With the world making significant strides in artificial intelligence, some countries are concerned about the key figures leading these efforts. In the latest news, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese authorities advised the country’s top artificial intelligence entrepreneurs and researchers to avoid traveling to the United States.
According to the report, the authorities are concerned that Chinese experts could divulge important and confidential information about the country’s progress. They also fear that they could be detained and used as a “bargaining chip” in US-China negotiations.
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The report further revealed that those who decide to travel are instructed to report their plans before leaving. Moreover, they must also report on details like what they did and whom they met upon returning. DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng didn’t attend the AI summit in Paris in February, as per the report, while the founder of a major Chinese AI startup also canceled a planned U.S. trip last year, also due to instructions from Beijing.
In a similar effort, Meta has also fired at least 20 employees who leaked “confidential information outside the company”.
“We tell employees when they join the company, and we offer periodic reminders, that it is against our policies to leak internal information, no matter the intent. We recently conducted an investigation that resulted in roughly 20 employees being terminated for sharing confidential information outside the company, and we expect there will be more. We take this seriously, and will continue to take action when we identify leaks.”
-Meta spokesperson Dave Arnold tells The Verge exclusively.
Moves like these underscore the importance of privacy and confidentiality, especially in terms of progress in the world of artificial intelligence. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also been instructing top Communist Party officials to improve China’s overall security, particularly in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
“We should give top priority to defending the country’s political security”.
-Xi was quoted as having told other members of the governing Politburo.
For this article, we selected AI stocks by going through news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds. The hedge fund data is as of Q4 2024.
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10. SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 11
SoundHound AI (NASDAQ:SOUN) is a voice artificial intelligence company offering voice AI solutions to businesses. On February 28, D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria reiterated a “Buy” rating on the stock and set a price target of $13.00 from $9.50.
The analyst told investors in a research note how SoundHound AI’s revenue growth remains above expectations, and demand for the company’s solutions remains prominent as it now expands its business with leading players across several industries.
The company has also been successfully broadening its market reach, particularly with the acquisition of Amelia, bringing additional AI expertise to the company. The acquisition has also allowed SoundHound AI to increase its total addressable market (TAM). The firm believes that SoundHound AI has positioned itself well to capitalize on the growing demand for AI solutions across multiple industries.
9. Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42
Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE:BE) develops solid-oxide fuel cell systems for on-site power generation, helping meet the growing energy demands of AI data centers. On February 28, BTIG analyst Gregory Lewis reiterated a “Buy” rating on the stock with an associated price target of $30.00.
Highlighting Bloom Energy’s strong market position and financial performance, Lewis highlighted its impressive fourth quarter earnings and robust product sales. Its non-GAAP gross margins and adjusted EBITDA, well above consensus estimates, further reflect the company’s effective cost management and profitability.
Bloom Energy’s future outlook also looks promising owing to a solid revenue guidance, the firm noted. It also highlighted how its deal with AEP for fuel cells could lead to significant revenue generation. Bloom’s energy servers also qualify for tax credits until 2028, offering it a competitive edge. Overall, the company is in a strong position to capitalize on the rising power demand, making it a promising investing opportunity.
