The Motley Foolยท2025-06-12 08:15Core Insights - The article discusses the significant growth opportunities in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, emphasizing the importance of selecting the right AI stocks for investment [1][2] Company Comparison - C3.ai and BigBear.ai are highlighted as two popular AI stocks among retail investors, both presenting unique risks and opportunities [2] - C3.ai has demonstrated more consistent and accelerating growth over the past three years, while BigBear.ai has experienced more volatility in its growth metrics [6] - C3.ai's financial metrics suggest it is a stronger growth business compared to BigBear.ai, which faces challenges in converting its backlog into revenue [4][6] Cash Flow Analysis - Operating cash flow is a critical metric for growth investors, especially for unprofitable companies like C3.ai and BigBear.ai [7] - As of the end of March, BigBear.ai had cash and cash equivalents of $107.6 million, with a burn rate exceeding $30 million annually, indicating it can remain funded for multiple years [10] - C3.ai reported cash and cash equivalents of $164.4 million and marketable securities of $578.3 million, totaling $742.7 million in liquidity, allowing it to sustain a higher cash burn rate longer than BigBear.ai [11] Investment Recommendation - Based on growth rates and cash positions, C3.ai is identified as the more promising investment option compared to BigBear.ai, despite both companies being unprofitable and burning cash [12]