How Scale AI is Pioneering the Future of Work

In this interview, Ben Scharfstein, Head of Product for Enterprise Applications at Scale, discusses Scale's enterprise application business, which focuses on building AI agents for governments and Fortune 500 companies. Ben explains how Scale leverages its expertise in data labeling and foundation models to help enterprises adopt AI and transform their businesses, emphasizing a custom, forward-deployed engineering approach to meet the unique needs of each client. He addresses the trade-offs between vertical AI solutions and Scale's customized approach, highlighting the importance of capturing a company's unique advantages and integrating them into AI applications. Ben also shares insights on how to scale AI solutions in a non-linear fashion by augmenting knowledge work and building agent-native software, and he provides advice for companies looking to leverage AI in enterprises, focusing on customization, data capture, and becoming a critical system of record and intelligence. The conversation further explores the role of forward-deployed engineers, the challenges of scope creep, and strategies for selecting the right customer size and building a successful AI-driven business.