I’ve been hunting for genuinely promising UK shares to consider buying in August and figured, why not ask an AI for some fresh ideas?

So I put the question to ChatGPT: what are the best growth stocks to buy in August? And it came up with some pretty whacky ideas…

What ChatGPT actually recommended

The first pick was Oxford Nanopore Technologies (LSE:ONT). This business makes DNA sequencing devices used by scientists and hospitals to read genetic code faster and cheaper than older technology allows.

It certainly sits on the bleeding edge of the biotech sector, and with impressive 24.2% revenue growth achieved in 2025, it’s not surprising why ChatGPT picked it as a potential top growth pick. Even more so considering the booming global genomics and diagnostics markets.

The second pick was TPXimpact Holdings (LSE:TPX), which helps government bodies and public sector organisations modernise their outdated digital systems. And while digitalisation may not be as exciting as genomic sequencing, the firm has been delivering impressive results of late following its newly completed three-year turnaround strategy.

And on paper, both of these stocks look like they have a lot of impressive long-term growth potential. So why am I concerned?

Where the AI’s analysis fell short

Here’s the problem. ChatGPT focused almost entirely on finding the most exciting and potentially fastest-growing businesses on the London Stock Exchange. So much so that it’s overlooked some pretty serious risks.

Oxford Nanopore’s still burning significant cash, posting an adjusted EBITDA loss of £86.7m in 2025, and management has already lowered its medium-term growth guidance once this year.

In fact, just earlier this year the shares took a painful double-digit tumble on the back of this revised guidance. And subsequently over the last 12 months, the stock has dropped by almost 50%.

What about TPXimpact?

To be fair, the group turnaround numbers look encouraging, and it’s hard not to be impressed with a 54% jump in adjusted EBITDA. But that doesn’t change the fact that TPXimpact is still a tiny penny stock and one that’s heavily dependent on public sector spending, which isn’t exactly looking rosy right now. In fact, that’s why despite underlying earnings surging, top-line revenue growth came in at just 1% last year – hardly anything to get excited about.

Of course, neither of these are reasons to dismiss either business outright. But they’re exactly the kind of nuanced, judgement-based risks that ChatGPT breezed straight past.

The bottom line

Personally, after doing a bit of digging, I remain untempted by these stock picks. There’s no denying that both businesses have strong long-term potential.

But with one burning through cash at a rapid pace and the other struggling to expand its top line, I think there are far better growth opportunities for me to explore when balancing risks with potential rewards. And I think I may have already spotted some…

Should you invest £5,000 in Oxford Nanopore Technologies Plc right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Twelfth Magpie Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.

And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Oxford Nanopore Technologies Plc made the list?

 See The Six Stocks

Zaven Boyrazian does not hold any positions in the companies mentioned.

The post ChatGPT thinks these are the top UK shares to consider buying right now appeared first on The Twelfth Magpie.

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