Commonwealth Bank Appoints First Chief AI Scientist in Australia
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 18 2026
0mins
Source: Newsfilter
- First Chief AI Scientist: Commonwealth Bank appoints Mary-Anne Williams as its chief AI scientist, marking the first such role in the Australian banking sector, aimed at enhancing the bank's leadership in AI.
- Strong Academic Background: Williams joins from the University of New South Wales, where she serves as deputy director of the AI Institute, bringing extensive frontier research and global industry partnership experience that will bolster the bank's AI strategy.
- Focus on Societal Impact: She will concentrate on improving the understanding of AI's societal implications and promoting the bank's ongoing commitment to responsible AI innovation, ensuring technology applications align with ethical standards.
- Expansion of AI Investments: This appointment is part of the bank's broader AI investment strategy, which includes collaborations with Anthropic, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and OpenAI, demonstrating the bank's strategic positioning and foresight in the AI domain.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MSFT?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MSFT
Wall Street analysts forecast MSFT stock price to rise
34 Analyst Rating
32 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 426.990
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
Current: 426.990
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
About MSFT
Microsoft Corporation is a technology company. The Company develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions. The Company’s segments include Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. The Productivity and Business Processes segment consists of products and services in its portfolio of productivity, communication, and information services. This segment primarily comprises: Office Commercial, Office Consumer, LinkedIn, and Dynamics business solutions. The Intelligent Cloud segment consists of server products and cloud services, including Azure and other cloud services, SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs), and Nuance and GitHub; and Enterprise Services, including enterprise support services, industry solutions and Nuance professional services. The More Personal Computing segment primarily comprises Windows, Devices, Gaming, and search and news advertising.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Microsoft Stock Investment Opportunity Arises
- Historically Cheap: Microsoft stock is currently trading at around 24 times earnings, significantly lower than its historical average over the past decade, making it an attractive investment opportunity, especially after the bear market of 2022, which has drawn investor interest.
- New Agreement with OpenAI: Microsoft is set to benefit from its new agreement with OpenAI in the next fiscal quarter, with projected income rising to $6 billion from the previously anticipated $4 billion, alleviating investor concerns about cash flow while reducing overall exposure to OpenAI.
- Launch of E7 Platform: On May 1, Microsoft launched Microsoft 365 E7 at $99 per user per month, expected to boost revenue by 2.4% to 2.5%, integrating various products and enhancing enterprise management of AI agents, which could lead to significant revenue increases.
- Analyst Optimism: With 95% of analysts rating Microsoft as a buy and a median 12-month price target of $550, approximately 30% above its current price, there is strong market confidence in Microsoft's growth potential moving forward.
See More
Meta Launches Subscription Plan to Address AI Investment Pressure
- Capex Pressure: It is estimated that capital expenditures on AI infrastructure among tech giants will reach $765 billion in 2023 and grow to $1.6 trillion by 2031, causing significant anxiety among investors regarding these massive investments.
- Launch of Meta One: Meta has introduced a tiered subscription program called Meta One, specifically designed for creators and businesses, aiming to establish recurring revenue streams to alleviate the pressure from hundreds of billions in planned AI investments.
- Revenue Expectations: Revenue from Meta One is projected to range between $4 billion and $12 billion, and while this revenue could help offset future capital expenditures, it will take years to make a substantial impact on the company's financial health.
- Analyst Downgrade: J.P. Morgan downgraded Meta to neutral due to its high spending; although Meta One represents a smart strategy for diversifying revenue, it is unlikely to ease investor concerns in the short term.
See More
Meta Raises AI Spending Guidance to $145 Billion
- Increased AI Spending Guidance: Meta has raised its AI spending guidance for 2023 to as high as $145 billion, reflecting the company's commitment to AI infrastructure, yet raising investor concerns about the substantial capital expenditures involved.
- Layoff Impact: The recent layoff of 8,000 workers due to AI costs not only reduces operational expenses but also highlights the challenges and pressures the company faces during its transformation.
- Meta One Subscription Program: The launch of the Meta One subscription program is expected to generate revenue between $4 billion and $12 billion, although this income is unlikely to significantly improve the company's financial situation in the coming years.
- Market Reaction: J.P. Morgan downgraded Meta to neutral, indicating that while Meta One is a smart strategy for diversifying revenue, it is unlikely to alleviate investor sentiment in the short term, contributing to a more than 3% decline in Meta's stock price since the beginning of the year.
See More
Datadog's Stock Doubles as Market Opportunity Grows
- Stock Price Surge: Datadog's stock has more than doubled since April lows, pushing its market cap toward $80 billion, reflecting strong market recognition of its cloud monitoring solutions, particularly amid rising AI costs.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company reported a 32% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1, surpassing $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, showcasing its robust performance in the rapidly growing cloud services market and solidifying its market position.
- Increased Customer Spending: Existing customers are spending over 20% more on Datadog services compared to last year, indicating successful implementation of its land-and-expand strategy, enhancing customer stickiness and boosting long-term revenue potential.
- Healthy Cash Flow: Datadog generated $915 million in free cash flow last year, achieving a 27% cash flow margin, and despite reinvesting 45% of its revenue into R&D, it demonstrates strong profitability and a solid financial position.
See More
Vanguard Tech ETF Shows Strong Growth Potential
- Significant Returns: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has achieved over 836% total returns over the past decade, compared to around 324% for the S&P 500, highlighting its strong performance in the tech sector.
- Diversified Portfolio: With 316 holdings, nearly 40% of the ETF is allocated to semiconductor stocks, effectively spreading risk and ensuring that other stocks can support overall investment if one subsector underperforms.
- Future Earnings Potential: Assuming a monthly investment of $200, if the ETF maintains a 24% average annual return, the portfolio could reach $242,000 in 15 years, showcasing the immense potential of long-term investing.
- Risk Management Strategy: While the tech sector offers high return potential, investors must ensure their portfolios are diversified to manage market volatility and maintain a balance between risk and returns.
See More
Vanguard Information Technology ETF's Investment Potential
- Significant Returns: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has achieved over 836% total returns in the past decade, compared to 324% for the S&P 500, highlighting its strong performance in the tech sector and attracting yield-seeking investors.
- Dominance in Semiconductors: With nearly 40% of its portfolio allocated to semiconductor stocks, benefiting from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, the ETF holds top companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, which are expected to continue driving its growth potential.
- Long-Term Investment Advantage: By investing $200 monthly, assuming the ETF maintains a 24% average annual return, investors could accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars over decades, emphasizing the value of long-term holding.
- Diversified Portfolio: Covering 316 holdings, this ETF offers greater diversification than many other tech ETFs, allowing it to protect investors' interests by leveraging the performance of other stocks when one subsector underperforms.
See More
Microsoft Stock Investment Opportunity Arises
- Historically Cheap: Microsoft stock is currently trading at around 24 times earnings, significantly lower than its historical average over the past decade, making it an attractive investment opportunity, especially after the bear market of 2022, which has drawn investor interest.
- New Agreement with OpenAI: Microsoft is set to benefit from its new agreement with OpenAI in the next fiscal quarter, with projected income rising to $6 billion from the previously anticipated $4 billion, alleviating investor concerns about cash flow while reducing overall exposure to OpenAI.
- Launch of E7 Platform: On May 1, Microsoft launched Microsoft 365 E7 at $99 per user per month, expected to boost revenue by 2.4% to 2.5%, integrating various products and enhancing enterprise management of AI agents, which could lead to significant revenue increases.
- Analyst Optimism: With 95% of analysts rating Microsoft as a buy and a median 12-month price target of $550, approximately 30% above its current price, there is strong market confidence in Microsoft's growth potential moving forward.
See More
Meta Launches Subscription Plan to Address AI Investment Pressure
- Capex Pressure: It is estimated that capital expenditures on AI infrastructure among tech giants will reach $765 billion in 2023 and grow to $1.6 trillion by 2031, causing significant anxiety among investors regarding these massive investments.
- Launch of Meta One: Meta has introduced a tiered subscription program called Meta One, specifically designed for creators and businesses, aiming to establish recurring revenue streams to alleviate the pressure from hundreds of billions in planned AI investments.
- Revenue Expectations: Revenue from Meta One is projected to range between $4 billion and $12 billion, and while this revenue could help offset future capital expenditures, it will take years to make a substantial impact on the company's financial health.
- Analyst Downgrade: J.P. Morgan downgraded Meta to neutral due to its high spending; although Meta One represents a smart strategy for diversifying revenue, it is unlikely to ease investor concerns in the short term.
See More
Meta Raises AI Spending Guidance to $145 Billion
- Increased AI Spending Guidance: Meta has raised its AI spending guidance for 2023 to as high as $145 billion, reflecting the company's commitment to AI infrastructure, yet raising investor concerns about the substantial capital expenditures involved.
- Layoff Impact: The recent layoff of 8,000 workers due to AI costs not only reduces operational expenses but also highlights the challenges and pressures the company faces during its transformation.
- Meta One Subscription Program: The launch of the Meta One subscription program is expected to generate revenue between $4 billion and $12 billion, although this income is unlikely to significantly improve the company's financial situation in the coming years.
- Market Reaction: J.P. Morgan downgraded Meta to neutral, indicating that while Meta One is a smart strategy for diversifying revenue, it is unlikely to alleviate investor sentiment in the short term, contributing to a more than 3% decline in Meta's stock price since the beginning of the year.
See More
Datadog's Stock Doubles as Market Opportunity Grows
- Stock Price Surge: Datadog's stock has more than doubled since April lows, pushing its market cap toward $80 billion, reflecting strong market recognition of its cloud monitoring solutions, particularly amid rising AI costs.
- Significant Revenue Growth: The company reported a 32% year-over-year revenue increase in Q1, surpassing $1 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, showcasing its robust performance in the rapidly growing cloud services market and solidifying its market position.
- Increased Customer Spending: Existing customers are spending over 20% more on Datadog services compared to last year, indicating successful implementation of its land-and-expand strategy, enhancing customer stickiness and boosting long-term revenue potential.
- Healthy Cash Flow: Datadog generated $915 million in free cash flow last year, achieving a 27% cash flow margin, and despite reinvesting 45% of its revenue into R&D, it demonstrates strong profitability and a solid financial position.
See More
Vanguard Tech ETF Shows Strong Growth Potential
- Significant Returns: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has achieved over 836% total returns over the past decade, compared to around 324% for the S&P 500, highlighting its strong performance in the tech sector.
- Diversified Portfolio: With 316 holdings, nearly 40% of the ETF is allocated to semiconductor stocks, effectively spreading risk and ensuring that other stocks can support overall investment if one subsector underperforms.
- Future Earnings Potential: Assuming a monthly investment of $200, if the ETF maintains a 24% average annual return, the portfolio could reach $242,000 in 15 years, showcasing the immense potential of long-term investing.
- Risk Management Strategy: While the tech sector offers high return potential, investors must ensure their portfolios are diversified to manage market volatility and maintain a balance between risk and returns.
See More
Vanguard Information Technology ETF's Investment Potential
- Significant Returns: The Vanguard Information Technology ETF has achieved over 836% total returns in the past decade, compared to 324% for the S&P 500, highlighting its strong performance in the tech sector and attracting yield-seeking investors.
- Dominance in Semiconductors: With nearly 40% of its portfolio allocated to semiconductor stocks, benefiting from the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, the ETF holds top companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft, which are expected to continue driving its growth potential.
- Long-Term Investment Advantage: By investing $200 monthly, assuming the ETF maintains a 24% average annual return, investors could accumulate hundreds of thousands of dollars over decades, emphasizing the value of long-term holding.
- Diversified Portfolio: Covering 316 holdings, this ETF offers greater diversification than many other tech ETFs, allowing it to protect investors' interests by leveraging the performance of other stocks when one subsector underperforms.
See More
