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The biggest opportunities in artificial intelligence may no longer be confined to software.
On this episode of The Money Path, host Todd M. Schoenberger sits down with Zenetta Burger, Partner and Head of U.S. Investments at Giant Ventures, for a wide-ranging look at where venture capital is finding the next generation of AI opportunities. Burger says Giant Ventures believes the industry has barely “scratched the surface” of what AI can make possible—from new materials and energy technologies to drug discovery and agriculture.
But what separates a transformative startup from another AI pitch deck? Burger explains that Giant looks for big, bold ideas, highly technical founders and entrepreneurs with what she calls an “irrationally ambitious” drive to build something capable of defining the future. The firm is willing to invest extremely early—even when an entrepreneur has little more than an idea—and can evaluate those investments over a 10-year horizon.
The conversation then moves into one of the AI boom’s biggest physical constraints: energy. Burger calls the race to bring power online the “eye of Sauron” of Giant’s efforts, arguing that the demand for AI compute could fundamentally reshape energy systems. She discusses the importance of speed to power, nuclear technology, small modular reactors, battery storage and the technologies racing to supply data centers with dependable energy.
And then there are the chips. Burger reveals that Giant recently invested in a chip company whose technology she says is 37 times more energy efficient at the low end than other chips on the market. She also highlights Cusp AI and the potential for artificial intelligence to discover entirely new materials that could transform manufacturing and sustainability.
Healthcare could be another enormous frontier. Burger discusses AI-assisted drug development, personalized oncology and technology that can analyze medical records and insurance denials to help patients fight for continued access to medications.
The conversation also tackles China and critical minerals, supply-chain risk, AI regulation, competition between startups and technology giants, and the tension between moving fast and developing AI responsibly. Burger argues that the U.S. needs more critical-mineral capacity while emphasizing that Giant looks for businesses capable of succeeding regardless of political developments.
And perhaps the biggest surprise comes from agriculture: Burger describes a portfolio company using AI-powered robots and lasers to distinguish weeds from crops, reducing dependence on herbicides while potentially improving crop yields.
The message from Giant Ventures: AI may be entering a much bigger phase—one where intelligence moves beyond the screen and begins reshaping the physical economy.
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