Mary Meeker one of the most influential voices in the tech and investment world, has set her sights on artificial intelligence. As a partner at BOND and former Morgan Stanley analyst, Meeker made her name through her iconic Internet Trends reports—must-reads for anyone navigating the digital economy. In her latest work, she and her team have produced a sweeping 340-page report on AI, capturing the speed, scale, and impact of this generational technology shift.
The report outlines not only where AI stands today, but where it’s going—and why every business leader should be paying attention.
Key Takeaways from the Report
The first and most striking insight is the unprecedented pace of AI adoption. Generative AI applications, particularly OpenAI’s ChatGPT , have reached usage milestones faster than any tech platform in history. ChatGPT hit 1 million users in just 5 days and now boasts 800 million weekly active users—growth levels that dwarf those of previous technology waves like mobile apps or social media.
Second, capital expenditure on AI infrastructure has exploded. In 2024 alone, leading U.S. tech companies invested over $200 billion in AI-related CapEx—a 63% year-over-year increase. This wave of spending underscores the strategic importance of AI and the belief that it will redefine competitive advantage across industries.
Third, while training AI models remains costly, the cost of inference—the process of running and using these models—is falling rapidly. This has major implications: it democratizes access to powerful tools, allowing smaller companies and solo developers to build on top of the same technological foundation as the tech giants. Developer engagement is growing fast, with platforms like Google’s Gemini and NVIDIA ecosystem each claiming millions of active builders.
Fourth, the report stresses that AI competition is no longer just a corporate arms race—it’s geopolitical. Open-source momentum and China’s rapid development of advanced language models are challenging U.S. dominance in the space. Businesses must be aware of this dynamic as it shapes regulatory frameworks, data flows, and market access globally.
Fifth, AI’s impact is extending well beyond screens. It’s already transforming the physical world: autonomous vehicles, real-time audio translation, robotics, and even medical applications like ambient AI scribes are being deployed at scale. This shift signals that AI is not just enhancing productivity—it’s redefining how services are delivered in real time, across geographies and sectors.
Finally, AI is reshaping the workforce. In the U.S., AI-related IT job postings have risen 448% since 2018, while non-AI tech job listings have declined. AI is not just another skill—it’s becoming foundational. The enterprise landscape is shifting, with over 75% of global CMOs now testing or using AI tools, and AI-focused initiatives underway in every major sector from finance and retail to healthcare and government.
What Businesses Should Do Next
Given these trends, Meeker’s report doesn’t just inform—it urges action. Here are six concrete calls to action for businesses navigating the AI era:
- Invest in Talent and Training : Start building internal AI fluency today. Upskill your current workforce and recruit talent who understand both the technical and strategic dimensions of AI.
- Operationalize AI, Don’t Just Experiment : Move beyond pilots. Identify where AI can have tangible business impact—customer service, marketing, supply chain—and integrate it into core operations.
- Build a Responsible AI Governance Framework : Ethical use, data privacy, and transparency are not just regulatory concerns—they’re trust imperatives. Establish internal guidelines and accountability now.
- Track Open-Source and Global Innovation : Innovation is no longer confined to Silicon Valley. Watch open-source communities and global players, especially China, to stay competitive and relevant.
- Audit Your Infrastructure : Ensure your IT architecture—compute, cloud, storage—is AI-ready. Many legacy systems aren’t designed for the demands of modern AI workloads.
- Partner Strategically : Consider partnerships with AI platforms or startups to accelerate deployment and stay on the front edge of innovation without having to build everything in-house.
Mary Meeker’s message is clear: AI isn’t a passing trend—it’s a foundational shift in how businesses operate, innovate, and compete. Much like the early days of the internet, those who act with urgency, clarity, and vision will be best positioned to lead.
The AI landscape is evolving faster than any technology that came before it. The real question for leaders now is not if AI will transform their business—but how fast they can adapt.
If your executive team isn’t actively building an AI strategy, it’s time to start. The future won’t wait.
