AI startups require new strategies: This time it's actually ...

There is no AI Strategy without a Data Strategy

Training AI models requires data. Whether you’re training existing models, developing models from scratch, or simply testing theories, high-quality data is crucial.

Incumbents have the data because they have the customers. They can immediately leverage customers’ data to train models and tune algorithm... See more

Jason Cohen • AI startups require new strategies: This time it's actually different

I would differentiate between data for existing behaviors vs new behaviors. The world and our tools are constantly changing. I think AI is one of those drivers. I think the startups who can either facilitate new behaviors the best (e.g. Cursor for AI-assisted coding) or who can create entirely new behaviors have a great way to generate unique training data.

Taking existing data and making it workable with AI is a lot of work and takes skilled labor (AI + domain expertise). I wouldn’t say incumbents have the complete edge. They have the edge in certain applications and behaviors under the assumptions these behaviors are not changing to render their applications useless.

Disruption Theory & risk-aversion don’t apply

Incumbents typically cede market space to startups wherever there’s new, unproven technology or a new, unproven market, especially in spaces where they can’t use past data to predict the future. But in AI, they’re rushing to embrace new technology and uncertain markets, spending historic amounts of ... See more