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a16z Co-Founder: In the Agent Era, Everyone Will Become a Manager
Authors: Ben Horowitz, Michael McGuiness
Translated by: Jiahuan
If AI can directly access business data, autonomously execute tasks, and track performance in real time—do companies still need their current, multi-layered reporting hierarchies? And how will the day-to-day work of employees be reshaped?
Ben Horowitz, co-founder of a16z, cites Databricks—a portfolio company of a16z—as a case study: When enterprises build unified, shared data infrastructure, frontline employees can bypass traditional approval chains and act instantly. Decision-making authority no longer rests solely with a small group of professional managers. What ultimately determines whether a company sustains long-term competitive advantage is its ability to systematically embed organizational decision logic and hard-won experience into its own data platform.
Note: Databricks is an a16z portfolio company; Ben Horowitz also serves on its board of directors. The observations about Databricks in this article reflect a16z’s perspective as an investor—not investment advice. Below is the main text.
The Next 20
Translated by: Jiahuan
If AI can directly access business data, autonomously execute tasks, and track performance in real time—do companies still need their current, multi-layered reporting hierarchies? And how will the day-to-day work of employees be reshaped?
Ben Horowitz, co-founder of a16z, cites Databricks—a portfolio company of a16z—as a case study: When enterprises build unified, shared data infrastructure, frontline employees can bypass traditional approval chains and act instantly. Decision-making authority no longer rests solely with a small group of professional managers. What ultimately determines whether a company sustains long-term competitive advantage is its ability to systematically embed organizational decision logic and hard-won experience into its own data platform.
Note: Databricks is an a16z portfolio company; Ben Horowitz also serves on its board of directors. The observations about Databricks in this article reflect a16z’s perspective as an investor—not investment advice. Below is the main text.
The Next 20
