Artificial Intelligence

AI Anxiety Sparks Chip Stock Sell-Off Across Global Markets

Is the AI boom a structural economic shift or an unsustainable bubble masking deeper weaknesses?

Published 6 days ago

AI Anxiety Sparks Chip Stock Sell-Off Across Global Markets

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Above: A stock index board displaying the Kospi after the close of trading in Seoul on July 28. Image credit: Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

The so-called fears around an AI bubble are greatly overblown. The truth is that the fundamentals are solid, with S&P 500 earnings skyrocketing and data center vacancy rates at record lows. Demand for AI compute is also outpacing supply, hyperscalers are seeing real cash flow and AI systems are seeing record numbers of users. This is symbolic of a structural shift in the economy, rather than merely speculative hype.

J.P. Morgan UBS Global Wealth Management

Establishment-critical narrative

Runaway AI spending is propping up GDP and the stock market while masking the crumbling foundations beneath. The reality is that the reported productivity gains from AI consistently outpace what is actually measurable; energy costs are surging due to data center demand and tariffs and labor shortages are making the build-out slower and costlier. The bill for this overinvestment will come due in the end.

Seeking Alpha CFR