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]

Core Insights - Airtable's capital story encapsulates the fervor and calm of different eras, transitioning from a "no-code" darling to facing significant challenges due to the rise of AI [1][3] - The company, once valued at $11.7 billion, has seen its valuation halved as it struggles to adapt to the AI-driven market [2][3] - Airtable's transformation into an AI-native platform is a gamble led by its founder, aiming to redefine its core offerings in the face of competition and market pressures [3][12] Funding and Valuation Journey - Since its founding in 2013, Airtable has raised a total of $1.4 billion across seven funding rounds [5] - The company reached a peak valuation of $11.7 billion in December 2021 after a $735 million Series F funding round [7] - Following a downturn in tech stocks, Airtable's valuation was adjusted to approximately $4 billion to $5 billion by Q1 2025, reflecting a decline of over 60% from its peak [8] AI Transformation Strategy - Airtable's core asset, its structured relational database, positions it well for an AI transformation, contrasting with competitors that prioritize document-first approaches [13] - The company aims to integrate AI deeply into existing workflows rather than treating it as a standalone feature, with a vision to become essential in the "vibe coding" era [15][12] - The transformation includes a series of product launches, starting with AI Field in September 2023, allowing users to embed generative AI capabilities directly into data tables [16] Product Development Phases - The first phase of the AI transformation involved exploratory product releases, leading to the introduction of the AI-driven no-code application generator, Cobuilder, in 2024 [16] - In April 2025, Airtable Assistant was launched, enabling users to build and modify applications through natural language interactions [17] - The major evolution occurred on June 24, 2025, when Airtable rebranded itself as an "AI-native platform," making AI a default experience for new users [18] Organizational Changes - To support its AI transformation, Airtable restructured its engineering, product, and design teams into "fast-thinking" and "slow-thinking" units, focusing on rapid iteration and long-term stability [19][20] - The founder, Howie Liu, has taken on a hands-on role as an "IC CEO," directly engaging in product development and fostering a culture of experimentation with AI tools among all employees [26][27] Market Competition and Challenges - Airtable faces intense competition from established players like Microsoft and emerging companies such as Notion, monday.com, and Smartsheet, all of which are integrating AI into their offerings [32][33] - Despite positive feedback from new users regarding AI features, long-term users have expressed dissatisfaction, citing issues with reliability and performance, indicating a challenging transition period [28][31] - The outcome of Airtable's transformation will not only determine its future but also serve as a reference for the broader SaaS industry in adapting to the AI era [33]