FILE PHOTO: Words reading "Artificial intelligence AI", miniature of robot and toy hand are pictured in this illustration taken December 14, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
(Reuters) - Artificial intelligence remains a hot topic on earnings conference calls this quarter by Microsoft, Alphabet and others across Wall Street, even as investors look for more evidence their big bets on the emerging technology will pay off.
The terms "AI" or "artificial intelligence" have been uttered on 38% of conference calls held by S&P 500 companies in January, a Reuters analysis of LSEG transcripts shows. That is up from 34% at the same point during the third-quarter reporting season, and it is in line with the second quarter, when discussion of AI spiked.
