Artificial Intelligence in Focus: From the Boom of Bot Traffic to Clever Investment Strategies

In the modern technology world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains a driving force, as impressively demonstrated by Cloudflare's latest annual report. With a particular focus on internet usage and security developments in the AI sector, OpenAI has asserted itself as the leader among generative AI services. Noteworthy rising stars in the Top Ten include Codeium, Claude, and CoPilot. A less favorable trend is the increase in malicious data traffic, which now accounts for 6.5% of global traffic. AI bots such as Bytespider and ClaudeBot were particularly active, although their activity slightly declined over the year. In addition to technical advances, geopolitical challenges are also emerging, as Angie Newman from UBS Private Wealth Management explained in a conversation with CNBC. The increasing correlation between stocks and bonds during geopolitical uncertainties and interest rate changes underscores the importance of diversification strategies. Alternative asset classes, particularly those with low correlation to traditional investments like gold and private equity, are coming into focus. Within private equity, real estate and data centers, thanks to AI development, are considered particularly promising. A clear need for unified data strategies is also highlighted by the recently released report from NetApp. Titled "Data Complexity Report," it emphasizes the necessity to prioritize AI investments and data unification. 79% of technology managers consider this crucial for success. Looking towards 2025, security concerns are rising, especially in AI-leading nations. Despite a slight decline in its importance, sustainability remains a focus. The report suggests that secure, unified, and sustainable data strategies are indispensable for fully leveraging the transformative potential of AI.