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AI dash cams are cutting fleet accidents by 73%
Theme 1: Media Publishers Monetize Content Through AI Licensing Partnerships
The content licensing boom represents a fundamental shift in how media companies monetize their intellectual property. Publishers possess vast archives of high-quality editorial content that AI platforms desperately need for training large language models. These multi-year contractual agreements provide predictable revenue streams while validating that content has genuine commercial value in the AI economy.
On the supply side, publishers are sitting on decades of premium editorial content that was previously only monetized through advertising and subscriptions. On the demand side, AI platforms like Meta require massive amounts of high-quality text data to improve their models, and they're willing to pay substantial licensing fees for access to professionally curated content.
The contractual nature of these deals with major tech companies suggests both stability and scale, making this a compelling monetization strategy that doesn't rely on the traditional advertising model that has pressured media companies for years.
Stocks that would benefit:
NYT: New York Times Company - Possesses one of the most extensive and prestigious archives of editorial content spanning over 170 years, making it a prime licensing partner for AI platforms. The company has already begun monetizing its intellectual property through AI partnerships, including a significant deal with Amazon for generative AI training. This creates a new recurring revenue stream that complements its successful digital subscription business (12.3+ million subscribers), with over 50% now paying for bundled products that drive higher lifetime value and reduced churn. The company's first-party data and premium audience position it perfectly to benefit from both AI licensing economics and the ongoing shift in advertising dollars away from low-quality programmatic inventory. Read More →
GCI: Gannett Co. - As the largest newspaper chain in the United States with over 200 daily publications and the USA TODAY brand, Gannett offers AI platforms access to an incredibly diverse content archive spanning local, regional, and national news. The company is undergoing a significant digital transformation with digital revenues approaching 50% of total revenue, and AI licensing represents a critical new high-margin revenue stream. Gannett has already secured strategic AI licensing deals with partners like Perplexity and Microsoft while simultaneously implementing proprietary AI tools such as DeeperDive and Dash to enhance operational efficiency. This dual approach of monetizing content through licensing while leveraging AI internally positions Gannett to accelerate its debt reduction (below $1 billion for the first time since 2019) while creating sustainable digital growth. Read More →
Theme 2: Fleet Telematics Hardware Benefits from AI-Driven Safety Validation
The telematics hardware sector is experiencing a validation moment as real-world safety data proves the financial benefits of AI-enhanced fleet monitoring. Samsara's report that a major home improvement retailer achieved over 50% reduction in auto liability claims demonstrates concrete ROI that justifies enterprise investment in these systems.
On the supply side, telematics companies have successfully integrated AI capabilities into their hardware platforms, creating differentiated products that deliver measurable safety improvements. On the demand side, fleet operators face increasing regulatory pressure around safety compliance while seeking to reduce insurance costs and liability exposure.
The automotive telematics market is projected to grow from $10.02 billion in 2025 to $16.72 billion by 2032, driven by stricter safety regulations and the proven ability of AI-enhanced systems to reduce accidents and claims. Enterprise customers are expanding their deployments after seeing concrete results, creating a positive feedback loop for the industry.
Stocks that would benefit:
IOT: Samsara Inc. - Leading the AI-powered telematics revolution with 20% of new contract value coming from emerging AI products like AI Multi-Cam, Asset Tags, and Connected Workflows. The company has built a proprietary data asset of 20 trillion annual data points from physical operations that fuels its expanding AI product suite, creating a defensible moat that extends beyond core vehicle telematics. Samsara's platform has demonstrably reduced accidents by 73% after 30 months of deployment, providing quantifiable ROI for enterprise customers and driving expansion within existing accounts. This proven safety validation has helped Samsara reach a critical financial inflection point, delivering 30% revenue growth alongside 15% non-GAAP operating margins and 11% free cash flow margins in Q2 FY26, demonstrating that its land-and-expand model is generating true software economics at scale. Read More →
AIOT: PowerFleet Inc. - Provides comprehensive fleet management solutions through its Unity platform, a device-agnostic data highway leveraging AI and machine learning that enables a "single pane of glass" for end-to-end asset visibility. PowerFleet has undergone a dramatic transformation in FY25 through strategic acquisitions of MiX Telematics and Fleet Complete, scaling its revenue base to over $362 million and subscriber count to 2.8 million. The company's integration efforts are ahead of schedule, delivering $16 million in adjusted EBITDA synergies from the MiX deal ahead of target, with a clear path to realizing additional synergies. PowerFleet's solutions drive significant customer value through operational efficiency and safety improvements, positioning it to capitalize on the growing enterprise demand for AI-enhanced telematics systems that can deliver measurable safety and liability reduction. Read More →
GRMN: Garmin Ltd. - Offers advanced commercial fleet management solutions that leverage the company's expertise in GPS technology, mapping, and data analytics. Garmin delivered a record third quarter in 2025, with consolidated revenue increasing 12% to nearly $1.8 billion, demonstrating the resilience of its diversified business model. The company's strategic focus on innovation and technological differentiation extends to its commercial vehicle segment, where its telematics solutions provide comprehensive safety monitoring and driver behavior analysis. Garmin's strong balance sheet, with $2.5 billion in cash and minimal debt, provides significant flexibility to invest in AI-enhanced telematics capabilities that can capitalize on the growing demand for validated safety solutions in commercial fleets, particularly as regulatory pressure increases for fleet operators to implement proven safety technologies. Read More →
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