a16z Podcast Building the Real-World Infrastructure for AI, with Google, Cisco & a16z
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Oct 29, 2025 
Amin Vahdat, Google VP & GM of AI and Infrastructure, and Jeetu Patel, President and Chief Product Officer at Cisco, dive into the monumental buildout of physical infrastructure driven by AI. They explore the new AI industrial revolution, touching on the scarcity of power and resources. Key topics include the geopolitical influence on chip design, the need for hardware-software co-design, and the evolving landscape of processor specialization. They also share insights on internal AI applications and future trends for enterprises to watch.
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AI Build-Out Far Larger Than Internet Boom
- The current AI infrastructure build-out dwarfs the internet boom and moves faster than prior cycles.
- Amin Vahdat says demand is 10x–100x larger than the late-90s internet expansion and still early in the cycle.
Infrastructure Build Has Geopolitical Stakes
- This AI moment mixes internet-scale buildout with geopolitical and national-security drivers.
- Jeetu Patel compares it to the internet, space race, and Manhattan Project combined.
Plan For Multi-Year Supply Constraints
- Plan expecting demand to outstrip supply for years and design for constrained power and permitting.
- Amin Vahdat warns the supply chain and power limits will slow cashing CapEx checks for 3–5 years.