frontpage.
newsnewestaskshowjobs

Open Source @Github

fp.

Tell HN: PayPal blocks GrapheneOS

476•leumon•21h ago•305 comments

Amazon now hides all customer reviews on products

72•tonymet•15h ago•36 comments

Ask HN: Which class of business model is most resilient to build in the AI era?

3•chatmasta•7h ago•4 comments

Ask HN: Hugging Face is out. Who is hosting open models?

16•FireUpTheTorren•16h ago•14 comments

Ask HN: How to Vibe Design as Engineer?

4•metrofun•15h ago•1 comments

Ask HN: Why is AI civil tech and not military first?

7•esher•16h ago•13 comments

Ask HN: How many of you juggle multiple agent sessions at the same time?

5•top_rooster•11h ago•2 comments

Ask HN: Dear LinkedIn, do you want to do business, yes or no?

7•stefanos82•18h ago•8 comments

Ask HN: Does anyone have a VRAM tester? Something like MemTest86+ but for GPUs?

9•vkaku•10h ago•2 comments

Ask HN: AI agent acts. Your logs say so. But you wrote the logs

4•Yahyaaa•13h ago•3 comments

Solving all open source tech debt with Codex

3•surajkrajan•15h ago•4 comments

Ask HN: Should I leave web development to study medicine in my mid-30s?

5•lovepuzzles•15h ago•9 comments

Ask HN: How do you guys stop coding agents from acting out of line?

3•vivekyyy•15h ago•2 comments

Ask HN: Ideas for dealing with overly-do-gooder agents

2•zof3•15h ago•0 comments

Tell HN: Gmail can mark legit mail from google.com as spam

5•salviati•16h ago•1 comments

Ask HN: How do you feel about the new 5H usage limit in Codex?

3•embedding-shape•16h ago•1 comments

Ask HN: If I am 16 what should I learn? Which books should read?

4•AmirMakirr•17h ago•11 comments

Another Webpage Screenshot and OG Image Generation API

2•foodpad•17h ago•0 comments

Ask HN: Why do tools like customer.io abandon self-serve after their Series A?

14•alessandroetc•1d ago•6 comments

Ask HN: Do you still do pair programming in this agentic age?

6•Andugal•23h ago•4 comments

Ask HN: Why are Claude models so verbose?

9•JacobWolf•2d ago•10 comments

Ask HN: Those making $500/month on side projects in 2026 – Show and tell

75•kaladan•3d ago•96 comments

Ask HN: Where else do you spend time on the internet other than HN?

11•Gecko4072•1d ago•12 comments

Ask HN: Good large format (>20 inches) touchscreen E-Paper display options?

30•foota•3d ago•11 comments

Taalas API Anyone?

2•revanthmatha•1d ago•2 comments

Encoding Myself into the System

4•nharziro•1d ago•4 comments

You've reached the end!

Open in hackernews

Ask HN: Which class of business model is most resilient to build in the AI era?

3•chatmasta•7h ago
If you were to start a company today, what type of business model would you choose? Most new businesses have some form of AI in them, and this makes some sense during a gold rush, but it’s also a crapshoot. And the rate of change is so insanely fast and unpredictable that it’s becoming difficult to read the market with any confidence beyond three months. Even if you hit traction, there’s no guarantee your moat won’t evaporate. And it’s cheap for everyone to build now.

Personally I think the smartest business to start right now would be an “online-to-offline” model that bridges digital and physical world - think DoorDash, Uber, etc… if you hit traction with that kind of business then at least you have a legitimate moat that AI can’t drain overnight.

Comments

colesantiago•7h ago
Selling shoes.
codingdave•6h ago
Most new businesses have nothing to do with tech at all. If you want to play in the slice of the tech world that is focused on AI, that is a choice you can make. And some people are going to make a fortune doing so. But don't fall into the trap of thinking that most business founders are part of this - most new business owners are retail, restaurants, landscapers, service professions, etc. Small local shops doing the things they do.
chatmasta•6h ago
Let me rephrase the question to the scope of startups. A small business is not a startup: https://www.paulgraham.com/growth.html

But you’re also completely right.

perrygeo•6h ago
> Most new businesses have some form of AI in them

Most new business are customers of AI companies. They are consuming AI. They don't build AI. They don't advance AI technology. They are not using AI in innovative ways. They are consumers.

Don't let anyone fool you into thinking there are a bunch of new AI companies around. No. There are a few AI companies, and millions of AI customers.

Hey look, I use electricity produced by someone else. I must be in the Energy sector!?

Hey look, I stock the fridge with veggies someone else grew. I must be innovating in Agriculture!?

Hey look, my product was created by a someone else's robot. I must be innovating in AI!?

Obviously not. Any valid conversation starts by differentiating between a leading innovator, a producer and a mere consumer.