Podcast Summary: Ark Invest CEO and CIO Cathie Wood Talks Tech, Tesla and Deregulation

Podcast: Bloomberg Talks
Host(s): Carol Massar, Tim Stanwick
Guest: Cathie Wood (CEO & CIO, ARK Invest)
Air Date: January 22, 2026

Overview

In this engaging episode, Cathie Wood returns to discuss ARK Invest’s outlook for 2026, focusing on the profound impacts of emerging technologies, the changing economic and regulatory landscape in the United States, and her firm’s investment themes. Topics covered include U.S. corporate tax changes, the AI and data center boom, Tesla's future as a robotics and AI company, regulatory shifts under President Trump, fund flows, and investment ideas for the coming year.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. U.S. vs. Global Stock Performance

[00:32 - 01:56]

• The U.S. stock market has achieved significant multi-year gains, but international equities have outperformed U.S. stocks in the past year.
• Cathie Wood expresses optimism about U.S. equities due to anticipated deregulation, lower taxes, and lower inflation domestically.

Quote:

“We think the combination of deregulation, lower taxes, and what we believe will be much lower inflation and interest rates in the U.S. is going to drive returns on invested capital here up relative to the rest of the world.”
(Cathie Wood, 01:56)

2. Corporate Tax Reform and Investment Incentives

[01:56 - 03:58]

• Emphasizes the underappreciated effects of the new U.S. depreciation schedules, which allow for full, first-year depreciation of manufacturing, domestic R&D, and software investments.
• Predicts that the effective corporate tax rate in the U.S. will fall to around 10%, one of the lowest globally.
• This is expected to stimulate massive capital investment and innovation.

Quote:

“We’ve never had full depreciation in year one of manufacturing facilities... Corporations will get huge tax refunds that they will be able to reinvest into innovation.”
(Cathie Wood, 02:51)

3. The AI and Data Center Investment Boom

[03:58 - 05:21]

• Cathie sees AI infrastructure investment as underpinned by new depreciation rules, benefiting data centers, power facilities, and related industries.
• Investment in data centers reached $500 billion last year; she forecasts this needs to rise to $1.4 trillion in five years to keep pace with AI demand.

Quote:

“We think that number needs to go to $1.4 trillion in the next five years to accommodate the AI boom ... it's going to drive productivity gains incredibly.”
(Cathie Wood, 04:20)

4. 2026 Economic Outlook & The Technology Revolution

[05:21 - 07:35]

• Cathie frames our era as a historic technology revolution comprising five converging platforms:
  • Robotics
  • Energy Storage
  • AI
  • Blockchain
  • Multi-omic sequencing
• Compares anticipated investment levels (~12% of GDP) to prior revolutions such as railroads and automobiles.
• Predicts sustained U.S. productivity growth of 4-6% and potential real GDP growth above 7% by the decade's end.

Quote:

“We believe this five-platform innovation strategy or boom is going to move to 12% of GDP ... by the end of this decade, real GDP growth could be averaging more than 7% per year.”
(Cathie Wood, 06:35)

5. Labor Market, Jobs, and the AI Revolution

[07:35 - 10:46]

• Addresses concerns about AI-driven job losses; argues that technology is historically a net job creator.
• Sees burgeoning opportunities in space exploration and digital property rights via blockchain.
• Notes a jump in youth unemployment (ages 16-24 at 12%) and encourages entrepreneurial solutions, leveraging AI tools.

Quote:

“We cannot imagine the kinds of jobs that are going to exist in the future … I think we’re going to see an entrepreneurial explosion here.”
(Cathie Wood, 09:00)

6. Tesla: Beyond Automobiles—Robotics and AI

[10:46 - 12:35]

• Projects that Tesla’s main value in the future will derive from Robo-taxis and robotics (e.g., Optimus humanoid robots), not just electric vehicles.
• Predicts Robo-taxis will represent 90% of Tesla’s valuation by 2030, with a $26 trillion opportunity for humanoid robots in homes and manufacturing.

Quote:

“Tesla is not an auto company ... Robo-taxis we believe will account for 90% of Tesla’s valuation by the end of the decade ... humanoid robots evolving into a $26 trillion opportunity.”
(Cathie Wood, 11:20)

7. Deregulation and the Trump Administration

[12:52 - 15:02]

• Discusses ongoing deregulation efforts, highlighting a notable shift in healthcare: the FDA no longer requires animal testing for monoclonal antibodies.
• Praises the FDA’s embrace of AI and encourages regulated companies to adopt AI.
• Points to nuclear energy as a critical area where deregulation could lower U.S. electricity prices significantly over time.

Quote:

“We’re seeing amazing deregulation in healthcare ... the FDA has decided that animal testing is no longer necessary for monoclonal antibodies.”
(Cathie Wood, 13:20)

8. ARK Fund Flows and Sector Spotlights

[15:02 - 17:03]

• Reports strong ETF inflows in 2026, particularly in space exploration/defense and autonomous technology/robotics funds.
• Notes renewed investor interest in genomic innovation as efficiency improves and early disease cures appear via AI and sequencing.

Quote:

“Year to date, ETFs have roughly $1 billion in inflows – heavily skewed to space exploration and defense ... now many people are beginning to understand we’re seeing cures to disease, we’re seeing early diagnosis thanks to AI and sequencing technologies.”
(Cathie Wood, 15:30 & 16:20)

9. Top Investment Ideas for 2026

[17:03 - 18:04]

• Top three ARK flagship holdings: Tesla, Crispr Therapeutics, (third not named in this segment).
• Tesla: Expected to “break out in a big way” as more analysts research Robo-taxis.
• Crispr Therapeutics: Highlighted for curing sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, and potentially hereditary cholesterol issues.

Quote:

“Tesla ... has miles to go ... Crispr Therapeutics has moved into the second position – that company is curing sickle cell disease ... could be an enormous market and I don’t think anyone is doing the modeling work there the way we are.”
(Cathie Wood, 17:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On changing the economic paradigm:

  “Real GDP growth could be averaging more than 7% per year. I know that sounds shocking ... but it is the history associated with technology revolutions.”
  (Cathie Wood, 06:55)

• On AI-driven entrepreneurship:

  “Now you can go to ChatGPT, you can go to Grok, and you can have an assistant help you build out that business ... I think we’re going to see entrepreneurial explosion here.”
  (Cathie Wood, 10:15)

• On Tesla’s future:

  “If Optimus is successful ... humanoid robots evolving into a $26 trillion opportunity, half in the home, half in manufacturing plants.”
  (Cathie Wood, 11:54)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | End | |-------------------------------------------------------|---------|---------| | U.S. vs Global Stocks & Corporate Tax | 00:32 | 03:58 | | AI/Data Center Investment | 03:58 | 05:21 | | Economic Outlook & Five Technology Platforms | 05:21 | 07:35 | | Labor Market & AI Era Jobs | 07:35 | 10:46 | | Tesla's Future: Robotics, AI, and Value Drivers | 10:46 | 12:35 | | Deregulation: Healthcare, FDA, Energy | 12:52 | 15:02 | | ARK Fund Flows & Genomics Innovation | 15:02 | 17:03 | | Top Investment Picks for 2026 | 17:03 | 18:04 |

Conclusion

This episode provides an energizing and detailed look into the future of investing through emerging technologies and regulatory shifts, as seen by Cathie Wood. ARK Invest is placing its bets on disruptive technology platforms, a revitalized U.S. investment climate, and the long-term promise of innovations like Robo-taxis and gene-editing therapeutics.