Vivek Shah is an entrepreneur whose work spans technology startups, AI integration, and community-focused initiatives. Based in Los Angeles, he has founded and led multiple ventures that emphasize efficiency, scalability, and problem solving in competitive markets. As CEO of Gauge AI, Vivek Shah focuses on implementing artificial intelligence systems that support data-driven decision making across business operations. His background includes building app-based platforms in mobility, livestream media, and subscription sharing, experiences that inform his perspective on how emerging technologies reshape entrepreneurship. Alongside his commercial work, he directs philanthropic efforts through Los Angeles Hope for Kids, coordinating volunteers and resources to support education and mentorship. Together, these experiences position him to engage thoughtfully with discussions about how AI tools are changing the expectations, speed, and competitive dynamics faced by modern entrepreneurs.
AI’s Impact on the Competitive Entrepreneurial Landscape
Over the last few years, generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology has permeated many business operations, including the practice of entrepreneurship. As more entrepreneurs adopt AI technology, those who fail to integrate can expect to fall behind in the ultra-competitive small business landscape, which sees over 20 percent of companies fail within 12 months of launch and nearly 50 percent within five years.
Speaking on the Trust the Process podcast at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship, AI, innovation, and startup expert Ethan Mollick, PhD, described AI as “a tool that can do…many things in almost any industry.” This includes AI functioning as an active co-founder of small businesses alongside human entrepreneurs. Many small business leaders launch single-person companies and may go months or even years before they can afford to hire and pay employees.
Fortunately, Mollick and other AI specialists point out that AI can assume the burden of many time-consuming tasks, from answering phone calls to organizing product demonstrations. This not only saves time for human business leaders but also allows entrepreneurs to focus solely on their top skills, maximizing both their efficiency and impact during the critical stages of business formation.
As a co-founder, AI can also function as a sounding board for individuals unsure about their pathway to success. Studies suggest that up to 33 percent of Americans have ideas for small businesses but have not acted on these ideas because they do not know how to proceed. AI tools can guide novice business leaders through key stages leading up to product creation and business launch.
Generative AI is a general-purpose technology that has fundamentally changed thinking processes behind entrepreneurship. With this in mind, small business leaders cannot fail to appreciate the potential of AI tools to transform America’s competitive landscape. In fact, AI may render certain business offerings obsolete, compelling business leaders to rethink their approaches.
Furthermore, US businesses must prepare for increased global competition, as operators around the world have the same access to the transformative potential presented by AI. While this represents a challenge in some regards, entrepreneurs can take advantage of a significantly increased talent pool.
Although AI has already started reshaping America’s entrepreneurial landscape, business leaders must keep a few key things in mind. First and foremost, innovation is key when it comes to implementing AI tools. Not every AI function will serve every business or product; fortunately, AI allows entrepreneurs to experiment very quickly, iterating on successful ideas and dropping less impactful AI practices.
For example, an entrepreneur with a new business idea can set a timer for 30 minutes and begin working with an AI tool on a product launch plan and subsequent email campaign. The AI tool should respond almost immediately. If the output is not satisfactory, the business leader can adjust their prompt. Within the timeframe, entrepreneurs should at least generate an actionable foundation for key business components that, in the past, may have taken days or weeks to create.
Next, entrepreneurs must weigh the importance of proprietary datasets. While specialized data may play a key role in some industries, AI tools such as ChatGPT come prepackaged with extensive, broad training, so investing time or money in proprietary datasets may not offer as much value as some pundits believe.
Lastly, AI may seem foreign or overwhelming to some professionals, but moments of transformation provide incredible opportunities to agile entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurs, almost by definition, are business leaders who can adapt and change. Those who can capitalize on uncertainty stand the greatest chance to survive America’s new competitive business landscape.
About Vivek Shah
Vivek Shah is an entrepreneur and startup founder with experience launching technology-driven businesses across multiple sectors. He serves as CEO of Gauge AI, where he oversees the integration of artificial intelligence systems into operational workflows. His prior ventures include DriverChatter, Strance, and Gowd, each focused on connecting users through digital platforms. In addition to his business work, he founded Los Angeles Hope for Kids to support community outreach, mentorship, and educational initiatives.
