Founders and investors alike live by the moniker of “dream the dream.” The magic of the beginning of the new year is that everyone takes the time to put those dreams out into the open. Unsurprisingly across dozens of posts about 2025 predictions, AI is at the center of a lot of the dreams people are dreaming. One important note stuck out as critical in framing what else may happen in 2025 around AI:
A lot of the dream factory energy is coming from big lifts around technological progress in AI. From “specialist AI models serving as ‘super staffing’ platforms” to “video generation models will be trained to specific uses,” the push forward in technological capabilities will, almost assuredly, outpace the progress in both people’s ability to understand those capabilities and the typical enterprise’s ability to absorb those capabilities.
Beyond the cat and mouse game of AI revolution and AI distribution, the predictions span a wide spectrum. Will Amazon acquire Lyft to build robotaxis? Will the next generation of software be built by creators who excel at distribution and don’t write a line of code? Is this year the year traditional media finally dies and cedes influence to user-generated media or independent media?
And finally, with the December announcement of Google’s Android XR headset we’ll see the return of the never-ending rebound prediction of the death of smartphones and the universal move to AR glasses.
Important Disclosures
This material has been distributed solely for informational and educational purposes only and is not a solicitation or an offer to buy any security or to participate in any trading strategy. All material presented is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy, adequacy, or completeness cannot be guaranteed, and Contrary LLC (Contrary LLC, together with its affiliates, “Contrary”) makes no representation as to its accuracy, adequacy, or completeness.
The information herein is based on Contrary beliefs, as well as certain assumptions regarding future events based on information available to Contrary on a formal and informal basis as of the date of this publication. The material may include projections or other forward-looking statements regarding future events, targets or expectations. Past performance of a company is no guarantee of future results. There is no guarantee that any opinions, forecasts, projections, risk assumptions, or commentary discussed herein will be realized. Actual experience may not reflect all of these opinions, forecasts, projections, risk assumptions, or commentary.
Contrary shall have no responsibility for: (i) determining that any opinions, forecasts, projections, risk assumptions, or commentary discussed herein is suitable for any particular reader; (ii) monitoring whether any opinions, forecasts, projections, risk assumptions, or commentary discussed herein continues to be suitable for any reader; or (iii) tailoring any opinions, forecasts, projections, risk assumptions, or commentary discussed herein to any particular reader’s objectives, guidelines, or restrictions. Receipt of this material does not, by itself, imply that Contrary has an advisory agreement, oral or otherwise, with any reader.
Contrary is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The registration of Contrary in no way implies a certain level of skill or expertise or that the SEC has endorsed Contrary. Investment decisions for Contrary clients are made by Contrary. Please note that, although Contrary manages assets on behalf of Contrary clients, Contrary clients may take any position (whether positive or negative) with respect to the company described in this material. The information provided in this material does not represent any investment strategy that Contrary manages on behalf of, or recommends to, its clients.
Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and there can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment, investment strategy, company or product made reference to directly or indirectly in this material, will be profitable, equal any corresponding indicated performance level(s), or be suitable for your portfolio. Due to rapidly changing market conditions and the complexity of investment decisions, supplemental information and other sources may be required to make informed investment decisions based on your individual investment objectives and suitability specifications. All expressions of opinions are subject to change without notice. Investors should seek financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any security of the company discussed in this presentation.
Please see www.contrary.com/legal for additional important information.
