
Two AI-adjacent stocks that have fallen sharply are attracting contrarian interest. Recursion Pharmaceuticals uses AI to accelerate drug discovery but has yet to bring any product to market, while larger pharma rivals with deeper pockets are also investing in the same technology. Fiverr, a freelancer platform, is pivoting from low-cost quick gigs to higher-value complex projects to defend against AI automation, though revenue and user counts are currently declining.
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Recursion Pharmaceuticals, an AI-focused biotech company, uses an AI-powered algorithm to run virtual experiments and select drug candidates for clinical trials, aiming to improve development speed and margins compared to the industry average. Fiverr, a freelancer-matching platform, is shifting strategy away from quick $5 gigs toward higher-value projects (worth $1,000 and more), which are growing rapidly on the platform.
Why it matters
Recursion is betting AI can solve 'Eroom's law'—the rising cost and time of drug development—but has no approved products yet and faces competition from well-capitalized pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly that are also investing in AI. For Fiverr, the shift addresses a real threat: while AI services initially boosted the platform, AI itself now threatens traditional freelance work, so the company is focusing on complex projects AI cannot easily handle.
What to watch
Recursion's candidate REC-4881 for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is described as showing promise in clinical trials by significantly reducing polyp burden; regulatory approval would validate the company's approach and potentially drive the share price higher. Fiverr's earnings per share improved to $0.23 in the first period (versus $0.02 a year ago), though revenue and active buyers are both declining; the company is betting its new strategy will reverse these trends over the next five years.
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