"What does RTO mean?" Together AI CEO Vipul Ved Prakash replied when Business Insider inquired if he had issued any return-to-office directive at his cloud computing startup.

"Staff tend to enjoy showing up," Prakash noted. "We have never imposed rules on it."

His answer highlights a clear contrast between post-pandemic AI ventures and older firms, where workers often choose to appear at the office, even on weekends.

Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom explained to Business Insider that the younger age profile and equity stakes held by many startup team members lead to a setup that is "nearly all in-person" and "entirely task-oriented."

"A lone 23-year-old holding equity valued at $20 million finds it logical to log 100 hours weekly on site," Bloom observed. "They skip working from home and instead head home after work."

The close bonds in AI ventures

Glean founder Arvind Jain said he hesitated to recall staff because securing space proved tricky, yet the group preferred in-person collaboration and a return to their pre-2020 setup from the firm's 2019 launch.

"We simply had no grasp of remote routines since all were crammed into one tight space," Jain recalled of the initial lockdown phase. "We sat side by side, tossing around build ideas, and that shift proved tough."

Jain eventually warmed to remote options and family time, but the team sought reconnection.

"The distinction lies in startup energy with just 10 or 15 members who wish to stay close," Jain added. "They enjoy one another's company, form ties, once played games as a unit, and hold warm memories from before the pandemic as a tight group."

As Glean expanded, Jain noted it secured bigger quarters and set Thursdays as the remote day.

Resolve AI founder Spiros Xanthos described a firm culture of on-site work that never required enforcement.

"We maintain a sizable space with meals provided throughout the day," Xanthos said. "Many share lunch on site, and quite a few linger for dinner."

Since the 2024 launch, Xanthos stressed that team unity and rapport matter greatly, often flying New York staff to Bay Area gatherings for better connections.

"At this stage, staff steer clear of remote setups," Xanthos continued. "Younger members who tried remote roles elsewhere describe the shift as stark, now that they have trusted workplace friends."

AI's fresh approach calls for direct contact

Urban theorist Richard Florida from the University of Toronto pointed out that the AI expansion differs from prior startup waves and may heighten the need for face time.

"Creators must stay near users since those users form part of the creation loop," Florida said, explaining the ease of in-person AI work.

"An AI firm may find the tech intriguing to craft, yet real insight comes from user talks and client exchanges," he added.

Xanthos tied the push for presence to the demands of a creative sector.

"We tackle tough issues and work at the edge to crack them," Xanthos explained. "This calls for frequent trials, including those that may not succeed."

"It demands deep trust and a safe space for bottom-up ideas, without top-down orders, plus fast and rich exchanges," he noted.

So when chatting with an AI founder, skip queries on return-to-office plans, as they focus on fitting everyone into shared space.