In the latest episode of Invest, hosts Áron and Viktor discussed several technology and market topics: Apple’s new devices and corporate transformation, Xiaomi’s challenge to Apple, Meta’s surprise AI announcement, and uncertainty around Hungary’s NER stocks. They also referenced the Deep Tech 2026 research and Portfolio’s deep tech conference scheduled for November 18.
Apple: from hardware maker to ecosystem company
The conversation began with Apple’s recent product announcements. According to the episode, the iPhone launch contained few surprises because most details were already known before the presentation. Expectations centered on the iPhone 18 Pro and a foldable model, while Xiaomi’s increasingly direct challenge to Apple was also noted, including deliberate comparisons in similar product categories.
The production argued that the key distinction remains the ecosystem and user experience: Apple is not merely a phone, watch or earbud maker, but a provider that locks users into a tightly integrated system. This perception is reflected in market pricing: investors increasingly treat Apple as a software and services ecosystem rather than a simple hardware manufacturer, which helps explain the stock’s historical valuation levels.
A consumer AI agent: Meta’s Muse
The episode’s standout tech story was Meta’s new AI agent, Muse. Muse drew attention because it makes the concept of agentic AI accessible to average users: it can do more than answer questions, it can perform tasks such as making bookings, searching, assisting choices, and preparing payment flows.
For Meta this could be a major monetization opportunity, since the company reaches several billion users via Facebook, Instagram and other platforms. That reach can allow AI‑driven revenues to scale faster than for many pure AI developers. At the same time, the show highlighted that Meta’s stock technicals did not look strong prior to the announcement, and then the price surged sharply on the Muse news — raising the question whether this signals a true new era for Meta or a rapid market re‑rating amid considerable uncertainty.
Platform, data and users can matter more than being first
One key point from the discussion was that in capital markets it is often less important who does something first than who has enough users, data assets and platform to actually monetize the innovation. From this perspective, large tech platforms may hold an advantage in scaling AI agents into revenue.
Broader impact: not just big tech
The episode concluded that the next chapter of AI agents’ spread will affect more than large tech firms. Agentic AI could impact a wide range of businesses: online shops, banks, travel sites, data‑centre suppliers, and even consumer brands like Pepsi and McDonald’s — partly due to changing consumer behavior in the Ozempic era.
Domestic market: NER stocks and risks
Experts on the show also examined Hungary’s NER stocks: after substantial declines in recent months it is not automatically true that every such share is cheap or a good buy. Key considerations include how dependent a company is on state contracts, the sustainability of its financing, and what further news may come around audits, accountability processes or contract reviews.
Additional topics mentioned
The full episode also touched on Greenland and rare‑earth stocks, lessons from the Turkish asset manager scandal, Kylian Mbappé’s transfer to On, Nike’s difficulties, and how changing consumer trends might pressure Pepsi and McDonald’s. The Deep Tech 2026 research and the Portfolio conference on November 18 were noted as additional context for the technology and investment discussions.
This article does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation.
