Actor and investor Ashton Kutcher recently made waves at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, revealing a unique take on the future of artificial intelligence. Kutcher, who co-founded the venture capital firm Sound Ventures, discussed his $265 million AI investment fund, aimed at supporting diverse startups. Unlike many investors who seek a single “winner” in the AI space, Kutcher maintains a broad-based approach. He believes AI’s potential is so transformative that betting on one standout player might be too limiting.
“I think we’re at a new level of human innovation,” Kutcher said, comparing the rise of AI to the arrival of the personal computer and the industrial revolution. He encouraged companies to embrace AI’s benefits, stressing that soon, every business will need AI integration to stay relevant. Through Sound Ventures, Kutcher has backed companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, yet he avoids favoritism, emphasizing the importance of “maintaining silos of information, not sharing across companies” as a strategy to remain impartial and uphold trust in the ecosystem.
Kutcher’s investments reflect his belief that the AI landscape is too complex for one monopoly to thrive. While his optimism aligns with the views of other investors, his focus on “foundational technologies” diverges from traditional strategies that prioritize market dominance. Analysts agree, suggesting that a broader ecosystem of companies will ultimately drive AI innovation, especially as regulatory scrutiny over AI’s societal impact increases. This outlook could reshape competition among tech giants like Google, which have historically favored exclusive bets.
Reflecting on past technology revolutions, Kutcher urged founders to prioritize “the people and the humans that are building it.” His advice to startups is clear: focus on competence over pitch decks. “It’s not the deck,” he said. “Stop spending so much time on the deck”.
