tech stocks

Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu warns the AI boom is a massive investment bubble, potentially the largest yet. A viral post claims AI growth relies on 'round trip revenue loops,' where tech giants fund AI startups with cloud credits, which startups then spend on those same giants' servers. This creates inflated revenue and paper profits, mirroring the dot-com crash.

Berkshire Hathaway, under new CEO Greg Abel, has significantly altered its investment strategy. Abel has more than tripled the stake in Alphabet (Google's parent company) and completely sold off Amazon shares, a departure from Warren Buffett's long-held tech aversion. Additionally, Berkshire made a substantial investment in Delta Airlines, another sector Buffett previously expressed skepticism about.

Indian equity benchmarks Sensex and Nifty closed lower on Tuesday after a late sell-off in heavyweight stocks like HDFC Bank and Reliance Industries erased early gains. Concerns over the rupee hitting a fresh record low and elevated crude oil prices also weighed on investor sentiment, though IT stocks provided some support.

Donald Trump lauded AI's economic benefits, citing record job numbers and stock market gains. However, a New York Post report revealed over 52,000 tech layoffs in early 2026, with AI increasingly cited as the cause.

In fact, ⁠IT has been the worst-performing major sector in the Indian market over the past 12-18 months. In May, 2026, the Nifty IT index touched a near 3-year low, losing more than a fourth of its value since the start of the year.

Stock market recommendations: Motilal Oswal Wealth Management Research Desk recommends picking up Syrma SGS, and Max Financials as the top stocks for the trading week starting May 18, 2026:

Renowned investor Michael Burry, famous for predicting the 2008 housing crash, warns the current AI boom mirrors the dot-com bubble. He highlights excessive venture capital and debt funding, noting many AI startups are unprofitable. Burry questions AI's long-term enterprise value and consumer willingness to pay, suggesting a market crash is imminent.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has clarified that Pershing Square's sale of Alphabet (Google) shares was not a bearish call on the company. Ackman said his hedge fund offloaded its long-held Google stake to fund a fresh $2.1 billion Microsoft position, betting on the software giant's AI prospects, Azure cloud growth, and Copilot adoption after a steep stock decline this year.

Michael Burry, famed for predicting the 2008 crash, warns the stock market's AI obsession mirrors the dot-com bubble. He believes markets are ignoring economic data, driven solely by momentum. Burry cautions that massive AI investments by tech giants may yield no lasting returns, potentially leading to significant market corrections and tech job stagnation.

Shark Tank India judge Anupam Mittal commented on Oracle's recent layoffs and rescinded job offers, attributing them to automation rather than financial issues. He advised professionals to assess their position on an employer's P&L statement, suggesting those in the 'cost column' are at risk, while those contributing to revenue or profit can leverage AI.

Samsung Electronics has averted an 18-day semiconductor strike by reaching a tentative deal with unions, promising employees average bonuses of around $338,000. This profit-linked system, tied to long-term targets, comes as AI demand boosts chip profits. However, a shareholder group plans legal action, deeming the agreement requires their consent.

Steve Jobs, despite facing setbacks like being ousted from Apple, found solace and success in his passion for work. His 2005 Stanford commencement speech emphasized loving what you do as the key to great work and satisfaction, a timeless lesson for today's Gen Z navigating a disrupted job market.

Oracle's mass layoff of 20,000 employees via email on March 31, 2026, has sparked employee backlash over severance terms and WARN Act loopholes. Workers are contesting the company's offer of limited severance and the denial of accelerated stock vesting, with many feeling unfairly excluded from protections.

Elon Musk is on the cusp of becoming the world's first trillionaire as SpaceX prepares for a monumental IPO, potentially the largest in Wall Street history. The company's $1.25 trillion valuation could significantly boost Musk's net worth, fueled by his majority stake and ambitious plans for AI, Starlink, and Mars colonization.

HSBC initiates SRF coverage with a buy, citing strong growth potential in specialty chemicals and performance films. Jefferies is bullish on Grasim, expecting increased capital availability for growth. Nomura sees Adani Ports expanding its marine business significantly in Europe. CLSA maintains a hold on Tata Power, believing the worst is over.

Indian markets brace for a volatile week, with the US-Iran conflict and soaring crude oil prices dominating investor sentiment. A weakening rupee, coupled with inflation concerns, adds to the pressure. Analysts anticipate heightened sensitivity to geopolitical developments, especially concerning the Strait of Hormuz, and will closely watch foreign investor activity and upcoming economic data.

Indian equity benchmarks, Sensex and Nifty, extended their losses for a fourth consecutive session, plunging nearly 2% on Tuesday. Rising crude oil prices, sustained foreign fund outflows, and escalating West Asia conflict uncertainty contributed to the broad-based selloff, impacting IT, realty, and consumer durable stocks.

OpenAI has enabled over 600 employees to sell shares worth $6.6 billion, with some cashing out up to $30 million. This significant wealth creation is fueled by the intense AI talent war, particularly after Meta's substantial compensation offers, prompting OpenAI to boost salaries and equity packages to retain its workforce.

Persistent foreign fund outflows and the rupee sliding to record lows have further dampened sentiment, prompting investors to stay cautious and intensify selling across equity markets.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, in leaked audio from an April 30 all-hands meeting, confirmed the company is tracking employee keystrokes, mouse movements, and screen activity to train its AI models—and admitted Meta deliberately withheld details to protect its competitive edge. The audio, obtained by More Perfect Union, reveals Zuckerberg justified the surveillance by saying Meta employees are smarter than outside contractors. The disclosure came days before Meta began laying off 8,000 workers.

Elon Musk claims he paid over $10 billion in taxes in one year, a historical high. He stated his tax rate on stock options nears 45%, with an additional 40% estate tax. This comes as California considers a 5% wealth tax, prompting tech leaders to relocate from the state.