AI's Growing Pains: Bridging the Gap Between Hype and Reality

The world of artificial intelligence is moving at a breakneck pace, but not everyone is keeping up. There's a significant delay between the cutting-edge research happening in labs and the buzz surrounding AI in the investment world. Jenny Xiao, a former OpenAI researcher and current venture capitalist, highlights this disconnect. She points out that the discussions at major AI conferences are often outdated, lagging behind the latest research by several years. This gap is something she's determined to close. Xiao, who left her Ph. D. program to join OpenAI, founded Leonis Capital to connect venture capital with deep academic AI research. She believes that both investors and founders need to be highly technical to keep up with the rapid advancements in AI.Unlike traditional software companies, AI is built on a constantly evolving tech stack. This means investors need to understand that AI progress isn't steady or predictable. It happens in bursts, making it difficult to pin down a clear pattern of development. Xiao advises investors to dive deep into the technical aspects of AI. She emphasizes that understanding the lumps and starts of AI progress is crucial for making informed investment decisions. Leonis Capital, however, did not respond to requests for further comment.