This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact The Epoch Times Reprints.
A screen reads “AI” in reference to artificial intelligence as attendees gather during Rivian’s first Autonomy and AI Day in Palo Alto, Calif., on Dec. 11, 2025. Carlos Barria/Reuters
For years, artificial intelligence (AI) startups have been pitched as the vehicles of the next productivity boom.
But as product delivery lagsbehind the hype, some AI companies are slipping into a quieter, more troubling category: startups that are functional but no longer viable.
