What if it’s a bubble?

The question of whether AI is a bubble isn’t just for investors. If the surge in funding and hype deflates, the impact will reach far beyond Silicon Valley. It could reshape how ordinary people experience work and daily life.

In the workplace, the effect would be immediate. Tools that many employees have come to rely on, for drafting documents, generating code, or handling customer queries, could disappear or become too expensive. Some would feel relief at the slowdown of automation, but others would feel stranded as workflows built around AI suddenly unravel. Productivity gains might give way to frustration.

For freelancers and small businesses, the change could cut even deeper. Many have used AI to punch above their weight. From automating admin to creating marketing materials. If services vanish or prices spike, those advantages evaporate, and the playing field tilts back toward larger companies.

Consumers would notice in quieter ways. Customer service might get slower. Translation and accessibility tools could stall, reversing some of the progress toward inclusion. Promises of AI-driven personalisation in healthcare or education could fade back into prototypes.

Culturally, the shift might feel like a collective let-down. The dream of an AI-powered future would retreat, leaving people more cautious and sceptical of the next big thing. Yet the habits we’ve already formed (relying on AI for summarisation, search, or quick answers) won’t disappear. That pressure will ensure AI returns, but hopefully in a more stable and trustworthy form.

An AI bubble bursting wouldn’t end the story. But it would shape how people, workplaces, and society rebuild their relationship with technology, with lessons learned the hard way.