Lenny Rachitsky · 2 min read · Product Strategy
A rational conversation on where AI is actually going | Benedict Evans
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Ben Evans analyzes where AI is heading, arguing we're in a formative, uncertain phase with AI potentially as big as the internet or mobile. He argues that value will accrue where distribution is strongest in the AI stack, discusses the anti-AI backlash and growing AI consulting, and reframes questions from 'what percent can AI do' to whether a workflow is a task or a job—and what to do to prepare.
Key Takeaways
- AI is in an early, exciting but deeply uncertain phase with transformative potential comparable to previous tech waves.
- Value will accrue along the AI stack, and distribution will be the ultimate moat as software gets easier to build.
- An anti-AI backlash is likely, alongside a boom in AI-focused consulting and professional services.
- The useful question is not 'what percent can AI do?' but 'is this a task or a job?' and what that implies for workflows.
- Preparation involves rethinking workflows to leverage AI and focusing on scalable distribution.
Excerpt
Benedict Evans is an independent analyst and former partner at Andreessen Horowitz, where he spent years as their in-house “thinker” tracking the most important technology trends. For the past six years, he’s been publishing deeply researched presentations on where tech is heading, most recently focused on AI’s transformation of the economy. His work is read by founders, investors, and operators trying to make sense of a noisy field. His most controversial opinion: AI is as big a deal as the internet or mobile—and only as big. Listen on YouTube , Spotify , and Apple Podcasts In our in-depth conversation, we…