The Wall Street Journal defended publishing an AI-generated op-ed by hedge fund billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller criticizing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s expansion of bond buybacks. Druckenmiller acknowledged hours later that artificial intelligence helped write the letter. The Journal says it uses AI for complex data-driven investigations, article summaries, translations into local languages and website features, with a journalist reviewing work that includes AI inputs before publication. Druckenmiller compared the expansion to a "credible fiscal package" and wrote, "Governments defending prices against fundamentals always lose." Announced on Aug. 19, the expansion initially drove down yields on long-dated bonds, which returned to their original levels the following afternoon. Druckenmiller cited that reversal as evidence of the market’s swift rejection of the policy. Treasury plans to begin increasing purchases of older securities on Sept. 10 to boost demand for long-duration bonds and lower yields. The Treasury Department attributed the expansion to "consistent strong sponsorship from market participants," while Druckenmiller said such sponsorship "is the definition of a healthy market." He previously worked with Bessent at Soros Fund Management in the 1990s and has been described as the Treasury Secretary’s "former mentor." Druckenmiller argues that high yields serve as a natural warning sign of high debt and rising budget deficits. His estimated net worth was $7.8 billion as of Tuesday, up 66% since 2020.