TDC 069: The Circular AI Money Shell Game?? | What To Do About The AI Bubble That May Soon Be Coming To an End

The AI bubble may be closer to popping than you think—and the evidence is hiding in plain sight.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque goes into the current state of the AI bubble and where we might be on the hype cycle curve.

You'll learn why enterprise AI adoption is actually declining, discover the circular money shell game happening between major AI players, and uncover a potential opportunity hiding in OpenAI's recent job postings that could rival the early days of Facebook Ads.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Where do YOU think we are on the AI bubble curve? Share your perspective in the comments below!

Key Take-aways

Enterprise AI adoption has fallen from 14% to 12% between June and August 2025—unprecedented for any new technology
The NASDAQ curves from the dot-com bubble (1998-2001) mirror today's AI-driven market almost identically
Circular AI deals between OpenAI, Nvidia, and AMD echo the financial engineering that preceded past bubble crashes
A single ChatGPT algorithm change wiped out $8 billion in Reddit's market value by reducing citations 86%
OpenAI's recent job postings suggest an ad-supported model may be coming sooner than expected

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – The AI bubble question everyone's asking
00:08 – Why you can't see bubbles from the inside
01:40 – Where are we on the AI hype cycle curve?
02:12 – The late-stage bubble evidence piling up
03:04 – The circular AI money shell game explained
04:07 – Why 95% of enterprise AI pilots are failing
04:42 – The anti-bubble argument (and why it matters)
06:41 – Unprecedented volatility: AMD up 35%, Reddit down 22%
07:36 – The neuroscience of staying calm in chaos
08:23 – OpenAI's next move: The biggest opportunity since Facebook Ads?
08:59 – New agency service announcement

Links & Resources 🔗

Issue #068 of The Digital Contrarian – "Why Your $20/month AI tool is about to cost $500..." → https://ryanlevesque.net/your-20-month-ai-tool-is-about-to-cost-500/

Issue #039 of The Digital Contrarian – "Right Thesis, Wrong Timing?" → https://ryanlevesque.net/right-thesis-wrong-timing/

Derek Thompson's "This Is How the AI Bubble Will Pop" → https://www.derekthompson.org/p/this-is-how-the-ai-bubble-will-pop

Bloomberg's circular AI money flow diagram → https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-08/the-circular-openai-nvidia-and-amd-deals-raising-fears-of-a-new-tech-bubble

Return to Real Agency waitlist → https://go2.bucketforms.com/sf/8a8a42b9

1:1 VIP Client waitlist → https://ryanlevesque.net/1-1-vip-waitlist/

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 068: Your $20/month AI tool is about to cost $500: The Coming AI Price Shock...

The coming AI price shock that could destroy your business model overnight.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque exposes the broken economics behind OpenAI's $500 billion valuation and the entire AI sector.

You'll learn why venture-capital subsidized AI pricing is unsustainable, discover the shocking financials that reveal AI companies lose money on every transaction, and understand why a 25x price increase is inevitable when the subsidy ends.

Question of the Day 🗣️

How dependent is your business on artificially cheap AI tools? What's your contingency plan if prices increase 25x?

Key Take-aways

• OpenAI loses $1.35 for every dollar of revenue despite its $500 billion valuation
• The AI sector exhibits textbook bubble behavior with negative unit economics
• Current AI pricing is artificially low, subsidized by venture capital funding
• A 25x price increase (like Netflix's evolution) is inevitable when subsidies end
• Build contingency plans now before your AI-dependent business model breaks

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – The $500 AI price shock is coming
01:04 – Inside the town hall: What we covered
01:58 – OpenAI's terrifying financials revealed
03:13 – The math problem that makes no sense
03:58 – When the AI subsidy ends
05:30 – What this means for your business
06:03 – The Netflix playbook: $8 to $200/month
07:22 – Build your contingency plans now

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue #062 of The Digital Contrarian – "Is the AI Bubble Bursting??" → https://ryanlevesque.net/is-the-ai-bubble-bursting/
• Subscribe to The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 067: 3-Part "RTR" AI Business Model Opportunity

The market is shifting beneath our feet and most people have no idea it's happening.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque reveals a massive shift taking place in the market right now that connects falling Meta ad costs, massive AI infrastructure deals, and the future of digital business.

You'll learn about six major market observations Ryan's been tracking, discover why paid media costs are finally coming back to earth, and uncover the three-part RTR AI business model opportunity that most entrepreneurs are completely missing.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Have you noticed any shifts in your market over the last few months? What are you seeing that others might be missing?

Key Take-aways

• Paid media costs on Meta are at their lowest levels in over a year for the first time in nearly two years
• Major AI infrastructure deals (300BOracle−OpenAI,300B Oracle-OpenAI, 300BOracle−OpenAI,100B NVIDIA-OpenAI) signal a fundamental market shift
• A three-part RTR AI business model opportunity exists for those who take action now
• Most entrepreneurs are unaware of this shift, creating a major competitive advantage
• Live town hall registration is capped at 300 attendees and expected to fill quickly

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Welcome to Episode 67
00:33 – Six major market observations taking shape
00:58 – Paid media costs finally coming back to earth
01:40 – Major AI infrastructure deals reshaping the landscape
02:25 – The market shift most people are missing
02:58 – Announcing live town hall event
03:25 – Three important registration details
04:05 – Keeping today's episode short

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue #064 of The Digital Contrarian – "Surprising (Non-AI) Trend Taking Shape" → https://ryanlevesque.net/surprising-trend-taking-shape/
• $100 Billion OpenAI deal with NVIDIA → https://www.cnbc.com/2025/09/24/nvidia-openai-investment-in-cash-mostly-used-to-lease-nvidia-chips.html
• Meta's 'Vibes' Short-Form Video Feed of AI Slop → https://techcrunch.com/2025/09/25/meta-launches-vibes-a-short-form-video-feed-of-ai-slop/

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque

© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 066: A Crazy Person's Guide to Living Life in an AI World

Each ChatGPT usage category reveals what humans are desperately craving in an AI-saturated world.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into OpenAI's first-ever ChatGPT usage study.

You'll learn how each AI usage category reveals human hunger for authentic connection, discover the "Return to Real" opportunity hiding within seven major verticals, and uncover why the world needs more heart, humor, and humanity and not more artificial intelligence.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of the seven wedges resonates most with YOUR life right now? Where are you craving more "real" and less "artificial"?

Key Take-aways

• Every AI usage category reveals where people are yearning for what's deeply human and authentic
• Personal writing (18%) shows hunger for genuine voice—opportunities in storytelling and book clubs
• Tutoring (10.2%) reveals desire for someone who sees you—think micro schools and apprenticeships
• Health/fitness (5.7%) shows craving to feel alive—outdoor adventure travel is fastest growing tourism
• The subtext of all AI usage: people want more time doing what's really meaningful and precious

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – A crazy person's guide to living in an AI world
01:16 – OpenAI's groundbreaking usage study revealed
02:30 – The overlooked angle everyone's missing
03:27 – Why each AI vertical reveals human hunger
04:08 – Wedge #1: Personal Writing (18%) - Heart, Humor, Humanity
04:50 – Wedge #2: Tutoring (10.2%) - Hands in the Dirt
05:06 – Wedge #3: How-To Advice (8.5%) - Going Analog
05:46 – Wedge #4: Health & Fitness (5.7%) - Best Things Don't Scale
06:17 – Wedge #5: Translation (4.5%) - Oxytocin Over Dopamine
07:03 – Wedge #6: Programming (4.2%) - Category of One
07:51 – Wedge #7: Products (2.1%) - Between Death and Danger
08:26 – The real subtext behind all AI usage
09:03 – Why I stay up past midnight beating this drum
09:42 – Your call to action: Bang your drum

Links & Resources 🔗

OpenAI ChatGPT Usage Study (NBER Working Paper) → https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w34255/w34255.pdf
The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 065:The AI Battle Brewing Beneath the Surface Plus 27 Vermont Farm Mastermind Takeaways

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into the $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement and its implications for content creators.

You'll learn why we may be exiting the "Napster era" of AI, discover the contrarian content strategy behind our first viral YouTube video, and explore 27 transformative insights from the Vermont Farm Mastermind Experience.

Question of the Day 🗣️

What's your biggest takeaway from the 27 Vermont insights? Which one could transform your business?

Key Take-aways

• The $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement signals a shift from the "Napster era" to the "Spotify era" of AI
• YouTube may be the next AI battleground as the last non-AI powered search engine
• Single source of truth content can generate viral breakthrough results (27K+ views in 18 weeks)
• Strategic content ecosystems outperform shallow algorithm gaming every time
• Vermont Farm Mastermind revealed 27 transformative business and life insights

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – The AI battle brewing beneath the surface
00:48 – $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement breakdown
02:15 – From Napster era to Spotify era of AI
03:40 – YouTube as the next AI battleground
04:30 – Town Hall announcement: October 2nd
05:35 – Unexpected YouTube breakthrough explained
06:35 – Vermont Farm Mastermind experience
07:25 – 27 takeaways from Maeve Ferguson's perspective

Links & Resources 🔗

• Issue #055 of The Digital Contrarian – "My Contrarian YouTube Strategy" → https://ryanlevesque.net/podcast/tdc-055-my-contrarian-youtube-strategy-building-a-strategic-content-ecosystem-part-2/
• Issue #031 of The Digital Contrarian – "Cultivating Influence vs. Chasing Attention" → https://ryanlevesque.net/cultivating-influence-vs-chasing-attention/
• Vermont Farm Mastermind Takeaways → https://maeveferguson.substack.com/p/27-takeaways-from-ryan-levesques
• Check if your videos were scraped → https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2025/09/youtube-ai-training-data-sets/684116/
• The Digital Contrarian newsletter → http://thedigitalcontrarian.com/

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 064: The Market Shift Nobody Sees Coming (While You're Distracted by AI)

Paid media costs are dropping to 18-month lows—here's what this unexpected trend could mean for your business.

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares a surprising market observation from his Vermont farm as he prepares to host the first Return to Real mastermind.

You'll discover an unexpected shift in paid media costs, learn why this contradicts conventional wisdom, and explore what this opportunity means for digital entrepreneurs who are paying attention.

Question of the Day 🗣️

Are you seeing any unexpected shifts in your paid media costs recently? Comment "TOWN HALL" if you'd be interested in a deeper dive into this market trend!

Key Take-aways

• Paid media costs on Meta are hitting 18-month lows, defying expectations
• This shift represents a potential major opportunity for businesses paying attention
• The market dynamics are different from last year's "Great Sea Change"
• Strategic timing matters when everyone else is distracted by AI trends

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Cold open & surprising non-AI trend
01:00 – The unexpected paid media cost shift
01:42 – Why this contradicts last year's predictions
02:18 – Balancing multiple commitments and gauging interest
03:06 – Digital Contrarian podcast update and gift
04:00 – Final thoughts from the farm

Links & Resources 🔗

• Digital Contrarian Podcast (all episodes) → https://ryanlevesque.net/podcast/
• The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

Connect & CTA 🎯

👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend: https://ryanlevesque.net/join-the-digital-contrarian/

Credits

Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 063: 5 AI Infographics That Will Blow Your Mind

Five shocking AI infographics reveal hidden truths about data centers, jobs, and what AI is doing to your brain.

---

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque shares five mind-blowing AI infographics from his personal collection.

You'll discover hard evidence that AI is killing jobs for young people, learn why data centers now consume more power than entire countries, and see shocking MIT research on what ChatGPT does to your brain connectivity.

---

Question of the Day 🗣️

Which of these five infographics impacts you most, and how are you preparing for the changes they reveal?

---

Key Take-aways

- Data centers are consuming more electricity than entire countries, creating unprecedented infrastructure demands
- First hard evidence shows AI is disproportionately eliminating entry-level jobs for young workers
- MIT study reveals 83% of ChatGPT users can't recall sentences they wrote minutes earlier
- Ten core skills emerge as essential for thriving in the 2030 economy
- AI training relies heavily on Reddit data, creating potential accuracy and bias issues

---

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Five AI infographics that will blow your mind
00:48 – My infographic collection obsession
02:15 – Data centers consuming more power than countries
03:40 – First hard evidence AI is killing young jobs
05:35 – Ten core skills to master by 2030
06:35 – Your brain on ChatGPT: the shocking study
08:30 – AI gets 40% of facts from Reddit problem
09:15 – Which infographic impacts you most?

---

Links & Resources 🔗

- Issue #062 of The Digital Contrarian – "Is the AI Bubble Bursting??" → https://ryanlevesque.net/is-the-ai-bubble-bursting/
- Subscribe to The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

---

Connect & CTA 🎯
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend:*

---

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.

TDC 062: Is the AI Bubble Bursting? My Keynote Insights + MIT's Shocking 95% Failure Rate

While 65% of all VC flows into AI, the real opportunity lies in the barbell approach.

---

Episode Summary

In this episode of The Digital Contrarian, host Ryan Levesque dives into AI bubble dynamics and enterprise failure rates.

You'll learn why 95% of AI projects fail, how billionaire investors view current market concentration, and discover the barbell strategy for hedging against bubble conditions while maintaining human competitive advantage.

---

Question of the Day 🗣️

How are you balancing AI automation with maintaining the human elements that make your business unique?

---

Key Take-aways

- 95% of enterprise AI projects are failing according to new MIT research
- 65% of all venture capital now flows into AI—the highest sector concentration in history
- Geographic distance kills AI effectiveness in most business applications
- The barbell approach protects your human core while deploying strategic AI assists
- Lead with humanity first, then layer in AI where ROI is obvious

---

Timestamped Outline ⏱️

00:00 – Is the AI bubble bursting?
00:48 – Newport Global Summit keynote insights
02:15 – The shocking MIT study: 95% AI failure rate
03:40 – Sam Altman's market manipulation timing
05:35 – Venture capital hyper-concentration warning
06:35 – Data center overinvestment analysis
07:25 – Why geographic distance kills AI effectiveness
08:30 – The barbell approach: Human core + AI assists
09:15 – 4-step practical implementation framework
11:30 – 30-day sprint you can start Monday
13:15 – The big takeaway: Lead with humanity

---

Links & Resources 🔗

- The Digital Contrarian newsletter → https://thedigitalcontrarian.com

---

Connect & CTA 🎯
👉 Enjoyed this? Subscribe & leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

🎁 Join 100 000+ digital entrepreneurs who get Ryan's "Strategic Insights for Digital Entrepreneurs Who Think Differently" every weekend:

---

Credits
Host: Ryan Levesque
© 2025 RL & Associates LLC. All rights reserved.