I Tried an AI Portfolio for a Month — Here's What Happened to My Returns

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Can AI Really Beat Human Instinct? A 31-Day Investment Experiment

In an era where algorithms dominate headlines, I decided to test one myself. For the entire month of March 2024, I followed an AI-recommended stock portfolio—no personal tweaks, no second-guessing. Just pure machine logic.

What happened next surprised me.
Not only did I witness stronger returns compared to my own stock picks, but I also learned how emotion-free investing can shift one’s perspective.

Let’s break it down.

1. The Experiment Setup

  • Duration: March 1–31, 2024

  • Initial Capital: 1,000,000 KRW (approx. $750)

  • Portfolio Source: ChatGPT + Quant sites + Google Finance

  • Method: Buy and hold AI’s top 5 stock picks

  • Control Group: My own 5 manually selected stocks

2. AI Portfolio Breakdown

 

📌 Selection Criteria: Value, Momentum, and Financial Stability via AI scoring

3. Final Results – AI vs. Human






The difference was significant.
While both portfolios showed gains, the AI-based portfolio clearly outperformed mine—by more than 6% in just one month.

4. Key Takeaways: Logic Over Emotion

One clear advantage of AI: zero emotional bias.
While I hesitated during market dips, AI doubled down—based solely on valuation models and historical performance.

The outcome? Fewer impulsive trades and more consistency.
It made me realize that emotion often clouds sound judgment, especially in volatile markets.

5. What’s Next: A Hybrid Strategy?

For April, I’m trying something new:
A hybrid portfolio — 50% AI picks, 50% human judgement.

Projected return? 5–6%, conservatively.
The idea is to leverage AI's data discipline while still applying my own market insights. Stay tuned.

🔍 Bonus Tips for Testing AI Portfolios

  1. Run a backtest – Know how the AI model performed in past cycles.

  2. Watch currency exposure – AI may not consider FX risks if you’re using USD-based assets.

  3. Control your emotions – Even with AI, fear and greed can still interfere with execution.

🧾 Conclusion: AI as a Compass, Not a Captain

This experiment proved that AI has clear strengths—especially when it comes to sticking to a plan.
But should we follow it blindly? Probably not.

Still, using AI as a tool for decision support helped me cut down on noise, overtrading, and emotional stress. That, in itself, is a win.

💬 What About You?

Have you ever used an AI tool for investing?
How did it go? I’d love to hear your experience—share it in the comments below!

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