Reddit's Alexis Ohanian Is Rebooting Digg, Bidding On TikTok And Betting On AI And Women's Sports

Key Concepts

• Dig Comeback: Re-acquisition and rebuilding of Digg.com by Alexis Ohanian and Kevin Rose.
• Online Community Vibes: Aiming to recreate the positive, less polarized atmosphere of early internet communities.
• AI-Powered Moderation: Using AI to provide real-time feedback to users and promote self-regulation in online interactions.
• TikTok Acquisition: Ohanian's involvement as a strategic advisor in Frank McCourt's bid to acquire TikTok's US operations, with a focus on integrating blockchain technology.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Maintaining a commitment to DEI as a key factor in building successful organizations and attracting top talent.
• Investing in Women's Sports: Viewing women's sports as an undervalued asset with significant growth potential.
• Athlete Empowerment: Creating platforms and opportunities for athletes to monetize their social media engagement and combat online harassment.
• Business Dad Podcast: Normalizing conversations about balancing career success and fatherhood among successful men.
• Human Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence: Emphasizing the importance of creativity, empathy, and emotional intelligence in an AI-driven world.
• AI and Entrepreneurship: The potential for AI to empower smaller teams and individual entrepreneurs to achieve significant success.

Dig Comeback: Rebuilding a Social Media Platform

Alexis Ohanian announced that he and Kevin Rose are buying back Digg.com to rebuild it. The goal is to "make the internet fun again" and recapture the positive vibes of early online communities (mid-2000s). Ohanian emphasized that this isn't just about nostalgia but about using new technology, like AI, to improve the user experience.

• Rivalry Turned Partnership: Ohanian and Rose were once rivals (Reddit vs. Digg), but have since become friends and business partners.
• AI-Driven Feedback: The new Digg will use AI to provide users with real-time feedback on their posts, helping them self-regulate and avoid contributing to negativity. For example, AI can inform a user that their post might only be seen by a small percentage of the community due to its content.
• Analog vs. Digital: Ohanian draws an analogy to offline interactions, where social cues help people understand how their behavior is perceived. He believes AI can help replicate these cues online.

TikTok Acquisition and Blockchain Integration

Ohanian is involved as a strategic advisor in Frank McCourt's bid to acquire TikTok's US operations. His primary motivation is to ensure that US TikTok is not controlled by the Chinese government.

• Blockchain Vision: Ohanian sees an opportunity to integrate blockchain technology into TikTok, allowing users to own their identity, profile, and reputation.
• User Experience Focus: The integration of blockchain should be seamless for users, without requiring them to understand the technical details of wallets or blockchains.
• American Ownership: Ohanian states that his priority is for TikTok to be in the hands of American owners.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Business

Ohanian responds to the trend of some Silicon Valley companies stepping back from DEI initiatives. He argues that companies that prioritize DEI will ultimately be more successful because they will attract a broader range of talent.

• Beyond Box-Checking: DEI should not be seen as a mere formality but as a fundamental part of building a strong and inclusive organization.
• Meritocracy and DEI: Ohanian rejects the notion that DEI is incompatible with meritocracy. He believes that companies can hire for greatness while also promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Long-Term Advantage: Companies that maintain their commitment to DEI will have a competitive advantage in the future, as they will be able to attract top talent from a wider pool.

Investing in Women's Sports

Ohanian views investing in women's sports as a smart business decision, citing it as an undervalued asset with significant growth potential.

• Growth Trajectory: He predicts that a women's professional sports team will be worth $1 billion within five years.
• Angel City FC: Ohanian's women's soccer team, Angel City FC, is currently valued at just under $300 million, demonstrating the rapid growth in the value of women's sports teams.
• WNBA Expansion: The recent sale of a WNBA expansion team in Cleveland for $250 million further illustrates the increasing value of women's sports.
• Revenue and Brand Deals: Key metrics for growth include revenue and brand deals.
• Social Media Engagement: Women athletes are highly engaging on social media, creating opportunities for teams to build innovative brand partnerships and generate revenue.

Athlete Empowerment and Inner Circle

Ohanian launched Inner Circle, a social media app specifically for athletes, to address the issues of monetization and online harassment.

• Athlete-Centric Design: The app is designed based on feedback from athletes, addressing their specific needs and concerns.
• Monetization Opportunities: Inner Circle provides athletes with opportunities to monetize their social media engagement through weekly cash payouts.
• Hate and Harassment Mitigation: The platform aims to create a safer and more positive online environment for athletes.
• Real-Time Feedback: Ohanian and his team provide personalized support and gather real-time feedback from athletes using the app.

Business Dad Podcast

Ohanian created the "Business Dad" podcast to normalize conversations about balancing career success and fatherhood among successful men.

• Addressing a Vacuum: He felt there was a lack of resources and conversations about the challenges and rewards of being a successful father.
• Positive Role Models: The podcast aims to provide young men with positive role models who demonstrate that it is possible to be both successful in their careers and dedicated to their families.
• Human Intelligence Focus: Ohanian emphasizes the importance of human intelligence (creativity, empathy, emotional intelligence) in an AI-driven world.

AI and Entrepreneurship

Ohanian believes that AI will empower smaller teams and individual entrepreneurs to achieve significant success.

• One-Person Billion-Dollar Company: He references Sam Altman's prediction that AI will enable the creation of one-person billion-dollar companies.
• Empowered Teams: AI will allow smaller teams to be more competitive and agile, challenging larger incumbents.
• David vs. Goliath: Ohanian's firm, 776, is focused on funding these "Davids" who can leverage AI to disrupt established industries.

Conclusion

Alexis Ohanian is actively involved in several ventures aimed at shaping the future of technology, social media, and sports. His focus is on rebuilding online communities, empowering individuals, and promoting diversity and inclusion. He believes that AI can be a powerful tool for improving online interactions, enabling entrepreneurship, and freeing up humans to focus on creativity, empathy, and emotional intelligence. His investments in women's sports and athlete-centric platforms reflect his commitment to creating opportunities for undervalued groups and fostering a more equitable and inclusive world.