AI spending is pushing up everyday prices and raising hard questions about regulation, with the whole boom looking increasingly bubbly.

• AI demand is making chips scarce, so laptops, phones, cars, game consoles, and the Switch 2 all cost more.
• Electricity and software bills are climbing too, as power-hungry data centers strain the grid and companies use "new AI" as an excuse to charge more.
• Despite endless new AI apps, few are actually catching on — usage and reviews are flat or falling.
• OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX are burning huge cash and will likely need to raise more money soon, fueling talk of government stakes or even bailouts.
• Bernie Sanders wants the public to own 50% of big AI firms; Trump's camp is floating its own version — setting up a fight over who benefits from AI's profits.

Outlook: Expect a growing political fight over regulating AI and sharing its gains, while costs for regular people keep rising.