You can't talk about new tech without talking about human flourishing. From the plow to the microchip, every new technology has typically been followed by a period of newfound wealth for consumers, be it via cheaper goods, improved productivity, or longer, healthier lives.
As we enter the AI era, the @a16z consumer team is excited to unveil our vision for a new "Era of Abundance" — an era where tech will transform consumers' lives through new channels for creativity and self expression, new paths to self discovery and belonging, and new ways to do the most meaningful work of their lives. Specifically:
Consumers will rediscover the latent creativity that lives within all of us. Indeed, AI will close the gap between taste and art, and new creative workflows like Real Time will emerge from the technology.
Consumers will have an opportunity to craft their most impactful and efficient work, as their productivity multiplies and their administrative overhead goes to zero. New skill sets, new techniques, and new ways to gain expertise will clear a path toward wider, more meaningful careers.
Consumers will find new opportunities for connection and belonging. AIs that are infinitely empathic to everyone’s unique forms of weird will help facilitate our human need for compassion and fellowship.
And consumers will have access to richer opportunities for personal development and self care. Every person can have teams of smart and dedicated specialists focused solely on their own needs. AI will increasingly play the role of a tutor, a wealth manager, a therapist, a dating consultant, and more.
Product cycles have birthed consumer giants like FAANG companies. This time is no different. Expect software companies to soar in value, enriching consumers' lives in profound ways.
Dive into our insights on the state of consumer AI here: https://lnkd.in/gUi-NN9B
As we say, “consumer cannot be predicted, only observed” — so we put forward these thoughts with the humility of knowledge that founders will be the ones to invent and define the future and we can’t wait to invest in them.
