BEDROCK Podcast E28 - Starting with the AI-era shift in investment research, and reviewing operations in H1 2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjUW_F-Z27I

As the first half of 2026 comes to a close, BEDROCK has delivered solid investment results and welcomed many new partners. In this episode, founder and CIO Mr. Tan reviews BEDROCK’s portfolio operations over the past six months.

The discussion starts with how AI has exceeded expectations in empowering BEDROCK’s investment research workflow, then expands to changes in asset management organizations, research talent requirements, the search for compounders, and the broader investment paradigm.

We hope this in-depth conversation helps listeners better understand how BEDROCK’s research workflow, investment system, and opportunity set are evolving with the AI era.

AI-Generated Timeline

01:12-01:27 Opening and background

Claire introduces founder and CIO Mr. Tan, framing the conversation around BEDROCK’s first-half 2026 development, portfolio management logic, AI-enabled research, and key market questions.

01:27-04:23 Podcast positioning and communication strategy

As an entrepreneurial private fund, BEDROCK positions its podcast and articles as a focused way to answer recurring investor questions and improve professional communication, rather than chasing high-frequency media output.

04:23-08:20 Key first-half progress and AI-driven organizational evolution

Mr. Tan reviews progress from both investment and organizational perspectives: AI has moved from infrastructure toward applications, while large models are reshaping research, operations, and internal workflows.

08:20-19:09 The changing role of researchers in the AI era

As AI automates more basic research work, analysts need to become AI-collaborating product managers, with stronger capabilities in question definition, first-principles thinking, creative problem framing, and output verification.

19:09-31:43 How AI reshapes industry structure, competitive advantages, and investment methodology

AI reduces user decision costs and weakens some traditional moats. Investment work must move from a fixation on certainty toward probabilistic, dynamically calibrated decision-making.

31:43-40:10 Global differences in AI understanding and cross-region investing capability

Investors in different regions understand AI differently. BEDROCK’s global allocation capability comes from method-driven research, expert interviews, supply-chain work, and technical analysis across Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and beyond.

40:10-45:47 A three-part framework for AI infrastructure and industry-stage judgment

Mr. Tan lays out an AI infrastructure framework across compute, storage, and connectivity, and argues that AI has crossed the early-adopter chasm into the early-majority stage.

45:47-56:24 Portfolio response under macro uncertainty and the priority of structural growth

Macro factors such as geopolitical conflict and rate policy are incorporated into DCF discount-rate assumptions, but BEDROCK gives greater weight to structural growth momentum and industry validation.

56:24-01:01:57 Clarifying BEDROCK’s methodology and distinction from AI-themed funds

BEDROCK is not an AI concept fund. It is a strategy focused on global compounders; AI is currently a major alpha source because it fits the characteristics of compounding businesses.

01:01:57-01:11:27 Individual capability and organizational management in human-AI collaboration

AI should not replace deep thinking; it should handle information processing. Managers must redesign workflows, evaluation systems, and talent standards to make human-AI collaboration more productive.

01:11:27-01:18:07 Second-half outlook and long-term investing conviction in the AI era

From a ten-year perspective, Mr. Tan reiterates the significance of the AI revolution. BEDROCK will continue to focus on AI infrastructure and applications while expanding into structural opportunities such as emerging markets and fintech.

Original article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/uwFOZs2fpZ2dd0lGFwhBbw