20VC: Box's Aaron Levie on Predictions for the Next Wave of AI: Will Foundation Models Be Commoditised | How the Business Model of SaaS Changes Forever | Startups vs Incumbents: Who Wins | App vs Infrastructure Layer: Where is the Value?

Aaron Levie is one of the OG founders of the last two decades as the Co-Founder and CEO of Box. Today, Box does over $1BN in revenue with a market cap of $3.85BN, and has raised over $560 million from the likes of DFJ, Andreesen Horowitz, and Coatue. 

In Today’s Episode with Aaron Levie We Discuss:

1. What You Need to Know Entering This AI Wave:

• Why does Aaron think we are currently in a transformative window in AI?

• What does Aaron think it takes to be successful in this next wave?

• Which areas does Aaron think founders should be focusing on today? Where should they not?

2. AI Adoption: Business Model, Implementation, Regulation.

• How does Aaron think AI will change how we work & run a business?

• What does Aaron think is the single biggest obstacle to AI adoption in large organizations?

• Does Aaron agree with Sarah Tavel @ Benchmark AI companies will be selling work not tools? 

• How does Aaron think AI will change the SaaS business model?

• Why is Aaron not as worried about AI regulation? What are his biggest concerns today?

3. The Next AI Breakthrough: AI Agents

• Why does Aaron believe the next big breakthrough in AI will be agents?

• How does Aaron think AI agents will change org structures?

• How does Aaron think agents will differ from RPA? How will RPA companies benefit from AI? 

• What does Aaron think AI agents will look like in five years?

4. Startups vs Incumbents: Who Wins?

• What is Aaron’s advice to startups today building against OpenAI?

• Does Aaron think startups have more advantage in foundational models or the application layer?

• What advantages do incumbents have? What are their biggest weaknesses?

• Who does Aaron think are the biggest winners in AI today? Who is underperforming?

• Why does Aaron think Apple isn’t losing the AI race?