Do you need VCs for your AI startup?

There is one big change I can see in this AI craze when compared with the SaaS boom.
You don't need VCs.
SaaS needed the VCs. For you to build a SaaS sales machine you needed investment. You would first hit a trough before seeing the revenue. And VCs filled that gap. So you needed numbers like ARPU, CAC, LTV etc. VCs would justify their MBAs by crunching these numbers and betting on startups.
With AI, all that changes. If you have a successful AI product, customers are not hesitating to buy. You don't need to invest in marketing or sales. If it's useful, it will become viral next day. Everyone of us have heard of almost every new product that comes out. Heck we even know every single agentic framework that comes out. We are out there looking for news. No need for marketing. Same with sales. Every customer wants to try AI. You don't need rockstar sales team to actually make the sale. And customers are paying from day 1. So why would you need VC money.
The VCs also know this. That's why they are spraying money hoping something sticks. That's why you see these big cheques which make no sense. It's not like you measure the CAC and other SaaS numbers and then estimate for an 18 month runway.
So, if you are an AI startup, don't waste your time going to some VC events or networking. Just put your head down and build something cool. If it doesn't stick, try something else next week.
When something works, the VCs will be behind you.