Search this site

Quantum computing stocks rallied after AT&T expanded its partnership with D-Wave, but the bigger story isn't the share price. It's another sign that quantum computing is beginning to move beyond research labs and into real-world business applications, where companies are testing whether the technology can solve complex commercial problems. For years, quantum computing has been one of the market's most exciting technologies, but also one of its most uncertain. Investors have long heard about its potential to transform industries, yet real-world commercial applications have remained relatively limited. That may be starting to change. Shares of several quantum computing companies, including D-Wave Quantum, moved higher after AT&T expanded its partnership with the company to explore how quantum computing could help optimise parts of its telecommunications network. While the market reaction focused on the stocks, the more important story is what the partnership says about the direction of the industry. Rather than investing in quantum technology simply as an experiment, AT&T is looking at whether it can solve practical business challenges. Telecommunications networks are among the most complex systems in the world. Every day, operators must manage enormous volumes of data, balance network traffic, allocate resources efficiently and minimise congestion, all while keeping costs under control. Many of these are known as optimisation problems, where there are millions, or even billions, of possible solutions, but only a handful deliver the best outcome. This is one area where quantum computing has long been expected to offer an advantage. Unlike traditional computers, which evaluate problems in a more sequential way, quantum computers are designed to explore vast numbers of possibilities simultaneously for certain types of calculations. While the technology is not suited to every computing task, researchers believe optimisation could become one of its earliest commercial applications. That doesn't mean quantum computers are ready to replace conventional systems. Today's quantum hardware remains in its early stages, and classical computers continue to outperform quantum machines across the vast majority of everyday workloads. Instead, companies like AT&T are exploring whether quantum systems can complement existing infrastructure by tackling highly specialised problems that are difficult or time-consuming for traditional computing methods. For investors, that distinction is important. The quantum industry has spent years promising future breakthroughs, but commercial adoption ultimately depends on businesses finding problems that quantum computers can solve more effectively than existing technology. Partnerships like this suggest the conversation is beginning to shift away from theoretical potential and towards measurable business value. Telecommunications is unlikely to be the only industry exploring that opportunity. Banks are investigating quantum computing for portfolio optimisation and risk analysis, pharmaceutical companies are researching its potential in drug discovery, while logistics firms are studying whether it can improve routing and supply chain efficiency. Each individual project remains relatively small, but together they point towards a broader trend. Instead of waiting for a single breakthrough moment, quantum computing may enter the commercial world gradually, solving specific high-value problems before expanding into wider use. AT&T's expanded partnership with D-Wave does not signal that the quantum revolution has arrived. The technology still faces significant technical and commercial hurdles before widespread adoption becomes a reality. However, it does provide another example of large companies moving beyond curiosity and beginning to test whether quantum computing can deliver tangible business benefits. For investors, that may prove to be one of the most meaningful milestones the industry has seen so far.

AI is increasing demand for mined materials while placing new pressure on the electricity needed to produce them, making access to reliable power a growing competitive advantage for mining companies. The artificial intelligence boom is creating a new opportunity for mining, but the companies with the richest deposits may not necessarily become its biggest winners. Access to electricity could matter just as much. AI data centres require enormous quantities of power, both to operate advanced computing systems and to keep them cool. At the same time, the infrastructure behind those facilities is increasing demand for metals such as copper, aluminium and uranium. That should be good news for miners. Copper is needed to move electricity through data centres and upgraded power grids, while uranium could benefit as technology companies search for reliable, around-the-clock energy. However, producing those materials also requires considerable electricity. Mines need power to crush rock, process ore, operate machinery and transport materials. Those demands can increase as older deposits are exhausted and companies move towards lower-grade resources that require more processing to produce the same amount of metal. AI facilities and mining projects could therefore find themselves competing for the same limited grid capacity. For investors, this changes how new mines should be evaluated. A promising deposit is not enough if the surrounding region cannot provide reliable and affordable electricity. Projects located near strong power networks, renewable-energy resources or dedicated generation may gain an advantage over rivals facing long connection delays. Large mining companies may also need to secure electricity earlier in the development process. Long-term power agreements, investment in renewable generation and partnerships with utilities could become increasingly important as data-centre operators compete for the same supply. The pressure will not be equal everywhere. Regions with abundant electricity may be able to attract both industries, creating new demand without forcing companies to choose between them. Areas with weaker grids could struggle to support either one without substantial infrastructure investment. That creates opportunities beyond the mining companies themselves. Utilities, grid-equipment manufacturers and energy developers may benefit as both sectors spend more to secure additional capacity. AI is still capable of helping miners improve exploration, maintenance and processing. Yet the industry’s more immediate challenge may be supplying the physical materials behind the technology while protecting its own access to power. The AI boom is often described as a new source of metals demand. Its larger effect may be to turn electricity into one of the mining industry’s most important competitive advantages.

The “Revolut scam” is not one single crime. It is a pattern: criminals impersonate banks, support teams, or even governments, then trick either customers or Revolut itself into handing over money or data. The latest version is especially striking because Revolut was the one that got fooled. Watch this fascinating insight by CITY AM. In September 2026, Revolut confirmed it had disclosed sensitive customer information after receiving fraudulent information requests from an email address on a real government agency domain. techcrunch.com This was not a hack of Revolut’s app or core systems. Staff treated the emails as legitimate legal or compliance requests because they arrived through official-looking government infrastructure and passed technical authentication. Revolut later blocked the address, notified the agency, and alerted law enforcement and regulators. It says customer funds and its own systems were unaffected. Reports and customer notices describe the exposed data as including: names, dates of birth, addresses, emails, phone numbers copies of passports or driving licences verification selfies account statements, IBANs, withdrawal records, and transaction histories, including Bitcoin activity in some cases theblock.co Revolut has called the number of affected customers “limited.” Later reporting put the figure around 680 people, including high-profile crypto users. Attackers then circulated data on Telegram and demanded a large Bitcoin ransom. That is the current “Revolut scam” in the headlines: social engineering aimed at the company, not a breach of its servers.

Intel's latest earnings report is about more than one company's turnaround. Investors will be watching for signs that AI spending is beginning to spread beyond Nvidia and other industry leaders, potentially marking the next phase of the artificial intelligence investment cycle. For much of the AI boom, the winners have been easy to identify. Nvidia became the face of the revolution, while companies like TSMC, Broadcom and AMD rode the wave of soaring demand for the chips powering artificial intelligence. Now, investors are beginning to ask a different question. Is the AI boom finally broadening beyond its biggest winners? That's why Intel's latest earnings report is attracting far more attention than usual. The chipmaker is no longer just reporting quarterly results. For many investors, it's becoming an important test of whether AI spending is starting to benefit a wider range of companies across the semiconductor industry. Intel has spent the past several years trying to regain its footing after losing ground in both manufacturing and AI chips. While competitors surged ahead, Intel focused on restructuring its business, improving its product roadmap and rebuilding confidence under CEO Lip-Bu Tan. Its share price has reflected that renewed optimism. The challenge now is proving the turnaround is gaining momentum. Unlike Nvidia, Intel isn't expected to dominate the market for AI accelerators. But that doesn't mean it can't benefit from the AI boom. Every AI data center requires far more than just graphics processors. It also needs powerful server CPUs, networking equipment, memory, storage and advanced manufacturing capacity. As AI infrastructure expands around the world, demand for those supporting technologies is expected to grow alongside it. That's where Intel hopes to play a larger role. If the company reports improving demand, stronger margins or more optimistic guidance, investors may see it as evidence that AI investment is beginning to spread beyond the industry's biggest names. That would be an important shift. The first phase of the AI rally was driven by a relatively small group of companies directly building the hardware behind artificial intelligence. The next phase could look very different, with a much broader group of businesses benefiting from the billions of dollars flowing into AI infrastructure. It's a pattern investors have seen before. Major technology revolutions often begin with a handful of clear leaders. As those industries mature, the benefits gradually spread across suppliers, manufacturers, infrastructure companies and the businesses supporting the wider ecosystem. That doesn't mean Nvidia's leadership is fading. The company remains at the center of AI computing and continues to set the pace for the industry. But if Intel can demonstrate that demand is strengthening across more traditional parts of the semiconductor market, it would suggest the AI investment cycle is becoming broader and more resilient. For investors, that could be one of the most important signals to emerge this earnings season. The biggest opportunity in artificial intelligence may no longer be identifying the single company leading the race. It may be recognising when the entire field starts moving together.

Artificial intelligence, electrification and modern infrastructure all depend on one thing: critical minerals. As demand continues to grow across multiple industries, investors may want to look beyond the companies building the future and toward those supplying the materials that make it possible. For decades, oil has been the commodity that powered the global economy. But as artificial intelligence, electrification and modern infrastructure reshape industries, a different group of resources is moving into the spotlight. Copper, uranium, silver and rare earth elements are becoming increasingly essential to the technologies driving the next phase of economic growth. While they rarely generate the same attention as AI companies or electric vehicle makers, they form the foundation that makes those industries possible. For investors, that could make critical minerals one of the defining long-term themes of the coming decade. One trend is powerful. Several trends are transformative. Commodity booms are often driven by a single major shift. China's industrial expansion fuelled demand for iron ore and coal. The shale revolution transformed the energy market. Today's story is different. Artificial intelligence requires enormous data centres packed with electrical equipment. Electricity grids are being expanded and modernised. Electric vehicles continue to gain market share. Nuclear power is attracting renewed investment, while robotics, advanced manufacturing and defence technologies all require increasing amounts of specialised materials. Individually, each of these industries creates demand for critical minerals. Together, they create a powerful structural trend that could last for years. Few materials illustrate this better than copper. Often called the metal of electrification, copper is found in power grids, AI data centres, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, industrial automation and renewable energy projects. As electricity demand continues to rise, so too does the need for one of the world's most versatile industrial metals. The same pattern can be seen across other critical minerals. Uranium is benefiting from renewed interest in nuclear energy as countries search for reliable sources of electricity. Rare earth elements remain essential for the powerful magnets used in electric motors and advanced technologies, while silver continues to play an important role in electronics and solar power. The common thread is simple. Many of the technologies expected to shape the global economy rely on materials that must first be mined, processed and refined. Demand can grow quickly. Supply usually can't. One of the biggest challenges facing the mining industry is time. Bringing a new mine into production can take more than a decade, requiring exploration, environmental approvals, financing and construction before a single tonne of material is produced. That means supply often struggles to keep pace when demand accelerates. For investors, this matters because even moderate supply shortages can have a significant impact on commodity markets over the long term. The opportunity goes beyond mining companies. Investing in critical minerals isn't simply about owning mining stocks. The companies that build mining equipment, process raw materials, develop recycling technologies and earn royalties from mineral production all play important roles in the supply chain. As demand grows, many of these businesses could benefit alongside the miners themselves. That gives investors multiple ways to gain exposure to one of the world's fastest-growing industrial themes. The investor takeaway Commodity prices will always rise and fall with economic cycles. But the bigger picture is becoming increasingly clear. Artificial intelligence needs more computing power. Computing power needs more electricity. Electricity requires larger grids, new infrastructure and reliable energy generation. Almost every step of that chain depends on critical minerals. The technologies shaping tomorrow's economy cannot exist without the resources beneath our feet. For years, investors have focused on the companies building the future. The next opportunity may lie with the industries supplying the materials that make that future possible.

Nike is overhauling its China strategy by removing thousands of third-party online distributors and shifting sales to its own digital channels. The move reflects a growing focus on brand control, pricing power and direct customer relationships as the company works to strengthen its position in one of its most important markets. For years, Nike's strategy in China was simple: make its products available everywhere. Now, the sportswear giant is reversing course, betting that controlling where its products are sold is more valuable than simply selling more of them. Beginning in January 2027, Nike will stop allowing thousands of third-party online distributors in mainland China to sell its products. Instead, online sales will be limited to Nike's own digital channels, including its website, mobile app and official flagship stores on major Chinese e-commerce platforms. For investors, the move is less about reducing distribution and more about rebuilding one of the world's most valuable consumer brands. China has become one of Nike's most challenging markets in recent years. Domestic competitors have steadily gained market share, while a weaker consumer environment has made shoppers increasingly price conscious. At the same time, thousands of independent online sellers have created a fragmented marketplace where consumers often encounter different prices, promotions and shopping experiences depending on where they buy. Nike believes that inconsistency has weakened its premium image. By consolidating online sales into official channels, the company expects to regain greater control over pricing, marketing and customer relationships. A more consistent buying experience could also reduce excessive discounting, helping protect profit margins while strengthening long-term brand value. The decision reflects a broader shift taking place across consumer brands. Rather than pursuing maximum distribution, companies are increasingly prioritizing direct relationships with customers. Selling through official channels provides better access to consumer data, greater pricing discipline and more control over how a brand is presented. There will, however, be short-term consequences. Retail partners that relied heavily on online Nike sales will lose a significant source of business. Among the hardest hit is Topsports International, one of Nike's largest retail partners in China, whose shares fell after investors assessed the potential impact on future revenue. Whether the strategy succeeds will ultimately depend on more than distribution alone. Nike still faces intense competition from local brands that have built strong loyalty among Chinese consumers by designing products specifically for local tastes and trends. Improving control over sales channels may strengthen the business, but it will not automatically reverse those competitive pressures. Even so, the company's latest decision highlights an important change in how global consumer brands are thinking about growth. In an increasingly digital retail environment, owning the customer relationship is becoming just as important as selling the product itself. For investors, Nike's China strategy is becoming less about expanding its footprint and more about improving the quality of every sale. If the company can restore pricing power while deepening direct customer engagement, fewer sales channels today could ultimately support a stronger business tomorrow.

SpaceX's latest Starship test flight wasn't just another step toward Mars. It highlighted a much bigger opportunity: lowering the cost of reaching space could unlock entirely new industries, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the launch business itself. For years, Starship has been viewed through the lens of one ambitious goal: sending humans to Mars. SpaceX's latest successful test flight suggests investors may want to look much closer to home. The company's tenth integrated Starship test marked another important step in developing what is designed to become the world's first fully reusable super-heavy launch system. While the mission was still a test, each successful milestone moves SpaceX closer to making frequent, lower-cost access to space a commercial reality. That could prove to be one of the most significant developments in the space industry. Today, launching satellites, scientific equipment and other payloads into orbit remains an expensive undertaking. Starship has been designed to change that by making both the rocket booster and spacecraft reusable, dramatically reducing the cost of each launch over time. If that vision becomes reality, the impact could extend far beyond SpaceX itself. Lower launch costs would make it more economical for companies to deploy larger satellite constellations, expand Earth observation networks and develop new communications infrastructure. Emerging industries such as in-space manufacturing, commercial space stations and lunar logistics could also become more financially viable as the cost of reaching orbit falls. History offers a useful comparison. As cloud computing became cheaper and more accessible, thousands of businesses were able to build products that previously would have been too expensive to develop. Affordable access to space could create a similar effect, lowering one of the biggest barriers to entry for companies looking to operate beyond Earth's atmosphere. Rather than viewing Starship solely as a rocket, it can be seen as infrastructure. Just as railways, highways and fibre-optic networks enabled entirely new industries, lower-cost launch systems could provide the foundation for the next generation of space-based businesses. The latest test flight also reflects something else that is easy to overlook. For years, Starship's development was defined by spectacular failures as engineers pushed the limits of rocket technology. While testing is far from complete, each mission that achieves more of its objectives reduces technical uncertainty and brings commercial operations a step closer. There is still significant work ahead before Starship reaches routine service, and the programme will continue to face technical and regulatory challenges. But the long-term investment story is becoming clearer. The biggest opportunity in space may never have been Mars itself. It may be the economic transformation that becomes possible once reaching space is no longer the expensive exception, but an increasingly affordable part of doing business.

GSK and Hansoh Pharmaceutical’s experimental drug Ris-Rez has met the main goal of a late-stage trial in patients with relapsed or treatment-resistant osteosarcoma. The result could support a future regulatory application while strengthening GSK’s wider effort to rebuild its cancer business around targeted treatments capable of working across several tumour types. GSK’s effort to rebuild its cancer business has received another boost after an experimental treatment succeeded in a late-stage trial for one of the most aggressive forms of bone cancer. Risvutatug rezetecan, known as Ris-Rez, met the main goal of a Phase 3 trial involving patients with osteosarcoma whose cancer had returned or stopped responding to previous treatments. The study found that patients receiving Ris-Rez lived longer without their cancer worsening than those given the treatment against which it was tested. This measurement, known as progression-free survival, is commonly used to determine whether an experimental cancer drug is delaying the disease. The full trial results have not yet been released, meaning the size of the improvement and complete safety findings remain unknown. However, reaching the main goal of a late-stage study gives GSK and its partner, Hansoh Pharmaceutical, an important piece of evidence as they consider the drug’s path towards regulators. Osteosarcoma is a rare bone cancer that primarily affects children, teenagers and young adults. Surgery and chemotherapy can be effective when the disease is found early, but treatment options become much more limited if the cancer returns or spreads. That makes Ris-Rez medically important, even if osteosarcoma alone represents a relatively small commercial market. The treatment belongs to a rapidly developing category of medicines called antibody-drug conjugates, or ADCs. These drugs combine an antibody capable of recognising cancer cells with a powerful cancer-killing substance. The aim is to deliver treatment more directly to the tumour while reducing unnecessary exposure to healthy tissue. Ris-Rez targets B7-H3, a protein found at high levels on several types of solid tumours. That gives the drug potential beyond bone cancer and helps explain why GSK has made it an important part of its growing oncology pipeline. The company is already studying the treatment in lung cancer, prostate cancer and other solid tumours. Earlier in July, Ris-Rez also produced positive late-stage results in China for advanced or relapsed small-cell lung cancer. That wider development programme is where the larger investment opportunity lies. A successful treatment for one rare cancer can be valuable, but a drug that works across several tumour types could become a much more meaningful source of future revenue. Hansoh originally developed Ris-Rez and retains its commercial rights in China. GSK licensed rights across most international markets in 2023 as part of its attempt to gain access to promising cancer drugs before their potential is fully established. The partnership reflects a wider shift in the pharmaceutical industry. Large drugmakers are increasingly turning to smaller biotechnology companies, particularly in China, for experimental treatments that can strengthen their pipelines more quickly than relying entirely on internal research. For GSK, the urgency is particularly clear. The company sold much of its oncology business to Novartis in 2015 but has since returned to the sector, building a new portfolio through licensing agreements, acquisitions and internal development. That rebuilding effort is intended to provide new growth as older medicines eventually lose patent protection. It also places GSK in one of the pharmaceutical industry’s most competitive markets, where successful cancer drugs can generate billions of dollars in annual sales but development failures remain common. Ris-Rez is not yet an approved treatment, and this trial does not guarantee that it will reach patients worldwide. Hansoh plans to begin the process of seeking approval in China, while GSK must continue producing evidence through its own international development programme. Regulators will also need to examine the complete safety results. ADCs are designed to target tumours more precisely than conventional chemotherapy, but they can still cause serious side effects because of the powerful drugs they carry. The latest trial therefore represents progress rather than a finished success story. Still, Ris-Rez is beginning to provide something GSK badly needs from its cancer pipeline: repeated evidence that one of its most important experimental drugs may work across more than one difficult-to-treat disease. One successful trial cannot complete GSK’s oncology comeback. But with positive late-stage results now emerging in both bone and lung cancer, that comeback is starting to look more credible.

Eli Lilly's experimental obesity drug retatrutide continues to deliver some of the strongest clinical results seen in the industry, suggesting the next chapter of the weight-loss market may be even bigger than the last. For years, the obesity drug race has been defined by one question: who can build the most effective treatment? Eli Lilly believes the answer may soon change again. The pharmaceutical giant announced this week that it plans to seek U.S. approval for retatrutide, its next-generation obesity treatment, in the first quarter of 2027 after reporting another round of encouraging Phase 3 clinical trial results. While the filing timeline is later than some investors had hoped, the latest data suggests the company could once again redefine what weight-loss medicines are capable of. In one of the newly released studies, patients with obesity and Type 2 diabetes lost an average of 20.8% of their body weight after 80 weeks of treatment. A separate trial involving patients with obesity and cardiovascular disease produced average weight loss of 22.6%. Those numbers build on earlier trial results that showed weight loss approaching 28% in some patients, placing retatrutide among the most effective obesity drugs tested to date. The results matter because the obesity market is evolving much faster than many expected. Just a few years ago, medications capable of helping patients lose around 10% of their body weight were viewed as major breakthroughs. Then came Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. Lilly raised the bar again with Zepbound. Now retatrutide suggests the industry may be entering yet another phase. What makes the drug different is how it works. Today's leading obesity treatments typically target one or two hormones involved in regulating appetite and blood sugar. Retatrutide targets three, combining GLP-1 and GIP with a third hormone called glucagon. Researchers believe that additional pathway may not only help people eat less but also encourage the body to burn more energy, potentially leading to greater weight loss. For investors, the significance goes beyond a single product launch. The obesity drug market is becoming one of the pharmaceutical industry's biggest long-term growth opportunities, with treatments increasingly being studied for conditions that extend well beyond weight management. Lilly is already evaluating retatrutide as a potential treatment for sleep apnea, fatty liver disease, kidney disease, cardiovascular conditions, osteoarthritis, and Type 2 diabetes. Each successful expansion into a new disease could significantly increase the drug's commercial potential while broadening the role obesity medicines play across healthcare. The company said the later-than-expected regulatory filing reflects the time needed to complete manufacturing and quality documentation rather than concerns about the drug's effectiveness. Lilly also noted that ongoing cardiovascular outcome studies will continue to evaluate its long-term safety profile. For investors, the latest update reinforces a broader trend that has become increasingly clear over the past several years. The obesity drug race is no longer just about competing products. It is about continually improving what these medicines can achieve. If retatrutide ultimately receives regulatory approval, it could once again raise expectations for the entire industry.

Tempus AI's $1.5 billion acquisition of cancer testing company Personalis highlights a new phase in the AI race. As healthcare companies look beyond building smarter algorithms, access to high-quality medical data is becoming one of the industry's most valuable competitive advantages. For the past few years, the artificial intelligence race has been dominated by one question: Who has the smartest AI? Now, another question is becoming just as important. Who has the best data? That shift was on full display this week as Tempus AI announced it will acquire cancer testing company Personalis in a deal valued at roughly $1.5 billion. While it may look like another healthcare acquisition, the deal points to a much bigger trend taking shape across the AI industry. The companies building the next generation of AI aren't just competing to create better software. They're competing to own the data that makes those systems smarter. Personalis specializes in genomic testing, analyzing a patient's DNA to help doctors understand cancer and monitor whether it has returned after treatment. One of its key technologies can detect tiny traces of cancer that remain in the body, sometimes long before traditional scans reveal a problem. For patients, that can mean earlier intervention. For Tempus, it means something else entirely. It means access to an enormous amount of valuable medical data. That data is the fuel behind Tempus' AI platform. The company uses artificial intelligence to analyze genomic information, medical records and clinical data to help doctors make more informed treatment decisions, identify suitable clinical trials and support the development of new medicines. By bringing Personalis into the business, Tempus isn't simply adding another cancer testing service. It's expanding the amount of real-world data its AI can learn from. That's becoming one of the biggest competitive advantages in healthcare. Artificial intelligence is only as good as the information it receives. The more high-quality patient data an AI system can analyze, the better it can become at spotting patterns, predicting outcomes and helping researchers develop more targeted treatments. It's one reason healthcare has emerged as one of AI's most promising industries. Modern cancer tests generate huge amounts of genetic information, far more than humans can analyze efficiently on their own. AI can process those datasets at scale, helping researchers identify patterns that may have taken years to uncover using traditional methods. The deal also signals that the AI healthcare industry is entering a new stage. The early years were largely about building more powerful AI models. Increasingly, the focus is shifting toward building the strongest data ecosystems. Companies that combine advanced AI with large, high-quality medical datasets could be better positioned to improve patient care, accelerate drug development and strengthen their competitive position over time. That doesn't mean success is guaranteed. Healthcare remains one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world, and turning data into better patient outcomes requires years of clinical validation. But the direction of travel is becoming clearer. The next breakthroughs in AI may not come from building entirely new algorithms. They may come from giving today's AI access to better information.

After years of promise, AI-designed medicines are beginning to enter clinical trials. As companies like Insilico Medicine, Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Verge Genomics move beyond the research stage, investors are about to see whether artificial intelligence can genuinely improve how new drugs are discovered. For years, artificial intelligence promised to revolutionise drug discovery. Now it has to prove it. A new generation of biotech companies, including Insilico Medicine, Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Verge Genomics, is moving AI-designed medicines into clinical trials, marking one of the biggest tests yet of whether artificial intelligence can transform one of the world's slowest and most expensive industries. For investors, that's a significant shift. Until recently, AI drug discovery was largely judged by ambitious forecasts and early research. Today, it is beginning to be judged by something far more important: clinical results. The opportunity is enormous. Developing a new medicine can take more than a decade and cost billions of dollars, with many promising candidates failing long before they ever reach patients. AI has the potential to improve the earliest stages of that process by analysing huge volumes of biological data, identifying promising drug targets and narrowing down which compounds deserve further investigation. That doesn't eliminate the need for scientists. Every potential treatment must still undergo years of laboratory research, clinical testing and regulatory review. What AI offers is the ability to help researchers reach those stages faster by reducing the time spent searching for promising candidates. In other words, AI isn't replacing drug researchers. It's becoming another tool in their toolkit. That distinction is becoming increasingly important as pharmaceutical companies look for ways to improve productivity without compromising the rigorous scientific standards required to develop safe and effective medicines. The implications stretch well beyond a handful of AI-focused biotech companies. If these early programmes continue to show encouraging results, larger pharmaceutical firms could increasingly integrate AI throughout their own research pipelines, using it to identify drug candidates more efficiently and potentially lower the cost of bringing new treatments to market. That could make AI less of a niche technology and more of a standard part of modern pharmaceutical research. Investors should also recognise that this remains an emerging field. Clinical trials will determine whether AI-designed medicines deliver meaningful benefits for patients, and success is far from guaranteed. Drug development remains one of the highest-risk industries in the world, regardless of how candidates are discovered. Even so, the industry has reached an important milestone. The question is no longer whether AI can generate ideas for new medicines. The question now is whether those ideas can become approved treatments. For investors, that's when the real test begin

In this Investing News interview, Jeffrey Christian walks through why gold surprised him in August, why he now thinks the cyclical bottom is in, and why he would not be shocked to see another spike before year-end, with silver possibly tagging $80–$90. He covers the Fed meeting, inflation data, Treasury interventions, recession timing, wars, and Russia’s gold sales. Filmed 9 September 2026. Watch: Jeffrey Christian: Gold Bottom In, Price Can Spike Again This Year This is market commentary that we enjoyed watching, not advice. We are not paid to recommend this article or video. Prices can move against you.