5 surprising AI pioneers revolutionizing their industries

As the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution gathers pace, companies across sectors are leveraging AI technologies to streamline operations, improve customer experiences and drive innovation.

NVIDIA Corp. is the leader. NASDAQ: NVDA, whose remarkable year-to-date performance is up 130% underscores the transformative power of AI. While NVIDIA’s leadership in AI may be well-known, several other companies, some surprising, are also making significant strides in AI.

Here are five companies that are using AI in unexpected ways.

SoFi Technologies, Inc.

SoFi Technologies, Inc. NASDAQ:SOFIonline financial institution, integrates artificial intelligence to improve its banking services.

The company uses the conversational AI engine from fintech platform Galileo to improve customer satisfaction, response times and overall business efficiency. AI also plays a key role in SoFi fraud detection, automated investment portfolio management, and instant loan approvals.

Despite a 31% year-to-date decline, analysts maintain a Hold rating with a forecast upside of 32% based on the consensus price, reflecting optimism about SoFi’s AI-powered future.

Netflix, Inc.

Netflix, Inc. NASDAQ:NFLXThe streaming giant that needs no introduction has seen its share price skyrocket, up 33.9% year-to-date and 18% in the month itself.

The company makes extensive use of artificial intelligence to personalize user experiences, improve content quality and optimize operations. Netflix’s artificial intelligence algorithms recommend shows and movies based on user preferences and viewing history, helping to maintain high user engagement. Additionally, artificial intelligence helps in content categorization, strategic decision-making, post-production processes and customer service through chatbots.

Analysts are bullish on Netflix, with a moderate buy rating from 35 analysts, boosted by the company’s impressive 70% growth over the past year.

Deer and company

Deer and company NYSE:DE, a leader in agricultural, construction and forestry equipment, is down 8.3% year-to-date but is actively implementing artificial intelligence to revolutionize its industry. The company’s AI-powered See & Spray product helps farmers reduce herbicide use, and AI algorithms provide data-driven insights for better agricultural decisions.

Deere’s introduction of a fully autonomous tractor marks a significant step in agricultural innovation. Analysts are bullish on Deere’s AI initiatives, forecasting growth of 18.08% with a moderate buy rating, signaling potential growth despite current market challenges.

Nike, Inc.

Nike, Inc. NYSE:NKE, known for athletic apparel and footwear, uses artificial intelligence to transform customer experiences and operational efficiency. Technologies based on artificial intelligence increase the accuracy of shoe fitting, personalize offers and support virtual assistants. Nike uses advanced analytics and artificial intelligence strategies across its supply chain to increase speed, accuracy and sustainability.

Although the company’s shares have fallen by almost 14% since the beginning of the year, analysts expect an increase of 24.7% with a moderate buy rating. Nike’s commitment to artificial intelligence underscores Nike’s ongoing efforts to innovate and engage customers.

Tesla limited liability company

Tesla limited liability company NASDAQ: TSLA is a leader in autonomous vehicle technology based on artificial intelligence. The company’s artificial intelligence systems use a network of sensors and cameras to monitor the environment and make driving decisions in real time, supporting features such as autopilot and fully autonomous driving (FSD).

Tesla’s artificial intelligence includes battery management and navigation, improving the driving experience. Known for its revolutionary approach, Tesla continues to lead the adoption of artificial intelligence in the automotive industry, highlighting its role as an innovator in intelligent driving technology.

Bottom line for these AI innovators

The rise of artificial intelligence is not just limited to tech giants; companies across sectors are using artificial intelligence to drive innovation and streamline operations. From SoFi’s AI-powered financial services to Deere’s AI-powered services, these five companies exemplify the broad and transformative impact of AI. Investors should keep an eye on these surprising AI plays, seeing the potential for growth and further innovation as the AI ​​revolution continues to develop and expand.

Before you think about Netflix, you’ll want to hear this.

Every day, MarketBeat tracks Wall Street’s top-rated and best-performing analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients. MarketBeat identified five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now, before the broader market embraces them… and Netflix wasn’t on the list.

While Netflix currently has an analyst rating of Moderate Buy, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better picks.

See five stocks here