An AI doomsday report shook US markets
theguardian.com
February 24, 2026
2 min read
Summary
Shares in Uber, Mastercard, and American Express declined following a speculative doomsday report from Citrini Research regarding AI's potential impact on the economy. This report contributed to increased anxiety in US stock markets related to artificial intelligence developments.
Key Takeaways
- Shares in Uber, Mastercard, and American Express fell between 4% and 6% following a speculative doomsday scenario about AI's impact on the US economy.
- The S&P 500 index dropped more than 1%, with the software component reaching its lowest level since April 2018.
- Citrini Research's report predicts US unemployment could exceed 10% by June 2028 due to the effects of autonomous AI systems.
- The report describes a potential economic downturn triggered by widespread AI adoption, impacting various sectors including software, private credit, and mortgages.
Community Sentiment
MixedPositives
- The gradual impact of AI technologies, as seen in past predictions about self-driving vehicles, suggests that changes will unfold over many years, allowing society to adapt.
- The potential for AI to create hyper-competitive markets could lead to innovation and efficiency, although the timeline for this transformation remains uncertain.
Concerns
- Doomsday scenarios surrounding AI often overlook the complexities of social constructs, suggesting a misunderstanding of how society and technology interact.
- The fear that AI will lead to mass unemployment and immediate societal collapse is overly simplistic and fails to account for the gradual nature of technological adoption.
Source
theguardian.com
Published
February 24, 2026
Reading Time
2 minutes
Relevance Score
45/100
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