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." (openmarketsinstitute.org/publications/no-bailo…) 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 (bsky.app/profile/matthewus.bsky.social) is a fellow at the anti-monopoly think tank Open Markets Institute (openmarketsinstitute.org). 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" (web.archive.org/web/20260526141008/https://www…)• Also referenced: Is AI Profitable Yet? (isaiprofitable.com)

• CNBC: "Altman says some investors will be left 'very burnt'" (cnbc.com/2025/08/18/altman-ai-bubble-openai.html)
• CNBC: "Bezos brushes off concerns of an AI bubble: 'You shouldn’t worry about it' (cnbc.com/2026/05/20/bezos-ai-bubble-concerns-a…)
Fresh AI Hell:
• Empty Waymos create self-driving traffic jam (bsky.app/profile/phillewis.bsky.social/post/3m…)
• "AA digital sponsor" (bsky.app/profile/anamariecox.com/post/3mlye5yj…)
• Stanford researchers claim "AI agents...embrace Marxist ideologies" (archive.is/bjVcm)
• "Chatbots at the drive-thru" (bsky.app/profile/wolven.blacksky.app/post/3mm5…)
• YouGov polling on automated juries (bsky.app/profile/magidin.bsky.social/post/3mme…)
• Chaser: Erin Brockovich is on the case! (brockovichdatacenter.com)
• AI Startup Says It Will Pay People $2,000 a Month to Masturbate (decrypt.co/368866/ai-startup-pay-people-2000-m…)
• Chaser: You used which brush!? (bsky.app/profile/anthonymoser.com/post/3mj4ccq…)
Check out future streams on Twitch (twitch.tv/dair_institute). Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see (thecon.ai/submit-fresh-ai-hell).
Find our book The AI Con here (bit.ly/3OZ9PNx), and MAIHT3k merch here (store.dair-institute.org/category/mystery-ai-h…).
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Alex
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Music by Toby Menon.
Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park (naomipleasurepark.com).
Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.