This Week in Startups

OpenAI's new models, the MrBeast leak, Waymo ♥’s Uber and more! | E2009

Sep 17, 2024

Alex Wilhelm, a tech and business commentator, joins to explore OpenAI's latest model and its enhanced reasoning capabilities. He discusses the complexities of OpenAI's corporate structure and recent fundraising challenges. The conversation shifts to Uber's partnership with Waymo, analyzing implications for autonomous vehicles in ride-sharing. Additionally, they delve into MrBeast's content creation strategies and the evolving dynamics of media criticism and journalism in today’s digital landscape.

01:12:47

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Episode guests

Alex Wilhelm

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

OpenAI's new model demonstrates significant advancements in AI capabilities, particularly in reasoning and code generation, enhancing developer productivity.

Uber's partnership with Waymo signifies a strategic move towards integrating autonomous driving technology within ride-hailing services, expected to launch in major cities by 2025.

Mr. Beast's production document emphasizes the necessity of clarity and focus in content creation, driving a singular vision for operational success.

Deep dives

Transition from Nonprofit to For-Profit

A nonprofit organization successfully transitioned a software asset into a for-profit venture, granting the majority of equity to its employees. The nonprofit retains ownership of revenue shares or licenses from this new entity, showcasing an innovative model for employee empowerment. This shift illustrates the growing potential and interest in coding as a value-driven pursuit. The analogy of employees being given 'gold bullion' emphasizes the significance of this ownership structure, akin to receiving substantial financial assets in a traditional sense.

Intro

2min

Navigating Newborn Life and Media Dynamics

8min

Emotional Reflections and a Commitment to Quality News Coverage

2min

Advancements in AI: OpenAI's New Model Insights

8min

Navigating the Complexities of Startup Structures and Financial Strategies

4min

OpenAI's Fundraising Dilemma

5min

Navigating Venture Capital: AI Investments and Startup Dynamics

5min

Revolutionizing Mobility: AI and the Future of Transportation

23min

Luxury Dining and Tech Innovations

16min

Todays show:

Alex Wilhelm joins Jason to discuss OpenAI's latest model and implications (11:49), Uber's partnership with Waymo and its implications (38:16), Analyzing Mr. Beast's content creation and business culture (1:01:21). and more!

Timestamps:

(0:00) Jason and Alex kick off the show.

(3:57) Highlights from the All-In Summit (9:16) Tackling media criticism and the state of journalism

(10:23) Washington Post - TWiST listeners can subscribe for just 50 cents per week for your first year at https://www.washingtonpost.com/twist

(11:49) Alex and Jason dive into OpenAI's latest model and implications (19:46) Examination of OpenAI's corporate structure and financing

(20:39) Brex. Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at ⁠⁠https://www.brex.com/twist24⁠

(21:51) Further analysis of OpenAI's business model (27:08) OpenAI's valuation and perspectives on speculative investment

(30:26) AssemblyAI - Get 100 free hours to start building at ⁠https://www.assemblyai.com/twist

(32:07) The landscape of AI startup investments (35:20) How AI is enhancing developer productivity (36:33) AI's potential in consumer markets (38:16) Uber's partnership with Waymo and its implications (41:15) The realities of autonomous vehicle technology deployment (47:00) The government's role in autonomous vehicle tech and partnerships with big tech (52:26) Economic insights: Predictions on the Fed rate cut (56:26) The influence of interest rates on startups and investment strategies (58:52) Discussing cost of living adjustments and food delivery trends (1:00:44) Innovations in autonomous food preparation (1:01:21) Analyzing Mr. Beast's content creation and business culture (1:09:12) How large companies can maintain focus on goals

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Mentioned on the show:

OpenAI o1’s announcement: https://openai.com/index/learning-to-reason-with-llms/

OpenAI release article on The Verve: https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/12/24242439/openai-o1-model-reasoning-strawberry-chatgpt

Supermaven article: https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/16/ai-coding-assistant-supermaven-raises-cash-from-openai-and-perplexity-founders/

Twitter post from Michael Seibel: https://x.com/mwseibel/status/1835063692117103090

Waymo and Uber expand partnership: https://waymo.com/blog/2024/09/waymo-and-uber-expand-partnership/

Polymarket on Fed Interest Rates: https://polymarket.com/event/fed-interest-rates-september-2024?tid=1726496650092

Leaked Mr Beast doc: https://drive.google.com/file/d/11dV24Mda_kNEBCLtPtBomWG4IkngvQKK/view

Travis Kalanick | All-In Summit 2024 video**:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j7lwauJN2s