Audio Tokens Axel Backlund (2): Personally Preparing For AGI
Apr 14, 2025
Axel Backlund, co-founder of Andon Labs, dives into the personal strategies for adapting to the impending age of AGI. He shares candid insights on the societal impacts of AGI, including wealth disparities and universal basic income. The conversation also touches on the transformative nature of hobbies and the significance of personal fulfillment. Axel discusses the ethical dilemmas of AI in different political contexts and reflects on the challenges startups face in a turbulent market, all while maintaining a light-hearted tone.
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Bet On Scalable Hardware Work
- Join or build where AI demand scales hardware: power, chips, and infrastructure will be required more as AI usage increases.
- Choose roles in those areas or start/join companies supplying them to capture durable value as AGI grows.
Align With AI Labs, Not Just Enterprises
- Build products that serve AI labs directly, not just enterprises, to scale with model capabilities.
- Offer tooling like evals that labs need and share in their growth by owning equity or founding startups.
Avoid Linear Consulting If You Seek Exponential Upside
- Avoid crowded short-term plays like AI consulting if you want exponential upside, since consulting scales linearly with hours.
- Prefer roles or startups that scale with model capabilities and ownership, not hourly billing.