The AI revolution is unfolding faster than any prior tech shift, with costs plummeting and capabilities expanding at an extraordinary rate. This collapse in the price of intelligence enables widespread adoption, especially through mobile and cloud platforms, while blurring the performance gap between large and small models. The global landscape is defined by intense U.S.-China competition, yet deep economic ties prevent a full decoupling. Regulatory fragmentation—especially at the state level—threatens innovation, underscoring the need for coherent federal policy. Startups benefit from accessible AI infrastructure and are pioneering value-based pricing that aligns cost with impact. Open-source momentum is accelerating talent development and democratizing access, challenging the dominance of major players. Venture capital must back multiple, often conflicting strategies to capture transformative outcomes. Despite public anxiety about job displacement, historical patterns suggest adoption will override fear, as it has with past technologies.