I’ve fully come around to the view that, over the past decade—and especially now with AI—we’ve pushed the limits of what can be achieved by simply moving bits around on screens.

The marginal gains are diminishing before our eyes. That’s not to say there isn’t still immense opportunity; the best digital products can still generate exceptional gross margins.

But broadly speaking, AI has commoditized bits almost overnight.

With AI, anyone can code.

However, not everyone can build real physical products.

The next great wave has to shift back to the physical—what some are calling a return to atoms. There’s far more explosive potential in new energy sources, advanced manufacturing, robotics, transportation innovation, and pushing the limits of physical sciences rather than shuffling more digital abstractions. Also, AI will be a tool that can enhance this.

With that being said, I am thinking deeply the next wave: Where AI meets the physical.

Automated manufacturing
Robotics
Smart machines
Pushing the boundaries of science

It’s all starting now.

More to come.