‘A feedback loop with no brake’: how an AI doomsday report shook US markets

Shares in Uber, Mastercard and American Express fall on back of apocalypse scenario posted on Substack

US stock markets have been hit by a further wave of AI jitters, this time from yet another viral – and completely speculative – warning about the impact of the technology on the world’s largest economy.

The latest foreboding is from Citrini Research, a little-known US firm that provides insights on “transformative ‘megatrends’”. Its post on Substack, which it called a “scenario, not a prediction”, rattled investors by portraying a near future in which autonomous AI systems – or agents – upend the entire US economy, from jobs to markets and mortgages.

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Why This Matters

A recent report from Citrini Research has sent shockwaves through US stock markets, highlighting growing concerns about the potential impact of AI on the economy. Shares in major companies like Uber, Mastercard, and American Express have fallen, with investors spooked by a doomsday scenario posted on Substack. This latest development underscores the increasingly prominent role of AI in business and finance.

In Week 9 2026, Business accounted for 102 related article(s), with UK Politics setting the broader headline context. Coverage of Business decreased by 12 article(s) versus the prior week, but remained material in the weekly agenda.

Coverage Snapshot

Week 9 2026 included 102 Business article(s). Leading outlets for this topic included CNBC, NY Times, Independent Business. Across that cluster, sentiment showed a mostly neutral skew (avg score -0.04).

Key Insights

Primary keywords: markets, feedback, loop, brake, doomsday.
Topic focus: Business coverage with neutral sentiment.
Source context: reported by Guardian Business.
Published: 2026-02-24.
Published by Guardian Business, a widely cited major outlet.
Date context: published during Week 9 2026, when UK Politics dominated weekly headlines.

Tone & Sentiment

The article tone is classified as neutral, driven by the language and emphasis in the summary. The sentiment score of 0.03 indicates the strength of that tone.

Context

The report is the latest in a series of AI-focused warnings that have dominated media headlines in recent months. While some outlets have framed the story as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked technological progress, others have questioned the report's speculative nature and potential impact on investor sentiment. The trend of AI-related anxiety in business and finance is a reflection of the growing importance of the technology in the global economy.

Related Topics

Business

Key Takeaway

In short, this article underscores key movement in Business and explains why it matters now.

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Guardian Business ‘A feedback loop with no brake’: how an AI doomsday report shook US markets