S&P 500 Falls 1.8% in Worst Day Since June as Tech Sell-Off Deepens on AI Spending Worries

The S&P 500 fell 1.8% on Friday, its worst day since June, as a sell-off in technology stocks deepened on worries that Wall Street's enthusiasm for artificial intelligence had pushed prices too high. The index closed out a third straight losing week. The slide followed the latest earnings reports from Big Tech companies, which renewed concerns that their massive spending on AI may not deliver adequate returns. Investors are growing nervous about the huge spending bills the tech giants are amassing to pay for their AI bets. Wall Street had been bracing for another steep day of losses before trading began, and the weakness centered on technology shares.

The right-leaning Washington Times carries the same headline and opening as the AP report. It leads with the size and timing of the drop, the worst day since June, and with the worry that the AI frenzy sent prices too high. The excerpt does not mention Big Tech earnings or company spending. The left-leaning outlets lead with the cause instead. CNN ties the losses to Big Tech earnings and doubts about returns on AI investment, using a colorful phrase for the spending. The New York Times describes tech turmoil and stresses investor nervousness over the companies' growing AI bills. Their excerpts give no index figure. All agree the sell-off is tied to doubts about AI valuations or spending. They differ in emphasis: market scale and price levels on the right, corporate spending and returns on the left. AP's wording matches the right-leaning version.