Narratives, AI, and Durable Investment Bets

AI narrative momentum, durable value, and why Zoom and Roblox stand out | Around the Desk Ep. 85Sean Emory, founder and CIO of Avory & Co., on the "AI on, AI off" market: where durable value actually accrues, why models may commoditize as open source catches up, and why ecosystem and context end up mattering more than the model itself. Plus a look at Zoom (Avory's top holding) for its cash, Anthropic stake, and communication-context data, and Roblox for consumer engagement and AI-enabled creation. He expects public AI listings to force scrutiny on profitability, margins, and capital intensity, and makes the case for patience and businesses that don't require perfect assumptions.Chapters00:00 Podcast intro00:33 Momentum and narratives01:08 AI trade dominates02:31 Where value accrues03:16 Open source catching up05:10 Models commoditize over time06:28 Multi-model future07:47 Infrastructure crowding risks09:15 Energy bottlenecks10:06 Durable investing mindset10:35 Zoom as durable play13:13 Roblox and creation flywheel14:02 Macro uncertainty cycles16:00 Public AI reality check17:33 Staying patient and closingMore from Avory & Co.www.avory.xyz Informational only. Not personal investment advice. Avory & Co. and Sean Emory may hold positions in securities discussed. Past performance does not guarantee future results.