Jensen Huang had previously estimated that practical quantum computing would be 15 to 30 years away, but he recently revised this timeline to 5 to 15 years. This shift reflected the company’s growing interest in quantum, which is likely influenced by recent relevant milestones in the tech sector, particularly the MAG7. These advancements focus on error correction and reducing noise in quantum chips, which is crucial for scaling quantum computers effectively. Jack Hidary, SandboxAQ CEO, joined CNBC’s ‘Power Lunch’ on March 20 to discuss his takeaways from these advancements. Hidary emphasized that the future lies in integrating GPUs with quantum computing rather than choosing one over the other.
Jack Hidary’s perspective on AI focuses on its transformative impact and the shift from consumer-focused applications to business-driven innovations. The conversation on CNBC highlighted that while technologies like flying cars and supersonic air travel have long been discussed without becoming adopted or profitable, AI is rapidly advancing and is poised to deliver tangible results. Over the past two years, consumer AI tools like ChatGPT have dominated attention, which users to generate essays, emails, and summaries with simple prompts. However, Hidary emphasized that the next phase of AI development will center on B2B applications, which he believes will drive profound changes across industries. According to him, B2B AI has the potential to revolutionize sectors such as pharmaceuticals by enabling the development of new medicines and diagnostics. In energy, AI can help optimize hydrocarbon value chains and create higher-value products. In automotive manufacturing, AI is being used not only for autonomous driving but also for lightweight vehicles and improving product designs.
Hidary stressed that this shift toward B2B AI represents a significant economic impact, as it addresses 80% of GDP compared to the limited scope of consumer AI. He views this transition as a pivotal moment for AI’s integration into critical industries, which promises substantial advancements in technology and economic growth in the coming years. Through these developments, Hidary envisions AI becoming a cornerstone of innovation across multiple domains, reshaping how businesses operate and deliver value.
Our Methodology
We first sifted through relevant threads to compile a list of the top AI stocks. We then selected the 12 AI stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q4 2024. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database which tracks the moves of over 900 elite money managers.
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 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
12. POET Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:POET)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 4
POET Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:POET) is developing advanced optoelectronic solutions by integrating photonic and electronic devices using its POET Optical Interposer platform. By using AI-driven design and manufacturing, it aims to revolutionize data transfer and sensing across key markets. These include data centers, automotive LIDAR, and medical imaging.
The company targets the AI infrastructure market while focusing on the development and production of optical engines. Its POET Optical Interposer technology, which enables high-speed data communication within AI clusters, is the central driver of its growth strategy. This technology is vital for the advanced AI networks and hyperscale data centers that are demanding ever-increasing bandwidth.
The company is building partnerships to strengthen its position in the AI market. In Q4 2024, it secured a design win with Foxconn Interconnect Technology (FIT) for 800G and 1.6T optical engines. Luxshare Tech has integrated POET Technologies Inc.’s (NASDAQ:POET) optical engines into its product offerings. Collaborations with Mentech Technology and Mitsubishi Electric are underway to develop cutting-edge 800G and 3.2T optical solutions, both of which provide the high-speed data transfer that AI systems demand.
11. BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BBAI)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13
BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) delivers AI-powered decision intelligence solutions across national security, supply chain management, and digital identity. Using data ingestion, machine learning, and predictive analytics, its AI-driven platforms provide critical insights and visualizations to defense, intelligence, and commercial sectors.
On March 7, Cantor Fitzgerald reduced the company’s price target from $8 to $6, while maintaining an Overweight rating. This sentiment came from the company’s underwhelming Q4 top-line growth, lower-than-expected guidance, and federal uncertainty. Still, the company was able to generate $43.8 million in Q4 2024, which was an 8% improvement year-over-year. BigBear.ai Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BBAI) projects 2025 revenue between $160 and $180 million due to continued growth in its AI-focused government solutions.
Cantor Fitzgerald had highlighted the bullish potential of the Pangiam acquisition to enhance vision AI, believing that the company is poised to become a leading AI/ML platform provider. BigBear.ai Holdings Inc.’s (NYSE:BBAI) vision AI capabilities enable advanced image and video analysis for diverse applications. The Pangiam acquisition enhances vision AI capabilities, particularly for applications in security and logistics.