Lawrence Lundy-Bryan on how data-driven VC is over

In this episode, Samuel Arbesman speaks with Lawrence Lundy-Bryan, a partner at the venture capital firm Lunar Ventures who specializes in researching the landscape of cutting-edge technological advances. Lawrence has been examining technologies as part of a project called the State of the Future, providing analyses into a large number of new technological developments.

And the current state of AI is freaking him out. In a recent essay titled "data-driven VC is over," Lawrence looks at how the new AI research tool Deep Research basically can do everything he used to do. This has prompted Lawrence to think about his work, and work and meaning more broadly, which he has also explored in further essays.

Samuel and Lawrence discuss the nature of research in the world of venture capital and the shock of using Deep Research. They examine how to think about AI when it takes away not only work you are good at, but something you enjoy and love doing. They talk about the future of venture capital in an age of research democratization and the role of secret knowledge, taste, and wisdom, as well as how people have responded to Lawrence's essay. They even explore broader future implications, including youth unemployment and how education might need to be rethought.