a16z: Intelligence is the Primitive, Applications are the Diffusion Layer
sanjaykalra · x · 2026-08-26
a16z's latest perspective argues that as models improve and become cheaper, intelligence itself is becoming a commodity and a "primitive." The durable advantage is shifting to the "diffusion layer"—how you package, productize, and embed that intelligence into real workflows and outcomes. For executives, the focus should move from model capabilities to building value in the application layer.
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