You'd be hard-pressed to find a better evangelist for artificial intelligence than Marc Andreessen. Venture capitalist a16z has invested tens of billions of dollars in AI companies and continues to explore opportunities. But his enthusiasm for technology goes beyond financial gain. He is also an advocate for business leaders to better leverage the power of AI.
In a recent episode of the a16z podcast, Andreessen discussed how founders, business owners, and those with entrepreneurial instincts can leverage AI to gain a competitive advantage.
Hundreds of millions of people now have access to AI in the palm of their hands, but the vast majority don't use it as a tool (beyond handling email). Mastering AI is a skill, he said. And just as someone who sticks out “chopsticks” on the piano won’t be able to play Chopin on the first try, ordinary AI users won’t be able to get the most out of the technology. To do that, you'll need to study a few things and use AI regularly to learn how to ask the right prompts.
“Some people are using these new systems literally all day long for everything,” he says. “In many cases, they report that they are receiving significant benefits from it.”
ask what you need to ask
One of the biggest hurdles when learning AI is the intimidation factor. New technology can be overwhelming, even for those in the technology industry. That impression is compounded when it is often described as revolutionary and world-changing. But what Andreessen suggests is using AI to learn about AI.
“Ask, 'What questions should I ask?'” he said.[AI] is actually a thought partner that helps you understand what questions to ask. I can say, …tell me how I can best utilize you…tell me how I can utilize you for my business.
He noted that AI systems love to talk, and the more you can tell them about themselves and how to find the information they need, the more adept they become at operating them.
The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12th at 11:59pm PT. Apply now.
