I’ve seen it a dozen times in boardrooms across the Valley: smart founders making dumb decisions about AI. They're all chasing the hype, burning through cash, and missing the one thing that actually drives value. It’s time for a reality check.
You say you’re data-driven, but are you? If your team isn’t making decisions based on data before AI, the new tools will just help you make bad decisions faster. Let's talk about the real problem.
I remember when we sold my first company, MovieLaLa, to Gfycat. We were a small team, but we were obsessed with data. We tracked everything. Every user click, every interaction, every piece of feedback. We didn't have a single "AI expert" on the team. What we had was a culture of relentless, data-driven improvement. That’s what made us valuable. That’s what led to our exit.
Fast forward to my last company, RemoteTeam. We built a platform to help companies manage their remote workforce. We were acquired by Gusto just 580 days after we incorporated. The entire process—from pitching investors to hiring the team to the final M&A—happened over Zoom. No handshakes, no fancy office meetings. How did we do it? Again, it came down to data. We understood the pain points of remote work because we lived them, and we used data to build solutions that worked. We didn't need AI to tell us what to do. We needed data to show us the way.
The
Allure of the 'AI Expert'
Everyone is scrambling to hire “AI experts.” They’re throwing money at anyone with a fancy degree and a few AI-related keywords on their resume. But here’s the hard truth: most of these so-called experts are just chasing the hype, too. They can talk a good game, but they don’t have the real-world experience to back it up.
I’ve interviewed hundreds of engineers in my career. I’ve trained them, mentored them, and helped them get jobs at FAANG companies. I can tell you from experience that the best engineers are not the ones with the most impressive resumes. They’re the ones who are obsessed with solving problems. They’re the ones who are constantly learning and experimenting. They’re the ones who are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
And when it comes to AI, it’s the same story. The real value is not in hiring a team of expensive “experts.” It’s in building a team of people who are obsessed with data and continuous improvement. It’s about creating a culture where everyone is empowered to use data to make better decisions.
The Data-Driven Culture
So, how do you build a data-driven culture? It’s not about buying a bunch of expensive tools or hiring a team of data scientists. It’s about a mindset shift. It’s about making data a part of your company’s DNA.
Here are a few things I’ve learned along the way:
- Start with the basics. Before you even think about AI, you need to have a solid foundation in data analytics. You need to be collecting the right data, and you need to have the tools and processes in place to analyze it. If you don’t have this foundation, you’re just wasting your time with AI.
- Democratize data. Data should not be locked away in a silo, accessible only to a select few. It should be available to everyone in the company, from the CEO to the summer intern. When everyone has access to data, they can start to see the world in a new way. They can start to identify opportunities and solve problems that you never even knew you had.
- Lead by example. As a leader, you need to be the biggest champion of data in your company. You need to be constantly asking for data to support decisions. You need to be celebrating the wins that are driven by data. When your team sees that you’re serious about data, they’ll start to take it seriously, too.
I’m an angel investor in over 200 companies, including some of the biggest names in AI like Anthropic, OpenAI, and Scale AI. I’ve seen what it takes to build a successful AI-powered company. And it’s not about hiring a team of expensive “experts.” It’s about building a culture of data-driven decision-making. It’s about being smart, scrappy, and focused on solving real problems.
The Real Problem
The real problem is not that companies don’t have enough AI experts. The real problem is that they don’t have a culture of data-driven decision-making. They’re chasing the hype instead of focusing on the fundamentals.
I wrote a book called “Becoming Top 1%” for a reason. It’s not about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about having the right mindset. It’s about being a lifelong learner. It’s about being obsessed with continuous improvement. And that’s the same mindset you need to succeed with AI.
So, before you go out and hire a team of “AI experts,” take a long, hard look at your company. Are you truly data-driven? Or are you just chasing the hype? The answer to that question will determine your success with AI. And if you want to be in the top 1%, you need to be honest with yourself.
Instead of hiring that expensive AI consultant, here’s what you should do: invest in your people. Train them to be data-literate. Give them the tools and the autonomy to make data-driven decisions. Create a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement. That’s the real secret to success with AI. It’s not about the technology. It’s about the people.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply this thinking to my own situation?
Start by identifying the core principle behind the opinion, not the specific example. Then ask yourself: does this principle apply to my context? If yes, test it in a small, low-risk way before going all in.
What's the most common pushback you get on this?
People often push back by citing exceptions or edge cases. And they're usually right that exceptions exist. But building a strategy around exceptions rather than patterns is a losing game for most founders.
Do all experts agree with this view?
No, and that's fine. The best ideas in business are often contrarian. I share my perspective based on my experience and data, but I encourage you to seek out opposing viewpoints and form your own conclusions.