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Episode details

Radio 4,04 Feb 2026,29 mins

Series AI's Bubble Trouble?

2. What are the consequences of an AI economic crash?

The Artificial Human

Available for over a year

In part two of their exploration of the economics of Ai Aleks and Kevin ask, what are the consequences of the anticipated financial bubble bursting, and would a crash stop there? There's massive uncertainty over whether the Ai industry can make enough money to warrant the astronomical sums being invested, making 2026 a make-or-break year for the sector in the eyes of many experts. We're joined by Dame Diane Coyle economist at the University of Cambridge to look at how far the blast radius of an Ai crash might reach. Nathanael Benjamin from the Bank of England will explain why they issue a warning over inflated Ai business valuations and explain what the bank are doing to protect the economy from any shocks. And Jerry Kaplan Silicon valley insider and expert on the social and economic impact of Ai shares his experience of booms and busts in the technology industry and his thoughts on who might be left standing should the wheels come off the Ai financial band wagon. Presenters: Aleks Krotoski and Kevin Fong Producer: Peter McManus Researcher: Elizabeth Ann Duffy Sound: Steve Greenwood and Sarah Hockley

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