The AI-native gold rush is underway, setting the stage for a new wave of companies to outpace both established giants and today’s most successful scale-ups, according to Areg Nzsdejan, CEO and co-founder of Cardamon.
In the coming years, these firms are expected to capture significant market share, fuelled by lower costs, faster product development and an ability to innovate without fear of disruption.
These companies, often labelled as “AI-native,” are built from the ground up with artificial intelligence at their core. However, not every business adopting the term fits the definition. Nzsdejan suggests that only a fraction of firms positioning themselves as AI-native truly operate with AI as a foundational element.
Looking at the current market landscape, there are three main categories of players competing in the AI race. Legacy giants dominate through sheer distribution power but often struggle with outdated technology. While they may integrate AI into their operations, it usually sits on top of existing systems rather than forming the backbone of their business. As a result, they tend to move slowly and spend much of their energy catching up with smaller, more agile firms.
Scale-ups, typically founded in the past decade, occupy the middle ground. They were established too early to be considered AI-native but remain young enough to attempt a pivot. For these companies, adopting AI at the core of their operations is possible but often difficult and resource-heavy. The transformation requires fundamental restructuring, which can be both time-consuming and costly.
The true AI-native firms are the new-age builders. Founded within the past five years, these companies are inherently designed around AI. They rely on AI infrastructure, deploy AI tools in their daily operations, and often sell AI-driven products. This makes them leaner, faster, and more optimised compared to their competitors. Their biggest challenge lies in distribution, but if they manage to crack it, both legacy players and scale-ups may find themselves in a difficult battle to stay relevant.
The momentum does not stop there. Nzsdejan predicts the next stage of this transformation will be companies run almost entirely by AI agents. Such businesses would push the boundaries of automation even further, creating a future that is as exciting as it is daunting.
For more insights into the future of AI-native businesses, read the full post here.
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