that a software price surge has already forced the Fed to shelve Warsh's AI disinflationary case. This suggests that the immediate costs associated with AI adoption, particularly in software and related accessories, are currently outweighing any potential long-term disinflationary benefits from productivity gains.
The Rabobank analysis implies that the Federal Reserve's focus remains on containing immediate price pressures, driven by the costs of AI integration. This perspective suggests that policymakers will continue to monitor the short-term inflationary effects, potentially influencing monetary policy decisions until the longer-term disinflationary impact from productivity gains becomes more evident.
