Bubble or Breakthrough? How CIOs Should Think About the AI Tech Boom

Is AI just another tech bubble or the defining platform shift of this era?

Duncan Davidson, Co-Founder and General Partner at Bullpen Capital, argues that the answer lies in one critical distinction: Is the technology being used for its core purpose? In this episode of Technoventure, Duncan draws on his experience across the PC boom, dot-com era, mobile, and now AI to explain why real adoption signals durability.

He also explores why CIOs can’t afford to sit out a boom, how AI agents may disrupt the SaaS model, and why history suggests productivity revolutions create more opportunity than they destroy. For technology leaders navigating board-level AI pressure, this conversation reframes the question from timing the bubble to strategically participating in the inflection.

Key insights include:

• Why core-use adoption determines whether AI is hype or a true platform shift

• Why leaders must participate in tech booms rather than try to time the peak

• How to distinguish defensible AI innovation from fragile “wrapper” plays

• What historical signals indicate when a technology boom is nearing exhaustion