The Rundown

The AI Spending Boom Faces a Reality Check (ft. John Petrides)

July 26, 2026·22 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

Big Tech is spending more on AI than ever before, but investors are starting to question when that investment will actually pay off. John Petrides of Tocqueville Asset Management joins Zaid to break down Google's surprising earnings reaction, why soaring AI capital spending is becoming a growing concern, and what to expect from Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta as earnings season heats up. They also discuss rising oil prices, the possibility of Fed rate hikes, whether markets are underestimating geopolitical risks, and why the health of the U.S. consumer could become the biggest story of the second half of the year. If AI has been the market's biggest tailwind, this conversation explores what could happen if that narrative begins to change.

Podzilla Summary coming soon

Sign up to get notified when the full AI-powered summary is ready.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.

Listen to This Episode

Get summaries like this every morning.

Free AI-powered recaps of The Rundown and your other favorite podcasts, delivered to your inbox.

Get Free Summaries →

Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.