Stocks

Billionaire Dan Loeb Places a 23% Bet on AI with Amazon, Microsoft, and TSMC

Published September 17, 2024

Dan Loeb, famous billionaire investor and the founder of Third Point LLC, has made a sizable bet on the future of artificial intelligence (AI). Loeb, known for his strategic investment moves, has allocated a substantial 23% of his firm's portfolio to three AI-focused stocks. Interestingly, these selections diverge from the expected, as the well-regarded graphics processing unit (GPU) manufacturer Nvidia is notably absent from Third Point's high-stakes tech play. Instead, Loeb has cast his lot with global tech giants AMZN and MSFT, along with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), casting a spotlight on their potential in driving AI advancements forward.

Investing in Tech's AI Titans: Amazon and Microsoft

With respective stock tickers AMZN and MSFT, both Amazon and Microsoft are seen as pivotal to the growth and application of AI technology. Amazon.com, Inc., with its diverse range of services spanning e-commerce, cloud computing, and digital streaming, not to mention its significant investments in artificial intelligence, is no stranger to innovation. The company's influence on the global economy and culture, especially as the 'world's most valuable brand', points towards its significant potential for growth in AI.

Microsoft Corporation, on the other hand, has a storied history of software innovation and technological breakthroughs. It is recognized for producing seminal products like the Microsoft Windows operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and hardware like the Xbox console and Surface personal computers. Ranked as the world's largest software maker by revenue as recently as 2016 and sitting comfortably within the U.S. Fortune 500, Microsoft's MSFT shares represent an investment in a tried and tested tech leader with considerable AI aspirations.

Why TSMC Over Nvidia?

While Nvidia is often the go-to stock for those looking to gain exposure to AI through the lens of GPU manufacturing, which is crucial for deep learning applications, Dan Loeb's Third Point has instead turned to TSMC. As the leading semiconductor foundry, TSMC plays a critical role in the tech ecosystem, supplying many of the chips that power AI applications across various industries. This nuanced investment choice could be indicative of Loeb's broader perspective on the AI supply chain and his confidence in TSMC's integral position within it.

investment, AI, technology