AI Leadership - Alex Lieberman, Tenex

Alex Lieberman, co-founder of Morning Brew and 10x.co, opens the AI Engineer Code Summit 2025, framing AI as the definitive frontier for consequential building. His personal pivot into AI signals a broader market shift: the focus is now on practical application and enterprise transformation, driven by the engineers who translate cutting-edge research into business value.

The AI Frontier: A 20-Year Bet

• "What space do I want to spend my time in for the next 20 years where I can build something consequential and spend my time with some of the smartest people I've ever met? And the answer became obvious. I wanted to be as close to the frontier of AI as humanly possible."
• Career Reorientation: Lieberman's move from media to AI reflects a widespread recognition of AI as the next major economic engine, attracting top talent and capital.
• Consequential Impact: The drive to "build something consequential" indicates AI has matured beyond theoretical exploration into a domain for tangible, value-generating applications.
• Talent Concentration: AI's ability to draw "the smartest people" accelerates innovation, creating a dense ecosystem for problem-solving and rapid development.

Engineers as Enterprise Transformers

• "I co-founded 10x.co, which is an AI transformation firm helping mid-market and enterprise companies learn how to use AI within their business. And I spend basically all of my time now with AI engineers like yourselves. I'm the only non-technical person in the business and I wouldn't have it any other way."
• Bridging the Gap: Firms like 10x.co address the critical need for practical AI implementation, translating advanced models into solutions for mid-market and enterprise clients.
• Technical Expertise: Lieberman, a non-technical founder, emphasizes that AI engineers are the primary drivers of adoption and transformation, underscoring the demand for hands-on technical skill.
• Real-World Analogy: An AI engineer acts as an architect for a new digital infrastructure, ensuring that the underlying data, models, and deployment strategies allow businesses to operate effectively within the AI landscape.

AI's Pervasive Reach

• "I would think of today as both a look back on where we've been as well as a tactical view of where we are headed in companies small and large, old and new. We're going to hear from the labs. We'll hear from Unicorn AI startups. We'll hear from academics, big-time management consultants, and Fortune 50 brands."
• Comprehensive Scope: The conference's diverse speaker lineup—from research labs to Fortune 50 companies—highlights AI's influence across the entire innovation spectrum.
• Tactical Focus: The emphasis on a "tactical view" prioritizes practical strategies and real-world solutions over abstract discussions, signaling a mature industry focused on execution.

Key Takeaways:

• Strategic Implication: The market for AI transformation services is expanding rapidly, driven by enterprises seeking to integrate AI for tangible business outcomes.
• Builder/Investor Note: Focus on AI solutions with clear, practical applications for mid-market and enterprise clients. Technical talent capable of bridging research with deployment holds significant value.
• The "So What?": The next 6-12 months will see increased demand for AI engineers who can implement and scale AI solutions, moving beyond proof-of-concept to widespread adoption.

Podcast Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ5Jt8zDBp8