When people think about startups working with the government, the phrase “black box” often comes up. But what if that box is finally being pried open?

In this episode—recorded live at the American Dynamism Summit in DC—we talk with two Chief Technology Officers at the heart of American defense: Alex Miller, CTO for the Chief of Staff of the Army, and Justin Fanelli, CTO at the Department of the Navy. Along with a16z partner Leila Hay, they break down how the Department of Defense is shifting from decades-old processes to software-speed execution, why the real bottlenecks are cultural, not technical, and how startups can actually navigate and scale within this massive system.

From replacing outdated procurement with faster pathways, to getting tech into the hands of warfighters faster, this is a rare look inside the government’s most ambitious efforts to modernize—and what it means for builders on the outside.

Is it time to rip up the system and start fresh? Or are the seeds of change already in the ground?

Resources:

DoD Contracts for Startups 101: https://a16z.com/dod-contracting-for-startups-101/

Find Justin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinfanelli/

Find Leila on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilahay/

Stay Updated:

Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z

Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

This month, a16z’s Consumer team released the fourth edition of the GenAI 100 — a data-driven ranking of the top 50 AI-first web products and mobile apps, based on unique monthly visits and active users.

In just six months, the consumer AI landscape has shifted dramatically. Some products surged ahead, others plateaued, and a few unexpected players reshaped the leaderboard entirely.

In this episode, a16z General Partner Anish Acharya and Partner Olivia Moore join us to unpack the latest rankings and explore the key cultural and product moments that brought us to this point.

Which applications are leading the pack — and which ones are quietly on the rise? What do trends like AI video, companion apps, and “vibe coding” reveal about the future of consumer AI? And for the first time, the team also analyzed which products aren’t just gaining users, but generating real revenue.

If you’re looking to understand where we are in the GenAI adoption cycle — and what might come next — this episode offers a data-backed view into one of the fastest-moving corners of technology.

You can find the full GenAI 100 list at a16z.com/genai100-4

Timecodes:

00:00: Consumer AI Trends

00:36: The Gen AI 100 List: Methodology and Insights

02:38: Pivotal Moments in AI Development

05:37: Assumptions and Realities in AI

08:49: Emerging Trends and Newcomers

11:53: The Brink List: Near Misses and Future Contenders

16:13: Surprises and Consistencies in AI Adoption

18:31: The Future of AI Applications

19:54: Traffic Trends and User Demographics

20:32: Resurgence and New Use Cases

22:47: Competitors and Market Dynamics

25:30: AI Video Models and Trends

29:23: Mobile vs Desktop Usage

30:34: Revenue Insights and Monetization

34:06: Key Learnings and Final Thoughts

Resources:
Find Anish on X: https://x.com/illscience

Find Olivia on X: https://x.com/omooretweets

Stay Updated:

Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z

Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

The global race for AI leadership is no longer just about companies—it’s about nations. AI isn’t just computing infrastructure; it’s cultural infrastructure, economic strategy, and national security all rolled into one.

In this episode, Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, and Arthur Mensch, cofounder and CEO of Mistral, sit down to discuss sovereign AI, national AI strategies, and why every country must take ownership of its digital intelligence.

• How AI will reshape global economies and GDP
• The full AI stack—from chips to models to AI factories
• Why AI is both a general purpose technology and deeply specialized
• The open-source vs. closed AI debate and its impact on sovereignty
• Why no one will build AI for you—you have to do it yourself

Is this the most consequential technology shift of all time? If so, the stakes have never been higher.

Resources:

Find Arthur on X: https://x.com/arthurmensch

Find Anjney on X: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anjney/

Find NVIDIA on X: https://x.com/nvidia

Find Mistral: https://x.com/MistralAI

Stay Updated:

Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z

Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z

Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z

Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/

Follow our host: https://twitter.com/stephsmithio

Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.