It happened in 14 seconds at a Coldplay concert in Boston...

The kiss cam found Andy Byron, then-CEO of data firm Astronomer, embracing his chief people officer... not his wife.

They froze. Then they panicked, trying to hide from the cameras.

Even Coldplay's frontman called it out: "Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy."

But by then, it was too late.

Six hours later, the clip had 12 million views on TikTok. And 48 hours later, Byron resigned.

The cruel irony?

Byron's entire business pitch was that humans are unreliable – and automation is the answer.

But he became the failure his own systems were designed to eliminate. The company's most important "data point" – the CEO himself – introduced a reputational bug no algorithm could patch.

That's the paradox: As systems become flawless, human flaws drive real-time value swings.

And as AI automates more decisions, asymmetric opportunities arise from companies that monetize the human chaos left behind. That's where the next wave of opportunities is hiding...

The Power of Distribution

Astronomer had become a powerhouse for companies like Autodesk (ADSK) and the Texas Rangers MLB team. It was able to unify data, flag threats, and eliminate human error. And it worked brilliantly.

But in a world of automation, human error is a source of opportunity.

Byron's downfall wasn't just a public relations crisis. It was a master class in the core opportunity of the next decade...

The more we optimize workflows and remove judgment from systems, the more catastrophic – and valuable – unautomated moments become. Every perfect algorithm makes imperfect humans more precious.

The winners? Companies that know you can optimize data... but not character. Those are the companies that'll profit from the chaos humans leave behind.

The Chaos Monetizers

Meta Platforms (META) – The Drama Engine

Every scandal gets shared and monetized across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta isn't just social media – it's a billion-person theater for human slipups.

While AI floods our feeds with synthetic content, authentic human drama becomes the most valuable commodity. With roughly 3.5 billion users, Meta doesn't just host content – it amplifies and profits from real human chaos.

Alphabet (GOOGL) – The Curiosity Marketplace

When scandals break, people look them up. YouTube explodes with reaction videos, imitations, and parodies.

Alphabet captures every click, view, and viral loop.

AI may change content discovery, but Alphabet's vertical integration – from Google Search to YouTube to Google Cloud – ensures it profits from every viral moment.

Human curiosity is constant. And Alphabet owns the infrastructure that feeds it.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) – The Pattern Prophet

Palantir isn't just a defense play, it's a bet on behavioral prediction. Its platforms help institutions prepare for the unpredictable – from insider threats to reputational landmines.

As companies realize data-driven insights aren't enough, they're investing in human-driven foresight. Palantir's software becomes essential infrastructure for managing what algorithms can't predict: people.

Companies like Meta, Alphabet, and Palantir don't just build systems... They profit when humans break them.

The Bottom Line

Automation is inevitable. But the winners will be the companies positioned to capture value when humans inevitably break the systems designed to replace them.

You can build perfect machines. But the real edge flows to whoever owns the platforms imperfect humans use.

As Byron learned in 14 seconds, the most sophisticated data orchestration in the world is powerless against a single moment of human chaos.

That's not a bug in the system. It's the feature that creates the next generation of market leaders.

As I always say: You're either early... or you're obsolete.

Good investing,

Josh Baylin

Further Reading

Most folks think stock prices move randomly. But there are repeatable patterns hiding in plain sight. Some stocks rise at the same time every year – no matter how the markets are performing. And timing these "seasonal windows" can give you a powerful edge.

Just last month, AI detected a major covert strike hours before it happened through anomalies in foot traffic and food orders. And the companies behind the technology that spots these breadcrumbs will soon run the modern world.

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Brett Eversole
Brett Eversole
Editor

Brett Eversole joined Stansberry Research in 2010. He is the lead editor and analyst for True Wealth, True Wealth Systems, and DailyWealth.

Brett boasts a strong background in applied mathematics and statistics, with a degree in Actuarial Science. As an undergraduate, he passed the first three exams for entrance into the Society of Actuaries before focusing on finance at Stansberry Research.

He has put his analytical expertise to work in the markets for the past decade-plus. And, notably, he helped develop True Wealth Systems – one of Stansberry Research's most in-depth, data-driven products – alongside founding editor Steve Sjuggerud.

Brett takes a top-down investment approach. His first goal is spotting big macro trends in the market. These are the kinds of inescapable tailwinds you want as an investor. From there, he looks for opportunities based on valuation and overall market sentiment. Lastly, he always waits for momentum to be in his favor before investing.

This approach means Brett consistently takes a contrarian approach to investing. And combining that with data-driven analysis leads to fantastic long-term performance.

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