Sharp Tech with Ben Thompson
(Preview) Deep Research and OpenAI's Business Model, A Counterpoint on White Collar Concerns, The Future of Cognition and Companionship
Mar 21, 2025
The hosts dive into the intriguing implications of AI, questioning how it might reshape deep research and business models. They dissect OpenAI's aversion to ad-based revenue and assess its impact on user experience. The conversation turns to AI's role in changing the white-collar job landscape, emphasizing transformation over elimination. They also ponder the potential for AI in companionship and its influence on human cognition, raising the question of whether we've hit peak brain power. The discussion wraps up with a nod to innovative uses of tech like Vision Pro.
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Quick takeaways
- OpenAI's aversion to an advertising model may restrict its growth potential, limiting its ability to capture a broader market.
- AI's impact on white-collar jobs is expected to shift the nature of work rather than lead to mass unemployment.
Deep dives
The Value of Advertising in Tech
Advertising is often viewed negatively in tech, but it plays a crucial role in scaling consumer tech companies effectively. The discussion highlights how OpenAI's reluctance to embrace an advertising model could hinder its growth potential, especially given that large consumer companies typically derive significant revenue from ads. By prioritizing subscriptions over advertising, OpenAI may miss the opportunity to reach a broader market, which could limit their financial success. Ultimately, successful advertising can enhance the user experience, as illustrated by companies like Facebook and Instagram that have managed to do this well.
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