Machine learning finally came of age in the 2010s and is now table stakes for every tech company, large and small. I would say it's table stakes for large comp

Machine learning finally came of age in the 2010s and is now table stakes for every tech company, large and small. I would say it's table stakes for large companies in certain areas, but not small (see my other reply). Machine learning seems to be good at squeezing percentage points out of monopoly with a business that already works. That's very different than "table stakes for small companies". Small companies need optimize their product with fundamental changes. For example, in the early days of AirBNB there was a more inconsistent user experience, which you heard about in the media. I think they addressed those problems with policies, incentives, and some elbow grease (kicking bad users off the platform, etc.). Not machine learning. Machine learning doesn't help you expand into Europe or Asia, etc.