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If We Are in an AI Bubble, What Happens if it Pops?

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Nvidia President and CEO Jensen Huang delivers the keynote address during the GPU Technology Conference at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on October 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Nvidia is hosting the conference for tech developers and leaders in innovation to discuss the future of AI. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Airdate: Wednesday, November 4 at 9 AM

“AI may not simply be “a bubble,” or even an enormous bubble. It may be the ultimate bubble,” writes tech journalist Brian Merchant. In the first half of the year, AI contributed to 1.1% of GDP growth and eight tech companies are now valued at $1 trillion or more. While investors are giddy at the pace of growth, many economic analysts are more sober. We get to the bottom of the bubble and what might happen if it pops.

Guests:

Charlie Warzel, staff writer, The Atlantic. Warzel is also the author of "Galaxy Brain," a newsletter about the internet and big ideas. - he co-authored the piece "Here is How the AI Crash Happens"

Brian Merchant, tech journalist, writes the "Blood in the Machine" newsletter, author, "Blood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion against Big Tech; his most recent piece in Wired is "AI is the Bubble to Burst Them All"

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