Investec Investec Focus Radio SA

No Ordinary Wednesday Ep 132: Investing in AI's next chapter

Loading player...
Artificial intelligence is moving faster than almost anyone expected. After attending two of the world's biggest technology conferences in Boston and San Francisco, Investec global equity analysts David Smith and Zane Bezuidenhout unpack what they learned from the executives shaping AI's future. From surging demand and infrastructure bottlenecks to agentic AI and the companies best placed to benefit, they explore what investors should be watching next.

00:00: Intro
1:01: Demand for AI even stronger than expected
2:07: Scale of demand has outstripped supply
3:30: What is Agentic AI?
4:44: When will agentic AI be truly embedded in our lives?
5:27: The rise of “intelligence per dollar” and “token optimization”
7:07: Are companies starting to see returns on their AI investments?
8:26: For investors, what distinguishes the winners in the AI race?
10:00: Continuity announcement: Investec Global Leaders Portfolio
10:54: Is China closing in on the US when it comes to AI prowess?
11:36: The increase of regulation
12:28: AI opportunities beyond the Mag 7
13:49: What could derail the AI investment story
15:16: One message for investors
15:57: Outro
28 Jul English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

Everything Counts | Episode 52: Has saving lost its meaning?

We've all heard the advice. Save more. Spend less. Start earlier. In this episode of Everything Counts, Motheo Khoaripe is joined by Investec's Nirvashni Rajkumar (KZN team leader for the Investec financial planning team) and Dorothy Asomaning (Investec Wealth & Investment Wealth Manager) to explore why saving is about much…
28 Jul 27 min

Macro Monday Ep125: Excellent earnings season so far

Although US earnings for the second quarter have mostly beaten expectations, markets appear to have wanted more. Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, says even companies such as Alphabet that have beaten forecasts have seen declines in their prices after results.
27 Jul 7 min

Macro Monday Ep124: AI capex and competition concerns weigh on stock markets

Increased competition among LLMs and uncertainty about the return on investment on AI capex are all weighing on the market performance on momentum stocks, such as semiconductor firms. Chris Holdsworth, Global Chief Investment Officer, Investec Investment Management, looks at some of the dynamics in global stock markets.
20 Jul 8 min

NOW Ep 131: South Africa’s consumer crunch

Are South African consumers past the worst of the fuel shock? Household budgets have been hit by higher fuel prices, rising inflation and pressure on real wages. But fuel prices are starting to fall. The risk is timing. Will relief arrive before households are forced to cut back further? Host…
14 Jul 24 min

Everything Counts | Episode 51: Managing global travel disruption

In this episode of Everything Counts, we unpack the real-world impact of geopolitical tension on global travel, from grounded flights and closed airspace to the human stories behind stranded passengers. What happens behind the scenes when airlines, advisors, and entire systems are forced to respond in real time? Host Motheo…
14 Jul 29 min
All episodes