A recent survey by Just Capital highlights a significant divergence between corporate leaders and the American public regarding how profits from artificial intelligence should be utilized. While 63% of the American public and 67% of institutional investors and analysts believe AI-driven profit gains should be reinvested in workers, corporate leaders prioritize reinvesting in research and development (R&D) and delivering returns to shareholders. The data shows that 72% of corporate leaders favor R&D reinvestment, while 54% prioritize shareholder returns.

Just Capital CEO Martin Whittaker noted that these gaps exist between how corporate leaders view AI deployment and the expectations of the public and investors. He emphasized that while the public recognizes the economic upside of AI, they require assurance that they will benefit from these gains. Companies that successfully address this concern may be rewarded with greater trust and a stronger license to operate as the AI transition progresses.

The survey, which is the third wave of Just Capital's quarterly assessment, indicates shifting perceptions about the economy. Public optimism regarding the positive effect of AI on economic growth climbed 12 points, rising from 47% in Fall 2025 to 59% in Summer 2026. Despite this optimism, concerns about large-scale job losses persist among the public, particularly regarding fewer entry-level positions.

Corporate expectations regarding workforce impact have also shifted. The share of corporate leaders anticipating large-scale job losses within the next two to three years nearly doubled, increasing from 13% in Spring 2026 to 22% in Summer 2026. However, there are indications that leaders are beginning to address these concerns. The percentage of corporate leaders willing to dedicate more than 5% of AI investment to support displaced workers has more than doubled in the past six months, moving from 9% in Fall 2025 to 17% in Summer 2026.

Key Survey Findings

The following table summarizes the primary data points from the third wave of the survey conducted in Summer 2026:

Anthony Scaramucci, former White House communications director, argued that the current immigration debate in the United States is fundamentally rooted in economic insecurity and affordability rather than racism. He stated that when households face financial strain, immigrants often become the target of public frustration.

Scaramucci made these remarks in a post on X on Wednesday. He noted that economic concerns consistently rank among the top issues for American voters, particularly as inflation remains at its highest level since April 2023. Households are feeling the financial strain due to the rising cost of housing, healthcare, and education.

"But when you're in decline, when the affordability crisis has you missing mortgage payments, skipping the dentist, watching your kids fall behind where you were at their age, the immigrants become the threat," Scaramucci said. He added that periods of economic decline fuel a search for scapegoats because "fear needs somewhere to land."

Scaramucci emphasized that anti-immigrant sentiment is frequently a byproduct of personal economic panic. "That’s not racism. That’s economics," he stated. He suggested that addressing affordability and restoring economic mobility would do more to ease tensions surrounding immigration, arguing that if policymakers "fix the economics and you fix a lot of the rest."

The comments come as immigration remains a defining political issue during Donald Trump's presidency. The administration has made border security, deportations, and immigration enforcement central pillars of its agenda. The debate is unfolding alongside persistent concerns about affordability and the cost of living, which are top priorities for voters ahead of the November mid-term elections.