Zhang: Foundation model labs will target consumer applications before enterprise software
Jesse Zhang · No Priors Ep. 132 | With Decagon CEO and Co-Founder Jesse Zhang · Sep 18, 2025 · at 18:37
Decagon CEO Jesse Zhang discusses the sequence in which foundation model labs will attempt vertical software integration.
0:00 / 0:17exact quote · 17.5s
▶ Watch the full episode on YouTube → 720p mp4 · rendered on demand · StarZero watermark
“I think it makes a lot of sense for them to push into application layer, and I think they will. In terms of what applications, I mean, generally they'll probably start with applications where it's more consumer prosumer-y because there's, it's just more self-contained. It's like easier to build the software on top. Long-term they may move into the more enterprise-y things.”
quote is from the automated transcript, cleaned for reading: filler sounds and stutters are removed, nothing is rephrased. names can be misheard (the analysis reads context, assessments check outside sources). how →
More from Jesse Zhang
Zhang: Most AI agent use cases lack commercial viability with current models
“I think our view is that for the vast majority of use cases right now, it is still, like there's not going to be real commercial adoption with the state of the current models because of a bunch of things.”
Zhang: Enterprise adoption of cybersecurity AI agents will be slower than expected
“And so because the models are inherently non-deterministic, It's very hard for buyers like really trust a gen AI solution there. And so, especially agentic solution. So like, I think that option there is going to be really, really, really slow, a lot slower th…”
Zhang: Decagon cuts enterprise contact center costs by 60% to 70%
“And we've done case studies now where, you know, folks have been able to cut that down by, you know, 60, 70%.”
Zhang: Decagon prioritizes raw intelligence over direct experience across all roles
“We're generally just selecting for very smart people. First of all, I think we care more about that than like, you know, direct experience and so on.”