
AI BUBBLE OR NOT… IS IT TIME TO GO SHORT THIS NOW?
This video critically examines the current AI euphoria, questioning whether we are in a bubble and whether it's time to take short positions – especially on NVIDIA.
📈 The Spending Pyramid
- We only see the tip of the financial pyramid: high profits, strong growth – everything looks great.
- But the lower layer (future commitments 5x current spending) hasn't yet hit the books.
- NVIDIA forecasts 70% growth – correct as long as companies stick to their commitments.
- Planned spending is in the trillions per year – boosting profits now, but depreciation is coming.
💸 Depreciation as a Game-Changer
- When investments (e.g., $3 trillion over 3 years) hit balance sheets, annual depreciation could be ~$500 billion (assuming 6-year useful life).
- Hyperscalers would need to triple their current profits just to cover depreciation and then make some money.
- Top 10 S&P 500: $600B net income – minus $500B depreciation = $100B – negligible vs. market cap.
- By 2029, $1 trillion in additional operating profits needed to justify the spend – that's the market's implicit expectation.
⚠️ Dot-Com Comparison
- The author draws parallels to the dot-com bubble: High capex leads to overcapacity, price wars, and eventual collapse.
- He cites Michael Burry („The Big Short“): Stock market booms peak midway through the capex cycle.
- China could undercut profits (Elon Musk sees China as potential AI world leader).
- AI is getting cheaper (e.g., video streaming costs dropped dramatically) – bad for high ROI expectations.
🛠️ Action: Short or Puts?
- The author avoids long positions (too risky).
- He considers put options on NVIDIA as a hedge or speculation.
- Example: A put with strike $100 (current ~$200) costs ~$1 – if NVIDIA falls to $50, 40x return. Cheap „disaster hedge“.
- However, an 80% decline in 12 months is unlikely – most options expire worthless.
- Michael Burry also uses puts but constantly adjusts.
🔮 Outlook
- The author expects a possible tipping point around 2027 when depreciation fully hits.
- For now: „Don't short too early, but hedge defensively.“
- Recommendation: 1–2% of portfolio in cheap out-of-the-money puts as catastrophe insurance.
- Midterms 2024/25 bring additional volatility.
Conclusion: The AI bubble may burst, but timing is uncertain. A small hedge with OTM puts is an interesting low-risk strategy to profit from a potential crash.






