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.