Not every company with “AI” in its name is built to last. That was the clear message from Raj Verma, CEO of SingleStore, speaking on the second day of AI Week by Commit and Calcalist, in collaboration with AWS. Verma projected that while AI will generate enormous long-term value, the majority of companies in the space will not survive the coming shakeout.

In a conversation with Calcalist’s Omer Kabir, Verma described AI as a transformational force on a scale that surpasses previous technology waves. From shrinking drug development cycles from years to months to helping tackle fast-evolving diseases, AI is rapidly becoming a core engine of scientific, medical, and economic progress. Yet the market around it is still immature, crowded, and noisy.

Verma drew a parallel to the early internet era. Capital and attention are currently outpacing the maturity of many AI businesses. In his view, only a small group of companies that build real, data-driven, defensible value will emerge as long-term winners. Branding around AI will not be enough. Sustainable models, performance at scale, and real customer outcomes will separate leaders from the rest.

He also pointed to Israel as a strategic hub in the global AI landscape. Israeli companies, including those working with SingleStore and TWINGO, are often among the first to detect emerging data trends and adopt advanced architectures. With 7 to 9 percent of SingleStore’s global revenue already coming from Israel, Verma sees the local ecosystem as a key force in shaping the next chapter of AI innovation.

The conclusion is sharp but optimistic. The AI boom will outlast the hype cycle, and its real impact will be far greater than today’s excitement suggests. However, only organizations that anchor their AI strategies in robust data foundations and measurable value will define the future.

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