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The a16z Show

The a16z Show

Why Companies Are Becoming a Series of Loops | Anish Acharya on Lenny’s Podcast

Sep 12, 2026 · 1h 18m

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About this episode

a16z General Partner Anish Acharya joins Lenny Rachitsky on Lenny’s Podcast to discuss why fears of an AI-driven “permanent underclass” may be misplaced, how AI is changing the way companies operate, and why the opportunity may be less about replacing people and more about dramatically expanding what they can build. Anish lays out his idea that companies are becoming a series of loops, with agents increasingly handling workflows across engineering, sales, marketing, support, and other functions while humans provide the judgment and new ideas needed to move beyond local maxima. They also explore why Anish thinks consumer AI should focus less on productivity and more on helping people live…