The re:Start Pod

Three founders. One unfiltered take on AI’s future. In this episode of the ScholarAI Founders Pod, Damon, Shashi, and Lakshya return for a packed discussion on:- The real implications of open-source AI vs. closed models- Whether Anthropic, OpenAI, and Mistral are over- or under-valued- NVIDIA’s dominance and how founders should think about compute- Why the next great AI company might not be a chatbot- Whether GPT-4.5 is quietly disrupting everything- And the honest debate: are we running out of GPUs?This one’s full of real founder talk — from infrastructure bets to application strategy and beyond. A must-listen if you’re building in AI or investing in it.(0:00) Open vs. Closed-Source AI: What’s Actually at Stake? (6:03) Mistral’s New Model & Product: How Does It Stack Up? (10:56) Should Founders Build on Open-Source or Closed Models? (17:35) GPU Bottlenecks & Infrastructure Tradeoffs (22:45) Model Hosting Costs Are Wild—Who Can Keep Up? (26:31) Infra vs. Product: What Really Drives Adoption? (31:12) GPT-4.5 vs. GPT-5: What's the Real Leap? (36:55) Building an AI Company in 2025: Advice for Founders (42:47) When Will AI Agents Finally Deliver on the Hype? (48:23) Founders Roundtable: Big Lessons from the Past Year (52:11) What We’re Most Excited to Build Next Follow the Founders:https://x.com/DamonBurrowhttps://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshihttps://x.com/reShashiFollow the Pod on Socials:X: https://x.com/ScholarAIInstagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/

In this episode, Lakshya and Shashi dive deep into how AI has completely changed what it means to “build” as a founder. From using tools like Cursor, Claude, and GPT to ship real products without engineers — to launching Notillo, a “Duolingo for college classes". We reflect on what’s changed since the early days of ScholarAI, why distribution and user love now matter more than technical moats, and how tools like Cursor have quietly become the new default IDE for modern builders.They also debate:Do non-technical founders even need cofounders anymore?Why “GPT wrapper” is a broken frameworkWhether Perplexity will survive the search warsWhy Cursor’s rise might signal a new class of AI-native software companiesHow they use Claude + Cursor to write, code, debug, and deploy — fastFollow the Founders:https://x.com/DamonBurrowhttps://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshihttps://x.com/reShashiFollow the Pod on Socials:X: https://x.com/ScholarAIInstagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/

(0:00) AI’s role in research and experimentation(3:15) AI tools accelerating research—where they work and fail(7:40) Can AI actually plan and run experiments?(12:10) AI as a no-code tool—can anyone build software now?(16:45) The rise of AI-powered startups—why execution matters(21:20) AI and the hiring shift—how companies are adapting(26:50) Why SaaS is evolving—AI’s role in reshaping business models(31:25) The challenges of selling AI-powered software(35:40) Who will dominate AI—tech giants or startups?This week, we explore how AI is revolutionizing research, empowering non-coders to build businesses, and disrupting traditional SaaS models.Is AI making software a commodity, research faster, and hiring more selective? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.Follow the Founders:https://x.com/DamonBurrowhttps://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshihttps://x.com/reShashiFollow the Pod on Socials:X: https://x.com/ScholarAIInstagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/

The PhD Funding Crisis & AI’s Role in Research(0:00) PhD programs are cutting funding and reducing student intake(4:30) Universities like Cornell, UPenn, and Pitt scaling back PhD admissions(9:10) Postdocs are disappearing as research budgets shrinkAI Upgrades & Industry Shifts(14:40) Sonnet 3.7 and GPT-4.5 release—what’s actually new?(19:15) How AI model selection is changing user behavior(23:50) AI replacing Google—how people are shifting their search habitsThe Satoshi Nakamoto Conspiracy(28:20) The theory that Jack Dorsey is Satoshi Nakamoto(33:45) Blockchain clues, hidden messages, and cryptographic connections(38:10) Why the mystery of Bitcoin’s creator still mattersThis week, we break down the crisis in academia, the latest AI model releases, and the mystery surrounding Bitcoin’s creator.With universities cutting PhD funding, AI research tools evolving, and speculation around Satoshi Nakamoto, we explore the biggest disruptions happening now.Are AI tools replacing human intelligence, or are they just another tool for productivity? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.Follow the Founders:https://x.com/DamonBurrowhttps://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshihttps://x.com/reShashiFollow the Pod on Socials:X: https://x.com/ScholarAIInstagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/Try our new app: https://notilo.ai

🚀 AI Disruption & Job Market(4:00) "Deep Research just changed the game—AI can now write full reports."(10:10) "These jobs are at risk first—analysts, paralegals, and data entry."(15:20) "Most people have no idea how powerful AI is right now."📉 The Market Shakeup(20:10) "AI models like this will replace jobs—it’s just a matter of when."(26:30) "Palantir’s stock is up 65%—but is it a smart bet?"(33:00) "Why companies are struggling to make money with AI despite the hype."🧠 AI Model Wars & Tech Upgrades(38:30) "Google’s Gemini Flash just made AI even more powerful."(44:20) "RAG models are becoming obsolete—what happens next?"(48:40) "AI-native companies will outcompete traditional businesses—here’s why."This week, we explore how AI tools are getting smarter—fast. But is the world ready for what’s coming?From OpenAI’s Deep Research generating full reports to Google’s Gemini Flash 2.0 making AI even more powerful, we break down the biggest shifts in AI right now.Are we entering an AI revolution, or is this another hype cycle? Let us know what you think in the comments.Watch the full episode now & subscribe for more AI and tech insights.Follow the Founders:https://x.com/DamonBurrowhttps://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshihttps://x.com/reShashiFollow the Pod on Socials:X: https://x.com/ScholarAIInstagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/Try our new app: https://notilo.ai

(0:00) The AI Model That’s Shifting Everything(4:20) Tesla’s FSD: Game-Changer or Overhyped?(10:30) The Cybertruck Debate: Too Much Attention?(16:40) A New AI Model Just Disrupted the Entire Industry(22:00) The Market Reaction: Billions Lost in One Day(27:30) Do We Still Need More GPUs, or Is AI Moving Beyond That?(32:00) The Future of AI Computing: Edge vs. Cloud(38:50) Will Open-Source AI Make Paid Models Obsolete?(45:10) A Major Tech Giant Just Tried to Buy This AI Model—Here’s What Happened(50:00) Are We in an AI Bubble, or Just Getting Started?(55:30) Final Thoughts & What’s Next in AIThis week, we dive into an AI breakthrough that’s changing everything overnight.A new AI model has emerged that is faster, cheaper, and just as powerful as the best models out there. Billions were wiped from the market as companies scrambled to react.Is open-source AI finally outpacing paid models? What does this mean for the future of AI computing—are we moving past GPUs?We also reveal how a major tech company secretly tried to buy this AI model—and why the deal didn’t happen.Is this the beginning of an AI revolution or just a market correction? Tune in now to find out.Follow the Founders:https://x.com/DamonBurrowhttps://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshihttps://x.com/reShashiFollow the Pod on Socials:X: https://x.com/ScholarAIInstagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.podLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/

(0:00) Intro – What is Project Stargate? (1:30) AI Compute Wars & Why OpenAI is Running Out of Resources (4:20) Microsoft, NVIDIA, and SoftBank’s Role in AI Infrastructure (10:00) Is OpenAI a Financial Bubble? (16:40) Who’s Actually Funding This $500B AI Project? (22:20) Do We Really Need More Data Centers? (25:30) Will AI Become a Monopoly or an Oligarchy? (30:30) Who Owns the Future of AI? (35:20) Google’s AI Advantage & Why YouTube Might Be the Key (39:40) OpenAI’s AGI Definition is Just About Profit (42:30) Project Stargate vs. The Manhattan Project—A False Comparison? This week, we break down Project Stargate, a massive new AI initiative with $500 billion in projected investment. With OpenAI, SoftBank, Oracle, and NVIDIA leading the charge, this project aims to secure AI infrastructure for the future—but is it a real innovation or just a financial bubble? We dive into the hidden bottlenecks of AI compute, Microsoft’s shifting role, and whether AI monopolies are inevitable. Is OpenAI on the verge of collapse, or is this its most strategic play yet? And who will dominate AI in the next decade—Google, OpenAI, or Elon Musk’s XAI? Join us for a deep dive into the biggest AI power struggle yet. Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Drop a comment or message us on socials! Follow the Founders: https://x.com/DamonBurrow https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi https://x.com/reShashi Follow the Pod on Socials: X: https://x.com/ScholarAI Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_/ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/

(0:00) NVIDIA at CES (2:20) NVIDIA and self-driving cars (14:37) Legacy car manufacturers: Can they keep up? (18:06) What is the dead internet? (21:50) Meta’s AI personas and their implications (29:30) The positives of the dead internet (31:27) Ethics of AI-generated content (38:39) Opportunities for solopreneurs Follow the Founders: https://x.com/DamonBurrow https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi https://x.com/reShashi Follow the Pod on Socials: X: https://x.com/ScholarAI Instagram: @scholarai_ TikTok: @founders.pod LinkedIn: Scholar AI This week, we dive into NVIDIA's latest innovations from CES and their impact on self-driving cars, sparking a broader discussion about legacy automakers like Toyota (14:39). We also tackle the fascinating and eerie concept of the “dead internet” (19:48), the rise of AI personas by Meta, and the ethics of AI-generated content, including its implications for influencers and brand trust (28:50). Finally, we end on an optimistic note with Shashi’s advice for solopreneurs navigating this rapidly evolving tech landscape (40:20). Have a topic you’d like us to cover? Let us know in the comments or message us on socials! Thanks for listening!

(4:45) Personal goals for 2025 (7:40) AI products in 2024 and 2025 (12:30) Wearables in 2024 and 2025 (18:30) Providers in 2025: Anthropic, NVIDIA (29:50) Apple Intelligence and On-Prem (35:30) Are agents going to work? (41:00) Blockchain in 2025 (45:38) What are we most excited about in tech/business in 2025? Follow the Founders: https://x.com/DamonBurrow https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi https://x.com/reShashi Follow the Pod on Socials: X: https://x.com/ScholarAI Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_ TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/ As we close out 2024, we take a moment to reflect on the year and share our personal goals for 2025. Dive into a dynamic discussion on the winners and losers of 2024—covering AI wearables, big tech moves, crypto’s ongoing rollercoaster, and the rise of providers like Anthropic and NVIDIA. Looking ahead, we unpack predictions for 2025: Will AI agents finally live up to the hype? How will blockchain and hardware innovation shape the future? And, what’s next for Apple Intelligence? Join us as we share what excites us most about the upcoming year in tech and business. Have any questions for us or topics you'd like us to cover? Drop them in the comments below or send us a message on socials. Thanks for listening!

(0:00) intros (2:45) The drone debate (8:30) Tesla and Figure’s humanoid robots (15:10) The physics problem in robotics (22:20) Google’s AI strategy (28:45) Predictions for AI and robotics in 2025 Follow the Founders: https://x.com/DamonBurrow https://x.com/Lakshya__Bakshi https://x.com/reShashi Follow the Pod on Socials: - X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/ScholarAI - Instagram: https://instagram.com/scholarai_ - TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@founders.pod - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/scholar-ai/ Referenced in the Episode: - Drone Regulation News: https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/drones-security-threat-regulations-048c2123?utm_source=chatgpt.com - Tesla Humanoid Robots: https://techcrunch.com/2024/07/23/elon-musk-sets-2026-optimus-sale-date-heres-where-other-humanoid-robots-stand/?utm_source=chatgpt.com - Google’s Gemini AI Release: https://blog.google/technology/google-deepmind/google-gemini-ai-update-december-2024/?utm_source=chatgpt.com - Robotics in 2025 Predictions: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2024/12/22/10-ai-predictions-for-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com