Harrisonburg investment expert addresses AI stock market concerns

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – With the rise in artificial intelligence, investors have followed suit, pouring more money into AI stocks.

Many different companies have started jumping into the revolutionary technology. But, after the unveiling of China’s new DeepSeek chatbot, major American tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google took a tumble in the stock market. Mike Gochenour, executive vice president of Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, said everyone is still trying to digest the new information about this Chinese AI that is causing concerns for investors.

“Are they telling us everything that is truthful and upfront? Because that’s a huge deal with what’s going on in the AI race, and we think there is an AI race, or even an AI war, so to speak, out there between the United States and other countries,” Gochenour said. “I think you’re going to see continuous [fluctuations] in the market as news comes out. This is a fast moving technology. It is not abnormal, and the best thing you can do is not be real panicked by it.”

Gochenour said even with the Chinese tech, AI stocks have already been more aggressive in nature and that this type of market is not for the faint of heart.

“They are going to be more volatile, and you’re gonna see higher highs, lower lows. So just make sure when you’re investing that it matches your risk tolerance and know what you’re getting into,” Gochenour said. “When you’re getting into a newer technology like AI, there can be big winners, but there’s definitely gonna be some losers along the way as well.”

Despite these concerns, he said investors should see that advancements in productivity could be a good side to the stock in the future.

“There will be some bad that comes from it. This is a a technology that is still new, and probably even to the point that we have maybe decades of this as it continues to advance and roll out,” Gochenour said. “We encourage people to stay diversified. Maybe look at artificial intelligence exchange traded fund or mutual fund that’s more diversified.”

Gochenour added that investors will be cautious and will weed out some of the smaller companies that are starting to pop up and possibly just sticking with the larger well-known companies to avoid risk.