Artificial intelligence skepticism was growing even before legendary hedge fund manager Michael Burry, a contrarian, decided to kick a hornet's nest. First, many experts have admitted that AI is a bubble, but as a consolation, we get the opinion that it is different from the dot-com bubble, or, in the case of a former Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger, that it will take years to burst. Bank of America analysts usually point out that there will be no overbuilding of AI data centers, due to practical limitations suc ...

Core Viewpoint - Michael Burry accuses major technology companies of using aggressive accounting practices to inflate profits from the AI boom, specifically by understating depreciation expenses [2][3][4] Group 1: Accounting Practices - Burry claims that "hyperscalers" are artificially extending the useful life of chips, leading to understated depreciation expenses [2][3] - This accounting maneuver could result in an estimated $176 billion understatement of depreciation from 2026 to 2028, inflating reported earnings across the industry [3] - Companies like Oracle and Meta Platforms could see their profits overstated by approximately 27% and 21%, respectively, by 2028 due to these practices [3] Group 2: Market Reactions - Burry has recently taken significant short positions against AI companies, including $187 million in put options against Nvidia and $912 million against Palantir Technologies [7] - Following Burry's disclosures, shares of Nvidia and Palantir experienced notable fluctuations, with Nvidia rebounding nearly 6% and Palantir rising almost 9% after previous declines [8] Group 3: Industry Context - Burry draws parallels between the current AI enthusiasm and the late-1990s tech bubble, suggesting potential overvaluation in the sector [6]