Sevens Report’s Essaye Warns Tech Investors on AI Uncertainty

Sevens Report President Tom Essaye is cautioning technology investors as uncertainty builds around the sustainability of the artificial intelligence-driven rally that has defined the past three years.

While Essaye notes the Nasdaq has not yet fallen enough to threaten the broader market, he argues that skepticism surrounding AI is reaching levels not seen during this bull cycle. He warns against brushing off recent weakness as a routine pullback, saying there are legitimate questions emerging about whether the boom can maintain its current trajectory.

Those concerns were amplified after Cisco Systems signaled potential margin pressure tied to ongoing memory-chip shortages, sending its shares sharply lower. The reaction highlights how sensitive investors have become to signs that elevated spending and supply constraints could weigh on profitability.

In a recent note, Essaye outlined several key risks: whether companies can sustain heavy AI-related capital expenditures, how long investors will tolerate delayed earnings payoffs, whether AI could cannibalize existing tech segments, and whether infrastructure constraints — particularly around data centers — may limit growth.

Given this backdrop, Essaye suggests investors consider diversifying beyond mega-cap technology names. As volatility increases and skepticism grows, the once-dominant AI trade may face a more challenging environment than it has at any point in the current bull market.