Core Insights - The article discusses the potential of AI to create incremental demand and its implications for investment opportunities, drawing parallels with the previous mobile internet boom [1][5][35]. Group 1: AI's Current Market Dynamics - A significant portion of the U.S. economic growth is driven by data center investments, which raises concerns about whether these investments will lead to actual consumer demand or merely replace existing supply [5]. - Current AI applications primarily follow a substitution logic rather than creating new demand, as seen in examples like Perplexity and various AI-generated content platforms [2][3]. - The value chain's upstream players, such as Nvidia, are profiting significantly from the current AI trend, while many application-level companies struggle to monetize effectively [3]. Group 2: Understanding Incremental Demand - Incremental demand is defined as the increased willingness and ability of consumers to purchase more products or services [5][6]. - Consumer willingness to spend is heavily influenced by the effectiveness of advertising and information dissemination [6][8]. - Economic conditions, such as rising incomes during macroeconomic upturns, can lead to the emergence of new consumer demands [9][12]. Group 3: Historical Context from Mobile Internet - The initial wave of mobile internet growth was characterized by the introduction of smartphones, which increased user engagement and time spent on devices [17][19]. - Subsequent innovations focused on reducing delivery costs and enhancing service accessibility, allowing a broader audience to benefit from previously exclusive services [19][20]. - The evolution of mobile internet also saw a rise in new consumer needs as economic conditions improved, leading to a surge in new service offerings [21][23]. Group 4: Future Opportunities in AI - Future growth in AI may hinge on new devices that can further engage users, such as augmented reality glasses [27]. - Enhancing conversion efficiency through advanced advertising techniques is a potential growth area, as demonstrated by companies like AppLovin [30]. - Reducing delivery costs through AI can democratize access to services that were once only available to wealthier individuals, creating new market opportunities [32]. - The rise of "super individuals" or freelancers empowered by AI may lead to new consumer demands, although immediate large-scale consumption increases may not be guaranteed [33]. Conclusion - The article concludes that while AI has the potential to generate incremental demand, it may take time to realize this potential fully, similar to the mobile internet's evolution over nearly a decade [35].
万亿AI，谁来买单？
3 6 Ke·2025-10-09 14:16