Startups typically build a product that a tiny portion of users find amazing. Incumbents decide it’s not worth expending the resources to directly compete - the opportunity isn’t big enough.

Right now adopting AI is incredibly easy for the incumbents and it directly improves their core product. It’s tough to build a startup in that environment.

In my opinion the startups that will win need to stay incredibly lean or focus on fundamentally new industries.

Or look sexy enough for long enough to get aquihired.