Because here’s the thing: if AI can help us cut costs or slash the time we spend on making things or providing services, it could bring down the costs of production, and therefore the prices we pay for these things. The bank didn’t necessarily blame this on AI, but it did note that “stronger-than-expected growth in AI and related technology prices” might flow through to higher costs for companies, which could then be passed on to customers. Of course, over a longer time period – perhaps a decade or two – we may have figured out the best rules and uses for AI, and it’s very possible that the costs of building and using AI will be lower, leaving us with greater capacity in the economy, higher productivity, and lower prices.