Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the trend of companies announcing layoffs attributed to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), suggesting that AI is being used as a scapegoat for broader business challenges and downsizing efforts [2][4][5]. Group 1: Company Layoffs - Accenture announced a restructuring plan that includes layoffs for workers unable to reskill on AI [2]. - Lufthansa plans to eliminate 4,000 jobs by 2030, citing AI as a means to increase efficiency [2]. - Salesforce laid off 4,000 customer support roles, claiming AI can perform 50% of the work [3]. - Klarna reduced its workforce by 40% as it aggressively adopts AI tools [3]. - Duolingo plans to stop relying on contractors and use AI to fill gaps in its workforce [3]. Group 2: Criticism of AI Justification - Critics argue that companies are using AI as an excuse for layoffs rather than genuine efficiency gains [4][5]. - There is skepticism about whether the current layoffs are truly due to AI advancements or if they are a result of overhiring during the pandemic [6]. - Jean-Christophe Bouglé noted that AI adoption is slower than claimed, with many AI projects being rolled back due to cost or security concerns [7][8]. Group 3: Employee Concerns - Employees are increasingly fearful of job losses due to AI, exacerbated by companies' lack of transparency regarding AI implementation [11]. - Jasmine Escalera emphasized the need for companies to be responsible in their communications about AI to avoid fostering fear among employees [11]. Group 4: Labor Market Impact - A report from Yale's Budget Lab indicated that U.S. labor has not been significantly disrupted by AI automation since the release of ChatGPT in 2022 [14]. - Research from New York Fed economists showed that only 1% of service firms reported AI as a reason for layoffs in the past six months, down from 10% in 2024 [16][17]. - The majority of firms using AI reported it has led to retraining employees rather than layoffs, with 35% retraining and 11% hiring more as a result [17].

Core Viewpoint - The current stock market may be experiencing a bubble, particularly driven by AI stocks, but there are still investment opportunities in certain companies that appear undervalued [2][3][18] Group 1: Micron Technology - Micron Technology's shares are reaching all-time highs in 2025, with significant revenue growth and profit margins, trading at less than 12 times forward earnings estimates [4][5] - The demand for memory products is cyclical, raising concerns about the sustainability of current growth, but the company's high-bandwidth memory (HBM) products are crucial for data center expansions [6][8] - OpenAI's ambitious plans for data centers indicate a long-term demand for memory products, suggesting that Micron could maintain steady growth beyond 2026 [7][8] Group 2: Duolingo - Duolingo is leveraging AI to enhance its product offerings, which is positively impacting its subscription revenue, with a 46% year-over-year increase in Q2 2025 [9][11] - Despite only 8% of its 128 million monthly active users being paying subscribers, subscriptions accounted for 84% of total revenue, indicating significant potential for growth [10] - The stock is currently down 40% from its all-time high, suggesting that if growth continues, the current valuation may be seen as a bargain in retrospect [12] Group 3: Super Micro Computer - Super Micro Computer is positioned as a high-growth business with expanding profit margins, trading at about 22 times forward earnings estimates, which is considered cheap given its expected 50% net sales growth for fiscal 2026 [13][14][15] - The company's profit margin has been declining, raising investor concerns, but management believes it is bottoming out and can improve in the long term [17] - The company's role in the data center ecosystem is expected to support sustained top-line growth, making it a potentially exciting investment if margins improve [16][17]