百亿美金独角兽的濒死挣扎与逆天改命

Core Insights - The article discusses the dramatic transformation of Airtable, a company that once enjoyed a $11.7 billion valuation, which was halved due to the impact of AI on the market [5][11][41] - Airtable is undergoing a significant AI-driven transformation, aiming to redefine its business model and product offerings in response to the challenges posed by generative AI technologies [6][19][41] Company Background - Founded in 2012, Airtable has raised a total of $1.4 billion across seven funding rounds, becoming a prominent player in the no-code development platform space [9][10] - The company was initially celebrated for its innovative approach to database management, allowing users to create applications without coding [14][19] Market Challenges - The arrival of generative AI has fundamentally disrupted Airtable's core business, forcing the company to adapt or risk obsolescence [14][19] - The valuation of Airtable dropped significantly, with estimates in early 2025 placing it between $4 billion and $5 billion, a decline of over 60% from its peak [11][41] AI Transformation Strategy - Airtable's transformation involves embedding AI deeply into its existing workflows and data systems, rather than treating it as a standalone feature [19][20] - The company has launched several AI-driven products, including AI Fields and Cobuilder, which allow users to leverage generative AI for application development [20][21] Organizational Changes - To support its AI transformation, Airtable has restructured its teams into "fast-thinking" and "slow-thinking" units, focusing on rapid AI feature development while ensuring stability in core operations [24][25] - The founder, Howie Liu, has taken a hands-on approach, engaging directly in coding and product development to drive the company's AI initiatives [31][32] User Experience and Feedback - New users and consultants have praised Airtable's AI capabilities, particularly the Omni tool, for its efficiency in application development [36] - However, long-term users have expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the AI features often deliver unreliable results and detract from core functionalities [38][39] Competitive Landscape - Airtable faces increasing competition from established players like Microsoft and emerging startups in the low-code database market, necessitating a robust AI strategy to maintain its market position [40][41] - The ongoing transformation is seen as a critical gamble for Airtable, with implications for the broader SaaS industry as it navigates the AI era [41][42]