Another Crazy Day in AI 16/104

Another Crazy Day in AI: How Founders Can Survive the B2B Reset

Aug 19
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

As the day winds down, it’s clear the business world isn’t slowing with it.

The founder of SaaStr has a blunt message for SaaS founders: the growth playbooks of yesterday won’t carry you from $10M to $100M ARR today. The road ahead is tougher, but for founders who adjust quickly, it’s also more open than ever.

Meanwhile, Samsung is rolling out the Galaxy Buds3 FE, an AI-powered earbuds with noise cancellation, clearer calls, and Galaxy ecosystem perks, all at a lower price point.

And in the productivity world, Adobe just introduced Acrobat Studio, blending its PDF tools with AI features to make documents more interactive and collaborative.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

The brutal new reality for SaaS growth
Samsung launches Galaxy Buds3 FE with AI features
Acrobat Studio brings AI to productivity and creativity
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Beyond Traditional SaaS Growth Patterns

A robotic scientist in a classic white coat with 'AI Scientist' on its back stands beside a human scientist with 'Human Scientist' on their coat, looking towards the AI Scientist.

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

What happens when the growth strategies that once worked for SaaS companies suddenly stop delivering?

Jason Lemkin, founder of SaaStr, dives deep into how artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of B2B software growth. In his recent breakdown on the SaaStr blog, he argues that the strategies that carried companies from $10M to $100M ARR no longer apply. The rise of platform consolidation, AI-native competitors, and changing VC expectations have made the landscape more brutal, but also full of opportunity for founders who adapt quickly.

Here are some of the central points from his analysis:

The guaranteed growth path vanished — High retention rates and solid teams once made scaling from $10M to $100M nearly inevitable, but customers are now actively evaluating alternatives when contracts renew
Platform winners are dominating their markets — Shopify's 30% growth at $12B demonstrates how successful platforms become entire ecosystems while traditional competitors struggle with declining growth
Hands-on implementation teaches what purchasing doesn't — Founders who personally deploy AI tools learn these systems require intensive training periods and constant optimization, much like managing people
Smaller committed teams outperform larger hesitant ones — Companies achieve better results with fewer employees who embrace new approaches than with larger groups where resistance slows progress
Market positioning became critical for survival — SMB spaces are saturated with AI-powered competitors while enterprise customers are reducing vendor relationships by 10% annually
Competitive advantages have shorter lifespans — Startups can exploit established companies' focus on existing customers, but these windows close as incumbents modernize their products

Lemkin's analysis reveals how market fundamentals are changing in ways that make historical patterns less reliable for predicting future success. The growth trajectories that many B2B software companies built their plans around are becoming harder to achieve. Customers who previously remained loyal for years are now willing to evaluate alternatives more frequently. The protective moats that once shielded established players are weakening while new forms of competitive advantage emerge around platform integration and AI capabilities.

This creates different strategic pressures depending on where companies stand today. Established businesses must navigate the tension between serving existing customers and investing in new technologies, often requiring difficult trade-offs in resource allocation. Newer companies have opportunities to build around current market conditions but face the pressure of establishing strong positions before larger competitors catch up. Success seems to depend less on executing proven formulas and more on understanding how these evolving dynamics affect your specific situation and making conscious decisions about where to focus your efforts.

Read the full blog here.

Watch the SaaS Operators Podcast here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Samsung Launches Galaxy Buds3 FE With AI Features

/Samsung Newsroom

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Buds3 FE, bringing premium sound, sleek design, and Galaxy AI integration at an affordable price. The earbuds feature enhanced Active Noise Cancelling, improved call clarity powered by AI, and intuitive controls with seamless Galaxy ecosystem connectivity. Users can also access smart features like real-time translation, hands-free assistance, and personalized audio for everyday convenience. With a stylish Blade design and accessible pricing, the Buds3 FE mark a major step in making Galaxy’s AI-powered audio innovation more widely available.

Read more here.

Acrobat Studio Brings AI to Productivity and Creativity

/Adobe Newsroom

Adobe has launched Acrobat Studio, a new platform that combines Acrobat, Adobe Express, and AI agents to transform how people work with documents. At its core are PDF Spaces, which turn static files and web pages into interactive hubs powered by customizable AI assistants for insights, recommendations, and collaboration. Users can also create standout content with Express tools and Firefly AI while still relying on Acrobat’s trusted PDF features like editing, e-signing, and redaction. Adobe positions Acrobat Studio as a first-of-its-kind destination for smarter, faster, and more creative workflows.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

CalBot – Smart executive assistant that schedules, suggests times, and creates events via email.
Miniflow – One platform for text, image, and video AI models with workflow automation.
Paradigm – AI agents that gather, structure, and act on spreadsheet data from any source.

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!

Leveraging AI for Enhanced Content: As part of our commitment to exploring new technologies, we used AI to help curate and refine our newsletters. This enriches our content and keeps us at the forefront of digital innovation, ensuring you stay informed with the latest trends and developments.

Another Crazy Day in AI: When Fear Reveals More About Us Than Them

Aug 15
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

The weekend’s peeking over the horizon, and the AI news keeps coming.

A physician executive and computer scientist joined The Podcast by KevinMD to unpack his piece "Why fearing AI is really about fearing ourselves". Instead of doom-laden predictions, he points to something more human: our unease with our own decision-making, and whether we can wield AI responsibly.

Up in the skies, Qatar Airways is teaming with Accenture to roll out a plan to bring predictive maintenance, optimized flight schedules, and personalized passenger perks to your next trip.

And on the ground, Google’s new Gemma 3 270M is tiny, fast, and efficient enough to chat for hours on your phone without draining your battery.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

The human problem behind technology anxiety
Qatar Airways teams up with Accenture for AI in aviation
Meet Gemma 3 270M, Google’s compact AI model
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: Reflecting on Our Technological Anxieties

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

Have you ever considered that our unease about AI might actually be telling us more about ourselves than about the technology?

Dr. Bhargav Raman, a physician executive and computer scientist, recently appeared on The Podcast by KevinMD to discuss his article Why fearing AI is really about fearing ourselves. This conversation takes a different approach to the usual doom-and-gloom predictions about artificial intelligence. Rather than focusing on technological threats, Raman explores how our anxieties about AI reveal deeper concerns about human nature and our ability to make responsible decisions.

Points worth noting from the discussion

Many fears about AI stem from our own history of ethical failings and misuse of technology.
AI’s ability to potentially replicate human intelligence sets it apart from past innovations.
Acting against human interests would require AI to have self-awareness, ego, and a sense of injustice—capabilities not present in current systems.
Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics still serve as a relevant guide for responsible AI design.
A long-term, global perspective is essential to ensure technology serves humanity’s broader interests.
In healthcare, AI could improve efficiency and access but cannot replace the judgment and adaptability of human physicians.
Balanced regulation and international cooperation are crucial to foster innovation while preventing misuse.

Raman notes that AI development is moving ahead quickly, but the deeper societal and philosophical discussions are lagging. Too much attention, he says, is spent on fear-driven narratives or competitive races to outpace rivals, and not enough on building a shared understanding of how these systems should be integrated into everyday life. Without that groundwork, we risk allowing short-term concerns to overshadow long-term planning.

In healthcare, he envisions AI as a tool that can take on administrative work, free up resources, and expand access to care. However, he emphasizes the irreplaceable role of human doctors in handling complex or unusual cases and in imagining new treatments and possibilities. Relying solely on AI could narrow rather than expand progress, since its learning is rooted in past data rather than forward-looking innovation.

The broader message is that AI’s trajectory will be shaped as much by human choices as by technical capability. Its future, whether it becomes a tool for meaningful progress or a source of harm, depends on the principles we apply, the cooperation we foster, and the foresight we bring to its development. Thoughtful, inclusive conversations now can help ensure that the benefits are realized while the risks are kept in check.

Read the more here.

Watch it on YouTube here.

Listen on Apple Podcasts here.

Listen on Spotify here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Qatar Airways Teams Up with Accenture for AI in Aviation

/Accenture Newsroom

Qatar Airways has partnered with Accenture to launch AI Skyways, a strategic initiative aimed at revolutionizing aviation through AI-powered solutions. The collaboration will focus on enhancing customer experience, boosting operational efficiency, supporting employee development, and driving environmental and performance gains. Applications include predictive maintenance, optimized flight scheduling, and personalized passenger interactions—all underpinned by responsible AI practices. The airline says this marks a major step in its journey toward becoming a fully digital-first organization.

Read more here.

Meet Gemma 3 270M, Google’s Compact AI Model

/Olivier Lacombe, Kathleen Kenealy, Kat Black, Ravin Kumar, Francesco Visin, Jiageng Zhang, on Google for Developers Blog

Google has introduced Gemma 3 270M, a 270-million parameter AI model built for speed, efficiency, and task-specific fine-tuning. Designed to run on resource-constrained devices, it delivers strong instruction-following skills while using minimal power—just 0.75% of a Pixel 9 Pro battery for 25 conversations. Developers can fine-tune it for applications like sentiment analysis, compliance checks, or creative content generation, making it ideal for building fleets of small, specialized models. Google says the model’s compact size enables faster iteration, lower costs, and enhanced privacy by running directly on-device.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Hypernote – Transcribes and summarizes meetings locally for full privacy.
Profound – Track and boost your brand mentions in AI search results.
Airpost – Turn product links into 30+ high-converting video ads in hours.

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!

Another Crazy Day in AI: Cutting Through Silicon Valley Noise

Aug 13
4 min read

Hello, AI Enthusiasts.

Halfway through the week is a good time to separate the signal from the noise.

In the latest How to Fix the Internet podcast, Princeton’s Arvind Narayanan takes on “AI snake oil” with a mix of optimism and skepticism. He argues that AI can be transformative, but only if we build it into strong systems with guardrails, rather than chasing flashy headlines.

Meanwhile, Google is investing $9 billion in Oklahoma to expand AI infrastructure and fund free training programs for local students.

Indiana University is also jumping in, launching GenAI 101 this month to boost AI literacy with hands-on lessons and real-time help from an AI tutor.

Here's another crazy day in AI:

A clearer picture of AI beyond the hype and fear
Google backs Oklahoma AI education and infrastructure
Indiana U debuts AI literacy program for students and faculty
Some AI tools to try out

TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: The Middle Path Through Tech Panic

Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)

Is artificial intelligence destined to replace human workers, or are we fundamentally misunderstanding what AI can and cannot do?

In Separating AI Hope from AI Hype, an episode of the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s How to Fix the Internet podcast, Princeton computer science professor Arvind Narayanan joins hosts Cindy Cohn and Jason Kelley to take a clear-eyed look at what AI can realistically do and where the hype often gets ahead of the facts. Narayanan, co-author of the AI Snake Oil newsletter and book, describes himself as a “techno-optimist”—but one who believes AI will only be genuinely useful if it is guided by strong guardrails and integrated into well-functioning systems. The conversation spans education, hiring, criminal justice, misinformation, and the idea that AI’s most profound role may be in areas we barely notice.

Here’s what the discussion covers:

Human work often involves interpreting vague instructions, applying common sense, and navigating messy real-world situations that resist computational solutions
Predictive algorithms in criminal justice and hiring frequently just identify who has been arrested or hired before, rather than accurately forecasting future behavior
Crude "cheapfakes" often work better for political purposes than sophisticated deepfakes because they reinforce existing beliefs rather than trying to convince skeptics
Testing AI systems properly requires years-long controlled studies similar to medical trials, but organizations rarely invest in this kind of evaluation
Educational tools show real potential when AI helps teachers create customized learning activities for individual students struggling with specific concepts
Future work may center more on supervising AI systems than being replaced by them, similar to how industrial automation created supervisory roles
Adding AI to dysfunctional organizations or processes rarely fixes underlying problems and may amplify existing issues
Widespread adoption will likely unfold over decades as institutions figure out how to reorganize around new capabilities

Narayanan’s insights draw from both personal experience and years of research. He shares how early access to technology shaped his education, underscoring AI’s potential to expand opportunities when applied thoughtfully. In classrooms, this could mean teachers using AI to create tailored tools that address specific learning needs. But he also stresses that technology alone cannot resolve deep-rooted challenges like underfunded schools or outdated practices—without these being addressed, AI’s role will remain limited.

The conversation also looks beyond the common extremes of AI discourse. Rather than predicting a sudden takeover or revolutionary transformation, Narayanan envisions AI gradually embedding itself into everyday processes, much like other technologies we now take for granted. In this future, its influence would be significant but often invisible, helping to improve tasks without replacing the human judgment that guides them.

This perspective encourages a more measured approach—one that identifies where AI can genuinely make a difference, demands evidence for its effectiveness, and keeps people involved in overseeing its use. By moving away from broad, sweeping claims, the discussion offers a clearer understanding of AI’s practical place in society, reminding us that its value will depend less on what it promises and more on how we choose to apply it.

Read the full article here.

Watch it on YouTube here.

Listen on Apple Podcasts here.

Listen on Spotify here.

OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:

Google Backs Oklahoma AI Education and Infrastructure

/Company Announcements, on Google Blogs – The Keyword

Google is committing $9 billion over the next two years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure in Oklahoma, including a new data center campus in Stillwater and an expansion of its Pryor facility. The investment also funds workforce development programs, such as the Google AI for Education Accelerator, which offers no-cost AI training and Google Career Certificates to students at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Additional funding will boost the electrical workforce pipeline by 135% to meet new energy infrastructure demands. Google says these efforts will help prepare Oklahoma’s students and workers to lead in America’s AI future.

Read more here.

Indiana U Debuts AI Literacy Program for Students and Faculty

/Ashley Mowreader, (Student Success Reporter), on Inside Higher Ed

Indiana University is launching GenAI 101, a free, self-paced online course designed to teach students, faculty, and staff the basics of generative AI. Covering topics from prompt engineering and ethical AI use to data storytelling and fact-checking, the eight-module course takes four to five hours to complete and awards a certificate upon finishing. The course features an AI teaching character and an AI tutor to answer questions in real time. Set to launch on August 25, GenAI 101 will be auto-enrolled for students, with some faculty integrating it directly into their curriculum to help close gaps in AI literacy.

Read more here.

SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:

Embeddable – Build interactive website tools with AI.
Cora Computer – Search your inbox to answer any email question.
Deskrib – Turn ideas into beautiful documents instantly.

That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.

Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉

EXCITING NEWS:

The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!