Y Combinator Startup Podcast What Surprised Us Most In 2025
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Dec 22, 2025 In 2025, AI transformed from chaotic to buildable, with Anthropic overtaking OpenAI among founders. The rise of Gemini showcased unique model personalities, while the importance of application layers was emphasized over model commoditization. Infrastructure limitations drove interest in alternative solutions like space. A new wave of founders focused on smaller, domain-specific models emerged, alongside the need for ongoing model maintenance. The stabilization of the AI economy led to clearer pathways for startups, promising an exciting future.
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AI Economy Reached Structural Stability
- By the end of 2025 the AI economy felt stabilized into model, application, and infrastructure layers.
- This creates a clearer playbook for building AI-native companies on top of models.
Anthropic Overtook OpenAI In YC Picks
- Anthropic surged to become the top API choice among YC applicants in Winter 26, overtaking OpenAI.
- Founders favored Anthropic largely because its models excel at coding and agent-style tasks.
Personal Coding Shapes Model Choice
- Many founders use Claude for personal coding because it performs well on vibe coding and agents.
- That personal familiarity often leads them to choose Anthropic for other app use cases too.