Sokwoo Rhee, head of LG Nova, argues that application-specific AI startups will capture the real market opportunity once underlying infrastructure matures.
Insight
Rhee: Enabling technology usually does not make much money directly
“Usually, enabling technology does not make a lot of money.”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Rhee: Mobile apps will not disappear because companies will not unify
“Actually, I don't agree that apps will disappear, and here's why. If you have a four, let's say you have a 30 different apps, in theory, you don't need 30 apps. You need, maybe, if all these vendors and companies work together for one single app, that can do e…”
Disclosure
Rhee: LG Nova aims to build multi-billion dollar software spinouts
“Our job, my job, is to create six fifths and six sixth of those multi-billion dollar companies that are very different from the composition of LG that they have right now. Okay. Much more software focused, much more service oriented businesses.”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Rhee: Standalone AI Models Won't Make Money at Expected Scale
“AI itself, will it make money itself, the model, and LLM? Some will, I believe, but not in the scale that we're looking at. Really, it's going to come down to where we apply the AI, and it doesn't matter which sector it is.”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Rhee: AI lets startups launch with one or two people, not ten
“The companies that new startups are coming in previously maybe took 10 people to start a company, decent you know, ramp up. Now they can do it, you know, one person or two. Basically that's because it makes easier for startups to do what they did using enterpr…”
Prediction Not checkable as stated
Rhee: In 10 to 15 years, home-assisting robots may become a reality
“10 years, 15 years, I think it will happen. So then, all the sci-fi movies that we are seeing hopefully, maybe robots helping us at home, it may not be a stretch.”