Renowned Strategist Asserts That A.I. Boom Might Not Equate to Enormous Profits

**Title: Investments and Valuations in the AI Industry: Are Companies Overestimating the Potential?**

**Subtitle: Large Language Models and the Battle for Market Position**

The rapid advancement of large language models, often referred to as artificial intelligence (AI), has sparked an intense competition among companies to establish their dominance in this lucrative market. Analysts estimate the AI industry to offer an $800 billion opportunity, prompting significant investments from major players. For example, Microsoft recently invested $10 billion in the ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, while Databricks acquired the machine learning startup MosiacML for $1.3 billion, and Casetext, a niche legal AI platform, was sold to Thomson Reuters for $650 million. However, despite the significant buzz surrounding AI, some experts argue that the stocks of major AI companies may be overvalued.

**The Debate over Valuations in the AI Industry**

According to Dhaval Joshi, the chief strategist at investment research firm BCA Research, the recent surge in AI stocks is based on hope rather than clear revenue potential. Joshi suggests that without a clear path to revenue and profitability, the hype around AI could transform into a bubble similar to the dot-com bubble of the 1990s. To avoid this scenario, companies must establish a “moat” that prevents competitors from entering the market and monetize their innovations successfully. Joshi points to the examples of companies like Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon, which were able to build dominant positions in the early 2000s and create a moat through the network effect.

**The Importance of the Moat**

In the technology sector, a moat refers to a sustainable competitive advantage that protects a company’s profitability and market share. Joshi emphasizes that merely having an innovative technology is insufficient to guarantee profits. Instead, a company must establish a moat to prevent its profits from being eroded by intense competition. Google, Meta, and Amazon achieved this by leveraging the network effect, which is the phenomenon where a product’s value increases as more people use it. Consequently, these companies built large user bases in search, social media, and e-commerce and used their market dominance to squeeze out smaller competitors.

**Uncertain Prospects for Generative AI**

Joshi expresses skepticism about the distinctiveness of consumer-facing versions of generative AI, such as ChatGPT and Bard, in terms of commercial viability. He argues that there is no inherent reason for any particular AI model to be universally preferred over its competitors. Companies venturing into generative AI must differentiate themselves significantly to succeed in monetizing the technology. Joshi believes that the current valuations of AI companies may not be warranted if they fail to establish a moat.

**Challenges in the AI Industry**

Apart from the need for a moat, companies in the AI industry face other challenges. One significant obstacle is the high cost of computing chips, particularly for AI processing. Nvidia, a leading chipmaker in this domain, risks overvaluation if it fails to find successful AI companies to purchase its products. Joshi highlights the expensive nature of these chips and suggests that as companies move down the pecking order, they may struggle to afford them. To sustain demand, chip manufacturers may have to consider reducing prices, but this could impact their revenue growth.

**Assessing Future Possibilities**

Joshi speculates that a significant drop in chip prices or a decline in Nvidia’s sales, combined with declining site traffic for ChatGPT, could trigger a “cold water moment.” This moment would signify a correction in AI stock valuations, revealing whether initial assumptions about industry dominance were accurate. Joshi believes that the industry’s landscape may evolve differently from current expectations.

In conclusion, while the AI industry presents a massive opportunity, the valuations of major players may not accurately reflect their potential profitability. Companies must establish a moat to protect their market position and generate sustainable revenue. Joshi’s cautionary remarks underscore the need for companies in the AI sector to differentiate themselves, address the challenges of cost and pricing, and remain vigilant for signs of market correction. Only time will tell if the hype surrounding AI is justified or if adjustments are needed to align valuations with reality.