Why investors are worried about a giant AI bubble - and what happens if it bursts
AI hype is still driving share prices higher but there are a growing number of voices warning of a stock market bubble that might soon burst.
The Bank of England added its name to the list of those raising concerns this week, as its Financial Policy Committee drew comparisons with the ‘dotcom’ boom 25 years ago that soon turned to bust.
The red flags include a number of high profile, huge money deals involving OpenAI, with Oracle, Nvidia and now AMD, along with a massive data centre infrastructure splurge and questions over the robustness of credit markets.
But why has AI gone from great investment hope to potential market super villain in a short space of time? What on earth is going on with US tech giants' 'I give you money, you buy my stuff' deals? And are there genuine parallels to be drawn with the dotcom boom, or the months before the credit crunch?
On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Angharad Carrick and Simon Lambert, look at why people are worried about an AI bubble popping and what investors can do to protect themselves.
Plus, could you claim some money back from the car finance compensation that the FCA announced this week?
Could we really scrap stamp duty - and would that be a good idea?
And why did some households manage to may nothing for their electricity last week?
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How to get a good job that's in demand... and AI won't steal
Britain's weather is famous for its ability to go from stunning to downright miserable in the blink of an eye. The nation's jobs market has a habit of doing the same.
Not so long ago, workers finally had the upper hand and were celebrating a post-Covid jobs boom, where almost all roles were in-demand and some decent salary rises could be negotiated.
Now, the chat down the pub is more likely to be about redundancies, recruitment freezes and endless rejections that can end with someone accepting a lower salary and position just to get a job.
It will almost certainly swiftly also turn to artificial intelligence and its threat to employment, particularly the white collar kind.
But can you AI-proof a career, are the machines really coming for our jobs and what are the roles that are in hot demand at the moment?
On this podcast, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert dive into the employment market and look at the list of the 30 most in-demand roles to see what they can uncover.
Plus, is Rachel Reeves being irresponsible in allowing another pension tax-free lump sum rush to occur, if she isn't going to stage a Budget raid?
Why is Lee not happy about his football club and cash?
What did the team discover after a shout out to listeners to tell them about mystery flight delays?
And finally, if you don't get unlimited Yorkshire puddings with a pub roast, can you really go to Trading Standards?
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What is revenge saving and could it help you build up a pot of cash?
It's the latest social media craze, allegedly... revenge saving. But what on earth is it and can it really encourage people to get into the savings habit?
This week, Lee Boyce, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost dive into the world of revenge saving.
And while this new buzz-term does the rounds, we have a stab at making our version - the mind-trick savings method.
We discuss why you shouldn't get hung up on saving large amounts, chasing high interest rates and to visualise money like a snowball going downhill.
Meanwhile, we look at the little known government savings account that has seen £220m in bonus payments – could you benefit from opening one?
A current account with a 6 per cent savings rate but it’ll set you back a whopping £17 a month - can it really be worth it?
HMRC can now take money DIRECT from your bank account or Isa if you haven't paid taxes and Steve Webb answers a reader question: why can't I get my state pension on my 66th birthday?
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Bonus episode: The big questions people are asking on pensions and inheritance tax - and the answers
Pensions and inheritance are at the forefront of many people's minds ahead of the Budget.
In her last Budget, Rachel Reeves announced she will pull pension pots into the inheritance tax net from April 2027. Meanwhile, there are concerns that pension tax-free lump sums and inheritance tax allowances could fall victim to another raid as the Chancellor tries to balance the books again.
On this special episode of the This is Money Podcast, Simon Lambert is joined by Lisa Caplan, director of Charles Stanley Direct Advice and Guidance, a regular guest in our weekly Investing Explained feature.
Lisa spends her days helping customers understand how to protect their wealth, make their pension last in retirement, and importantly enjoy their hard-earned money.
She discusses with Simon the questions people are asking right now about pensions and inheritance tax - and the answers she gives.
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Should you try to take a big jump up the property ladder?
First-time buyers are borrowing big to try to skip the first rungs of the property ladder and buy bigger homes, a new report suggests.
That comes alongside a slump in demand for flats, as buyers push for houses instead.
So whether you are a first-time buyer or a home mover should you extend as far as you can to buy a home that will last you longer, or do you risk damaging your finaces by overstretching?
Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert talk property on this episode of the This is Money podcast, from mortgages, to house prices, why buyer tastes have shifted and why flats can be great.
Plus, how does this all fit in to the fading buy-to-let dream and can investing in property still work out?
Also on the show, why Britain has an inflation problem and what we can do about our sketchy public finances.
And finally, there's a new savings account with a prize draw on offer - should you open one?
UK