The Metal Trade That Could Unlock AGI ft. Jordi Visser
The Metal Trade That Could Unlock AGI ft. Jordi Visser
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Quick Insights

Consider rotating out of the overvalued SaaS software sector and into the materials sector to capitalize on the physical build-out required for Artificial Intelligence. Silver is viewed as a critical industrial metal for AI, creating a long-term structural shortage that makes silver mining equities particularly attractive. For direct exposure to the AI hardware boom, invest in the "picks and shovels" of the revolution through semiconductor companies like Micron (MU). The massive energy demand from AI also makes solar a key beneficiary, with the TAN ETF offering a direct way to invest in this theme. Finally, view Bitcoin (BTC) as the ultimate scarce digital asset in a world of AI-driven abundance, treating the current consolidation as a long-term buying opportunity.

Detailed Analysis

Silver (XAG)

  • Jordi Visser describes silver as a critical industrial metal, not a precious metal.
  • It is considered the "gateway to intelligence in machines" and is essential for the physical build-out of Artificial Intelligence.
  • Silver is required in enormous amounts for:
    • Data centers and edge devices.
    • Humanoid robots, drones, and modern military hardware.
    • Solar panels, which are seen as the fastest way to scale energy production.
  • The speaker states, "There is no physical AI without silver. It is the single most important part." It is compared to the synapse of a brain.
  • A long-term, structural shortage of silver is predicted for the next 15 years due to insatiable, non-cyclical demand from the AI build-out.
  • The price of silver is considered "inelastic" for its use in AI infrastructure; even a 10x price increase would be a small fraction of a data center's total cost.
  • The recent parabolic move in silver is seen as the beginning of a long cycle, not the end. It signifies that the physical build-out phase of AI has begun.
  • The ratio of silver to gold is tracking the ratio of Ethereum to Bitcoin, with silver's outperformance seen as a bullish indicator for the "utility" phase of the cycle.

Takeaways

  • The investment thesis for silver is based on its industrial use in the AI and green energy revolutions, creating a long-term supply/demand imbalance.
  • Investors should view silver not as a monetary metal like gold, but as a critical, scarce industrial commodity essential for future technology.
  • The speakers suggest that the current price rally is the start of a much larger, multi-year trend, not a speculative peak to be sold.
  • Instead of buying the physical commodity which can be volatile, investors could consider equities of mining companies, which are described as "so cheap" and poised to benefit.

Commodities & Materials Sector

  • The speakers believe we are in the beginning stages of a commodities super cycle.
  • This cycle is driven by the massive physical build-out required for AI, including data centers, robotics, and defense technology. Jensen Huang of Nvidia was quoted as estimating an $85 trillion build-out over the next 15 years.
  • Unlike past cycles driven by energy, this one is about minerals and materials like copper and silver.
  • The Materials and Energy sectors are noted as being heavily underweighted in major indices like the S&P 500 (making up only 5%), while tech is overweighted (50%). A "repricing and a rebalancing" is expected.
  • The speakers suggest investing in things that are scarce and take a long time to produce (like minerals) and avoiding things that are abundant and can be created quickly (like software).
  • Specific mention of mining company equities (e.g., Rio Tinto) as a "huge opportunity" because they are cheap relative to the coming demand.

Takeaways

  • A major portfolio rotation is anticipated, moving from over-weighted software and tech stocks into under-weighted materials, energy, and industrial stocks.
  • Investors should consider increasing their allocation to the commodities sector to gain exposure to the AI infrastructure build-out.
  • The most attractive way to play this theme may be through the stocks of mining companies, which are currently undervalued relative to the commodities they produce.
  • This is viewed as a long-term, multi-year cycle, not a short-term trade.

Software Sector (SaaS)

  • A strong bearish sentiment is expressed towards the traditional Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) sector.
  • The core problem is that AI makes software businesses "instantly replicatable." New competitors can be spun up almost instantaneously, creating "uber competitive" markets and immense deflationary pressure.
  • AI enables hyper-customization for businesses, making the one-size-fits-all model of companies like Salesforce obsolete. Businesses will be able to create their own customized software solutions using AI agents.
  • SaaS companies are expected to face non-existent growth because:
    • Large corporate clients are slow to adapt and will struggle to implement new solutions.
    • New, AI-native small businesses will not be customers for traditional SaaS products.
  • The speakers warn that most investors are heavily over-weighted in software through index funds (S&P 500) without realizing the risk. One speaker quotes Elon Musk, stating that most software companies are "all a zero."

Takeaways

  • The business model of traditional SaaS companies is under existential threat from AI-driven commoditization and customization.
  • Investors should review their portfolios for overexposure to the software sector, both through individual stocks and broad market ETFs.
  • The speakers suggest that trying to "pick a bottom in software" is a mistake, as the sector faces a structural decline in growth and profitability.

Semiconductors & AI Hardware

  • This sector is viewed with strong bullish sentiment, described as the "picks and shovels" of the AI revolution.
  • The core investment thesis is to own the "converters" that transform raw energy into intelligence. These are the physical components like semiconductors, advanced packaging, and high-bandwidth memory.
  • These hardware components are compared to the "oils of the 1970s," signifying their critical role and potential for massive price appreciation due to shortages.
  • The supply chain rollout for AI was described in phases: first Nvidia, then TSMC, then DRAM prices (memory), and now silver.
  • Micron Technology (MU) is mentioned as an example of a company in this space, with the speaker noting that the weighting of such stocks in most portfolios is "next to nothing."

Takeaways

  • The most direct way to invest in the AI boom is not through software applications, but through the hardware companies that enable it.
  • Investors should look for opportunities across the entire semiconductor supply chain, from chip designers (Nvidia) to manufacturers (TSMC) and memory providers (Micron).
  • This sector is seen as a primary beneficiary of the AI arms race between the US, China, and major tech companies, as there is "no downside at the moment" in the race for compute power.

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The primary bullish case for Bitcoin is as a store of value in a world of AI-driven deflation and abundance. It is seen as the ultimate scarce asset.
  • The speakers believe a massive wealth transfer is underway from traditional assets ($700 trillion market) into crypto, as traditional assets will fail to produce necessary returns.
  • Bitcoin is viewed as a hedge against the devaluation of the fiat system.
  • The approval of the Bitcoin ETF and the pro-crypto stance of politicians like Donald Trump are seen as incredibly bullish long-term developments that were previously thought to be impossible.
  • The recent sideways price action is not viewed as a negative, but as a healthy consolidation after a "sell the fact" event following the ETF launch and political endorsements.
  • One speaker mentions creating "strategic Bitcoin reserves" for his children as a way for them to navigate the economic disruption of the next five years.

Takeaways

  • Bitcoin's value proposition is its digital scarcity in an increasingly abundant and deflationary world created by AI.
  • The long-term outlook is very bullish, supported by major structural tailwinds like institutional adoption via ETFs and growing political acceptance.
  • Investors should view the current market as a period of consolidation within a larger bull market, rather than a bearish reversal.

Ethereum (ETH)

  • Ethereum is compared to silver, representing the "utility" layer of the digital asset world, whereas Bitcoin is compared to gold (store of value).
  • The speakers note that the ratio of Ethereum to Bitcoin has been tracking the ratio of silver to gold.
  • It is seen as a very positive sign that Ethereum has outperformed Bitcoin since April, just as silver has outperformed gold. This suggests the market is moving into a phase that values utility and application, which is bullish for the AI build-out.

Takeaways

  • Ethereum is positioned to benefit as the digital economy moves from a pure store-of-value phase to an application and utility phase.
  • The relative performance of ETH/BTC is a key indicator to watch. Continued outperformance is a bullish signal for the broader crypto and technology cycle.

Solar Energy (TAN ETF)

  • Solar energy is identified as the only way to bring new power online within the two-year time horizon needed to support the explosive growth in AI data centers.
  • China has demonstrated the ability to scale solar rapidly, having "doubled the entire world's supply of solar... in one year." The US and Europe are expected to follow suit out of necessity.
  • The speaker explicitly recommends the TAN ETF as a way to invest in this theme.

Takeaways

  • The massive energy demand from AI compute will create a boom in renewable energy, with solar being the primary beneficiary due to its speed of deployment.
  • Investors looking for exposure to this theme can consider the TAN ETF, which holds a basket of solar energy companies.

European & Brazilian Equities

  • European equities are expected to outperform US equities, a counterintuitive call.
  • The reasoning is that Europe is less exposed to the struggling software sector and more weighted towards manufacturing and commodities, which are set to benefit from the new physical build-out cycle.
  • Brazil is highlighted as a favorite country investment for the year.
  • Brazil is seen as a "commodity haven" with significant mineral resources that is poised to enter a secular bull market.

Takeaways

  • Investors should consider diversifying away from US-centric tech portfolios and look for opportunities in international markets that are better positioned for the commodity super cycle.
  • Europe and Brazil are specifically mentioned as regions that are undervalued and have favorable sector exposures for the coming economic environment.
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Video Description
🔥 *Download Raoul Pal's 4-year investing roadmap for free:* https://rvtv.io/41fVHWF On the latest episode of The Journey Man, filmed with a live audience at Crypto Gathering 2026 in Miami, Raoul Pal sits down with Jordi Visser, head of AI macro nexus research at 22V, to discuss the commodity supercycle, the advancements in robotics and AI, the abundance vs. scarcity trade, the decline of software companies, and much more. Recorded January 24, 2026. 👉 Abra provides custody, trading, yield and BTC-backed loan products for digital assets for HNW and corporate clients. Abra provides full service treasury management for digital asset treasuries and corporations. Buy and hold digital assets in segregated accounts with multi-sig security. Visit https://www.realvision.com/abra to learn more. Timestamps: 00:00 Abra Sponsor 00:54 Welcome to The Journeyman 02:38 Macro, Crypto & AI Converge 05:06 Silver: The Metal Behind AI 08:00 The $85T AI Buildout 11:05 Resources, Geopolitics & Power 14:20 Europe’s Strategy vs the US 17:16 AI = Deflation Shock 20:19 Why Long-Duration Assets Break 23:02 Scarcity vs Abundance Investing 26:13 Stimulus, Politics & the AI Race 29:04 Why Silver Is Non-Negotiable 32:17 Is Software Actually Investable? 35:44 Agents Replace SaaS 38:53 Why Big Tech Can’t Adapt Fast Enough 42:05 Commodities: Rent or Own? 45:26 Solar, Power & Grid Bottlenecks 48:39 Energy Taxes & AI Economics 50:14 AGI Fears & the Human Question 53:18 Advice for Gen Z 55:22 AI as a Learning Weapon 56:49 NFTs as Cultural Memory 57:38 Final Thoughts & Outro Unlock the potential to showcase your brand to our global audience. Contact us at partnerships@realvision.com for advertising inquiries. 🍌 Get your Banana Zone swag at the Real Vision merch store: https://shop.realvision.com Connect with me: Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/RaoulGMI Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raoulgmi/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raoul-pal-real-vision/ My other work: Real Vision: https://rvtv.io/3LHYIaH Global Macro Investor: https://globalmacroinvestor.com The Exponentialist: https://realvision.com/thefuture EXPAAM: https://expaam.com Connect with Real Vision™: Twitter: https://rvtv.io/twitter Instagram: https://rvtv.io/instagram Get a FREE membership: https://rvtv.io/3Y4t5Pw Disclaimer: https://media.realvision.com/wp/20231004185303/Disclaimer-1.pdf #raoulpal #crypto #macro #macroeconomics #cryptocurrency #cryptonews #blockchain #web3 #nft #nfts #btc #eth #btcnews #bitcoin #bitcoinnews #bitcointoday #cryptotrading #cryptoinsights #cryptotips #cryptoinsights #macroinsights #realvision #solana #sol #solanasol #altcoins #bitcoinnews #btctoday #btcnews #sui #suicrypto #ethnews
About Raoul Pal The Journey Man
Raoul Pal The Journey Man

Raoul Pal The Journey Man

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