Fast-growing AI startups aren’t thriving because people specifically want AI; rather, they’re meeting existing demands that previous options failed to satisfy. The author draws a parallel to the early automobile market, arguing that people didn’t initially want cars, but they wanted a better way to travel from point A to point B. Demand exists independently of supply; it’s about solving problems, not the technologies themselves. AI is merely a tool that addresses these unmet needs. The article highlights specific examples to illustrate this point. Jump, an AI notetaker for financial advisors, exploded in popularity because it effectively reduced the tedious time spent on manual note-taking, which advisors wanted to minimize. Similarly, AI SDRs emerged as a solution for sales managers who were frustrated with managing human sales development representatives. These managers didn’t want the hassle of overseeing junior employees but still needed to hit outbound sales targets. AI in this case provided a way to lessen the burden of management while still addressing the core demand for effective outreach. Another example includes AI app builders like V0 and Lovable, which allow non-technical users to create apps and websites through chat interfaces. Here, the demand wasn’t for coding tools; it was for an accessible way to build digital products without technical skills. Users had a desire to create but faced barriers from existing options. The article emphasizes that as technology improves, these demands will only grow, pulling innovative solutions into existence. This perspective reframes how we understand the success of AI startups, focusing on the underlying demands rather than the technologies themselves.