At Berkshire Hathaway's 2026 annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, new CEO Greg Abel signaled a pragmatic approach to artificial intelligence, distinguishing the conglomerate from tech leaders aggressively spending billions to dominate the AI race. Abel succeeded Warren Buffett as CEO earlier this year and reaffirmed the company's traditional strategy of investing only within its circle of competence. During the event, Abel stated that Berkshire would not adopt AI for its own sake, insisting that any implementation must be strictly additive to existing businesses and create genuine value. While Abel maintained caution at the corporate level, interviews with CEOs of Berkshire subsidiaries such as See's Candies, Dairy Queen, Brooks Running, and Jazwares revealed a more nuanced reality. These business leaders acknowledged embracing AI to varying degrees, citing benefits in time savings and operational efficiency. This internal divergence mirrors the broader investment community's split views on the technology. Optimists like Kevin O'Leary and Ross Gerber argue that AI is driving measurable productivity and profit growth, dismissing fears of a bubble. Conversely, investors such as Michael Burry and Jeremy Grantham warn that the AI sector represents a historic bubble destined to burst. The meeting also featured a striking demonstration of the very technology Abel spoke about cautiously. The Q&A session, which replaced the legendary long-form dialogues of the late Buffett, opened with a question delivered by a deepfake version of Warren Buffett himself. The digital avatar, complete with Buffett's trademark voice and attire, appeared to ask shareholders why they should hold the stock long-term given his age and reduced role. Abel laughed off the moment as an astute question before revealing it was a deepfake created using publicly available data without any input from the actual Warren Buffett. Abel used this demonstration to highlight the increasing risks of cyberattacks and misinformation facing all businesses. He noted that the ability to replicate a person's voice and actions without their consent underscores the daily challenges Berkshire must navigate to protect its reputation and assets. This incident served as a practical lesson on the power and dangers of AI, reinforcing Abel's earlier stance that technology must be handled with prudence. Despite the shift in leadership, the meeting maintained the unique culture of Berkshire Hathaway. While the physical and digital presence of Warren Buffett remained, the focus shifted to Abel's leadership style and the company's resilience. Abel emphasized the strength of Berkshire's diverse business portfolio and the importance of its substantial cash reserves in navigating an uncertain economic landscape. By balancing the adoption of useful AI tools at the subsidiary level while avoiding speculative frenzy at the corporate level, Abel aims to preserve the long-term value of the company without chasing fleeting technological trends.