How — and What — to Build in the Age of OpenAI

Where is OpenAI going, and what does it mean for the broader AI and tech ecosystem? Madrona Partner Vivek Ramaswami sits down with Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer at OpenAI, for a rare behind-the-scenes look at the decisions shaping one of the most influential AI companies in the world.

In this live conversation from the 2025 IA Summit, Jason shares what OpenAI will build, what it won't, and how founders can use that as a roadmap to go big without going head-to-head. They unpack OpenAI's ecosystem-first mindset, what "full-stack AI" really means, and how the rise of agentic AI is reshaping what gets built — and by whom.

They also unpack:

• The real reason OpenAI is investing so heavily in compute infrastructure
• How to interpret and work alongside OpenAI's product moves as a founder, rather than fear them
• Why the most compelling startups bet on model progress, not workarounds
• Where OpenAI wants partners, and where it's staying hands-off
• What reasoning + agentic AI unlock for next-gen products
• How OpenAI is navigating its AGI mission while staying product-relevant

This episode is essential listening for anyone building in AI and wondering: Where should I build — and how will OpenAI operate in the space?

Full Transcript: https://www.madrona.com/how-what-to-build-in-the-age-of-openai

Chapters: (00:00) – Introduction (01:17) – Jason Kwon's background and role at OpenAI (02:43) – What is the "full stack of AI"? (Jason's breakdown) (04:07) – Where founders should build: Opportunities in the AI ecosystem (05:43) – OpenAI's partnerships and why compute matters (06:57) – The "reasoning revolution" and agent capabilities (07:57) – Agentic commerce: Stripe partnership and agent protocols (09:15) – OpenAI's philosophy: Platform vs. product, and the value of partnerships (10:47) – What does AGI mean inside OpenAI? Research focus and company culture (11:44) – How OpenAI decides what to build (and what not to) (14:42) – Where OpenAI won't build: Advice/opportunity for founders (17:31) – Q&A: Profitability, business models, and compute margins (20:00) – How ChatGPT changed OpenAI: Growth, culture, and leadership (21:20) – Sam Altman's ruthless prioritization and company focus (23:20) – Q&A: OpenAI's role in commerce and monetization (24:55) – Q&A: Application vs. model layer, and the Cursor partnership (26:48) – Looking ahead: What Jason hopes OpenAI will accomplish next year