A recent Crunchbase analysis shows early-stage AI unicorns are being created at record speed. But many are “unicorns at birth,” valued on talent rather than products. TheMarketAI Take: as seen with Thinking Machines, when that talent shifts, so does the value. In a market where capital is flooding AI, speed is rising — but so is fragility.

AI is advancing so fast that serious product builders risk launching outdated tools by the time they ship. Even Apple delayed key features as the tech rapidly evolves. Like the PC boom of the '90s, today’s AI shifts demand perfect timing — or your cutting-edge release might already feel obsolete.