Aktien: Tech-Titel fallen nach den Warnungen vor einer KI-Katastrophe deutlich

Investors worldwide are facing a period of uncertainty following warnings by leaders of artificial intelligence (AI) providers, such as Anthropic and OpenAI, about a potential AI catastrophe. CEO Dario Amodei of Anthropic warned in an essay over the weekend that AI development should be slowed down to ensure safety, with support from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Elon Musk, CEO of rival company xAI. The news sent shockwaves through the market, prompting immediate sell-offs from investors.

The cautionary measures reflected in the global tech sector were evident across Asia, with Samsung and SK Hynix Semiconductor experiencing four and seven percent drops in stock prices due to fears of a decline in AI demand. Softbank, a major investor in OpenAI, also saw an 11 percent decrease in its shares. European markets mirrored the sentiment, with shares of Munich-based semiconductor manufacturer Infineon falling by nearly eight percent and ASML, a Dutch chipmaker, seeing a significant five percent decline.

However, some investors argue that the warnings may be overblown. Sam Altman announced plans to delay OpenAI's planned IPO for the coming year, citing a desire to address safety concerns away from the pressures of public markets, according to an interview with US magazine Fortune. Analyst Mark Mahaney of Evercore ISI stated that OpenAI and Anthropic have significant impacts on the entire technology industry.

If both companies significantly reduce their research and development spending, research, and investments, it could have considerable effects on financial markets.

The US futures market also noted a weak performance, with the Nasdaq 100 falling by 1.7 percent. Nvidia, a prominent chip company, recorded a loss of nearly three percent. Despite past concerns about a potential AI bubble, prompting sell-offs in software giants like SAP and Salesforce in April, known as the "SaaS Apocalypse," the market eventually recovered.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management's Chief Investment Officer, Stephan Kemper, cautioned against excessive pessimism, highlighting the robust order book as evidence of continued commercial penetration.

The warnings by Amodei and Altman relate to the pursuit of superintelligence, a hypothetical AI that would surpass human capabilities in almost all cognitive domains. However, Kemper points out that demand for computing power for corporate use and smaller, specialized models remains strong. Revenue growth at TSMC exceeded 53 percent in August, and prices for Chinese chip developers have been increasing, suggesting that the monetization of AI is shifting from a race for superintelligence to integration as a traditional IT service provider for the broader economy.