What are the three scenarios for the AI economy?
Stifel's January 2026 Sightlines report assigns three probabilistic outcomes to the AI-driven economy: a 25% bull case called "Wires Connected" (meaningful AI monetization), a 15% bear case called "Wires Crossed" (AI results disappoint, the consumer pulls back and policy missteps), and a 60% base case that Stifel describes as constructive. The detailed implications in this article are Crashtech's analysis, not Stifel's.
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The Three Futures of the AI Boom: Bull, Bear, and the 60% Middle PathStifel gives 2026 a 25% bull case, a 15% bear case and a 60% constructive base case. What each path could mean for AI companies and developers.
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