2025 MAD Landscape Maps Over 1,000 AI Companies Amidst Industry Reshaping

Aman Kabeer, co-author of the influential MAD (Machine Learning, AI & Data) Landscape, has announced the release of the 2025 edition, offering a critical overview of the rapidly evolving Data and Artificial Intelligence ecosystem. The annual market map, co-authored with Matt Turck of FirstMark Capital, details over 1,000 AI companies and provides 25 key insights for what Kabeer describes as the "busiest (& most exciting) year to date" in the sector.

This eleventh edition of the MAD Landscape serves as a comprehensive snapshot for industry professionals, investors, and enthusiasts navigating the complex world of data and AI. It highlights significant shifts in the market, reflecting the dynamic nature of technological advancement and investment in the space. The landscape is a key resource for understanding current trends and identifying emerging players.

A notable change in the 2025 landscape is a deliberate reduction in the number of mapped companies, from a peak of over 2,000 in previous years to approximately 1,150. This strategic decision was made to enhance legibility and manageability amidst the explosive growth in AI. The new edition also features the deletion of some older categories and the introduction of new ones, such as agent platforms and local AI, showcasing the industry's evolving focus.

Kabeer emphasized the extensive effort behind the publication, stating, "I got prescription glasses from the past few months working on this so you didn't have to." This underscores the detailed research and analysis undertaken to distill the vast and often overwhelming information within the AI and data sectors into an accessible format. The landscape aims to provide clarity in a market characterized by rapid innovation and intense competition.

The 2025 MAD Landscape also offers "25 crisp ideas" that address the current state of the industry, which is described as an "over-heated, heads-down year in AI & data." These insights are expected to cover critical themes such as investment trends, technological breakthroughs, and strategic challenges facing companies in the machine learning, artificial intelligence, and data domains.