This chapter delves into the significant impact of artificial intelligence on American investment trends, spotlighting the rise of private equity and venture capital in the sector, particularly through companies like NVIDIA. It raises concerns about the sustainability of this growth, discussing the heavy reliance on chip makers and the potential bottlenecks in the supply chain due to soaring energy demands. As enthusiasm for AI technology peaks, the chapter warns that fluctuations in demand could jeopardize the profitability of current AI models, prompting scrutiny of major tech investments.
Corporate investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure reaches $1.4trn by some estimates. We ask what might threaten the expected windfalls that justify the spending. A Japanese mine’s bid to be listed by UNESCO was made harder because it ignores South Korean wartime forced labour (10:49). And why a nicotine pouch has so many fans on America’s right (18:03).
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