Warren Buffett said he does not know how artificial intelligence and deepfakes will affect Berkshire Hathaway during the company's annual meeting [1].
The admission from one of the world's most successful investors highlights the unpredictability of generative AI. While many analysts attempt to quantify the disruption of these technologies, Buffett's uncertainty suggests that even the most seasoned capital allocators struggle to model the long-term risks and rewards of AI.
Speaking with CNBC's Becky Quick on May 2, 2026 [1], Buffett said he addressed investor questions regarding the company's business strategy in the face of evolving tech. He specifically noted the challenges posed by deepfakes and the broader trajectory of artificial intelligence [2].
"We don't know what's going to happen," Buffett said [3].
The meeting took place in Omaha, Nebraska [4]. The discussion centered on how these tools might disrupt various sectors of the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio, which spans insurance, rail, and energy. While some reports suggest the technology could hurt the business, Buffett said he maintained a stance of uncertainty during the interview [2, 5].
Buffett has historically avoided investing in high-tech companies unless he understands their long-term competitive advantage. His current hesitation reflects a cautious approach to a technology that evolves faster than traditional business cycles can track, a pattern consistent with his value-investing philosophy.
The 2026 meeting served as a forum for shareholders to gauge the company's readiness for a digital shift. By acknowledging the unknown, Buffett said the company is not yet treating AI as a predictable variable in its financial forecasting [1, 4].
“"We don't know what's going to happen."”
Buffett's reluctance to predict the outcome of AI integration suggests that Berkshire Hathaway may maintain a defensive or observant posture rather than aggressively pivoting its strategy. For the broader market, this indicates that the 'predictability' of AI's economic impact is still contested, even among the most influential investors in the U.S.
