CNBC's "Squawk Box" teams discuss some of the top AI stock picks for 2026 with Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities.

The release of Open AI's ChatGPT has accelerated the development of artificial intelligence and warnings about its impact on society.

Rise of AI

Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, discussed his top technology stock picks for 2026, emphasizing the impact of artificial intelligence on the sector. He identified Tesla, Microsoft, Palantir, CrowdStrike, and Apple as the primary beneficiaries of the AI revolution, citing their strategic positions and expected growth.

Ives explained that while NVIDIA remains a key player due to its influence on the broader tech ecosystem, his focus for 2026 is on companies leveraging AI advancements. He highlighted Microsoft's leadership in enterprise cloud and AI, Apple's anticipated partnership with Google, and Tesla's developments in autonomy and robotics as major drivers for these stocks.

Top AI picks for 2026

Let's talk some tech picks for the new year, some potential AI plays. Joining us now, Dan Ives, Wedbush Securities, global head of technology research, kind of a magnum, PI shirt on. The jacket's muted. You went with the shirt today for this appearance. All right, we can do that. Dan, since it's the beginning, we're at the very end of the year, so we always want to think that suddenly the calendar has anything to do with it. But we are interested in 2026. So you've got some tech stocks that you like, and then it's notable that some are missing from the ones that you like. So I'm just wondering, does that mean that you're negative on the ones that don't make the list, or that you just like the ones that make the list better and they're all going to go up? Yeah, it's a great question. Look, NVIDIA, that continues to be one of our top names overall going into 2026. But the reason the five that we picked, Tesla, Microsoft, Palantir, you look at CrowdStrike and even Apple, it's about the derivatives of the AI revolution playing out. I mean, that's our whole thesis going into 2026. For every dollar spent on an NVIDIA chip, there's an $8 to $10 multiplier across the rest of tech. And that's why I think those are the names, those five are the ones specifically going into early part of 2026 that I think are going to boom. I mean, that's why we pound the table on those five names. Exactly. So you kind of summed it up right at the beginning. You said, look, NVIDIA is one of your favorite names, but it's not one of the five that you mentioned. That doesn't mean that NVIDIA is not going to do well. You said them quickly. So Microsoft, what's the story on Microsoft? Azure? I mean, look, when you look at enterprise, as you see the movements in the cloud and AI, Redmond, they're really owning that race. I think this is a stock $100 upside. That's why Microsoft sticks out on Azure and AI demand front and center. Great. Apple, you mentioned quickly, but Apple just, it doesn't even matter if they're any good at some of these new things. They're just so good at what they do with everything else. Yeah, and Joe, I think the whole thing for Apple is like, look, they've been on a treadmill 2.5 speed, right? They've been nowhere in AI. But now as we go into 26, we expect a major Google partnership in terms of the spring. Now the consumer AI revolution goes through Cupertino. And I think that is significant. We talked about $75 incremental in the stock is the AI multiple. That starts to increase for Apple. That's why I view that as just a glaring name that sticks out. If I text someone and it's green, it's like, what's wrong with you? I don't know how other people compete with Apple. The ecosystem is so powerful. I'm a simpleton with this kind of stuff. And I just can't imagine trying. You got anyone not have an Apple and not have an iPhone? I do. No one? Who has, if you have an iPhone, is it always blue with your texts? I'm like a neophyte. Is that the way it works? I thought there was some. There's some messages that could be. But if some, Dan, if someone, I sound like an idiot, but if someone does have green, is that not an Apple when you're texting them? Is that, really? Well, no, but usually that's why those, we usually delete them from our text chain, right? I mean, when someone's a green. So that's always a red flag. I know, it's just, I do so many things. And believe me, I'm a novice at all this stuff, but Apple's just got a lock. How about Tesla? Why is that trading it? What's it for? What's a multiple now? Is it about robots? Well, look, I think this, the whole story is the autonomous chapters now coming to Tesla. And I think this is gonna be the most important year in its history for Musk and Tesla because of autonomous and robotics. And I think we think autonomous worth a trillion dollars alone to the Tesla story, now Musk wartime CEO. And it speaks to our view. You know, look, for the first time in 30 years, the U.S. is ahead of China when it comes to tech. And I think Tesla front and center in terms of physical AI, that's why we love that name.

The United Arab Emirates says it's withdrawing its remaining forces from Yemen. The move comes after Saudi Arabia bombed a port in Yemen, saying it targeted an arms shipment intended for a UAE-backed separatist force.

Al Mukalla

Saudi Arabia bombs port in Yemen

Eurostar suspended train services in Europe on December 30 after a power supply issue in the Channel tunnel, sparking travel chaos for passengers during the very busy New Year period. Its services to and from London “are suspended until further notice" and the company advised its passengers to rebook their journeys for other days.

Paris

Eurostar cancels all services after power issue

In an overnight strike, the Saudi military hit a Yemeni port saying they were neutralising a weapons shipments arriving from UAE. The UAE has denied the shipment contained weapons and claimed the vehicles were not intended for any groups. Both countries have supported the fighting sides in the over-decade long war in Yemen, but this strike has turned this rivalry into an open dispute.

The UAE denies shipping weapons to Yemen after overnight Saudi strike

The Kremlin said Tuesday it would toughen its negotiating position in talks on ending the war in Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of attacking a Russian presidential residence — an allegation that Kyiv said was baseless and intended to prolong the conflict.

Moscow

Russia will toughen negotiating stance on war in Ukraine

China fired rockets into waters off northern and southern Taiwan on Tuesday (December 30) and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and destroyers on the second day of its most extensive war games.

Taipei City

China fires rockets towards Taiwan in war games simulating blockade

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed an alleged drug-related site was targeted during a recent strike, saying, "they load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area." Trump did not say when the strike happened or exactly where.

Caracas

U.S. strike hits Venezuelan port facility

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 that went missing in 2014 with 239 people on board is expected to resume Tuesday (December 30). The Malaysian government and a private marine robotics company say they will use advances in technology to aid in the search.

Kuala Lumpur

Search resumes for Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared in 2014

The two countries have agreed to hold fire, freeze troop movements and allow civilians to return home under a new agreement.

Krong Poi Pet

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire holds as 72-hour observation period ends

Head of Yemen's presidential council, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, says UAE-backed forces in the country should leave within 24 hours.

Yemen’s presidential council cancels UAE defence deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it does not disarm.

Florida

Middle East Conflict

Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm

U.S. hit an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, Trump says, as Pentagon carries out another deadly strike in the Pacific. This claim follows a series of U.S. strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific, raising the total number of known strikes to 31 and resulting in over 100 deaths.

Trump claims attack on a dock in Venezuela, strikes kill two in Pacific

The Taiwanese government says it has placed its forces on alert as China intensifies its military presence in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and launches air, navy and rocket drills around the island.

Taiwan's forces on alert as China launches military drills

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is denying Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy denies Russian claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence

President Trump said after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas must disarm soon or "there will be hell to pay." He said the next phase of the Gaza peace plan could move forward quickly if Hamas disarms.

Washington

Trump warns "hell to pay" if Hamas doesn't disarm

CBC’s Kris Reyes highlights the biggest AI advancements in 2025 along with the continued calls to establish clear boundaries in an effort to prevent misuse.

DeepSeek and the biggest AI advancements in 2025

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday (December 29) of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, although it provided no evidence to back up an assertion that Kyiv dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations.

Russia claims Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence

Two helicopters collided above Hammonton, New Jersey, and one person has died, officials say. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports.

Hammonton

Helicopters collide in New Jersey

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday (December 29) as questions linger about the future of the U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

Palm Beach

Trump and Netanyahu meet in Florida to discuss Gaza ceasefire

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident on Monday in Makun, Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

Makun

British boxer Anthony Joshua survives car crash that killed two others

In a new show of force, China has mobilized its navy, air force, and ground troops to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The military drill comes on the heels of an $11bn US arms sale to Taipei.

China stages new military exercises around Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin truly want peace as he and Zelenskyy met in Florida. Some experts say Trump is 'delusional' if he truly thinks Putin wants peace.

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends with optimism but no deal

Although the U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine have been "100% agreed," they have a short expiration date, the Ukrainian president explained after revealing more details following his meeting with Trump on Sunday.

U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine set for 15 years, Zelenskyy says

China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

China launches 'Justice Mission 2025' war games around Taiwan

President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, insists Putin is ready for peace

Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Berlin

Far-right politics gaining influence across Europe

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is set to discuss a new peace plan draft with U.S. President Trump in Florida on Sunday (December 28). However, fresh Russian attacks on Kyiv have left a third of the city without power, undermining local confidence.

Kyiv residents fear escalation amid Zelenskyy-Trump peace talks

A report has sought to catalogue some of the most significant extreme weather events of the year. UK charity Christian Aid found that heatwaves are pushing the limits of human adaptation, hurricanes and typhoons are breaking records, and droughts are devastating lives across the globe. It's all coming at a heavy financial cost.

Top 10 natural disasters cost over $120 billion in 2025, report says

Russia attacked Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones on Saturday, ahead of what President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said would be a crucial meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump to work out a plan to end nearly four years of war.

Russian drones, missiles pound Kyiv ahead of Zelenskiy-Trump meeting

French actor Brigitte Bardot has died aged 91, her foundation said on Sunday (December 28). She shot to international fame dancing the mambo barefoot in "And God Created Woman," her tousled hair and fierce energy radiating a sexual magnetism rarely before seen in mainstream cinema.

Saint-Tropez

Brigitte Bardot, France's 'legend of the century', has died

A ceasefire is now in place between Cambodia and Thailand after weeks of cross-border fighting. But with nearly a million civilians displaced and trust in short supply, the focus now is on whether the guns will stay silent.

Top AI picks for 2026

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