My guest today is Alexandr Wang, the CEO and founder of Scale AI. Alexandr founded Scale in 2016, having been inspired to accelerate the development of AI through his work at Quora and his studies at MIT. Specifically, Alexandr realized there was a lack of infrastructure solutions for producing high quality data, the lifeblood for AI models. Today, Scale provides data solutions to leading AI teams at Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Flexport, the US Air Force, and many others. This time last year, the business was valued at over $7 billion.  Our conversation is a primer on AI. We discuss the building blocks beneath successful artificial intelligence, AI’s role in both the public and private sector, and why data is the new code. We also cover the similarities and differences between AI and software from an investing perspective and what inspiration Scale takes from AWS. Please enjoy my great discussion with Alexandr Wang.For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here. ----- This episode is brought to you by Canalyst. Canalyst is the leading destination for public company data and analysis. If you're a professional equity investor and haven't talked to Canalyst recently, you should give them a shout. Learn more and try Canalyst for yourself at canalyst.com/Patrick.  ----- This episode is brought to you by Lemon.io. The team at Lemon.io has built a network of Eastern European developers ready to pair with fast-growing startups. We have faced challenges hiring engineering talent for various projects and Lemon.io offered developers for one-off projects, developers for full start to finish product development, or developers that could be add-ons to the existing team. Check out lemon.io/patrick to learn more. ----- Invest Like the Best is a property of Colossus, LLC. For more episodes of Invest Like the Best, visit joincolossus.com/episodes.  Past guests include Tobi Lutke, Kevin Systrom, Mike Krieger, John Collison, Kat Cole, Marc Andreessen, Matthew Ball, Bill Gurley, Anu Hariharan, Ben Thompson, and many more. Stay up to date on all our podcasts by signing up to Colossus Weekly, our quick dive every Sunday highlighting the top business and investing concepts from our podcasts and the best of what we read that week. Sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @patrick_oshag | @JoinColossus Show Notes[00:03:04] - [First question] - The role that AI and data play in geopolitics and foreign policy[00:07:21] - The end state of a digital arms race akin to nuclear weapons[00:08:53] - Current state of things writ large and how the public and private sectors differ[00:11:33] - The flow and importance of talent when scaling AI and whether it’s more important than software [00:14:29] - His thoughts on how to communicate categories of what AI can do well and what is still a ways out[00:20:18] - The process of creating an AI model and the stages of development[00:27:16] - Principles of building a great engine for gathering data[00:29:04] - The state of technology around annotating data writ large[00:31:31] - What Scale does as a business and their product lineup[00:35:08] - The Storage and Compute equivalents in the AI space[00:37:08] - How Scale fills the gap in producing better and cleaner data[00:39:52] - What Scale will look like in 10 years if their vision is fully realized[00:41:11] - Where AI is in the S curve of acceleration and where AI and software intersect[00:44:32] - Questions to ask about how to incorporate AI and data sets in your business[00:46:23] - What worries him about the proliferation of technology that makes AI more accessible to the masses[00:48:27] - The most interesting AI model he’s ever come across and collapsing the friction between human intent and programmable outcomes[00:51:51] - The kindest thing anyone has ever done for him 

Alexandr Wang, CEO and co-founder of Scale AI, shares his visionary insights on the future of AI in 2025. He discusses the intense US-China AI arms race and its implications for global dominance. The conversation highlights emerging AI agents transforming both military operations and everyday tasks, driving productivity. Wang also addresses the critical importance of data over raw computing power amid evolving AI training techniques, and the fascinating potential of quantum computing in shaping AI's future capabilities.

Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, discusses various topics including the significance of data in technology, the role of Scale AI in autonomous car development, risks of AI and their mitigation, future AI investments and human-AI interaction, the concept of the Turing trap, founding Scale AI and the importance of data, internal locus of control and hiring traits, and the exciting future of AI in healthcare.

Alexandr Wang, Founder of Scale AI, discusses the importance of data quality in AI systems and building trust. They explore the future of AI in enterprise, improving self-improvement loops, and the collaboration of human and AI intelligence. Scale AI's evolution, strategic fundraising success, and challenges in AI model optimization are also highlighted.

Alexandr Wang, the founder and CEO of Scale AI, shares his exciting journey from Los Alamos to becoming a leader in the AI data industry. He discusses the critical role of data in AI development, emphasizing its growing importance. Wang also highlights the balance of meritocracy and diversity in hiring, and the evolving challenges as a young CEO. Additionally, he dives into the fascinating human-AI collaboration and the revolutionary impact of technologies like GPT-3, offering unique insights into the future of artificial intelligence.

In this episode, Alexandr Wang, the Founder and CEO of Scale AI, discusses the intense journey of establishing an AI infrastructure company. He shares insights on the US-China AI race, emphasizing the critical need for startups to navigate emerging technologies and data quality. Alexandr evokes the emotional rollercoaster of early entrepreneurship, highlighting resilience and a focus on product excellence. He also critiques the reliance on funding over innovative problem-solving, encouraging a contrarian approach amidst geopolitical challenges.

In this Ask Me Anything session during this year’s Abundance360 summit, Andrew, Emad, Alexandr, and Peter discuss how the world will change post-A.I explosion,  including how to reinvent your business, your skills, and more.  You will learn about: 03:39 | How Do We Educate On New Technologies In Our Changing World? 15:22 | Is There Any Industry That AI Will Never Disrupt? 28:27 | Will The First Trillionaire Be Born From The Power Of AI? Emad Mostaque is the Founder and CEO of Stability AI, the company behind Stable Diffusion. Alexandr Wang is the world’s youngest self-made billionaire at 24 and is the Founder and CEO of Scale AI. Andrew Ng is the Founder of DeepLearning.AI and the Founder & CEO of Landing AI.  > Try out Stable Diffusion > Visit Scale AI > Learn AI with DeepLearning.AI _____________ I only endorse products and services I personally use. To see what they are,  please support this podcast by checking out our sponsor:  Use my code MOONSHOTS for 25% off your first month's supply of Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic: seed.com/moonshots Levels: Real-time feedback on how diet impacts your health. levels.link/peter  _____________ I send weekly emails with the latest insights and trends on today’s and tomorrow’s exponential technologies. Stay ahead of the curve, and sign up now:  Tech Blog Join me on a 5-Star Platinum Longevity Trip at Abundance Platinum _____________ Connect With Peter: Twitter Instagram Youtube Moonshots and Mindsets

Alexandr Wang, a technologist exploring the use of AI in warfare, discusses the potential consequences of AI-powered warfare including lethal drones, armed robots, and autonomous fighter jets. He emphasizes the importance of data and national security in developing new tech to prevent all-out AI warfare.

Alexandr Wang, Founder and CEO of Scale AI, discusses the vital link between human data and AI progress. He highlights how abundant data fuels the growth of generative AI, emphasizing innovative algorithms and diverse data sources. Wang also critiques big tech's investment strategies and identifies where the best AI businesses will flourish. He shares insights on hiring challenges faced by growth-stage founders and offers a thoughtful approach to scaling companies while maintaining culture and team dynamics.

Join Alexandr Wang, the 19-year-old MIT dropout and founder of Scale AI, as he dives into the evolving world of artificial intelligence. He reveals how critical data is for AI's progress and how his company addresses data bottlenecks. Discover his personal journey from aspiring scientist to entrepreneur, and why he believes in the power of optimistic people around you. Wang also shares insights on navigating challenges, the importance of in-person collaboration, and how customer interactions drive innovation in technology.