Recently, the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) released its first AI application spending report, revealing which startups in the AI field are gaining market recognition. With the rise of the AI boom, more and more startups are launching their own AI-driven products, and companies face a wide range of choices when selecting AI tools.
The report is based on spending data from Mercury, a fintech company, and lists 50 AI-native companies that are most favored by startups. Unlike infrastructure providers, these companies demonstrate the application of AI in real products and workflows, making them more valuable as references.
It is evident that OpenAI and Anthropic rank first and second respectively, while other well-known companies such as ElevenLabs, Perplexity, Canva, Midjourney, and Grammarly are also on the list. However, more attention should be paid to less well-known companies, such as Lorikeet, Retell, and Crisp, which are AI platforms focused on customer service; Metaview provides recruitment support; and Crosby is an AI-assisted law firm that helps business clients save time on tedious legal work.
In terms of AI coding platforms, Replit ranks third, and its recently launched agent allows non-programmers to write and edit code using natural language prompts, commonly known as "ambient coding." Additionally, three ambient coding platforms, Cursor, Lovable, and Emergent, also appear on the list, indicating that this trend is rapidly developing.
The a16z report also shows that enterprises are increasingly inclined to adopt "horizontal" services, which can be applied evenly across the entire company, occupying 60% of the list, while "vertical" services account for 40%. Notable horizontal services include OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity. Meanwhile, companies providing AI meeting support such as Fyxer, Cluely, and Happyscribe have also performed well in horizontal services.
Regarding jobs, Walmart's CEO stated that although AI will change every job, their company is committed to avoiding layoffs and improving the skills of existing employees. A survey shows that most corporate executives believe that AI tools will empower rather than replace existing employees, and may even create new positions.
Key Points:
🌟 OpenAI and Anthropic are ranked first and second in the a16z AI application spending report.
💡 The report reveals many less well-known startups that focus on specific business automation.
🤖 Enterprises are increasingly inclined to adopt "horizontal" AI services, promoting overall efficiency improvements.
