AI Stock Picks For Massive 2026 Growth

With the second half of 2025 on the horizon and the stock market showing ongoing volatility, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has identified two stocks that it suggests could have the potential to grow an initial $100 investment into $1,000 by 2026.

Achieving a 900% return in roughly a year is a very ambitious target, typically linked with high-risk investments. ChatGPT has pointed to the following two companies as candidates that might offer such substantial gains.

Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT) A Bitcoin Mining Play

First on ChatGPT's list is Riot Platforms (NASDAQ: RIOT), a prominent company focused on Bitcoin (BTC) mining. Riot has been actively working to expand its mining operations, with a goal to significantly increase its hash rate by the end of 2025. Due to the inherent price volatility of Bitcoin, Riot’s stock often reacts strongly to positive trends in the cryptocurrency market.

ChatGPT highlighted that a significant surge in Bitcoin’s price during 2025 could potentially cause Riot Platforms’ stock price to multiply. However, the AI model also stressed that this is a highly speculative investment heavily dependent on the unpredictable crypto market. This means the potential for considerable losses is just as significant as the potential for gains.

At the time of reporting, RIOT was trading at $8.55, showing a 4% decrease for the day. Year-to-date, the stock has seen a decline of 18%.

RIOT YTD stock price chart. Source: Finbold

AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP) Mobile Tech Growth Potential

For its second selection, ChatGPT chose AppLovin Corporation (NASDAQ: APP), a software company that specializes in marketing and monetization solutions for mobile applications.

It's noteworthy that analysts have assigned AppLovin a consensus “Strong Buy” rating, with price targets that suggest considerable room for growth. If the company can maintain strong performance through the third quarter, its stock could offer significant gains for investors looking for growth opportunities in the technology sector.

AppLovin’s share price has gained impressive momentum recently. This follows better-than-expected earnings and revenue in the first quarter of 2025 and the announcement of the sale of its mobile gaming business.

The company reported earnings of $1.67 per share, surpassing the expected $1.45 per share. It also generated $1.48 billion in revenue, beating the $1.38 billion estimate. Furthermore, AppLovin announced it had agreed to sell its mobile gaming unit to Tripledot Studios for $400 million in cash.

At the close of the last trading session, APP was trading at $354, up 0.8% on the day, and has gained over 3% year-to-date.

APP YTD stock price chart. Source: Finbold

Important Considerations High Risk High Reward

ChatGPT cautioned that both Riot Platforms and AppLovin are high-risk, high-reward stocks. They operate in volatile markets such as cryptocurrency and mobile advertising. The AI model advised that investors could potentially lose their entire investment. Therefore, conducting thorough research and seeking financial advice before investing is crucial.

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