AI Model Showdown: Grok 4.1 vs. Gemini 3 | E2211
This Week in Startups
The Case for Running Your Own Models
Jason asks whether startups will run private models and explains reasons startups will host models to protect data and IP.
AI Model Showdown: Grok 4.1 vs. Gemini 3 | E2211
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Today’s show:
*Will the arrival of two hotly-anticipated, intensely powerful AI models snap the Doomer cycle?
On a new TWiST, Jason and Alex consider the current AI landscape, one where cynicism about insider mega-deals, fear of job displacement, and concerns about bubble bursts seem to rule the day. Will the arrival of two powerful new models — xAI’s Grok 4.1 and Google’s Gemini 3 — help the industry to course-correct? And how do we decide how much these models have improved anyway?
PLUS we’re investigating Cloudflare’s recent downtime and their acquisition of Replicate. Are we heading toward a future in which everyone runs their own models, locally? And how worried should founders get if their products or sites go down for a few hours?
Finally, if you’re an investor, and want to come to Jason’s Dim Sum Demo Day in San Francisco, here’s the link: http://launch.co/dimsum
Timestamps:
(2:01) Why the internet got broadly degraded when Cloudflare went down
(5:00) How worried should founders become when their sites go offline?
(6:44) Downtime aside, what did Cloudflare want with Replicate?
(8:12) Why Jason predicts one day we’ll run our own local language models
(9:39) Goldbelly - Goldbelly ****ships America’s most delicious, iconic foods nationwide! Get 20% off your first order by going to Goldbelly.com and using the promo code TWiST at checkout.
(15:25) How to turn off “Learn From This App” on your iPhone
(17:29) Will the arrival of hotly-anticipated new models stop the spread of Doomerism and AI cynicism
(20:00) Every.io - For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit every.io.
(23:53) Checking back in with the “Best AI Model” Polymarket… why has ChatGPT dropped so low?
(29:43) Zite - Zite is the fastest way to build business software with AI. Build apps, forms, websites and portals that connect to the tools you already use. Go to zite.com/twist to get started.
(31:14) ANOTHER AI mega-deal? Nvidia and Microsoft are investing in… ANTHROPIC
(33:06) Why so many AI deals now include “up to…” language around investments
(35:04) What Jason thinks of Dario Amodei’s warning about white collar job displacement
(39:39) If we all agree AI job displacement is coming… what can be done?
(45:16) All about Jason’s Dim Sum Investor Demo Day in San Francisco!
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Follow Alex:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
Follow Jason:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Thank you to our partners:
(9:39) Goldbelly - Goldbelly ****ships America’s most delicious, iconic foods nationwide! Get 20% off your first order by going to Goldbelly.com and using the promo code TWiST at checkout.
(20:00) Every.io - For all of your incorporation, banking, payroll, benefits, accounting, taxes or other back-office administration needs, visit every.io.
(29:43) Zite - Zite is the fastest way to build business software with AI. Build apps, forms, websites and portals that connect to the tools you already use. Go to zite.com/twist to get started.
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
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