The a16z Show The AI Opportunity That Goes Beyond Models
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Jan 19, 2026 
Join Alex Rampell, a general partner at a16z with a focus on AI apps and fintech, as he shares insights on the rapid transformation AI is bringing to software. Discover how AI is creating new markets by enabling software to take over tasks traditionally done by humans. Alex discusses key investment themes, including AI-native applications and proprietary data workflows, and highlights the importance of defensibility and workflow ownership. Dive into the implications of these shifts for the future of enterprise productivity and tech innovation.
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AI As The Next Major Product Cycle
- The AI era is the biggest new product cycle and builds on PC, internet, cloud, and mobile foundations.
- Most net-new software revenue today is coming from AI at both infra and app layers.
Traditional Software Goes AI-Native
- Existing software categories are becoming AI-native and incumbents will augment offerings with AI.
- Greenfield entrants win when new companies or inflection points let them replace legacy systems.
Software Eating Labor Creates Bigger Markets
- New categories are emerging where software replaces labor, creating much larger markets than traditional software.
- These products must deliver substantial value to justify adoption versus human labor.