Why Today's AI Boom Differs From the Internet Bubble

The article argues that the current AI buildout, representing the largest industrial expansion since 19th-century railroads, is fundamentally different from the 1990s internet bubble. Unlike the dot-com era where 90% of fiber infrastructure sat unused and 75% of IPOs operated at losses, today's AI companies are profitable, have reasonable valuations, and their hardware is in high demand with premium pricing. This suggests the AI boom has a stronger economic foundation than the internet bubble.