How Investors Will Be Using AI in 2026

Key Concepts

• In Video (GME): A highly traded stock, experiencing significant retail investor interest.
• Bitcoin (BTC): Cryptocurrency, impacted by ETF approvals and political/industry momentum.
• Crypto ETFs: Exchange Traded Funds holding Bitcoin, considered a significant milestone ("IPO moment").
• K-Shaped Economy: Economic recovery unevenly distributed, benefiting upper income segments more.
• Generative AI (GenAI) in Investing: Utilizing AI to create personalized investment tools and indices.
• Generated Assets: Customizable investment products created through AI prompting.
• Bespoke Indices: Investment indices tailored to individual investor preferences and strategies.
• Flight to Quality: Investors shifting towards safer assets, like Bitcoin, during market uncertainty.

Market Expectations for Las Vegas Conference & Retail Investor Trends

The upcoming conference in Las Vegas is anticipated to be a significant event, offering a level playing field for information dissemination, particularly for retail investors. The speaker notes that these events allow investors time to process information over the weekend. In video (GME) is expected to be a central focus, mirroring its prominence in previous years. Specifically, in video trading volume on their platform increased by over 100% year-over-year in 2020 and remained the most traded stock in both 2024 and 2025. The speaker anticipates this trend will continue into 2026.

Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Market Analysis

Bitcoin is currently trading above $90,000, with potential for significant price movement due to a recent period of narrow trading range. Valuation of Bitcoin is challenging due to a lack of traditional fundamentals. However, 2025 marked the first year Bitcoin’s price decreased since the launch of Bitcoin ETFs – widely considered Bitcoin’s “IPO moment.” Despite this decrease, October and November 2025 saw record-high Bitcoin inflows on the platform, driven by political momentum and broader industry developments. There were no significant outflows from Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies, but a consolidation around Bitcoin was observed, indicating a “flight to quality” within the crypto market. The speaker believes crypto will continue to be an increasingly important component of modern investment portfolios. The acquisition of Alta Crypto IRA allows investors to hold Bitcoin and other crypto assets within their IRAs, signifying the asset class’s maturation.

Bond Market, Rate Cuts & Tech Sector Implications

The speaker acknowledges that fewer rate cuts occurred than anticipated. The bond market’s performance in 2026 is uncertain, particularly given that the S&P 500’s price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios (specifically mentioning the MAG7 and S&P 10) remain relatively high. Expectations for further rate cuts are prevalent, fueled by commentary from the White House, which historically leads to increased risk-on asset inflation, benefiting crypto and longer-term tech companies. These tech companies are often valued based on future performance expectations.

The U.S. Consumer & Retail Investor Behavior

The U.S. economy is characterized by a “K-shaped” recovery, where the upper segment of the market is performing well while the lower segment struggles. Companies catering to the higher end of the market are less susceptible to recession risk. This bifurcation is also evident in retail investing, which has exploded since COVID-19. Retail investors are exhibiting two contrasting behaviors: increased engagement with speculative assets ("betting-like" investments) and growing sophistication in investment strategies. April saw retail investors quickly buying dips, demonstrating a more sophisticated approach. They are increasingly utilizing AI tools for stock research, improving the quality and speed of their analysis.

Public.com’s Future & the Rise of Generative AI

The next major shift in investing is the transition to generative AI (GenAI), comparable in impact to the move to mobile investing. Public.com pioneered AI-powered research integration in 2023, proactively delivering relevant portfolio insights. The launch of “Generated Assets” in November allows users to create custom investment products through AI prompting. Examples include indices based on inflation levels, CEO social media activity, or combinations of existing indices with specific filters (e.g., excluding companies affected by tariffs). This enables investors to create “bespoke indices” tailored to their unique investment goals, moving beyond standardized ETFs. The speaker highlights that many investors currently purchase the same financial products despite having differing investment objectives and risk tolerances. This trend towards personalized financial products is expected to accelerate in 2026.

Logical Connections

The discussion flows logically from broad market expectations (conference, retail investors) to specific asset classes (Bitcoin, bonds, tech stocks) and then to the evolving landscape of investment tools and platforms (Public.com, GenAI). The K-shaped economy serves as a connecting theme, influencing both consumer behavior and investment strategies. The emphasis on personalization and AI-driven tools represents a response to the increasing sophistication of retail investors and the desire for more tailored investment solutions.

Notable Quotes

• “It was the star of the show last year…I would expect so.” (Referring to In Video/GME)
• “It became clear in 2025 that the next big platform shift the world of investing is the shift to generative AI.”
• “A lot of people are buying the same financial products even though they actually have different investment goals or risk tolerances.”

Conclusion

The key takeaways are that retail investor engagement remains high, particularly with stocks like In Video and Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency market is maturing, driven by ETF adoption and broader industry momentum. The bond market and potential rate cuts will significantly impact the tech sector. The U.S. consumer landscape is unevenly recovering, and retail investors are becoming increasingly sophisticated, leveraging AI tools. Finally, generative AI is poised to revolutionize investing by enabling the creation of personalized financial products and bespoke indices, catering to individual investor needs and preferences.