AI: Fear of Missing Out or Just Fear?

Long the darling of the markets, artificial intelligence has recently become the markets' disruptor. So is the AI trade still good for portfolios, or are investors' fears warranted?
February 26, 2026Michael Townsend
Podcast cover: AI: Fear of Missing Out or Just Fear?

WashingtonWise | EP134

AI: Fear of Missing Out or Just Fear?

Current time: 0 seconds, Duration: 0 seconds

After you listen

Just as investors were getting comfortable increasing their artificial intelligence holdings, the "AI trade" has been shifting, affecting a wide range of companies across a variety of sectors. Nathan Peterson, director of derivatives research and strategy at Schwab, joins host Mike Townsend to discuss the power of AI as well as its ability to disrupt. They dig into what AI can deliver now, where it is headed, the types of businesses that are being disrupted, and the risks to companies, the jobs market, and the broader economy. Nate shares his perspective on how investors should be thinking about including AI in their portfolios amidst a notable sector rotation. 

Mike also dives into the Supreme Court's ruling to invalidate the bulk of President Trump's tariffs. He lays out the options for new tariffs, discusses the uncertainties for U.S. companies and global trade partners, and considers the case for tariff refunds.

WashingtonWise is an original podcast for investors from Charles Schwab. 

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.

Investors in mutual funds and/or ETFs should consider carefully information contained in the prospectus, or if available, the summary prospectus, including investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing.

This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned are not suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decisions.

All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic or political conditions. Data contained herein from third party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

​Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

All names and market data shown are for illustrative purposes only and are not a recommendation, offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security.

Diversification, asset allocation and rebalancing strategies do not ensure a profit and do not protect against losses in declining markets.

Rebalancing may cause investors to incur transaction costs and, when a non-retirement account is rebalanced, taxable events may be created that may affect your tax liability.

Performance may be affected by risks associated with non-diversification, including investments in specific countries or sectors. Additional risks may also include, but are not limited to, investments in foreign securities, especially emerging markets, real estate investment trusts (REITs), fixed income, municipal securities including state specific municipal securities, small capitalization securities and commodities. Each individual investor should consider these risks carefully before investing in a particular security or strategy.

Cryptocurrency-related products carry a substantial level of risk and are not suitable for all investors. Investments in cryptocurrencies are relatively new, highly speculative, and may be subject to extreme price volatility, illiquidity, and increased risk of loss, including your entire investment in the fund. Spot markets on which cryptocurrencies trade are relatively new and largely unregulated, and therefore, may be more exposed to fraud and security breaches than established, regulated exchanges for other financial assets or instruments. Some cryptocurrency-related products use futures contracts to attempt to duplicate the performance of an investment in cryptocurrency, which may result in unpredictable pricing, higher transaction costs, and performance that fails to track the price of the reference cryptocurrency as intended.

Indexes are unmanaged, do not incur management fees, costs, and expenses (and/or "transaction fees or other related expenses"), and cannot be invested in directly. For more information on indexes, please see ​schwab.com/indexdefinitions 

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

The Charles Schwab Corporation provides a full range of brokerage and financial advisory services through its operating subsidiaries. Its broker-dealer subsidiary, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (Member SIPC [link to: https://www.sipc.org/] offers investment services and products, including Schwab brokerage accounts.

0226-HAY8