Marc Andreessen has some suggestions for getting probably the most out of AI.
The enterprise capitalist stated on an episode of the “a16z Podcast” printed Tuesday that AI instruments can act because the “world’s greatest coach, mentor, therapist, advisor, board member” for anybody who asks the correct of questions.
AI might be “probably the most democratic” know-how of all time, stated the cofounder of VC agency Andreessen Horowitz. “The perfect AI on the earth is absolutely accessible on the apps that anyone can obtain.”
Andreessen stated the true energy of AI is unlocked when the consumer begins treating it like a “thought accomplice.” “A part of the artwork of AI, proper, is what inquiries to ask it,” he stated.
He laid out a number of examples utilizing a small enterprise. A bakery proprietor, as an example, may feed AI something from staffing schedules to buyer emails to advert copy, and let the mannequin critique all of it.
Andreessen additionally stated product improvement works the identical manner: Give AI your recipe and ask the way to enhance it.
“What’s the very best cinnamon roll recipe on the earth? Work backward from that,” he stated.
“You can additionally say, ‘Look, I wish to make the very best one on the earth, however I must do it at 1/10 of the value,'” he stated. “What are the methods to cost-optimize?”
Andreessen stated that meta prompts will help customers decide the very best inquiries to ask AI. They floor blind spots and reshape one’s strategy.
“What questions ought to I be asking?” he stated customers ought to question the bot. “Educate me the way to use you in one of the simplest ways.”
Figuring out the way to immediate is vital
Different tech leaders have echoed Andreessen’s level that understanding the way to immediate AI is important to unlocking its full worth.
Google Mind founder Andrew Ng stated on the Masters of Scale Summit 2025 in October that having an “prolonged dialog” with a mannequin produces a greater response.
“AI may be very sensible, however getting context in is troublesome,” Ng stated, including that he makes use of AI in voice mode to brainstorm work concepts whereas driving.
EY’s Americas chief know-how officer, Matt Barrington, stated in an interview with Enterprise Insider earlier this 12 months that managing context in AI is essential.
“I hold separate AI ‘workspaces’ for various focus areas — comparable to technical Q&A or drafting consumer communications,” he stated within the report printed in February.
“I additionally give the AI clear directions concerning the model and depth of response I need, like ‘Present a concise, bullet-point abstract,’ or ‘Act as a finance skilled,’ or ‘Cite credible sources or references and supply hyperlinks,'” he added.
