Bernstein’s deep dive looks for winners in future tech and industries

Investing.com -- In a new deep dive into emerging technologies, Bernstein outlined its vision for where the next wave of industrial and investment growth may come from.

The research identifies a set of transformational themes—from Agentic AI and humanoid robotics to autonomous driving and quantum computing—as the likely building blocks for the next generation of industry leaders.

“Today, we stand at the cusp of a new technology revolution,” Bernstein wrote, driven by accelerated developments in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation.

The firm sees these trends not only reshaping current business models but also creating entirely new categories of innovation that could give rise to trillion-dollar companies.

One of the most significant developments highlighted is the emergence of Agentic AI, which has the potential to automate routine programming tasks and enable AI-powered decision-making. In the asset management industry, this is already beginning to change workflows.

“We are not too far from a world of multi-agent AI hedge funds emulating a multi-strategy pod of today,” Bernstein analysts wrote.

While most AI usage in finance remains limited to back-office functions, firms like Bridgewater and Castle Ridge have launched AI-driven funds, and hedge funds are increasingly using GenAI tools to improve research productivity and reduce costs.

Robotics is another area of focus. Humanoid robots are moving closer to mainstream adoption in sectors such as manufacturing and healthcare, supported by improvements in mobility and cost structures.

In transportation, the path toward fully autonomous driving is seen as inevitable, with robotaxis expected to reshape urban mobility and eliminate one of the industry’s largest costs—human drivers.

According to Bernstein, “autonomous vehicles will likely reduce operational costs by eliminating driver expenses, which currently account for nearly 50% of ride-hailing costs.”

In biopharma, AI is accelerating drug discovery by analyzing large datasets to identify disease markers and drug candidates, enabling firms to cut both time and R&D expenses significantly. Bernstein estimates that “biopharma companies can expect to decrease R&D time by 30–50% and cut costs by 25–50%.”

Quantum computing was also highlighted, described as a revolutionary technology still in its infancy but with the potential to solve problems that are currently beyond classical computing.

Though widespread applications may not be realized before 2030, Bernstein sees this field as fertile ground for long-term investment.

Overall, Bernstein’s report frames the future of tech as a race to harness AI and related technologies not just for efficiency, but as engines of innovation.

“These are sectors that investors should focus on as incubators for the next trillion-dollar company,” the firm concluded.