Bloomberg journalist Joe Weisenthal posted on social media Friday, responding to a user’s comment about the commodification of intelligence, stating, “A lot of people sell their (scarce) intelligence for money.” The post, made on LinkedIn, sparked a brief exchange but also reflects a broader conversation Weisenthal has been leading about the current state of financial markets and the influence of artificial intelligence.
Weisenthal is the co-host of Bloomberg’s “Odd Lots” podcast alongside Tracy Alloway, a role he’s held since 2015. Prior to joining Bloomberg in 2014, he was executive editor at Business Insider, a position he took after founding the markets blog TheStalwart.com in 2005. His career began with writing for Techdirt and other online publications.
The LinkedIn post comes amid increasing scrutiny of the AI boom and its potential impact on the economy. Recent reporting in Wired magazine highlighted Weisenthal’s concerns about the US economy, going beyond the potential bursting of an AI bubble to focus on broader systemic issues. The Wired interview, part of “The Big Interview” podcast series, revealed Weisenthal’s long-standing engagement with financial circumstances, stemming from a career that began during the lead-up to the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.
At Bloomberg, Weisenthal’s work extends beyond the “Odd Lots” podcast. He also co-anchored the television reveal “What’d You Miss?” with Alix Steel from 2015 through 2021, and currently serves as the executive editor of news for Bloomberg’s digital brands. His early career involved identifying emerging trends in markets, a skill he described in a Bloomberg profile as a desire to “get something first” and “know what’s going on.”
Weisenthal’s recent newsletter, referenced in his LinkedIn post, delves into the perceived disconnect between how markets and investors are evaluating AI and how Silicon Valley itself views the technology. The post suggests a coming contradiction in these perspectives, though the specifics of that contradiction remain undefined.
Bloomberg Media has not responded to requests for further comment on Weisenthal’s post or his analysis of the AI-driven economic landscape.
