a16z Podcast

AI’s breakout moment is here - but where is the real value accruing, and what’s just hype? Recorded live at a16z’s annual LP Summit, General Partners Martin Casado and Sarah Wang join Erik Torenberg to unpack the current state of play in AI. From the myth of the GPT wrapper to the rapid rise of apps like Cursor, the conversation explores where defensibility is emerging, how platform shifts mirror (and diverge from) past tech cycles, and why the zero-sum mindset falls short in today’s AI landscape. They also dig into the innovator’s dilemma facing SaaS incumbents, the rise of brand moats, the surprising role of prosumer adoption, and what it takes to pick true category leaders in a market defined by both exponential growth - and accelerated wipeouts. Resources:  Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado [https://x.com/martin_casadoFind] Find Sarah on X: https://x.com/sarahdingwang [https://x.com/sarahdingwang] Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z [https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z] Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z [https://twitter.com/a16z] Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z [https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z] Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ [https://a16z.simplecast.com/] Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg [https://x.com/eriktorenberg] Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

What happens when AI stops being just infrastructure—and becomes a matter of national identity and global power? In this episode, a16z’s Anjney Midha and Guido Appenzeller explore the rise of sovereign AI—the idea that countries must own their own AI models, data centers, and value systems. From Saudi Arabia’s $100B+ AI ambitions to the cultural stakes of model alignment, we examine: * Why nations are building local “AI factories” instead of relying on U.S. cloud providers * How foundation models are becoming instruments of soft power * What the DeepSeek release tells us about China’s AI strategy * Whether the world needs a “Marshall Plan for AI” * And how open-source models could reshape the balance of power AI isn’t just a technology anymore - it’s geopolitical infrastructure. This conversation maps the new battleground. Resources: Find Anj on X: https://x.com/AnjneyMidha Find Guido on X: https://x.com/appenz [https://x.com/appenz] Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z [https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z] Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z [https://twitter.com/a16z] Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z [https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z] Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ [https://a16z.simplecast.com/] Follow our host: Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg [https://x.com/eriktorenberg] Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

What exactly is an AI agent — and does anyone actually agree? In this episode, taken from of AI + a16z, General Partner Guido Appenzeller and partners Matt Bornstein and Yoko Li break down one of the most hyped- and most hotly debated 0 concepts in AI right now: agents. Are agents just clever wrappers around LLMs? Tools that can reason and act? Or simply a fresh label for familiar tech? Whether you're building, investing, or just trying to make sense of the buzz, this episode is for you. Resources: Find Guido on X: https://x.com/appenz [https://x.com/appenz] Find Yoko on X: https://x.com/stuffyokodraws [https://x.com/stuffyokodraws] Find Matt on X: https://x.com/BornsteinMatt [https://x.com/BornsteinMatt] Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z [https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z] Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z [https://twitter.com/a16z] Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z [https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z] Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ [https://a16z.simplecast.com/] Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg [https://x.com/eriktorenberg] Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Recorded live at the 2025 a16z LP Summit, this episode is a candid conversation between a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz—hosted by general partner Erik Torenberg. They cover the evolution of a16z from startup firm to multi-practice platform, how the media landscape is shaped by meme-speed narratives, why reorgs—not just returns—determine who wins, and what it takes to build an enduring venture franchise. They also share thoughts on the changing policy landscape for AI and crypto, the firm’s bipartisan approach to Washington—and why Marc personally screens social media profiles before anyone joins the team.   Resources:  Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca [https://x.com/pmarca] Find Ben on X: https://x.com/bhorowitz [https://x.com/bhorowitz]   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z [https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z] Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z [https://twitter.com/a16z] Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z [https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z] Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ [https://a16z.simplecast.com/] Follow our host: Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg [https://x.com/eriktorenberg] Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) is a $300 billion industry powering the back- and front-office operations of the world’s largest companies. In her article, "Unbundling the BPO: How AI Will Disrupt Outsourced Work," Kimberly Tan (Partner, a16z) explores how the rise of AI is challenging the status quo.  In this episode, Kimberly unpacks the shift—from call centers and invoice processing to cross-system automation and coding agents. They explore how AI is redefining the economics of scale, unlocking new markets, and expanding the reach of automation beyond the Fortune 500. For founders and operators alike, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at the playbook for building in this newly addressable space.   Resources:  Read the article: https://a16z.com/unbundling-the-bpo-how-ai-will-disrupt-outsourced-work/ [https://a16z.com/unbundling-the-bpo-how-ai-will-disrupt-outsourced-work/] Find Kimberly on X: https://x.com/kimberlywtan [https://x.com/kimberlywtan]   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z [https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z] Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z [https://twitter.com/a16z] Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z [https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z] Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ [https://a16z.simplecast.com/] Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg [https://x.com/eriktorenberg] Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.