When the Bubble Bursts (with Matt Scherer), 2026.06.01

What should we do when the "AI" bubble pops? Emily and Alex are joined by researcher Matt Scherer, who recently published a report called "No Bailout for Big Tech Billionaires: Policies for when the AI bubble bursts." They unpack what the boosters are saying about their finances, and how we can all push back against arguments for a government bailout.

Matt Scherer is a fellow at the anti-monopoly think tank Open Markets Institute. He previously led the workers' rights project at the Center for Democracy & Technology.

References:

• Forbes: "AI Can Change The World And Still Be A Bubble"
  • Also referenced: Is AI Profitable Yet?
• CNBC: "Altman says some investors will be left 'very burnt'"
• CNBC: "Bezos brushes off concerns of an AI bubble: 'You shouldn’t worry about it'

Fresh AI Hell:

• Empty Waymos create self-driving traffic jam
• "AA digital sponsor"
• Stanford researchers claim "AI agents...embrace Marxist ideologies"
• "Chatbots at the drive-thru"
• YouGov polling on automated juries
• Chaser: Erin Brockovich is on the case!
• AI Startup Says It Will Pay People $2,000 a Month to Masturbate
• Chaser: You used which brush!?

Check out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.

Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.

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Emily

• Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender

Alex

• Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social
• Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex
• Twitter: @alexhanna

Music by Toby Menon.
Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. 
Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.