Marc Andreessen has some tips for getting the most out of AI.
The venture capitalist said on an episode of the “a16z Podcast” published Tuesday that AI tools can act as the “world’s best coach, mentor, therapist, advisor, board member” for anyone who asks the right kind of questions.
AI is probably “the most democratic” technology of all time, said the cofounder of VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. “The very best AI in the world is fully available on the apps that anybody can download.”
Andreessen said the real power of AI is unlocked when the user starts treating it like a “thought partner.” “Part of the art of AI, right, is what questions to ask it,” he said.
He laid out several examples using a small business. A bakery owner, for instance, could feed AI anything from staffing schedules to customer emails to ad copy, and let the model critique all of it.
Andreessen also said product development works the same way: Give AI your recipe and ask how to improve it.
“What’s the best cinnamon roll recipe in the world? Work backward from that,” he said.
“You could also say, ‘Look, I want to make the best one in the world, but I need to do it at 1/10 of the price,'” he said. “What are the ways to cost-optimize?”
Andreessen said that meta prompts can help users determine the best questions to ask AI. They surface blind spots and reshape one’s approach.
“What questions should I be asking?” he said users should query the bot. “Teach me how to use you in the best way.”
Knowing how to prompt is key
Other tech leaders have echoed Andreessen’s point that knowing how to prompt AI is critical to unlocking its full value.
Google Brain founder Andrew Ng said at the Masters of Scale Summit 2025 in October that having an “extended conversation” with a model produces a better response.
“AI is very smart, but getting context in is difficult,” Ng said, adding that he uses AI in voice mode to brainstorm work ideas while driving.
EY’s Americas chief technology officer, Matt Barrington, said in an interview with Business Insider earlier this year that managing context in AI is crucial.
“I keep separate AI ‘workspaces’ for different focus areas — such as technical Q&A or drafting client communications,” he said in the report published in February.
“I also give the AI clear instructions about the style and depth of response I want, like ‘Provide a concise, bullet-point summary,’ or ‘Act as a finance expert,’ or ‘Cite credible sources or references and provide links,'” he added.
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