The stock market is already rewarding companies that investors consider future beneficiaries of artificial intelligence — even if they are not yet using this technology. My research, based on an analysis of a dataset of 380 trillion AI tokens, has revealed a persistent return gap that I call the "AI premium." The stocks of such "candidates" grow on average 0.64% per week faster than those of other players.
To calculate this metric, I developed a special indicator — the "AI factor." It weekly captures changes in global neural network consumption, using data from the OpenRouter platform for the period from January 2024 to April 2026. This dataset covers over 400 models (including GPT, Claude, and Deepseek) and reflects about 2% of global monthly AI consumption.
I then divided companies into two categories: those with high stock sensitivity to the growth in neural network popularity and those with virtually no reaction. Comparing the returns of these groups showed a significant gap. A difference of 0.64% per week may seem insignificant, but in reality, it is a colossal figure. It accumulates and creates a huge gap in the long term. The market constantly revalues assets based on future expectations, not current financial performance.
The key point: the premium is received not by those who have already implemented AI, but by those whom investors consider promising. A company may not use the technology at all today, but if the market believes in its potential, its capitalization grows. As one of my colleagues rightly noted, markets now reward the very proximity of companies to the most advanced models in the US and Europe.
Who benefits?
| Category of beneficiaries | Geographic features | Key growth drivers |
| Wide range of industries (retail, factories, consumer goods) | Concentration in the US, Europe, and developed markets | Professional and deep use of paid models |
The first important finding: the premium has extended far beyond the technology sector. Retailers, consumer goods manufacturers, and even heavy industry are receiving higher returns. Investors are counting on a massive increase in labor productivity across all business areas. The AI story is not just a tech narrative but a much broader one, affecting companies and workers in all parts of the economy.
The second unexpected factor is geography. The bulk of the premium is concentrated in the US and Europe, which are closely tied to building infrastructure and constructing modern data centers. In China and emerging markets, this effect is significantly weaker. Market mechanisms reward proximity to advanced developments, which are currently available to few.
The third finding is the role of user structure. It is logical to assume that the market is driven by millions of ordinary users. However, a detailed analysis revealed a completely different picture. The financial premium is formed exclusively by the professional segment: complex, lengthy queries and paid subscriptions. The premium is set precisely by professionals working with cutting-edge AI, not by those who occasionally try free or open models. Investors value the depth of technology integration, not mass adoption.
My conclusion: The market is already actively discounting the future impact of AI, creating a persistent premium for companies that investors consider the most likely beneficiaries. This is a signal for strategic positioning: what matters is not what a company does today, but how deeply it can integrate AI tomorrow. For the crypto industry, this means that projects related to AI infrastructure and decentralized computing could receive a similar market valuation.