Investing for the AI Apocalypse: Experts Weigh In

Neil Wilson of Saxo UK suggests that in a true meltdown, gold remains the primary asset class likely to endure, while cybersecurity and defense stocks could act as a hedge during the preceding period of market volatility. John Longo, a finance professor at Rutgers, echoes the need for diversification, pointing to US Treasurys and Swiss francs as traditional safeguards against systemic instability. Meanwhile, Susannah Streeter of Wealth Club cautions against panic, advising investors to maintain a sensible cash buffer and avoid abandoning long-term strategies, noting that crypto is unlikely to provide shelter during severe market stress.

Ipek Ozkardeskaya of Swissquote Bank emphasizes rotating portfolios toward companies with strong earnings and low leverage, identifying defensive stocks as the most logical move for risk-averse investors. For those concerned with more immediate societal disruptions, Sarah Coles of AJ Bell suggests practical steps like stockpiling household essentials rather than making radical financial changes. However, Kristin Pugh of Creative Planning offers a more sobering perspective, arguing that in a species-level catastrophe, conventional financial assets would lose their utility. In such an event, she contends that physical survival, community ties, and human relationships become the only investments that truly matter.