Viv Govender
Portfolio Manager, Rand Swiss
Viv is a senior analyst and investment specialist, focusing on international and local markets. He frequently appears in the media, contributing to channels such as: SABC, CNBC, SAFM, 702 and ETV. He is also a regular guest lecturer at a number of prominent business schools and advanced education programmes, and previously lectured at tertiary institutions such as UKZN and DUT.
You can follow Viv on YouTube at @RandSwiss for regular market updates and AI insights.
Share
The Weekly Wrap: The AI efficiency paradox
Friday, 16 October 2026
The biggest threat to parts of the AI boom may be the thing investors want most: Better, cheaper AI.
Rapid improvements in efficiency are reducing the resources required to run increasingly capable models. That could challenge some of the assumptions underpinning today’s enormous investment in data centres, memory and computing infrastructure.
But there is another possibility.
As AI becomes cheaper, the number of economically viable uses for it could expand dramatically. The result may be lower infrastructure requirements for individual tasks, but much greater AI consumption overall.
This week’s Weekly Wrap explores this AI efficiency paradox, alongside renewed pressure in global energy markets, inflation and interest rates.
Stay ahead of the markets
Our analysts work around the clock to bring you clear, contextual insights on global financial trends — helping you spot opportunities and make confident investment decisions.
Get expert perspectives on the markets, the economy, investing, trading, and wealth planning with our free email newsletters—customised to your interests.
Subscribe today and receive our complimentary market and trading insights straight to your inbox.