Artificial Intelligence in Real Life — with Auritro Kundu of AGF Global Select
Watch our full conversation: YouTube
Markets are noisy. Headlines change daily.
Artificial intelligence has been called the greatest productivity breakthrough of our time — and, in the same breath, an existential threat to humanity. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between.
I wanted to cut through that noise and ask a simple question: what does AI actually mean for our daily lives and our investments?
To explore this, I sat down with Auritro Kundu, Vice President and Portfolio Manager at AGF, one of the most disciplined and thoughtful investment teams working in public markets today.
What’s real right now
Auritro pointed out that we’re at one of the fastest adoption curves in history. ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months — faster than TikTok, Instagram, or even the internet itself in its early days.
That adoption isn’t just about curiosity. In real life, AI is already reshaping:
- Work — through productivity tools like Microsoft Copilot and Google Workspace.
- Customer service — where many “people” you interact with online are now AI agents.
- Cybersecurity — sifting through data at a scale humans can’t match.
- Creativity — generating images, video, and even reshaping how media is produced.
As Auritro put it, we may look back in a few years and wonder how we ever lived without it.
Jobs, productivity, and the human side
A common fear is that AI will wipe out jobs.
Auritro’s take is more balanced: in the short run, disruption is real, but over time productivity gains create new industries, new opportunities, and new ways of working.
History supports this view, from the industrial revolution to the rise of spreadsheets, we’ve seen old roles replaced by new, often more rewarding ones.
The key is adaptation: those willing to use the tools become more valuable, not less.
Healthcare as a proving ground
Of all the sectors, healthcare may be the one where AI’s impact is most obvious.
From medical imaging that spots what doctors might miss, to surgical robotics that enable precision and even remote operations, AI is already improving outcomes. Wearables and implants may soon allow continuous monitoring, reducing hospital visits and improving quality of life for chronic patients.
The challenge, of course, is regulation and data.
But the direction of travel is clear: healthcare will be one of AI’s defining use cases.
Separating hype from durability
Every major technology wave brings hype. In the 1990s it was internet browsers and fiber optics; most didn’t last. Auritro warns the same is true for AI — not every company with “AI” in its story will be sustainable.
The real winners will be those with durable business models, strong balance sheets, and the ability to keep investing - not just the first movers.
Adoption at internet speed
Finally, we looked at adoption curves. Generative AI has reached scale faster than electricity, the internet, or the telephone.
That speed raises both opportunity and risk.
For disciplined investors like Auritro’s team, the key is to embrace the long-term potential while managing the hype cycles along the way.
For me, this conversation reinforced something important: AI is not just a story about technology. It’s about people, productivity, and the way we adapt. It’s about separating signal from noise, and investing with discipline where the real opportunities are.