How This Famous Investor Used a AI Trading App to Uncover a Winning ETF Strategy

Machine learning is, at its core, about finding patterns in data. And when it comes to the stock market, recognizing patterns can mean the difference between a solid return and a missed opportunity.

That’s exactly why even some of the world’s most experienced investors are turning to AI-powered trading apps — not just to track markets, but to outthink them.

One of the most talked-about examples recently? A legendary value investor — known for his long-term positions and old-school spreadsheets — quietly began experimenting with a AI trading app to explore ETF strategies during volatile market shifts in late 2024.

The results surprised even him.

A New Tool for a Classic Problem

This investor, whom we’ll call “M,” had been following the chatter around AI trading apps but remained skeptical. “Most of these tools seem like toys for day traders,” he told a group of younger portfolio analysts during a private forum session. “But the market’s changing. I want to see what happens when you put machine intelligence in a long-term strategy’s hands.” With inflation worries rising and retail flows pushing ETF prices in unpredictable directions, M fed a group of tickers — including $VTI, $ARKK, $AGNG and a lesser-known thematic ETF focused on robotics — into a free AI-powered trading platform called RockBrain (a pseudonym inspired by real apps like StockHero, RockFlow, and Tickeron).

How the AI Worked

Much like 20th Century Fox’s “Merlin” system scans movie trailers frame by frame, the trading app parsed massive amounts of historical price data, sector rotation trends, and even social sentiment extracted from platforms like Reddit’s r/WallStreetBets and X (formerly Twitter). But it didn’t stop there. It also created what the app called “momentum clusters,” identifying ETF tickers that typically surged following specific conditions — such as interest rate shifts or manufacturing PMI reports. The result? A predictive model that didn’t just suggest $VTI (a classic pick), but also highlighted unusual surges in a small-cap automation ETF that had previously flown under the radar.

What the AI Got Right — and Wrong

Just like Fox’s Merlin missed some hits like Deadpool 2 while nailing John Wick 2, M’s AI assistant didn’t get everything perfect. It overestimated social hype around certain meme-driven ETFs. But it nailed an entry point for a clean energy ETF that rebounded after a regulatory shift — a move that would have been easy to overlook through manual analysis. What stood out most to M wasn’t the precision. It was the speed. “This thing didn’t just point to tickers,” he told a colleague. “It explained why — showing sentiment signals, options flows, macro catalysts, and even retail chatter. That would’ve taken me hours. It did it in seconds.”

Why AI Trading Apps Matter — Especially for Beginners

This story isn’t just about a famous investor playing with new tech. It’s a glimpse into the democratization of market intelligence. Apps like RockFlow and others in the “best AI trading app free” category are putting serious tools in the hands of new investors — tools that once required Bloomberg terminals, expensive analysts, or quant dev teams.

Here’s what these apps often include:

• Free AI-powered trade signals
• Real-time ETF trend tracking
• Backtesting tools for beginners
• Smart alerts based on data, not emotion These tools are making it easier than ever to understand not just what to buy — but why.

Final Thoughts: When Free Feels Premium

Just as 20th Century Fox used AI to decode trailer patterns and predict audience reactions, investors today are using AI to map market behavior and uncover opportunity. And sometimes, all it takes is a free app and the curiosity to test a new tool. So whether you're a first-time investor curious about ETFs or someone with years of experience, now’s the time to explore what the best AI trading apps — free or otherwise — can help you discover.

Because in 2025, information still rules the market. But AI is changing who gets access to it.