There’s growing doubt that firms are getting what they pay for when it comes to artificial intelligence, the latest Markets Pulse survey showed. That’s adding to concerns the $16 trillion rally from the brink of a bear market is nearing its breaking point. The trend of AI fueling outperformance in corporate results is here to stay, according to more than two thirds of 149 respondents to a poll conducted from Sept. 29 to Oct. 8. Yet about the same number of survey takers said the amount of money firms are spending on AI isn’t justified by the returns. That tension mirrors one seen in the broader equity market. The S&P 500 has notched 34 record highs so far this year, decisively recovering from its troughs in early April, when President Donald Trump unveiled broad tariffs — a move that wiped out $2.5 trillion of market value a day after the announcement.

Full report : Companies Overpaying for AI Add to Bubble Risks, Survey Shows.