AI Stocks: A Slightly Jaded Historian’s Take

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Right. Artificial intelligence. Everyone’s lost their minds, haven’t they? It’s the new alchemy, promising to turn base metals – or, you know, data – into gold. Been watching these cycles for a while, honestly. The hype always outpaces the reality, but this… this feels different. Or maybe I’m just getting old and cynical. Either way, companies are throwing money at AI like it’s going out of style, and a few are actually making it stick. It’s not about creating something genuinely new, is it? It’s about efficiency. Making things… less awful. And that, historically, is where the money usually ends up.

So, you want to invest? Fine. Let’s be clear: there’s risk. Plenty of it. But if you must play this game, here are three companies that, at least, seem to have a slightly better grasp of what they’re doing. Don’t come crying to me when it all goes south, though. I’m just a historian. And a slightly unreliable narrator.

1. Nvidia

Nvidia. Honestly, they’ve been quietly building this empire for years. Everyone’s suddenly discovered they make the chips that power all this AI nonsense, but they were doing their thing long before anyone started talking about large language models. They’re like the unsung heroes of the digital age, and now everyone’s throwing money at them. It’s almost… predictable. They sell you the pickaxe in the gold rush, basically.

The numbers are, admittedly, impressive. Revenue up 62%? Gross margins over 70%? It’s almost vulgar. But it’s not just about the money, is it? It’s about control. They’ve got their fingers in everything – chips, networking, software. They’ve created a dependency. And that, my friends, is a very good business model. The market is predicting trillions by 2030? Sounds optimistic. But even if they only capture a sliver of that, they’ll be doing alright. And right now, the valuation is… reasonable. Relatively speaking, of course.

2. Amazon

Amazon. Now, they’re interesting. They’re not purely an AI play, which, frankly, is a relief. They’ve got this whole e-commerce and cloud computing thing going on, which, you know, actually generates profit. It’s almost quaint. They’re using AI to optimize delivery routes, which is just a fancy way of saying they’re squeezing more efficiency out of their drivers. And AWS? They’re offering all sorts of AI tools and services. It’s like they’re saying, “Look, we’ve got everything you need. Just give us your money.”

The thing about Amazon is they’re not relying on AI to save them. They’re already successful. They’re just adding it to the mix. It’s a bit like adding a spoiler to a perfectly good car. Does it make it better? Maybe. But it’s not essential. The valuation is down from a few months ago? Good. Makes it slightly less terrifying to invest. Slightly.

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3. Meta Platforms

Mark Zuckerberg. Oh, Mark. He’s gone all-in on AI, hasn’t he? Building his own large language models, creating a “superintelligence lab.” It’s… ambitious. Or delusional. Possibly both. He’s clearly terrified of being left behind. And honestly, who can blame him? The guy’s entire empire is built on attention. And if AI can keep people glued to his apps for longer, well, that’s a win, isn’t it?

The idea is to use AI to improve advertising, make it more efficient, more effective. Basically, to sell you more stuff you don’t need. It’s the circle of life, really. And they’re talking about new products and services down the line? Sure, why not. They’ve got the money to throw at it, at least. And they’re paying a dividend? That’s… unexpected. Almost makes you think they’re trying to buy your affection. The valuation is reasonable? Fine. But don’t expect miracles.

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So, there you have it. Three companies that might benefit from the AI boom. Or might not. Honestly, who knows? The future is uncertain. And if anyone tells you they have all the answers, they’re probably trying to sell you something. Just a thought.

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2026-02-24 09:24