The stock’s volatility index is ticking upward, suggesting increased short-term trading interest. This behavior is common in small-cap tech before major product or earnings announcements. In this context, IonQ's 292 times multiple almost looks reasonable -- almost. These valuations assume quantum computing transforms from science experiment to widespread commercial reality within a matter of years, not decades. That's far from guaranteed and borders on unrealistic. While IonQ is working to reinvent computing, SoundHound AI (NASDAQ: SOUN) is turning its focus on changing how people interact with AI. The company has its roots in music recognition, but has evolved into a voice-first AI platform. Its goal is to take AI beyond just text chat and apply voice AI so that people can interact with AI more naturally. As AI moves to its next phase with AI agents, this becomes even more important. The breakout probability is enhanced by cross-sector capital rotations favoring innovation-intensive industries.