Training an Intern Without AI

How Eric Jorgenson Thinks 30 Years Ahead to Build Companies That Matter in the Age of AI

Eric Jorgenson, CEO of Scribe Media and venture investor, reveals how thinking on a 20-30 year timeline fundamentally changes investment decisions, company building, and personal leverage in an AI-accelerated world. From investing in asteroid mining startups to understanding why most people get the AI revolution wrong, Eric breaks down how to build leverage, develop judgment, and position yourself for the civilization-level changes ahead.

The conversation explores why short-term thinking creates mediocrity while long-term vision enables breakthrough innovation. Eric shares his framework for evaluating startups, explains why energy and consciousness are the real currencies of the future, and demonstrates how AI tools amplify leverage for those who understand fundamental skills. The discussion challenges conventional wisdom about education, productivity, and what it means to contribute meaningfully to human progress.

Key Topics Covered:

• The 20-30 year investment framework and why most opportunities fail this filter

• Why Eric invested in an asteroid mining startup when others called it crazy

• How AI accelerates discovery in physics, biology, and material science beyond information work

• The widening gap between AI adopters and non-adopters in every industry

• Why judgment and taste matter more than technical skills in the AI era

• How to train the next generation when AI can do the execution work

• The difference between learning fundamental skills versus using AI as a crutch

• Applying leverage principles through delegation, automation, and recorded processes

• Why equal opportunity matters more than equal outcomes for civilization

• Viewing consciousness as humanity's core responsibility in the universe

Episode Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and Eric's 2025 operating lens
01:41 - The 20-30 year timeframe for investing and life decisions
03:30 - Asteroid mining investment thesis and long-term vision
06:26 - How Eric cultivated the long-term thinking mindset
10:22 - AI as a force multiplier across all technologies
13:54 - How the smartest people are adopting AI differently
17:06 - The thought experiment: training an intern for maximum impact
25:46 - The crisis in education and what students are missing
31:32 - How leverage has evolved and become more accessible
42:11 - Eric's highest leverage activities and what he should be doing more
46:23 - The divergent paths of resourceful versus passive people
50:36 - Why Eric does what he does and his view on consciousness

About Eric Jorgenson:

Eric Jorgenson is the CEO of Scribe Media, a publishing company that helps entrepreneurs and thought leaders write, publish, and market their books. He also runs a pre-seed and seed venture fund investing in long-term technology companies. Eric is best known as the author of The Almanack of Naval Ravikant, a curated collection of Naval's wisdom on wealth and happiness that has reached millions of readers worldwide and been translated into dozens of languages. The book distills years of Naval's tweets, podcast appearances, and essays into a comprehensive guide on building wealth, finding happiness, and living a meaningful life. Eric's deep understanding of leverage and long-term thinking stems directly from his work synthesizing Naval's philosophy.

About Scribe Media:

Scribe Media is a publisher specializing in helping entrepreneurs, executives, and experts transform their knowledge into professionally published books. The company handles the complete book creation process from writing to publishing to marketing, enabling busy professionals to share their ideas without the traditional barriers of book publishing.