picks and shovels
Definitions
The crucial tools or ingredients for a booming industry or enterprise.
figuratively, plural, plural-only
Examples
“By offering advanced AI capabilities, bridging proprietary and public models, providing secure storage solutions and delivering generative AI services, these providers of "picks and shovels" stand⟳ to play⟳ instrumental roles in shaping the future of enterprise AI.”
“They’re sort⟳ of a classic picks and shovels company that is making money by building the inputs to AI, but not actually training their own⟳ frontier models.”
CEFR level
C1
Advanced
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
This word is part of the CEFR C1 vocabulary — advanced level.
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