SES AI Announces “All-in on AI” Strategy at Second Quarter 2024 Earnings

Rhea-AI Summary

SES AI (NYSE: SES) announced its new 'All-in on AI' strategy during its Q2 2024 earnings report. The company is focusing on three AI solutions for batteries: AI for Manufacturing, AI for Safety, and AI for Science. These solutions are expected to generate revenue sooner than anticipated and shape the future of electric transportation.

Key highlights include:

• Lowered full-year 2024 cash usage guidance to $100M-$120M (previously $110M-$130M)
• Strong balance sheet providing liquidity into 2027
• Accelerating demand for UAM and drones, with cell testing agreements reached
• Potential to accelerate commercialization and profitability of Li-Metal for EV, UAM, and drones

CEO Dr. Qichao Hu emphasized the company's prudent cash management and the paradigm shift introduced by their AI solutions.

Positive

• Introduction of three AI solutions for batteries, potentially accelerating revenue generation
• Lowered full-year 2024 cash usage guidance, indicating improved cost management
• Strong balance sheet providing liquidity into 2027
• Accelerating demand for UAM and drones, with cell testing agreements reached

Negative

• Continued cash burn, with projected cash usage of $100M-$120M for 2024

Insights

Financial Analyst

SES AI's strategic pivot to an "All-in on AI" approach marks a significant shift in the company's business model, potentially accelerating revenue generation and profitability. The introduction of three AI solutions - AI for Manufacturing, AI for Safety and AI for Science - could revolutionize the electric transportation industry, particularly in the EV, UAM and drone sectors.

Financially, the company has demonstrated prudent cash management, lowering its full-year 2024 cash usage guidance to $100 million to $120 million, down from the previous $110 million to $130 million range. This reduction in cash burn rate is a positive sign for investors, as it extends the company's runway and reduces the likelihood of near-term capital raises.

The strong balance sheet, providing liquidity into 2027, offers a substantial buffer for the company to execute its new AI-focused strategy without immediate financial pressure. However, investors should closely monitor the pace of revenue generation from these new AI solutions, as the transition from a pure battery manufacturer to an AI-solutions provider may present execution risks.

While the strategic shift is promising, the lack of specific financial figures or revenue projections in the earnings release makes it challenging to quantify the potential impact on the company's valuation. Investors should seek more detailed financial metrics and milestones in future communications to better assess the company's progress and potential return on investment.

Tech Expert

SES AI's bold move to go "All-in on AI" represents a paradigm shift in the battery industry, potentially disrupting traditional approaches to battery development and manufacturing. The three AI solutions introduced - AI for Manufacturing, AI for Safety and AI for Science - could address critical challenges in the electric transportation sector.

AI for Manufacturing likely aims to optimize production processes, potentially reducing costs and improving quality control. This could lead to more efficient scaling of Li-Metal battery production, a important factor for mass adoption in EVs.

AI for Safety is particularly intriguing, as battery safety remains a major concern in the industry. Advanced AI algorithms could predict and prevent potential safety issues, enhancing the overall reliability of Li-Metal batteries.

AI for Science suggests a data-driven approach to battery research and development. This could accelerate innovation cycles, leading to faster improvements in battery performance, longevity and energy density.

The company's focus on UAM (Urban Air Mobility) and drones is noteworthy, as these sectors require high-performance, lightweight batteries - a perfect fit for Li-Metal technology. The mention of cell testing agreements in these areas indicates growing market interest and potential early adoption.

While the AI strategy is promising, the transition from a hardware-focused company to a software and AI solutions provider will require significant expertise and resources. Investors should monitor the company's ability to attract and retain top AI talent, as well as its progress in developing and deploying these AI solutions in real-world applications.

Goes All-in on AI with 3 AI Solutions for batteries

Full year 2024 cash usage guidance lowered

Strong balance sheet provides liquidity into 2027

Highlights

• AI solutions now targeted as the future business model of electric transportation
• UAM and drone demand accelerating with cell testing agreements reached
• FY 2024 cash usage in range of $100M to $120M, down from $110M - $130M

WOBURN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SES AI Corporation (“SES AI”) (NYSE: SES), a global leader in the development and manufacturing of high-performance Li-Metal batteries, today announced its new strategy of “All-in on AI” at its second quarter 2024 business results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, after market close on Monday, July 29, 2024.

SES AI goes All-in on AI with 3 AI Solutions for batteries. (Photo: Business Wire)

The Company posted a Letter to Our Shareholders on its Investor Relations website from Founder and CEO Dr. Qichao Hu and Chief Financial Officer Jing Nealis, which provides a business update and details on its second quarter 2024 results.

“AI is changing everything. We believe our AI for Manufacturing, AI for Safety, and AI for Science solutions represent exciting, sooner-than-expected revenue streams, and the future business model of electric transportation,” stated Dr. Qichao Hu, Founder and CEO. “The paradigm shift we are introducing with these AI solutions has the potential to accelerate the commercialization, time to revenue and profitability of Li-Metal for EV, UAM and drones, as well as broader next generation Li-ion applications.

“We continue to be prudent with our cash and expense management. With the actions we implemented during the quarter, we are updating our full year 2024 guidance to account for lower total cash usage in the range of $100 million to $120 million,” Hu added.

The Company will hold a conference call later today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

A webcast of the live conference call will be available through SES’s Investor Relations website, https://investors.ses.ai. The following link can be used to register in advance for the call: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/280209303.

The conference call can also be accessed live over the phone by dialing the following numbers:
United States (Toll Free): +1-833-470-1428
International: +1 404-975-4839
https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/280209303
Access Code: 857303

A webcast replay will be available shortly after the call at:
https://investors.ses.ai/events-and-presentations/events/default.aspx.

About SES AI:
SES AI Corp. (NYSE: SES) is powering the future of global electric transportation on land and in the air with the world’s most advanced Li-Metal batteries. SES AI is the first battery company in the world to accelerate its pace of innovation by utilizing superintelligent AI across the spectrum of its business, from research and development; materials sourcing; cell design; engineering and manufacturing; to battery health and safety monitoring. Founded in 2012, SES AI is an Li-Metal battery developer and manufacturer headquartered in Boston and with operations in Singapore, Shanghai, and Seoul. Learn more at SES.AI.

SES AI may use its website as a distribution channel of material company information. Financial and other important information regarding SES AI is routinely posted on and accessible through the Company’s website at www.ses.ai. Accordingly, investors should monitor this channel, in addition to following SES AI’s press releases, Securities and Exchange Commission filings and public conference calls and webcasts.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements that SES AI believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to expectations for future financial performance, business strategies or expectations for our business. These statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of the management of SES AI. Although SES AI believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot provide assurance that it will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this press release, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “can”, “continue”, “could”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “intend”, “may”, “might”, “plan”, “possible”, “potential”, “predict”, “project”, “seek”, “should”, “strive”, “target”, “will”, “would” and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Should one or more of a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties materialize, or should any of SES AI’s assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results or performance may be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to the following risks: risks related to the development and commercialization of SES AI’s battery technology and the timing and achievement of expected business milestones; risks relating to the uncertainty of achieving and maintaining profitability; risks relating to the uncertainty of meeting future capital requirements; the ability of SES to integrate its products into electric vehicles (“EVs”) and Urban Air Mobility (“UAM"), drones and other applications; the risk that delays in the pre-manufacturing development of SES AI’s battery cells could adversely affect SES AI’s business and prospects; the market for air mobility, and for use of Li-Metal technology in air mobility applications, is still emerging and may not achieve the growth potential we expect; risks relating to the development of the UAM market and demand for batteries from the UAM industry; potential supply chain difficulties; the ability of SES AI to engage target original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) customers successfully and integrate SES AI’s products into EVs manufactured by OEM customers; the ability to obtain raw materials, components or equipment through new or existing supply relationships; our use of artificial intelligence and machine learning may result in legal and regulatory risk; risks resulting from SES AI’s joint development agreements and other strategic alliances and investments; product liability and other potential litigation, regulation and legal compliance; SES AI’s ability to attract, train and retain highly skilled employees and key personnel; developments in alternative technology or other fossil fuel alternatives; risks related to SES AI’s intellectual property; business, regulatory, political, operational, financial and economic risks related to SES AI’s business operations outside the United States; SES AI has identified material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting and may identify material weaknesses in the future or otherwise fail to develop or maintain an effective system of internal controls; the volatility of SES AI’s common stock and value of SES AI’s public warrants; and the other risks described in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 27, 2024 and other documents filed from time to time with the SEC. There may be additional risks that SES AI presently knows and/or believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect SES AI’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views only as of the date of this press release. SES AI anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause its assessments to change. However, while SES AI may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, SES AI specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing SES AI’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

© 2024 SES AI Corp., Confidential and Proprietary

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Source: SES AI Corporation

FAQ

What is SES AI's new strategy announced in Q2 2024?

SES AI announced its 'All-in on AI' strategy, focusing on three AI solutions for batteries: AI for Manufacturing, AI for Safety, and AI for Science.

How has SES AI (NYSE: SES) updated its cash usage guidance for 2024?

SES AI lowered its full-year 2024 cash usage guidance to a range of $100 million to $120 million, down from the previous range of $110 million to $130 million.

What potential benefits does SES AI expect from its new AI solutions?

SES AI expects its AI solutions to accelerate commercialization, time to revenue, and profitability of Li-Metal for EV, UAM, and drones, as well as broader next-generation Li-ion applications.

How long does SES AI (NYSE: SES) expect its current balance sheet to provide liquidity?

SES AI states that its strong balance sheet provides liquidity into 2027.