In this article we discuss the 10 AI news investors probably missed.
A December 30 report by CNBC discussed the rapid adoption of generative AI by businesses, its potential to significantly impact global GDP, and the varying perspectives of leaders on its future. As per the report, generative AI has evolved from a novelty to a key tool for businesses, with nearly two-thirds of organizations using it for tasks like customer service automation and data analysis. While its growth could potentially boost global GDP by $7 trillion in the next decade, opinions among business leaders vary. Jamie Dimon and Bill Gates view AI as transformative, comparing it to past technological breakthroughs.
However, Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella caution that further advancements will be slower, requiring deep innovation. Meanwhile, concerns about AI’s ethical risks, highlighted by Warren Buffett and Mark Cuban, suggest the technology could have unintended consequences, despite its growing importance in industries like defense.
READ ALSO: 9 Important AI News and Ratings on Investors’ Radar and 10 AI News Investors Shouldn’t Miss.
Open-Source AI from China Takes on Major U.S. Models with Fractional Costs
CNBC’s TechCheck anchor, Deirdre Bosa reported on December 30 that DeepSeek, an open-source AI model developed by a Chinese research lab, has emerged as a serious competitor to leading models like GPT-4 and LLaMA 3.1. Despite using lower-cost H800 chips, which are less powerful versions of the H100, DeepSeek outperformed these models in key benchmarks and was built for just $5.5 million, a fraction of the cost of other frontier models that require hundreds of millions or even billions to develop.
This signals a shift toward more commoditized AI models, where progress relies less on building new infrastructure and more on optimizing existing models. The development raises concerns for investors in major U.S. tech companies, as it challenges the long-standing dominance of firms like OpenAI. Additionally, the success of DeepSeek highlights the potential advantage of open-source models, suggesting that nations like China, without access to the latest chips or massive investments, could still compete effectively in the AI race, Bosa mentioned. The implications of this development, particularly for the U.S.-led AI dominance and global geopolitical dynamics are expected to unfold further in 2025.
For this article, we selected AI stocks by going through news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. We listed the stocks in ascending order of their hedge fund sentiment taken from Insider Monkey’s database of 900 hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
10 AI News Investors Probably Missed
10. ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZENA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
ZenaTech, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZENA) focuses on AI-powered drones, quantum computing, and enterprise SaaS solutions tailored for critical business operations.
The company announced that it will attend two investor conferences in January 2025. The management team will provide updates on its AI drone technology, U.S. defense projects, and business strategies, including Quantum Computing and DaaS initiatives. ZenaTech will participate in the CEM AlphaNorth Capital Event in the Bahamas from January 17-19 and the Microcap Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from January 28-30, engaging in presentations and one-on-one meetings with investors.
9. Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
Safe Pro Group Inc. (NASDAQ:SPAI) produces personal protective equipment and ballistic protection products, in addition to offering drone-based inspection services for infrastructure. The company utilizes AI for data analysis and reporting, delivering solutions for public safety, emergency management, and the inspection of critical infrastructure.
On December 30, Safe Pro (NASDAQ:SPAI) announced receiving a $5 million request from Ukraine’s State Special Transport Service (SSTS) for up to 50 AI-powered Drone Demining packages to aid demining and land survey operations. These packages, featuring the SpotlightAI detection platform, include drones, mapping tools, and protective equipment, improving efficiency and safety in addressing Ukraine’s landmine crisis. Over 139,300 km² in Ukraine is contaminated, causing significant economic losses. SpotlightAI processes drone images in under 0.2 seconds, detecting over 16,540 explosive remnants across 4,219 hectares, offering a scalable solution compared to slower traditional methods.