‘Selling coffee beans to Starbucks’ – how the AI boom could leave AI’s biggest companies behind

The article discusses how the competitive landscape of the AI industry is evolving in a way that could potentially leave the biggest AI companies behind. It suggests that the AI boom has led to a surge in the number of AI startups and smaller players, which are now able to offer their services and products to large corporations like Starbucks. This, in turn, is undermining the advantages traditionally held by the industry's biggest players, such as access to massive datasets and resources. The article argues that the democratization of AI tools and the proliferation of AI startups have created a more level playing field, where smaller companies can compete with the industry giants. This shift could lead to a situation where the biggest AI companies find themselves in a position similar to that of "selling coffee beans to Starbucks," where they are no longer the sole providers of cutting-edge AI solutions. The article suggests that this trend could have significant implications for the future of the AI industry, as the balance of power shifts away from the established players and towards a more diverse and competitive landscape.