Zero to One … and the 7Qs … a Book Review

In the past, people were introduced to the concept of AI, its capabilities, and its potential to shape the future. However, with the rapid rise of AI LLM technologies like ChatGPT, CoPilot, Gemini, and others, people are now tasting its impact. From writing emails and summarizing documents to creating PowerPoint slides, these tools have brought AI's magic into everyday tasks, sparking excitement and demand for more. This momentum is paving the way for a surge in AI services and the creation of AI startups. Yet, disappointingly, many co-founders in this space have fallen short of expectations. This is why I want to highlight the book "Zero to One".

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The book "Zero to One: Notes on Startups" is a crisp and practical guide authored by Peter Thiel, the co-founder and investor behind successful technology startups like PayPal, Facebook, SpaceX, LinkedIn, and more. In this book, Peter delves into various aspects of the technology startup world, providing real-life examples of both failed and successful strategies. It serves as a valuable guide for building and scaling successful businesses in the tech industry.

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The book was excellent, but what I found most compelling was Chapter 13: Seeing Green, where Peter outlines seven critical questions every business must answer. These questions are:

1. The Engineering Question: Can you create breakthrough technology instead of incremental improvements?
2. The Timing Question: Is now the right time to start your particular business?
3. The Monopoly Question: Are you starting with a big share of a small market?
4. The People Question: Do you have the right team?
5. The Distribution Question: Do you have a way to not just create but deliver your product?
6. The Durability Question: Will your market position be defensible 10 and 20 years into the future?
7. The Secret Question: Have you identified a unique opportunity that others don’t see?

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These days remind me of the early days of the internet—it started gradually but then grew exponentially. I believe we are on the cusp of a similar scenario for AI services. To conclude, I’d like to share a powerful statement from Peter Thiel in his Man and Machine chapter: “As we find new ways to use computers, they won’t just get better at the kinds of things people already do; they’ll help us to do what was previously unimaginable.”

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Looking forward to seeing your AI startup unlock the unimaginable and make our lives … unimaginable better!