Latest Interviews
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Clear all filters- a16z30 min
The Chip That Could Unlock AGI.
Former Databricks AI head Naveen Rao founded Unconventional AI at NeurIPS to develop first-principles hardware that utilizes physical circuit dynamics rather than traditional digital logic, aiming to resolve the impending 400-gigawatt energy shortfall in data centers. Partnering with TSMC for manufacturing, the startup targets the creation of large-scale analog chips optimized for time-dynamic workloads like diffusion and energy-based models to accelerate the path toward Artificial General Intelligence. This initiative seeks to replace the binary computing paradigm with substrates capable of replicating biological efficiency, positioning Rao's team to bridge the gap between theoretical dynamical systems and scalable engineering.
- a16z37 min
What Is an AI Agent?
Guido Appenzeller, Matt Bornstein, Yoko Li
Industry experts define AI agents as multi-step systems capable of dynamic reasoning and tool usage, distinguishing them from simple prompt wrappers despite widespread marketing inflation. Current market adoption is constrained by data silos, security gaps in authentication, and the technical difficulty of enabling non-deterministic models to interact reliably with fragmented user environments. Ultimately, the field is shifting toward specialized workflows and multimodal capabilities, with agents expected to become invisible infrastructure within two to five years rather than standalone products.