Early days of AI - by Elad Gil — Strategic AI planning and market analysis for business leaders

Cut through the AI hype and get a realistic roadmap for where artificial intelligence is actually heading—so you can make smarter business decisions today.

What It Does for Your Business

Early days of AI is a deep-dive essay and strategic framework by Elad Gil, a veteran tech investor and entrepreneur, that helps small business owners understand the genuine transformations AI will create—and separate real opportunities from empty buzzwords. Instead of chasing every AI trend, you'll learn the fundamental shifts happening in AI technology, what's actually possible now versus hype, and how different industries will be disrupted. This clarity lets you invest your limited time and budget where it actually matters for your business.

The piece covers AI as a "discontinuity from the past"—meaning it's not just an incremental upgrade, but a genuine paradigm shift similar to the internet or mobile revolution. For small business owners juggling a thousand priorities, this gives you permission to think differently about your strategy, hiring, and technology investments without getting lost in technical jargon or startup fantasies.

Key Features

• Market-level AI trend analysis — Understand which industries will be disrupted first and which business models will survive the transition
• Non-technical explanation of AI breakthroughs — Learn what large language models and generative AI actually do, in language a business owner can grasp
• Realistic timeline framework — Distinguish between what's possible now, what's coming in 2-3 years, and what's still science fiction
• Investment and hiring guidance — Clear thinking on whether to build AI capabilities in-house, partner with vendors, or acquire talent
• Competitive advantage positioning — Learn how early movers in your industry can create defensible advantages before AI becomes table stakes
• Risk and opportunity mapping — Identify which parts of your business are most vulnerable to AI disruption and which areas offer the biggest upside

Best For

Service-based businesses (agencies, consulting, accounting), professional firms (law, tax, real estate), e-commerce and marketplace operators, B2B software companies, marketing and advertising firms, and any small business owner who needs to make strategic decisions about AI adoption without drowning in technical details.

Pricing

Free — published as a public essay on Elad Gil's blog

Business ROI

A small business owner who reads this and develops a real AI strategy could save 40+ hours of wasted time and money chasing irrelevant AI tools or consultants. You'll also be positioned months or years ahead of competitors who are still reacting to AI trends blindly. For service businesses, understanding where AI will actually impact your delivery model could mean the difference between pivoting proactively or scrambling when clients demand AI-powered alternatives. The real ROI is making one or two smart strategic moves instead of ten desperate panic moves.