Experts Share Their Take on Whether AI Could Soon Be Profitable

Concerns about a potential AI bubble have stirred fresh unease on Wall Street, raising questions about whether the rapid buildup in AI spending can be sustained and what it means for the broader U.S. economy. 

Research from JPMorgan Asset Management shows that outlays tied to AI made up about two-thirds of economic growth in the first six months of 2025. That surge was driven largely by major corporations racing to secure data centers, chips, and servers needed to run advanced models. 

The question is whether these investments will eventually produce earnings large enough to justify the cost. 

Supporters argue that pauses between infrastructure buildout and real financial rewards are common. They point to earlier periods when transformative tools, including the early internet, required time before profits showed up. They say the strong global adoption of products such as ChatGPT signals a large audience that could be monetized once companies shift from research to revenue generation. 

Skeptics counter that the spending has created expectations that are almost impossible to meet. They warn that consumers and businesses may not see enough practical benefit to pay premium prices. Some warn that the pace of spending is too steep to continue for many more years. 

Worries about the economic fallout stretch across both sides of the debate. White House adviser and venture capitalist David Sacks wrote on X that a reversal in AI spending could trigger a recession. Longtime AI critic Gary Marcus warned in a recent Substack post that a sharp correction would be painful. 

While chipmaker Nvidia has thrived by selling the hardware that powers AI models and now ranks as the most valuable firm globally, analysts note that the enthusiasm reflects demand for components, not necessarily confidence in AI products themselves. 

Many companies exploring AI have yet to see meaningful returns. A recent MIT study found that about 95% of firms investing in the technology had not earned back what they put in, with combined spending of roughly $40 billion. 

Consumer revenue has also lagged. ChatGPT’s user base is massive, yet its earnings trail far behind platforms such as Meta’s suite of apps, which generated over $50 billion in Q3 of 2025. 

OpenAI insists its finances are strengthening. Chief financial officer Sarah Prior told CNBC that the company expects about $13 billion in revenue for 2025. Chief executive Sam Altman recently said income is rising quickly and predicted strong demand for AI services, as well as future products he believes could create substantial value. 

Some analysts say the rapid spread of chatbots shows commercial promise. Ethan Mollick of the University of Pennsylvania noted that the industry has a clear route to profit if companies decide to place advertising or other paid features inside the tools. 

Others take a longer view. New York University (NYU) professor Arun Sundararajan said it is normal for businesses to take time learning how to use frontier technologies. He expects productivity improvements to appear once firms reshape their operations around AI. 

Still, doubts remain about whether profits can ever match the scale of investment. Analysts point to ongoing costs that rise in step with user traffic. They note that every AI prompt consumes energy and computing power, which makes widespread use expensive. That distinguishes AI from earlier digital products that become cheaper to operate as they grow. 

Despite the uncertainty, several analysts say it is too early to judge the long-term economics of AI. Vasant Dhar, a data science professor at NYU, noted that the industry is still in its opening phase and that the ultimate financial shape of AI remains unclear. 

For businesses like AI Maverick Intel Inc. (OTC: AIMV), there is no doubt about the money-making potential of AI technology as their integration of these solutions is already paying off. 

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