Commentary: Anthropic’s record US$2 trillion stock market listing highlights growing risks for us all
Holding AI risk in one's portfolio is becoming unavoidable for most investors, says an academic.
Adelaide University academic argues that AI risk is now unavoidable for most investors as Anthropic prepares for a record US$2 trillion IPO. The AI-powered IPOs reflect an increasing reliance on AI, with six companies responsible for 57% of the S&P 500's gains since April. AI exposure is already present in investors' portfolios, with Australians holding nearly A$1 trillion (US$702.3 billion) in US shares at the end of 2025.
The bond market is also filled with AI risks, as AI companies are the largest borrowers in the market, issuing US$466 billion of bonds this year. While big tech companies appear safe, their credit ratings cannot account for simultaneous defaults during an AI market-wide crash. The alignment problem, where AI agents misbehave and are difficult to shut down, poses an existential risk to humanity.
With no government-mandated AI safety standards, companies will likely remain less safe than socially optimal. Clear rules and international agreement are necessary to manage these risks effectively.
Written by urgent.news from CNA - Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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