The AI Supercycle with Jordi Visser | Raoul Pal the Journey Man
The AI Supercycle with Jordi Visser | Raoul Pal the Journey Man
Podcast1 hr 15 min
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Investors should look beyond hardware and rotate capital into the Energy and Application layers of the AI supercycle, as power constraints and "digital employees" become the next major bottlenecks. Eli Lilly (LLY) is a high-conviction play in the "human software" space, utilizing its NVIDIA partnership and massive GPU data centers to lead AI-driven drug discovery. In the commodities sector, Silver is a preferred trade over copper due to its critical role in the development of solid-state batteries for the AI power grid. While NVIDIA (NVDA) remains the infrastructure foundation, investors should monitor its new partnerships in power solutions as the hardware trade enters a temporary "digestion phase." For digital assets, maintain a long-term outlook on Bitcoin (BTC) and Layer 1 protocols, which are positioned to serve as the essential payment and identity layer for the emerging autonomous AI agent economy.

Detailed Analysis

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Supercycle

  • The discussion highlights that we are entering an AI Supercycle characterized by "Reed’s Law" (Metcalfe’s Law squared), where the network effect and intelligence growth are exponential squared.
  • A fundamental shift is occurring from a "Capital vs. Labor" business model to a "Compute vs. Energy" model.
  • Bottlenecks and Shortages: The primary risk to earnings isn't a lack of demand, but demand being "too big." Shortages in chips and power may temporarily slow growth, but these bottlenecks actually attract more capital to solve the issues.
  • The Agentic Economy: We are moving into a world of "digital employees" or AI agents. These agents consume compute instead of physical goods, which will fundamentally alter traditional business cycles and GDP measurements.

Takeaways

  • Look beyond NVIDIA: While hardware is the current focus, the "five-layer cake" of AI (Energy, Chips, Infrastructure, Models, Applications) suggests capital will rotate through these sectors as bottlenecks shift.
  • Focus on "Human Software": Investment is moving toward the application layer where AI meets biology and human productivity.
  • Efficiency as an Opportunity: Companies that find ways to "root around" shortages (e.g., using less copper or more efficient algorithms) will be major winners.

Eli Lilly (LLY)

  • Mentioned as a prime example of the "Application Layer" of AI.
  • The company is using GLP-1 (weight loss drugs) revenues to finance the next stage of "human software" and longevity research.
  • They have established a 1,000 GPU data center (Lilypod) and are collaborating with NVIDIA to accelerate drug discovery.

Takeaways

  • Bullish Sentiment: Viewed as a "winner" that has successfully sucked in capital to fund AI-driven biological breakthroughs.
  • Investment Theme: Watch for the convergence of Big Pharma and Big Tech; Eli Lilly is positioned as a leader in using AI to solve human biological "code."

NVIDIA (NVDA)

  • Discussed as the foundation of the current infrastructure build-out.
  • Mentioned in the context of new partnerships, specifically with Siemens and Fluence regarding battery technology and power solutions.
  • The "Vera Rubin" architecture and the shift to optical fiber are cited as ways the company is overcoming physical hardware bottlenecks.

Takeaways

  • Hardware Peak? There is a suggestion that the "CapEx trade" (buying hardware providers) might be reaching a temporary peak or "digestion phase" as massive IPOs and secondary raises (like Google's) soak up available market liquidity.
  • Monitoring Partnerships: Investors should watch NVIDIA’s moves into the energy and power sectors, as power is currently the biggest bottleneck for their customers.

Crypto & Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The "Third Wave": The speakers suggest we are entering a "Third Wave" for crypto, where it serves as the financial guardrail for the agentic economy.
  • AI-Crypto Nexus: AI agents will need a native payment layer; they are "token-hungry" and will likely use blockchains for transactions, identity, and data provenance.
  • Tokenization: A massive opportunity exists in moving the world's illiquid assets (real estate, private equity, art) onto the blockchain to increase velocity and transparency.

Takeaways

  • Patience is Key: Crypto is currently in a "digestion period" or "bear market" phase following the ETF launch.
  • The "Banana Zone": A potential "third wave" (exponential move) is expected when the market realizes that AI agents require decentralized financial infrastructure to operate autonomously.
  • Asset Selection: Focus on Layer 1 protocols that can handle high-velocity agentic transactions and platforms focusing on Tokenization.

Energy & Commodities

  • Power Bottlenecks: Data centers are only "30% built" relative to stated goals, primarily due to power constraints.
  • Silver: Mentioned as a critical component for solid-state batteries, which may see higher demand than lithium as the US grid seeks better storage solutions for AI power needs.
  • Copper: While there is a global shortage, the podcast notes that innovation (like Tesla's shift from 12V to 48V in the Cybertruck) can significantly reduce the amount of copper needed, potentially mitigating the "scarcity" trade.

Takeaways

  • Bullish on Silver: Specifically in the context of solid-state battery innovation for the power grid.
  • Neutral on Copper: High demand exists, but "intelligence density" (engineering workarounds) may limit the upside compared to traditional "doom-and-gloom" commodity forecasts.

Investment Themes: The "Invisible Economy"

  • Data as the New Oil: The largest marketplace on Earth will soon be the data that AI needs to train.
  • Productivity Paradox: Traditional economic indicators like PMIs and employment numbers may become less relevant as digital agents replace human labor, leading to "jobless" productivity growth.
  • Personal AI Infrastructure: A trend is emerging where individuals and small businesses use "local" AI (Mac Minis, high-end laptops, open-source models) to run private "knowledge brains," creating massive margins for small, AI-integrated firms.
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Episode Description
Raoul welcomes back Jordi Visser to break down how AI is creating a massive supercycle, driven by compute, energy, agents, data centers, and an explosion in intelligence. Raoul and Jordi also explore how crypto, tokenization, personal AI “vaults,” and the invisible data economy could unlock new markets, new productivity, and major investment rotations beyond just Nvidia and the current AI leaders. Recorded June 4, 2026. Today’s sponsor is Plus500 US. Take your trading to the next level with cross-market contracts, from precious metals to key indices, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned trader in the Futures arena or brand new, Plus500’s user-friendly trading platform offers you the advanced tools, market insights, and quick execution you’ve been looking for. Get started with Plus500 for as little as $100 at https://us.plus500.com. Trading in futures involves the risk of loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
About Raoul Pal: The Journey Man
Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

Raoul Pal: The Journey Man

By Real Vision Podcast Network

The world is changing faster than ever before. This comes with life-changing opportunities but also unprecedented challenges. In The Journeyman, I talk to the greatest minds at the nexus of macro, crypto, and technology to figure out exactly what the Exponential Age means for us all. I uncover the big trends, potential investment opportunities, and economic risks and rewards, and ask the big questions on how this impacts us, our businesses, and our societies. Brought to you by Real Vision.