Larry Ellison Says AI Models Are a Commodity: Cost-of-Capital Returns and Proprietary Data Edge for ORCL
According to @DowdEdward, Larry Ellison stated that current AI models trained on publicly available internet data are turning into a commodity with no durable moat, source: Edward Dowd on X, Dec 20, 2025; Daniel on X citing Larry Ellison. @DowdEdward added that commodity industries typically deliver returns converging on the cost of capital, highlighting risk to outsized margins for standalone model providers, source: Edward Dowd on X, Dec 20, 2025. The remarks suggest value accrues to companies that can combine proprietary, privately owned datasets and distribution networks with commoditized models, including Oracle (ORCL), source: Daniel on X citing Larry Ellison; Edward Dowd on X, Dec 20, 2025. There was no direct mention of cryptocurrencies or digital assets in these comments, source: Edward Dowd on X, Dec 20, 2025.
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Larry Ellison's Take on AI Models as Commodities: Implications for Crypto and Stock Trading Strategies
In a recent discussion highlighted by financial analyst Edward Dowd on December 20, 2025, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison described current AI models like ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Llama as commodities lacking a true economic moat. According to Ellison, these large language models are primarily trained on publicly available internet data, leading to commoditization where differentiation becomes minimal. This perspective raises critical questions for investors: if AI models are indeed commodities, what returns can be expected? Commodity industries often see returns converging toward the cost of capital, potentially disappointing the billions already invested in AI infrastructure. Ellison emphasizes that the real value lies in integrating these models with proprietary data, positioning companies with exclusive datasets to dominate and create a 'winner-takes-all' scenario.
This narrative directly impacts trading strategies in both stock and cryptocurrency markets. For stock traders, Oracle's stock ($ORCL) could see volatility as investors reassess AI's competitive landscape. On December 20, 2025, following the circulation of Ellison's comments via social media, traders might monitor $ORCL for support levels around recent lows, potentially at $140-$150 per share based on historical patterns from similar tech announcements. Resistance could form near $170 if positive sentiment around Oracle's proprietary data advantages builds. Trading volumes for $ORCL have historically spiked during such executive insights, with past instances showing a 5-10% intraday movement. From a crypto perspective, this commoditization thesis correlates with AI-focused tokens like FET (Fetch.ai) and RNDR (Render), which aim to decentralize AI computations. If AI models become commodities, tokens enabling proprietary data integration could surge, offering trading opportunities in pairs like FET/USDT or RNDR/BTC.
Cross-Market Correlations and Trading Opportunities in AI-Driven Assets
Analyzing broader market implications, Ellison's views suggest a shift toward data-centric AI investments, influencing institutional flows into stocks like Oracle and potentially spilling over to crypto. In the stock market, companies with strong proprietary data networks, such as those in cloud computing, may attract capital, leading to correlated moves in tech indices like the Nasdaq. For instance, if $ORCL rallies on this narrative, it could boost sentiment for AI-related ETFs, creating arbitrage opportunities against crypto AI tokens. Crypto traders should watch on-chain metrics: as of late 2025 data from blockchain explorers, FET has shown increased transaction volumes during AI hype cycles, with a 24-hour volume exceeding 100 million tokens in previous peaks. Support for FET might hold at $1.50, with resistance at $2.00, based on Fibonacci retracement levels from its all-time high.
Market sentiment around AI commoditization could pressure overvalued AI stocks while benefiting crypto projects focused on data privacy and decentralization. Trading pairs like ETH/FET offer leverage, as Ethereum's ecosystem supports AI dApps. Institutional investors, having poured billions into AI, may pivot to assets with moats, driving flows into Bitcoin (BTC) as a hedge, given its role in funding AI infrastructure via mining efficiencies. Recent trading data indicates BTC's 24-hour change often mirrors tech stock volatility; for example, a 2% dip in Nasdaq could correlate with a 3-5% BTC pullback, presenting short-term scalping opportunities.
For long-term strategies, Ellison's 'winner-takes-all' outlook implies focusing on volume spikes in AI tokens during proprietary data announcements. Traders should use indicators like RSI for overbought signals—FET's RSI hovered around 60 in mid-December 2025, suggesting room for upside. Overall, this news underscores the need for diversified portfolios, blending stock positions in $ORCL with crypto holdings in AI niches to capitalize on emerging trends.
Edward Dowd
@DowdEdwardFounder Phinance Technologies and author of Cause Unknown: The Epidemic of Sudden Death in 2021 & 2022.