Why We Need Business in the Middle

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Business as it stands today is the way by which knowledge that exists in one bundle gets democratized and pushed to everybody else. We wouldn't be able to do this with pure science, we need business in the middle so that it can actually reach everybody else. As a consequence, I tend to separate the market spot of it from the business part of it. It's a bit of an artificial separation, but like the markets because it can exist for trade purposes.

Rohit is a VC and essayist who writes fascinating, thought-provoking essays on complexity, progress, innovation and technology over at Strange Loop Canon. He joins the show for a second time to discuss the lessons learned from the FTX meltdown, why there isn’t a philosophy of business, creating an AI picture book, and a whole lot more. Important Links:

Show Notes:

What can VCs learn from FTX?
FTX, hubris and good manners
“Don’t let anyone push you into a decision that you don’t want to make”
Signing up to the right narratives
Why you can’t beat the market
Why isn’t there a philosophy of business?
Markets, desire and innovation
How AI allows us to talk to machines in our language
The complexities of the AI sentience debate
How AI unlocks new outlets for creativity
The need for positive stories
The three components of innovation
“Curiosity is a shit starter”
Finding new ways to create community
Openness and experimentation
MUCH more!

Books Mentioned:

What Works on Wall Street: A Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time; by Jim O’Shaughnessy
The Genius of the Beast: A Radical Re-Vision of Capitalism; by Howard Bloom
Unflattening; by Nick Sousanis
Slouching Towards Utopia: An Economic History of the 20th Century; by Brad DeLong
American Gods; by Neil Gaiman
Lessons: A Novel; by Ian McEwan