logo
episode-header-image
Nov 4
17m 58s

Is the AI boom a bubble?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

When is a bubble a bubble? When is hype around a new technology signalling the dawn of a new industrial revolution? We assess the arguments for and against AI and its inflated valuations.

AI firms and their stocks have surged in the last year, accounting for more than 80% of America’s economic growth. But is there real demand underpinning this?

To get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Gideon Long

(Picture: The Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, US, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Up next
Today
The cocoa conundrum
<p>Can Europe be weaned off cheap chocolate? EU efforts to block cocoa linked to deforestation were due to come into force at the end of this year – but have faced multiple delays. Another vote is due to take place soon. Some parties are pushing for further delay and modification ... Show More
20m 42s
Yesterday
Is this the end for South East Asia's scam centres?
<p>It’s one of the biggest human trafficking operations of modern times. Scam centres across South East Asia have been making hundreds of billions of dollars annually, it’s estimated, conning people into fake crypto-currency investment schemes. </p><p>But now these centres could ... Show More
18m 29s
Nov 24
Monetising Machu Picchu
<p>Peru is home to Machu Picchu - the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains. </p><p>It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors, making it very lucrative for the government, local a ... Show More
17m 38s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
British military's 'game-changing' use of 3D printers
Larisa Brown, Defence Editor for The Times, explains how the British army is using 3D printing technology to manufacture parts for use on the frontline. Plus, former MI6 intelligence officer, Christopher Steele, on the new tactics Russia is using to disrupt western elections. The ... Show More
10m 11s
Nov 2024
20VC: Anduril Co-Founder on How a Trump Administration Changes the Defence Industry | What Happens Between China vs Taiwan, Israel vs Palestine, Russia vs Ukraine | How Software Changes War & Why TikTok Should Be Banned with Matt Grimm
<p dir="ltr">Matt Grimm is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Anduril Industries, an American defense technology company that specializes in advanced autonomous systems. To date, Anduril has raised over $3.7BN with the latest round pricing the company at a whopping $14 ... Show More
1h 23m
Jul 2024
The Era of Killer Robots Is Here
<p>Outmanned and outgunned in what has become a war of attrition against Russia, Ukraine has looked for any way to overcome its vulnerabilities on the battlefield. That search has led to the emergence of killer robots.</p><p>Paul Mozur, the global technology correspondent for The ... Show More
26m 9s
Apr 2025
The AI arsenal that could stop World War III | Palmer Luckey
<p>AI in warfare is no longer hypothetical; it's inevitable, says Palmer Luckey, an inventor and founder of the defense technology company Anduril Industries. He takes us inside the high-tech arms race to build AI-powered weapons, "killer robots" and autonomous fighter jets at sc ... Show More
16m 28s
Sep 27
Ukraine's high-tech war of attrition, with Christopher Miller
<p>The war in Ukraine has entered a dangerous new phase, with Russia sending bigger, more powerful drone attacks across the border nearly every day. Gone are the tanks, columns of troops, and heavy artillery from the early days of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Now, tens of thousa ... Show More
27m 17s
Oct 2024
Ukrainian Long-Range Drones
Outmanned and outgunned, Ukraine must work creatively to make a dent in Russia's war machine. Long-range drones that strike deep inside Russia are one of those innovations. Correspondent Fred Pleitgen was given exclusive access to one top-secret drone unit, and brings us a report ... Show More
59m 11s