Why New Yorkers hate AI Friends, Producer Claude gets an update, and the value of human writers in the Age of Slop | E2185

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Sep 29, 2025

New Yorkers are pushed to their limits by invasive Friend AI pendants, leading to graffiti-covered subway ads. The duo debates privacy issues and the likelihood of consumer adoption of always-on devices. They explore the importance of founders reuniting with their last teams for success and the implications of rising 'slop as a service' on content quality. Plus, they discuss lucrative paths for consumer AI and share insights into the latest tech trends, all while navigating the etiquette of private jets.

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ADVICE

Bring Your Last Team Along

If you raised venture capital before, bring your prior team to new ventures to increase fundability.
Use past failures as lessons to make your next startup more investable.

INSIGHT

Viral Marketing As A Signaling Strategy

Friend.com used a massive NYC subway campaign to grab attention for an AI pendant product.
Big, bold marketing can signal a founder willing to swing for the fences and attract VC interest.

ANECDOTE

Dinner Pendant Privacy Moment

Jason described being at dinner where a friend showed an AI note-taking pendant and he saw a small glowing LED.
He warned that recording others at a dinner risks ruining friendships, so the friend removed it.

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Today’s show:

Friend’s new AI pendant just wants to be your new pal. So why do New Yorkers hate them?

On a brand-new TWiST, Jason and Alex consider the Friend AI pendant, which listens to everything you say all day and then sends you snarky texts about it.

WIRED says it’s unhelpful and will make your friends hate you. New Yorkers are so sick of their aggressive subway ads, they’re tagging them with graffiti. But what do Jason and Alex think of the wearable companion?

PLUS the value of bringing your last team with you to your new project… why partnerships often lead to purchases… Producer Claude got an upgrade… two fresh TWiST 500 companies… the rise and fall and further fall of Tai Lopez… AND Jason explains the rules of private jets.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason congratulations the Eagles while wondering what’s going on with Philly fans

(03:23) New Yorkers are not in love with these Friend AI pendants and their subway ads

(10:08) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(11:28) Show Continues…

(13:49) Are people actually using AI agents? Is it still too early?

(17:01) Startup Lesson: The value of bringing your last team with you

(19:27) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(20:43) Anthropic released the new Claude… can they catch back up with Grok?

(27:13) Why Circle’s community app is blowing up all of the sudden

(29:23) AWS Activate - AWS Activate helps startups bring their ideas to life. Apply to AWS Activate today to learn more. Visit https://www.aws.amazon.com/startups/credits

(30:48) How startups SHOULD measure growth and profitability. And why you need to show your work.

(36:42) Why human writers are about to be MORE valuable in the age of AI Slop.

(42:20) TWO new startups are joining the TWiST 500… Jason’s thoughts on Phia and Huxe

(46:23) Influencer and bookshelf haver Tai Lopez is under investigation by the SEC! A look back at a viral superstar…

(54:11) Jason explains the rules of flying in private jets

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Thank you to our partners:

Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST
Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist
AWS Activate - AWS Activate helps startups bring their ideas to life. Apply to AWS Activate today to learn more. Visit https://www.aws.amazon.com/startups/credits

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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