Baseten CEO: Custom AI Models Drive $1B Growth
Tuhin Srivastava, Baseten CEO, reveals how customized, 'longtail' AI models, not vanilla open-source, fuel explosive 30x growth and are 95% of production AI.
Baseten CEO Tuhin Srivastava on Custom Models, and Building the Inference Cloud
With Sarah Guo, Elad Gil, Tuhin Srivastava · Sunday, April 26, 2026
Tuhin Srivastava, CEO of Baseten, discusses the explosive growth of the AI inference market, predicting over $1 billion in revenue for his company this year. He explains the shift towards custom models and the critical role of user signal for independent application layers, while also addressing the geopolitical aspects of open-source models. Srivastava details the severe, underappreciated compute capacity crunch and Baseten's strategies for scaling, operational excellence, and navigating the future of AI where intelligence consumption is insatiable.
Chinese Open-Source AI: Free Subsidy or Trojan Horse?
Forget origin bias. Tuhin Srivastava and Elad Gil say Chinese open-source AI offers quality intelligence, often subsidized. Use it, but with strict controls.
Your User Signal Is the Moat for Independent AI Applications
Tuhin Srivastava (Baseten) explains why independent AI application layers survive and thrive: unique user signal. It's your defensible moat.
Baseten's Srivastava: Cheaper AI Means 'Concierge Everything,' Extinction
Tuhin Srivastava, Baseten CEO, warns AI's Jevon's Paradox creates insatiable demand for intelligence. Embrace 'concierge everything' or face extinction.