IM 823: Intelligent with Two G's - Google Has a Fox Problem

Jun 12, 2025

Stephen Witt, a Los Angeles-based writer and investigative journalist, joins the hosts for a fascinating discussion. They dive into Google's surprising 'fox problem' at their London office, exploring the intersection of tech and wildlife. Witt also shares insights on NVIDIA's leap from GPUs to AI dominance and the evolving challenges of AI copyright as Disney takes legal action against an AI firm. The conversation touches on the intricacies of AI creativity, urban wildlife interactions, and the ethical concerns surrounding modern technology.

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ANECDOTE

Jensen Wong's Public Temper

Jensen Wong has a notorious temper, often exploding in anger publicly in front of teams.
His PR team remains frozen during his outbursts, unable to intervene or calm the situation.

INSIGHT

Jensen's Cult-Like Leadership

Jensen Wong commands loyalty through a mix of charisma and fear, resembling cult leader tactics.
His success financially compensates teams for enduring his intense management style.

INSIGHT

NVIDIA's Shift to Scientific GPUs

NVIDIA GPUs started for gaming but evolved into high-performance scientific computing.
Jensen built CUDA to unlock GPU potential for complex scientific tasks before the market recognized it.

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The mysterious stranger

Mark Twain

Mark Twain's 'The Mysterious Stranger' presents a philosophical exploration of morality, free will, and the nature of reality. Set in medieval Austria, the story follows a young boy named Theodor Fischer who encounters a mysterious being named Satan. Satan reveals to Theodor the illusory nature of human existence and the absurdity of conventional morality. Through a series of encounters, Satan challenges Theodor's beliefs and exposes the inherent contradictions and cruelties of the world. Twain uses satire and dark humor to critique societal norms, religious dogma, and the human condition, leaving readers to question their own perceptions of reality and the meaning of life.

War game

Anthony Price

In the rural peace of modern England, a war game recreates the slaughter of the Civil War. However, when the battle ends, a real corpse is left in the Swine Brook, and an aristocratic but impoverished revolutionary claims to have found a cache of 'Cromwell's gold'. The story unfolds as David Audley is called in, and 17th-century secrets and the deadly game of modern espionage clash in a complex thriller of bluff and counter-bluff.

The Caine mutiny

Herman Wouk

The Caine Mutiny is a novel by Herman Wouk, drawing heavily from his personal experiences aboard destroyer-minesweepers in the Pacific Theater during World War II. The story revolves around the USS Caine, a Navy ship commanded by the increasingly erratic Captain Philip Francis Queeg. Tensions between Queeg and his officers, particularly Executive Officer Steve Maryk, come to a head during Typhoon Cobra, leading Maryk to relieve Queeg of command under Article 184 of the Navy Regulations. The novel culminates in a court-martial where Lieutenant Barney Greenwald, a naval aviator and attorney, defends Maryk. The trial exposes Queeg's mental instability and results in Maryk's acquittal, but with significant consequences for the careers of those involved. The novel explores themes of duty, loyalty, and the complexities of military command[2][4][6].

The Thinking Machine

Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip

Stephen Witt

The Thinking Machine tells the story of how Nvidia evolved from a video game component manufacturer to a leader in AI hardware, revolutionizing computer architecture. It highlights Jensen Huang's pivotal role in betting on AI, transforming Nvidia into one of the world's most valuable companies. The book explores Nvidia's impact on the future of technology, including AI-driven innovations like autonomous vehicles and hyper-realistic avatars.

The Innovator's Dilemma

When New Technologies Cause Great Firms to Fail

Clayton M. Christensen

In this influential business book, Clayton Christensen shows how even the most outstanding companies can lose market leadership when they fail to adapt to disruptive innovations. Christensen explains why companies often miss new waves of innovation and provides a set of rules for capitalizing on disruptive technologies. The book uses examples from various industries, including the disk drive, mechanical excavator, steel, and computer industries, to illustrate trends that lead to success or failure in the face of disruptive technologies.

Only the paranoid survive

Andrew S. Grove

In 'Only the Paranoid Survive', Andrew S. Grove discusses the concept of 'Strategic Inflection Points' – moments when the balance of forces shifts significantly, requiring businesses to adapt rapidly to survive. Grove draws from his experiences at Intel, including the transition from memory chips to microprocessors and the handling of the Pentium flaw, to illustrate how these inflection points can be managed to emerge stronger. The book emphasizes the importance of constant vigilance, experimentation, and decisive leadership in navigating these critical moments of change.