Chi-Hua Chien has spent decades as a venture capitalist but sees the future through an anthropologist’s lens. His latest insight? The companies that truly win with AI won’t be those selling it, but those using it to deliver highly personalized experiences.

The commoditization of AI models is already underway, he argues, and the race for consumer trust isn't about who has the best tech, but how they tailor their services. Companies like Netflix and Spotify have already shown that personalization can turn mere apps into multi-billion-dollar ventures. As AI becomes more integrated and hyper-personalized, it’s not just entertainment or health; it's transforming every aspect of our lives.

Take the example of MIDI Health, a women’s health company using AI to expand access to care for perimenopausal women – a market previously constrained by human expertise. Similarly, in entertainment, companies like Ritten and Flow GPT are redefining customer satisfaction with hyper-personalized experiences that don’t require the user to know they’re dealing with an AI at all.

The key to success, Chien believes, is not just about the technology but how it’s applied. As he says: ‘Personalization gives you higher customer satisfaction, deeper engagement, and higher ARPUs over time.’