A top VC predicts a robotics breakthrough and white-collar revolts over AI

Fast forward to 2026, and a vivid scenario unfolds where robots become commonplace in households, while white-collar employees take to the streets to protest against artificial intelligence. This intriguing prediction comes from Ethan Choi, a partner at Khosla Ventures, who is heavily investing in transformative technologies that could reshape both daily life and the workplace. Choi has an impressive portfolio, which includes notable companies like Glean, a leader in enterprise search, fintech Ramp with a skyrocketing valuation of $32 billion, and ClickHouse, a rapidly growing data startup targeting established players like Snowflake. His previous experience as a partner at Accel adds weight to his forecasts. In a recent interview, Choi shared his expectations for the upcoming year, highlighting key areas ripe for investment and trends that may fade away. He believes that 2026 will mark a pivotal moment for robotics, akin to the breakthrough moment of GPT-3. Instead of a consumer-focused revolution like ChatGPT, he anticipates a significant advancement in robotics capabilities, where leading models will showcase human-level intelligence in managing complex physical tasks. Choi also expressed skepticism about the longevity of consumer apps focused on vibe-coding, questioning whether they will prove to have lasting value or if enterprises can find practical applications beyond initial prototypes. As for the market dynamics, Choi predicts a challenging exit environment in 2026, with many expecting a substantial market correction. This could lead to more mergers and acquisitions than initial public offerings. He speculates that Grayscale, a prominent crypto asset manager, may be among the first to go public, alongside other contenders like Ethos and Klook. The conversation also touched on the shifting power dynamics between large platforms and startups, as well as the roles of founders and investors. Choi noted the increasing discrepancies in valuations and behaviors compared to the previous era of zero interest rates, questioning the sustainability of high private valuations without significant revenue growth. In terms of company development, he highlighted a trend towards more efficient, AI-driven team dynamics. The evolving role of product managers is being challenged as engineering teams take greater responsibility for understanding customer needs, aided by AI's ability to analyze extensive customer feedback. On the sales front, leaner teams are utilizing AI for improved targeting and customer engagement. Choi's most provocative prediction points towards the emergence of significant anti-AI demonstrations in various countries, with white-collar workers leading the charge in demanding job security amid the encroachment of AI technologies.