AI jitters rattled global markets on Friday the 13th — here’s why it matters

On Friday, February 13, 2026, a fresh bout of anxiety over artificial intelligence swept through global markets. Tech-led selling in the U.S. spilled into Asia and reverberated worldwide, while even “safe” assets wobbled. If markets were a group chat, AI just posted a cryptic message and everyone started doomscrolling at once.

What actually moved

U.S. equities slumped the prior session: the S&P 500 fell about 1.6% and the Nasdaq dropped roughly 2%. That weakness framed Friday trading across regions as investors trimmed exposure to companies seen as vulnerable to rapid AI adoption. Gold, meanwhile, slipped back below the closely watched $5,000 per ounce line before stabilizing. That’s not the usual script for a “safe haven,” underscoring how broad the risk-off mood has become.

In Asia, sentiment stayed shaky, with key benchmarks like Japan’s Nikkei 225 and China’s CSI 300 down in Friday trading as the AI narrative dominated headlines.

The pressure wasn’t just in America: India’s heavyweight IT services names, a bellwether for global outsourcing, have seen tens of billions in value erased this month as investors reassess how generative AI could reshape client spending.

Why AI is suddenly spooking investors

Two forces collided. First, fears that AI could disrupt business models in software, data services, logistics, real estate—even white-collar staples like legal research—triggered a “sell first, analyze later” reflex. Second, Wall Street is rethinking the price tag of the AI build‑out. Megacaps’ enormous capital‑expenditure plans for data centers, chips, and power have raised questions about near‑term returns. That tension helps explain why some tech giants have drifted into bear‑market territory even as they lead the AI race.

Put simply: AI is both the hero and the potential plot twist. It promises productivity gains, but it may compress margins or sideline incumbents along the way—creating valuation whiplash as investors debate who pays the bill, who gets the benefit, and when.

The gold plot twist

Gold dipping below $5,000 per ounce felt like the moment the horror movie’s flashlight flickers. Typically a haven, it sold off amid cross‑asset de‑risking and possible margin call dynamics, before reclaiming the level. Strategists warned that the speed of Thursday’s swing shows volatility isn’t done with precious metals yet. Translation: even the “calm corner” of portfolios can have jump scares.

How this ties into recent headlines

In recent days, markets have been whipsawed by stories that give AI either superpowers or sharp elbows: analysts highlighting software de‑ratings, data‑rich incumbents fielding pointed questions about moat durability, and megacaps telegraphing massive AI capex. India’s IT slump is a non‑U.S. mirror of the same worry: if clients can automate more in‑house or with new tools, legacy vendors could see spending re‑allocated. Meanwhile, investors are eyeing upcoming catalysts—most notably Nvidia’s results later this month—as a reality check on whether AI demand can keep justifying the spend.

What this could mean for everyday life

• Your portfolio: Expect choppier days. Diversification matters when both growth stocks and traditional havens wobble. If you dollar‑cost average, volatility can be a feature, not a bug.
• Your job and tools: AI won’t replace all of us tomorrow, but many of us will get new “copilots.” The winners will be people and firms that learn to wield them—turning anxiety into efficiency gains.
• Your bills and borrowing: Market swings can nudge rates and risk appetite. If funding costs for big tech stay elevated, some price increases for AI‑enhanced services could trickle through. Not apocalypse—more like finding your favorite app now comes with an extra subscription tier.

Fresh angles to consider

Follow the power. AI’s capex isn’t just chips—it’s energy and cooling. Countries and utilities that can add reliable capacity cheaply could become unlikely winners as the AI economy scales. Watch the “AI‑immune” myth. Sectors once considered safe—like data brokers or IT outsourcers—are being repriced as workflows automate. But panic can overshoot: the first payoff from AI often arrives as productivity, and markets occasionally forget to price that in.

Where this might go next

Short‑term, volatility may linger as investors test which business models bend or break under AI. Medium‑term, expect a more nuanced market that separates cash‑hungry builders from cash‑generating adopters. If earnings start to show real productivity gains—and not just big spend—today’s scare could age into tomorrow’s opportunity. Until then, keep your seatbelt fastened and your expectations balanced. Even on Friday the 13th, cooler heads (and diversified portfolios) tend to survive the twist ending.