Retrouvez l'épisode en version française ici : https://www.gdiy.fr/podcast/reid-hoffman-fr/

Reid Hoffman is a giant in the world of entrepreneurship. A founding member of the “PayPal Mafia,” he went on to create LinkedIn in 2003, firmly establishing himself as one of the OGs of the world’s biggest tech companies.

According to Reid, a startup can hardly succeed if its founding members work less than 80 hours per week, as Silicon Valley imposes a "fast and aggressive" pace upon the rest of the world.

He was on a board member of some of the world’s most important tech companies, including Airbnb, OpenAI, and Microsoft.

Since AI's breakthrough to the public in 2022, he has already co-founded two companies in the sector (Inflexion AI and Manas AI). Reid has already co-founded two companies in the field—Inflexion AI and Manas AI. But his fascination with AI goes way back to 1990, when he studied AI and philosophy at Oxford to explore the nature of intelligence and language.

His approach is fundamentally humanistic, and his goal is crystal clear:

How can we leverage technology to become better people?

A staunch tech optimist, Reid advocates—both politically and entrepreneurially—for humanity to embrace new technologies and harness their full potential.

In this episode, Reid shares:

Why 80-hour weeks are key to thriving in the startup world
Tips for smart hiring and building a strong, healthy culture
His take on AI regulation and how it might stifle innovation
How to use AI like a pro in everyday life
A philosophical look at the relationship between humans and technology

The entire GDIY team is thrilled to bring you this conversation with one of the most influential figures in global tech. Tune in to learn from one of the best in the business and get inspired to build tomorrow’s great companies.

TIMELINE:

00:00:00 : How to maintain an "esprit de corps" and a healthy corporate culture
00:10:15 : Homo technicus : the influence of technology upon humanity
00:15:29 : AI and philosophy : using tech to become better humans
00:25:03 : How to use the different AIs like a pro
00:34:07 : The PayPal adventure and the never-ending concerns towards technology
00:44:43 : The biggest European mistake : "regulation kills innovation"
00:50:04 : A good hire can learn, iterate and work in teams
00:55:10 : The best use cases for AI
01:03:45 : Why governments have to care about the tech industry
01:10:10 : The easiest way to be successful

We referred to previous GDIY episodes :

#210 - David Gurlé - Symphony - Apprendre aux côtés de Bill Gates à son apogée, le succès fou et les apprentissages d’un entrepreneur méconnu

We spoke about:

Reading Recommendations :

You can contact Reid on LinkedIn, X, Instagram.

We would like to thank Penry Price, whose support made this episode possible.

Do you like the theme music? It’s thanks to Morgan Prudhomme! Contact him at: https://studio-module.com.

Interested in sponsoring Generation Do It Yourself or proposing a partnership? Contact my label Orso Media through this form.

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JJ Austrian and Mike Curato