Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the excitement around their potential drove the stock prices of some of the biggest companies in the world higher in 2024. But not every AI innovator was a big winner.

But as we've witnessed from previous next-big-thing technologies, not all stocks are necessarily going to be winners. As we steam ahead into 2025 and the practical application of this game-changing technology comes into full focus, two unstoppable AI stocks stand out as no-brainer buys, while another highflier is worth avoiding.

Artificial intelligence continued to be a driving force behind stock market returns in 2024. Here are some of the stocks that have benefited the most.

Investing in artificial intelligence (AI) stocks isn't just about setting yourself up for 2025, but also positioning yourself for the next decade. AI innovations won't stop in 2025, and with the stock market being a forward-looking machine, you're better off taking the long-term view rather than just narrowing in on what will happen in 2025.

Rather than focusing on quarterly earnings beats or temporary market sentiment, my investment strategy centers on identifying companies that can compound value over many years or even decades. While many view the current AI boom skeptically,