Core Viewpoint - The article discusses a significant downturn in the U.S. stock market, particularly the S&P 500 index, which fell by 1.4%, marking its largest drop since November of the previous year. This decline is attributed to fears surrounding AI's impact on various sectors, raising concerns that AI may no longer be a growth engine but rather a "valuation crusher" [1][3]. Group 1: Market Reactions - The S&P 500 index experienced a notable increase in abnormal stock fluctuations, with over 40 stocks showing deviations exceeding three standard deviations, indicating a potential collapse of market confidence [3]. - The logistics sector was heavily impacted, with C.H. Robinson experiencing an eight-fold standard deviation drop, leading to a "death spiral" of automated stop-loss orders and panic selling [3]. - Major tech companies, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, were significant contributors to the index's decline, with Amazon hitting a nine-day losing streak, marking its longest since 2006 and entering a technical bear market [3][4]. Group 2: AI's Impact on Employment and Market Sentiment - A statement from Microsoft's AI CEO suggested that most white-collar jobs could be fully automated within 18 months, causing immediate market panic and a sell-off of stocks related to potentially disrupted industries [4]. - The market's fear extends to the return on investment for massive capital expenditures by tech giants, with a combined projected spending of $650 billion on AI infrastructure by Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon, raising concerns about their financial health [4]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape and Pricing Power - Chinese AI companies have made significant advancements, launching competitive products that challenge the pricing and performance of existing models, which could reshape global investor expectations [5][6]. - The emergence of low-cost AI solutions, such as MiniMax's M2.5 model, threatens the pricing power of established tech giants, leading to a reevaluation of their market positions and business models [8]. - The article highlights a shift from a positive growth narrative to a negative cycle of demand shrinkage and profit contraction, as AI efficiency gains may lead to reduced overall employment [7]. Group 4: Future Market Outlook - Goldman Sachs warns that if the S&P 500 index falls below 6707 points, it could trigger systemic sell-offs amounting to $80 billion, indicating a fragile market environment [8]. - The current market situation serves as a "stress test" for business models in the AI era, determining which companies can adapt and which may struggle to maintain their competitive advantages [8].