AI-Assisted Essays are Shaking Markets

Viral “AI doomer” essays are suddenly moving markets.

In recent weeks, we’ve seen posts from AI influencer Matt Shumer and Citrini Research. Both essays spread rapidly across platforms like X and LinkedIn — and the ripple effects reached the markets. We saw it during the SaaSpocalypse, and we’re seeing it again now.

In both cases, it’s worth noting that AI appears to have played a role in drafting the essays. In the Matt Shumer example, our analysis indicates AI was used.

In the Citrini Research example, AI use was more limited but still present:

This isn’t an argument that using AI in writing is inherently bad. People use AI in different ways — from light copy editing to fully generating an article. The acceptable level of AI involvement is ultimately up to each company, author, and reader to decide. (Copyleaks serves as a transparency tool to help identify those gradations.)

But in the AI era, the key point is this: the tools are now good enough that anyone can produce longform content that feels credible, thoughtful, and detailed. The examples above show that clearly.

Connect the dots, and the implication is obvious: anyone can now move markets.

The barrier to influence is lower than it has ever been. Public companies, governments, and institutions need to account for that reality.