Although we are having an American Presidential election, it looks like people from other countries can bet on the outcome of who wins the US Presidency. For example, a French trader known only as "Théo" has made headlines for placing a massive $30 million bet on Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election through the cryptocurrency prediction market platform Polymarket. If successful, his bet could yield approximately $80 million in returns, but he risks losing most or all of his investment if Kamala Harris wins. Some experts and politicians have raised concerns about election betting potential influence on voter perception and democratic processes, with Senator Jeff Merkley proposing legislation to ban such practices. Prediction markets can significantly influence public opinion on elections through several mechanisms. They provide real-time updates and respond quickly to new developments, offering a dynamic alternative to traditional polling, which captures only periodic snapshots of voter sentiment. Does Betting Make The Elections Better? By incorporating various factors beyond mere voter intention—such as economic data and current events—prediction markets compel participants to "put their money where their mouth is," potentially leading to more honest assessments of candidates' chances. This can create perceived momentum for candidates with strong odds, and the media often amplifies market movements, further shaping voter sentiment. However, concerns about reliability persist, as market manipulation practices like wash trading can distort outcomes; reports suggest that approximately one-third of Polymarket's trading volume may be artificial.

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen react to Home Depot's policy requiring all corporate employees to work eight hours at one of its retail stores every quarter. Rick discusses the practicality and what it'd be like to have senior executives, remote workers or people who don't have any day-to-day understanding of retail policy or frontline experience working. Jack compares the policy to an episode of "Undercover Boss" and wonders if the company can improve its supply chain and corporate policies to be a more effective, profitable company. Finally, Rick and Jack reflect on the potential impact the policy could have on Home Depot customers and the company's bottom line. ⁠⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast⁠ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/10/09/home-depot-asks-corporate-employees-to-get-out-of-their-offices-and-work-8-hour-shift-in-stores/⁠ ⁠https://www.teamblind.com/post/Home-Depot-doing-the-Corporate-Employees-Work-in-Retail%E2%80%9D-Bulls-B8WUQWSi⁠ ⁠https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/12/23/could-doordash-executives-and-white-collar-employees-be-required-to-make-food-deliveries-to-customers/

Chip Hazard, Co-founder and General Partner of Flybridge, shares his fascinating journey into venture capitalism. He reveals how he persuaded Greylock to hire him after a decade-long hiring freeze. Listeners gain insights into identifying unicorn startups, the delicate balance of skepticism and optimism in investments, and the unique challenges of investing in AI. Chip also emphasizes the importance of experience for second-time entrepreneurs and invites everyone to consider careers in the evolving venture capital landscape.

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen dive into the growing popularity of ayahuasca, ketamine and other mind-altering substances in the tech industry. We look into why tech CEOs are becoming more outspoken about their drug use and how some telehealth-style startups are cashing in on the craze for psychedelics. Jack takes an inventory of all the reasons Silicon Valley might find ayahuasca so appealing, including California's general openness and risk-taking culture. Rick wonders if it's all just an escape, as young people increasingly find themselves lost without community, meaning or purpose. ⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/26/why-tech-ceos-are-drawn-to-ayahuasca-and-other-psychedelic-drugs/ https://fortune.com/well/article/psychedelic-leadership-retreat-magic-mushrooms-mdma-ayahuasca/ https://www.wsj.com/business/elon-musk-illegal-drugs-e826a9e1 https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/careers/young-american-men-lost-c1d799f7

Jack Kelly and Rick Chen investigate whether recent news reports of tech jobs disappearing are accurate. Rick explains that the tech industry isn't one of the hardest-hit industries by job cuts and casts some doubt into the methodology of how reporters and their sources count jobs and job losses. He also shares how some companies have slowed hiring without enacting hiring freezes. Jack shares his reporting about the AI industry and why every company wants to say they are hiring AI jobs. He also covers the growing trend of companies outsourcing some jobs to other countries where compensation can be lower than in the U.S. and whether it should be a cause for concern for Americans. Finally, we examine why job interviews have gotten longer, especially in the tech industry, and how tech roles have changed to become more specialized. Jack and Rick then share advice about how professionals might avoid layoffs by returning to the office or find greater success in the job market by adjusting their expectations. ⁠https://bit.ly/blind-podcast https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/23/why-the-once-mighty-tech-career-is-no-longer-safe/ https://www.wsj.com/tech/tech-jobs-artificial-intelligence-cce22393 https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2024/09/24/american-consumer-confidence-plunges-as-the-job-market-weakens/

Naveen Rao, a former neuroscientist and now Vice President of AI at Databricks, shares his fascinating journey from academia to entrepreneurship in the AI landscape. He discusses how his PhD work shaped his innovative approach to AI startups, attracting investors during a challenging time for hardware ventures. The conversation dives into AI's evolution, the potential for a tech boom and bust, and how traditional neuroscience influences today’s advancements. Naveen also emphasizes the significance of culture and collaboration in successful startups.

Dive into the drama as a Waymo driverless car gets tagged in San Francisco, igniting discussions about anti-tech sentiment. Explore the evolving landscape of technology adoption versus traditional views on safety. Hear personal stories linking nostalgic delivery services to today's innovations. Debate the future of jobs in the tech sector—will driverless technology lead to layoffs or create new opportunities? Overall, an entertaining look at the complex relationship between society and rapid technological change.

Gordon Wintrob, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at Newfront Gordon co-founded Newfront, an insurance-technology startup and brokerage firm last publicly valued at $2.2 billion, but he did not start his career in insurance. We dig into his career from his days in college and how he pivoted from his electrical engineering and computer science studies to investment banking and then to the world of startups. Gordon credits shadowing for a lot of his success. We explore how he and his co-founder got the idea for Newfront, how they found an insurance broker to let them observe his work and the aha moments along the way. He even shares some of the startup ideas they left behind, how shadowing is still part of Newfront's culture today and a unique part of the startup's job interviews. https://bit.ly/blind-podcast

Christopher Garzon, the founder and CEO of Data Engineer Academy, shares his insider's perspective on the booming field of data engineering. He reveals why companies like Amazon and Lyft are eager to hire data engineers and how aspiring professionals can navigate this landscape. Christopher discusses the transformative journey of non-tech individuals breaking into data roles, detailing the personalized curriculum and supportive services at his academy. With salaries reaching up to $258,000, he emphasizes the lucrative and stable future awaiting data engineers.

Jack and Rick dive into the seismic shift in Amazon's work culture due to a new memo mandating a return to the office. They discuss the implications of reducing bureaucracy, the creation of a whistleblower 'bureaucracy mailbox,' and the potential effects on management structures. The duo examines the likely stock market winners and losers, alongside the job prospects for recently laid-off managers. They also unpack the strategic PR tactics behind memo releases, highlighting the battle between transparency and corporate narrative.