It is tech's biggest question, and there is a wide range of takes on every side. With artificial intelligence -driven spending leading to record deals and valuations, seemingly everyone is weighing in on the AI boom — and potential bust. Economic bubbles happen with a rapid rise in market values and asset prices in a specific area, often fueled by speculation, followed by a crash during which money is quickly taken out. More than 1,300 AI startups now have valuations of over $100 million, with