How AI Leaders Show Appreciation: Building Community in Tech

The Power of Recognition in AI's Competitive Landscape

In an industry where breakthroughs happen at breakneck speed and competition is fierce, a simple "thank you" or moment of recognition can be surprisingly rare—and surprisingly powerful. Yet across social media and industry forums, leading AI voices are consistently demonstrating something that sets them apart: genuine appreciation for their communities, peers, and the transformative work happening around them.

This pattern of appreciation isn't just good manners—it's strategic leadership that builds stronger ecosystems, fosters innovation, and creates the collaborative networks that drive AI forward.

Celebrating Breakthrough Achievements

Some of the most impactful moments of appreciation come when industry leaders recognize truly transformative work. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, recently captured this sentiment perfectly when reflecting on DeepMind's protein folding breakthrough: "We will look back on AlphaFold as one of the greatest things to come from AI. Will keep giving for generations to come."

This type of recognition serves multiple purposes. It elevates work that might otherwise be overshadowed by flashier consumer applications, reminds the industry of AI's potential for societal good, and demonstrates the intellectual generosity that characterizes the best leaders in the space.

Srinivas's appreciation for AlphaFold is particularly notable because it highlights work outside his own company's domain—search and AI-powered information retrieval. This cross-pollination of recognition helps maintain AI as a collaborative field rather than a series of isolated competitive silos.

Community-Centered Gratitude

Perhaps nowhere is appreciation more crucial than in the relationship between AI companies and their user communities. When Srinivas announced Perplexity's Comet iOS app, his message was notably focused on gratitude: "Thanks for those who waited patiently for it. Appreciate your support!"

This community-first approach to communication reflects a deeper understanding of how AI products succeed. Unlike traditional software launches that might emphasize features or capabilities, Srinivas led with appreciation for his users' patience and support. It's a recognition that AI tools are only as valuable as the communities that adopt and provide feedback on them.

• User patience as a valuable contribution: Acknowledging that early adopters invest time and energy in providing feedback
• Support as a two-way relationship: Recognizing that community engagement drives product development
• Gratitude as brand differentiation: Standing out in a crowded market through genuine appreciation

Values-Driven Leadership Appreciation

Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez recently highlighted what he sees as most valuable in today's landscape: "The coolest thing out there right now is just still having empathy and values. Red pilling, vice signaling, OUT. Caring, believing, IN."

This perspective represents appreciation for character over controversy, depth over division. In an industry that can sometimes get caught up in technical prowess or market positioning, Gomez is explicitly valuing—and asking others to appreciate—the human elements that make technology meaningful.

His message carries particular weight given Cohere's position in enterprise AI, where trust and ethical considerations are paramount. By publicly appreciating empathy and values, Gomez is both modeling the behavior he wants to see and signaling what his company prioritizes in partnerships and hiring.

Peer Recognition and Industry Camaraderie

The most authentic forms of appreciation often happen in casual interactions between industry peers. Palmer Luckey, founder of Anduril Industries, regularly engages with others in ways that show genuine appreciation for their work and resilience.

When praising someone's return to challenging work, Luckey noted: "It is hard even when it works. TK is a king for getting back into the fray." This type of peer recognition acknowledges both the difficulty of the work and the courage required to persist through setbacks.

Tech reviewer Marques Brownlee, whose analysis increasingly covers AI applications in consumer products, demonstrates appreciation through amplification—using his significant platform to highlight positive developments with simple but effective praise like "Huge W" for YouTube's creator-focused announcements.

The Business Case for Appreciation

Beyond the human benefits, strategic appreciation drives tangible business outcomes in AI:

Talent Attraction and Retention: In a field where top talent has unlimited options, leaders who show genuine appreciation create more attractive work environments. Engineers and researchers want to work for leaders who recognize good work—both their own and others'.

Partnership Development: AI increasingly requires collaboration between companies, research institutions, and government entities. Leaders who publicly appreciate others' work build the relationships that enable these partnerships.

Community Trust: As AI tools become more prevalent, public trust becomes crucial. Leaders who demonstrate appreciation for community feedback and concerns build stronger relationships with users and regulators alike.

Innovation Culture: Appreciation encourages experimentation and risk-taking. When leaders celebrate breakthrough thinking—even when it comes from competitors—they signal that innovation itself is valued over territorial concerns.

Cost Intelligence Through Appreciation

For AI companies managing complex cost structures, appreciation-based leadership can drive efficiency in unexpected ways. When teams feel genuinely valued, they're more likely to proactively identify cost optimization opportunities, suggest process improvements, and take ownership of resource management.

This cultural dimension of cost intelligence—where teams voluntarily optimize because they care about the company's success—often proves more valuable than top-down cost controls. Companies like Payloop, which specialize in AI cost optimization, increasingly find that their most successful clients combine technical cost management with cultures of appreciation that motivate teams to care about efficiency.

Building Appreciation into AI Leadership

The examples from these AI leaders suggest several practical approaches:

• Celebrate work outside your domain: Like Srinivas praising AlphaFold, recognize important work even when it doesn't directly benefit your company
• Lead with gratitude in product communications: Put user appreciation before feature announcements
• Value character alongside capability: Appreciate the human qualities that make technical work meaningful
• Recognize resilience and persistence: Acknowledge the difficulty of the work and those who push through challenges
• Use your platform to amplify others: Leverage your influence to celebrate deserving work and people

The Appreciation Advantage

As AI continues its rapid evolution, the leaders who combine technical excellence with genuine appreciation for their communities, peers, and the broader impact of their work are building more than successful companies—they're building sustainable ecosystems.

In an industry where the next breakthrough could come from anywhere, those who appreciate the full spectrum of contributions happening around them are best positioned to recognize, attract, and amplify the innovations that matter most. The future belongs not just to the smartest AI, but to the wisest AI leaders—and wisdom often starts with appreciation.