21 SEP 2026.
Oh, this is reassuring.
Apparently we have spent the last four years constructing an enormous portion of the American economy around artificial intelligence, pouring hundreds of billions into data centers, chips, electricity and computing infrastructure. Now some of the very people building the technology are suggesting that perhaps we should slow down because, minor detail, the systems could become extraordinarily dangerous.
Excellent planning.
Bloomberg reports that AI-related investment may account for roughly half of recent U.S. GDP growth. Alphabet, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta are expected to spend more than $1 trillion on capital expenditures in 2027, while commitments involving leases and energy approach another $2.4 trillion.
Nothing says “stable economy” quite like discovering that enormous portions of your stock market, corporate borrowing, electricity infrastructure and economic growth increasingly depend upon a technology whose own creators are publicly discussing whether it should be slowed down.
And naturally Wall Street responded to the AI revolution exactly as Wall Street always responds to revolutions: calmly, cautiously and without excessive speculation.
Just kidding.
Since ChatGPT arrived, nearly three-quarters of the S&P 500’s gain reportedly came from only 20 companies, most tied to the AI boom. Nvidia alone soared more than 1,300 percent during that period.
So now we have the perfect arrangement.
If AI keeps accelerating, people worry about what increasingly powerful systems might eventually do.
If AI slows down, investors worry about what happens to trillions of dollars predicated upon AI never slowing down.
Brilliant.
We have apparently engineered an economic system in which the technology may be considered too dangerous to continue developing at full speed but simultaneously too economically important to stop developing at full speed.
That is not a paradox.
That is modern economic planning.
Build the airplane while flying it, mortgage the airport to finance the engines and then halfway across the Atlantic announce that several engineers have concerns about aerodynamics.
Relax.
I’m sure everything is completely under control.
AI’s Wobbly House of Cards Puts Markets and US Economy at Risk
The heads of America’s leading AI development labs have started a national conversation about tapping the brakes on a technology that’s offering so much promise for society, while at the same time showing it can do a frightening amount of harm.
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Counting Crows’ “Mr. Jones” remains one of the defining alternative-rock songs of the 1990s, but live performances reveal how much personality Adam Duritz brings beyond the studio recording. This Chris Evans Breakfast Show rendition feels loose, conversational and wonderfully unpolished. Duritz bends phrases, shifts timing and sings as though he is rediscovering the lyrics in real time. The band stays restrained but energetic, allowing the melody and storytelling to dominate. Familiar song, fresh performance, tremendous warmth and unmistakable character.
Counting Crows – Mr Jones (Live on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with The National Lottery)
To celebrate the release of their brand new album ‘Butter Miracle, The Complete Sweets’, the sensational Counting Crows perform their all-time classic Mr Jones live on the stool of rock for the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with The National Lottery 🎸 Watch the full interview about their latest album: https://youtu.be/6oljgO8424M #countingcrows #mrjones #music #livemusic #chrisevansbreakfastshow #chrisevans #virginradiouk 📷 Virgin Radio UK’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virginradiouk 👤 Virgin Radio UK’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VirginRadioUK/ 📱 Virgin Radio UK’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@virginradiouk ❌ Virgin Radio UK’s X: https://x.com/VirginRadioUK 📲 Download the Virgin Radio UK app to listen live and catch up with your favourite shows.
