The shockwave from artificial intelligence continues to spread. Following the software and financial sectors, the logistics industry has become the latest casualty of AI-induced panic trading. On Thursday, February 12, the Russell 3000 Trucking Index plummeted by 7.8% in the U.S. stock market. Industry bellwether C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) plunged over 14%, while Expeditors International (EXPD) dropped more than 13%. On the same day, European logistics stocks also experienced significant declines, with Kuehne + Nagel falling nearly 13%. In today's A-share market, some transportation stocks fell sharply. By the midday close, Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co.,Ltd. (01138/600026) was down over 8%, China Merchants Energy Shipping fell nearly 7%, and China Merchants Group dropped more than 6%. Notably, prior to the slump in U.S. logistics stocks, financial services and real estate stocks had already seen selling pressure after another small company, Altruist, launched an AI-driven tax software. Currently, the selloff in software stocks continues, with AppLovin Corporation (APP) falling nearly 20% on Thursday. Market analysts point out that this AI "super cycle" is reshaping the global industrial landscape, deeply intertwining technological dividends with market anxiety.

Today, several A-share transportation stocks witnessed substantial declines. Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co.,Ltd. (01138/600026) fell over 9% intraday, while China Merchants Energy Shipping dropped more than 8% at one point. By the lunch break, Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Co.,Ltd. was down 8.06%, China Merchants Energy Shipping fell 6.99%, and China Merchants Group declined 6.66%. Companies like COSCO SHIPPING Specialized Carriers, HNA Technology, and Jinjiang Shipping fell more than 3%, while COSCO SHIPPING Development, Ningbo Ocean Shipping, China COSCO Shipping, and Eastern Air Logistics dropped over 2%. The decline in these stocks was primarily dragged down by the sharp overnight plunge in European and U.S. logistics shares.

On Thursday, the Russell 3000 Trucking Index plummeted over 9% intraday in the U.S. market. C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW) plunged 24% at one point, marking its largest single-day drop in history. Landstar System and Expeditors International (EXPD) also fell nearly 20% intraday. By the close, the Russell 3000 Trucking Index was down 7.8%. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Landstar System, and Expeditors International closed down 14.54%, 15.60%, and 13.18%, respectively. Among other logistics stocks, JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) fell over 5%, and XPO declined nearly 6%.

The selloff was triggered by recent developments from small AI logistics firm Algorhythm Holdings Inc. (RIME). The company announced that its SemiCab platform, in actual customer deployments, helped clients increase freight volume by 300% to 400% without adding corresponding operational staff. Algorhythm claims that independent operators using SemiCab can manage over 2,000 freight orders annually, compared to a traditional industry benchmark of about 500 orders per freight broker per year, implying a fourfold increase in employee productivity. The company's CEO stated, "Logistics has long been constrained by human labor. Every increase in freight volume required more planners, dispatchers, and manual intervention. Our SemiCab platform breaks this dependency by embedding intelligence directly into the freight operating system." This news propelled Algorhythm's stock to surge 79% intraday; it still closed nearly 30% higher. However, as of the third quarter of 2025, the company still operated a karaoke machine business, which is slated to be sold to Stingray Group (STGYF) as it pivots to focus on AI-driven freight solutions. At the close, Algorhythm's market capitalization remained below $10 million.

The start of 2026 presents a tale of two extremes for the AI industry: Asian markets, leading in AI supply chains with technologies like HBM4 and advanced packaging, have seen giants like TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and SK Hynix report substantial earnings growth and repeatedly hit new stock price highs. Conversely, the U.S. is experiencing "AI panic selling," with indiscriminate selloffs affecting logistics, financial, and software sectors. Jefferies analyst Jeffrey Faucetta noted in a February 12 client report, "Undercurrents are swirling in the U.S. stock market. It's not just tech stocks; any sector with AI-related news triggers a 'sell first, think later' panic trade. I wish I could provide a clear answer on when this will end or what the catalyst might be, but it remains uncertain currently."

LPL Financial Chief Equity Strategist Jeff Buchbinder stated, "Capital markets have faced multiple complex factors over the past few weeks." He listed a series of influences, including "sector rotation in equities, sharp commodity price swings, geopolitical conflicts, global central bank decisions, and key corporate earnings reports." Before the logistics stock decline, financial services stocks (like Charles Schwab, Raymond James) and real estate stocks (like Compass, JLL) had already seen selling pressure after another small company, Altruist, launched an AI-driven tax software. The selloff in software stocks continues. Despite AppLovin Corporation (APP) reporting better-than-expected adjusted earnings per share and revenue on Wednesday, February 11, and management attempting to frame AI as a positive catalyst, its stock still fell 19.68% on Thursday.

Major U.S. stock indices were generally under pressure on Thursday. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite fell 2%, while the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped approximately 1.5% and 1.3%, respectively. So far, this cross-sector selloff remains largely confined to equity markets and has not significantly impacted discussions about monetary policy direction. However, this could change if market turbulence persists. On Thursday, Macquarie Global Strategist Thierry Wizman noted in a client report that if fear-based investor sentiment continues, the AI impact could begin to materially influence Federal Reserve decisions. While Fed hawks might argue for rate hikes citing sticky inflation and a healthy labor market, doves may prefer to "maintain economic heat" to boost productivity growth, offsetting concerns about AI replacing jobs. He said, "The 'AI panic trade' that began last week continues to restrain investors from excessively increasing their exposure to U.S. equities. If panic further dampens market sentiment, hawks may need stronger justifications to maintain a tightening stance."

UBS strategist Matthew Mish recently pointed out that as the market widely believes rapidly advancing AI models will impact numerous industries, investors are scrutinizing each sector for signs of fundamental vulnerability. He stated, "The core driver of the February selloff triggered by AI impact is the widespread belief that AI transformation is accelerating its penetration across multiple industries, not just software. However, the specific timing of AI's impact remains uncertain, and this uncertainty is unlikely to dissipate quickly in the short term."