Venture capitalist Mary Meeker has returned with her first trends report since 2019, presenting a detailed analysis of artificial intelligence's swift expansion across industries. In her 340-page presentation titled “Trends — Artificial Intelligence,” Meeker emphasizes how AI is advancing at a rate unlike any previous technological shift. She notes that ChatGPT reached 800 million users in just 17 months and that the costs of using AI models have dropped 99% in two years. Meeker’s report, which frequently uses the term “unprecedented,” also highlights the remarkable development of AI hardware, citing Nvidia’s latest GPU using significantly less energy than earlier models and noting the large-scale deployment of chips by Google and Amazon for their cloud platforms.
Despite the surge in adoption and innovation, Meeker points out that financial outcomes have yet to match the speed of development. While venture capital continues to flow into AI, the sector is also seeing high operational costs, particularly in infrastructure. Consumers and businesses may benefit from reduced costs and rapid product enhancements, but the future profitability of many AI companies remains uncertain. Meeker concludes that while AI’s momentum is clear, its long-term winners are yet to be determined.
