The podcast discusses the power dynamics in AI-focused cloud computing, highlighting the Big 3 cloud providers and NVIDIA's central role. It explores opportunities for startups in developer tools, infrastructure, security, AI agents, and robotics. The chapters cover the evolving landscape of AI cloud computing, security innovations, AI tools, and robotics funding.
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Quick takeaways
NVIDIA's pivotal role in the AI industry has disrupted the dominance of major cloud providers, ushering in opportunities for startups to thrive in the changing tech ecosystem.
Startups are seizing opportunities in AI infrastructure and application layers, innovating tools and solutions to enhance AI development and performance.
Deep dives
NVIDIA's Central Role in AI Evolution
NVIDIA has emerged as a key player in the AI revolution, disrupting the dominance of the big three cloud providers by establishing critical partnerships and fostering competition. Its development of the AI-specific DGX cloud, along with investments in various AI companies, has reshaped the ecosystem. This shift has enabled small and mid-sized computing firms to compete effectively in the cloud computing market, altering the power dynamics and opening up opportunities for startups.
The Growing Significance of Large Language Models (LLMs)
Large language models provided by startups like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Mistral are becoming integral to the AI strategies of the Big 4 cloud providers. The increasing concentration of power between the Big 4 and LLMs, highlighted by partnerships like Microsoft and OpenAI, signifies a crowded and competitive field. While some potential exists for domain-specific models to compete, the intersection of the Big 4 and LLMs is transforming the AI landscape, prompting startups to innovate in this space.
Opportunities in AI Infrastructure and Application Layers
Startups are finding opportunities in AI infrastructure and application layers, focusing on tools, infrastructure, and approaches at the application level. From DevTools to observability tools, companies like Brain Trust and Pinecone are addressing the evolving needs of AI development. Innovative solutions like PrediBase and LOMIT Index are enhancing the effectiveness and performance of open-source models, while startups like ADEPT are developing custom AI agents for industry-specific utility, shaping the future of AI applications.
Audio version of the essay "The Big 4 Era: Shifting Power Dynamics in the AI-Focused Cloud" written by Greylock partners Jason Risch and Jerry Chen (read by Greylock head of editorial Heather Mack).
It’s never been harder to compete with the Big 3 cloud providers. As the AI revolution has shifted NVIDIA into the central power broker of the tech ecosystem, AWS, Azure, and GCP have rushed to build their AI edge. In this “Big 4” era, What’s left for startups?
At Greylock, we see ample opportunities in developer tools, infrastructure, agents, apps, security, codegen, and robotics. These observations our based on our daily work, as well as our ongoing data collection and analysis for our Castles in the Cloud project. This essay outlines those areas of opportunity, as well as those that are better suited for incumbents. You can read the essay at greylock.com.