Tim DraperFounder and Managing Partne, Draper Associate · I back the ideas that look crazy first

We’re burning the planet down just to run today’s AI...

3 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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Running today's AI models wastes enormous energy. One proposal: redesign neurons to be 38 times more efficient, replacing 20 million simple units with 100,000 smarter ones that do the same work. That shift could slash the cost of deploying AI while keeping it just as capable.

Andy was looking for people with fire in their eyes.
So, wanna make sure you— I got that. Oh, you're just gonna give us rose-colored glasses to evaluate this one.
You know that AI is blowing up right now, but running AI models is expensive. What if I told you these costs could be cut by 38x with a fundamental change to the way AI is built? Modern AI is basically making their decision-making teams with 20 million toddlers, giving every little toddler a very simple assignment, and you can build ChatGPT But if you have a more intelligently designed neuron, you're building your team with adults. And instead of having 10 million toddlers, you have 100,000 adults, and it's equal intelligence with a significantly more efficient system.
What I'm struggling with is, is this a revolution?