BlackRock and Deutsche Bank CEOs say the fiscal deficit is more urgent than the AI bubble

According to Bloomberg, financial executives have differing opinions on whether AI has become a bubble. Ken Griffin previously warned that AI investors are almost certainly in a bubble and should prepare for setbacks, stating that significant economic transformations are often accompanied by bubbles. Recently, the market has been concerned that the time it takes for the massive upfront capital expenditures in AI to translate into profits and productivity gains may be longer than expected. Deutsche Bank CEO Christian Sewing stated that there is no reason to worry about a sharp reversal in asset prices in the short term; individual companies may face setbacks, but he does not believe the market is in a bursting bubble.

Sewing distinguished between a bubble and ongoing volatility, mentioning geopolitical tensions. He stated that if the regulatory framework is appropriate, the industrial application of AI will become a century opportunity for Germany. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink advocated for accelerating the construction of AI data centers, warning that delays could threaten economic growth and exacerbate inflation due to high computing costs. He previously mentioned that AI faces a supply shortage, with demand growth exceeding expectations, and stated that the faster more data centers are built and more computing power is available, the quicker costs can be reduced.

Federated Hermes Chief Investment Officer for Global Equities Steve Chiavarone said that investors worried about an AI bubble may be correct in their judgment, but it is several years too early; infrastructure still has several years of growth potential, after which the risk of overbuilding will become more pressing. The market is still differentiating which companies can secure funding and at what interest rates, which is contrary to the bubble period.

Compared to the AI bubble, both Fink and Sewing view the fiscal deficit as a more pressing concern, especially as the AI industry competes with the government for investment funds. The U.S. fiscal deficit is nearing $2 trillion, and U.S. Treasury yields have risen to decades-high levels.

Fink stated that the current level of capital competition is the highest he has seen in his career. Regarding the rising risk of French government bonds, Sewing said it cannot yet be called a debt crisis, but it serves as a warning for public finances, emphasizing the importance of budget discipline.