S&P 500 Rises After AI Disruption Concerns

Investors seek out beaten-down stocks amid choppy trading over AI's potential impact

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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US stocks edged higher on Wednesday as investors looked for undervalued companies following a period of volatile trading driven by worries about the disruptive effects artificial intelligence could have on various sectors.

Why it matters

The rise of AI has sparked concerns about its potential to upend established industries and business models, leading to uncertainty in the markets. Investors are now trying to identify companies that could benefit from or withstand the impact of AI.

The details

The S&P 500 Index rose 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 gained 0.1%. Meta Platforms agreed to deploy 'millions' of Nvidia processors over the next few years, and Apple is accelerating development of three new AI-powered wearable devices.

  • The market movements occurred on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.

The players

S&P 500 Index

A stock market index that tracks the performance of 500 large-cap U.S. publicly traded companies.

Nasdaq 100 Index

A stock market index that includes 100 of the largest non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

Meta Platforms Inc.

A technology conglomerate that owns social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Nvidia Corp.

A multinational technology company that designs graphics processing units (GPUs) and related hardware.

Apple Inc.

A multinational technology company that designs and sells consumer electronics, software, and online services.

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The takeaway

The market's reaction to the potential disruption caused by AI highlights the ongoing uncertainty and the need for investors to identify companies that can adapt and thrive in this rapidly evolving technological landscape.