Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and the excitement around their potential drove the stock prices of some of the biggest companies in the world higher in 2024. But not every AI innovator was a big winner.

But as we've witnessed from previous next-big-thing technologies, not all stocks are necessarily going to be winners. As we steam ahead into 2025 and the practical application of this game-changing technology comes into full focus, two unstoppable AI stocks stand out as no-brainer buys, while another highflier is worth avoiding.

Artificial intelligence continued to be a driving force behind stock market returns in 2024. Here are some of the stocks that have benefited the most.