This podcast episode delves into the nuanced landscape of AI development, emphasizing that despite advancements in compute power, true progress is hindered by a "data wall," necessitating the generation of "frontier data" through expert collaboration. Alex argues that access to unique data will emerge as a major competitive advantage, encouraging enterprises to pivot towards on-prem AI solutions to safeguard privacy and security. Moreover, he anticipates a shift in software customization driven by generative AI, along with the recognition of regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with data protection. With geopolitical implications in mind, he stresses the urgency for the West to bolster AI efforts against totalitarian threats while advocating for talent-focused company building principles and setting a promising future vision for ScaleAI as a catalyst for AI progress.