Sora app review, Perplexity’s Comet is free, and which AI tools reign supreme? | E2188

Key Concepts

Executive training, executive function, AI browsers, Perplexity Comet browser, OpenAI browser, browser wars, AI search, data scraping, SEO, Reddit stock, VC networking, cold brew recipe, AlphaSense, Lean AI native companies, revenue per employee, founder equity, GLP-1s, OpenAI tender offer, Sora (OpenAI social app), copyright infringement, Disney Plus integration, Apple Iceblock app, whistleblower laws, Anti-Fraud Company.

Executive Training Program

Jason Calacanis (JCAL) has started an executive training program within his venture firm due to a perceived lack of executive function in young employees.

• Problem: New workforce entrants lack basic executive skills like time management, communication, and task completion. Only 1 in 5 possess executive function (self-direction).
• Solution: A structured program focusing on in-office presence, hour tracking, calendar blocking, to-do lists, and crisp communication.
• Results: Participants showed significant improvement (20% increase in effectiveness) within a week, increasing work hours from 35-40 to 50-60 per week.
• Example: Improved communication skills, answering questions from team members effectively.
• Argument: Investing in training yields significant returns, equivalent to gaining additional employees.

AI Browser Wars and Perplexity's Comet

The discussion shifts to AI-infused browsers, specifically Perplexity's Comet browser and the broader "browser wars."

• News: Perplexity made Comet browser free and removed the waitlist, indicating aggressive user acquisition.
• Reasoning: AI browsers increase AI utilization, potentially raising costs for Perplexity.
• JCAL's AI Shortcut: JCAL demonstrates a custom shortcut that uses the browser to scrape multiple websites for trending tech news, highlighting the compute-intensive nature of AI browsers.
• Concerns: The high capital expenditure (capex) on servers and data centers for AI necessitates a clear return on investment (ROI).
• Google Chrome: Google Chrome launched its AI companion, but it's considered less feature-rich than Comet.
• OpenAI Browser: PolyMarket predicts a 74% chance of OpenAI launching a browser by the end of 2025.
• Acquisition Angle: Perplexity's move could be positioning them for acquisition by a major LLM company seeking to own a browser.
• Data Scraping Backdoor: AI browsers offer a "backdoor hack" for training data, bypassing restrictions on web scraping by LLMs. Since the scraping is done by individual users, it's harder to block.
• Example: Indexing LinkedIn pages through user browsing, even if LinkedIn restricts direct scraping.
• Perplexity Search API: Perplexity launched a Search API, similar to Brave's approach.
• Brave Browser: Brave has reached 100 million monthly active users and 1.6 billion queries per month with Brave search.
• SEO Impact: Google's changes to search result pagination may negatively impact websites like Reddit that rely on SEO.
• Reddit's Search: Reddit's own search product is considered a flop. JCAL suggests Reddit should integrate an LLM search box and focus on direct traffic.

Networking Strategies for Founders

The conversation explores creative ways for founders to meet venture capitalists (VCs).

• Blue Bottle Hack: A founder sat at a Blue Bottle coffee shop with a sign offering "Coffee on me for valuable feedback," resulting in connections with 121 people, including three VCs.
• Listening Lab Concept: Approaching people at coffee shops and offering to buy them coffee in exchange for feedback on an app.
• Key Takeaway: Demonstrating fearlessness and the ability to communicate in person is valuable.
• Emailing Investors:
  • Keep emails short and crisp.
  • Personalize the email by referencing something specific about the investor.
  • Lead with a strong chart or customer testimonial.
  • Ask a specific question seeking feedback.
  • Offer to meet anytime, anywhere, even for just 10 minutes.
• Social Media Engagement:
  • Engage with investors on social media.
  • Create a clear and concise social media profile explaining who you are and what you do.
  • Pin tweets or posts that answer the questions: Who are you? What are you doing? Why should I care?
• Finding a Co-founder: Actively seek out potential co-founders instead of passively waiting for them to appear.

Lean AI Native Companies and Founder Equity

The discussion analyzes the "Lean AI Native Companies" leaderboard, which ranks companies by revenue per employee.

• Context: The leaderboard highlights companies achieving high revenue per employee through AI and automation.
• Examples: Telegram and Midjourney are at the top, but their situations may not be typical.
• Argument: While high revenue per employee is impressive, it's not always the best goal. Companies should balance profitability with ambition and growth.
• Marketplace vs. AI Software: Marketplaces require more upfront investment in building supply, while AI software companies can scale more easily.
• Founder Equity: Founders should aim to maintain higher ownership by being frugal and raising money efficiently.
• Dilution Example: Raising $3 million at a $10 million valuation dilutes 30%, while raising $1 million at $10 million followed by $2 million at $20 million is more efficient.
• Team Size: Start with a small team and avoid having too many high-paid executives early on.

JCAL's Weight Loss and GLP-1s

JCAL discusses his weight loss journey using GLP-1 medications.

• Personal Story: JCAL lost 40 pounds using GLP-1s and emphasizes the positive impact on his health and well-being.
• Endorsement: He promotes ro.co as a source for affordable GLP-1s, with or without insurance.
• Motivation: He wanted to live longer for his daughters.

OpenAI Tender Offer and Sora

The conversation covers OpenAI's completed tender offer and the launch of its new social app, Sora.

• OpenAI Tender Offer: OpenAI's tender offer valued the company at $500 billion, making it the most valuable private company.
• Supply Issue: The tender offer was undersubscribed, with employees not selling all available shares, indicating confidence in the company's future.
• JCAL's Advice: If he were an OpenAI employee, he would sell most of his shares to diversify his portfolio.
• Sora App: OpenAI launched Sora, a social app using the Sora 2 model for creating AI-generated videos.
• Impressions: Sora is a significant step up in AI video generation, demonstrating improved storytelling and creativity.
• Examples:
  • "The first astronaut on the moon gets on the lunar surface and realizes he's not wearing a space suit." Sora added the detail that he was wearing shorts and made the character sound like Neil Armstrong.
  • Sora created an Elvis impersonator that was close enough to Elvis without being creepy.
  • "A Jedi Knight talks his way out of a parking ticket." Sora added the line "These are not the violations you're looking for."
• Copyright Concerns: Sora allows users to recreate copyrighted characters, with OpenAI reportedly requiring copyright holders to opt out.
• Disney Plus Integration: JCAL proposes integrating AI video generation into Disney Plus, allowing users to create personalized content with Disney characters.
• Future of Entertainment: The future of entertainment involves users creating and publishing their own short movies and stories.

Apple Iceblock App and Free Speech

The discussion addresses Apple's removal of the Iceblock app, which tracked ICE agents.

• Context: Apple removed the app after pressure from the White House.
• Arguments:
  • The removal raises free speech concerns, similar to previous controversies involving government intervention on social media platforms.
  • There are laws against interfering with police activity.
  • The app could potentially endanger both ICE agents and protesters.
• Precedent: There is precedent for restricting information that could interfere with law enforcement, such as DUI checkpoint apps.
• Ways App: Google's Ways app allows users to report speed traps, which has faced legal challenges but no actual lawsuits.
• Safety Concerns: JCAL emphasizes the importance of safety and cautions against actions that could put people in danger.

The Anti-Fraud Company

The episode concludes with a discussion of the Anti-Fraud Company, a startup focused on identifying and reporting government fraud.

• Concept: The company aims to find waste and fraud in the government and collect money via whistleblower programs.
• Launch Video: The launch video is criticized for being amateurish and lacking a clear message.
• Whistleblower Laws: Whistleblower laws in the United States offer significant rewards for reporting fraud.
• Business Model: The Anti-Fraud Company will likely help individuals pursue whistleblower claims and take a percentage of the recovered funds.
• SEC Focus: The SEC is actively promoting whistleblower awards.

Conclusion

The episode covers a wide range of topics, from executive training and AI browsers to founder equity and government fraud. Key takeaways include the importance of investing in employee training, the potential of AI browsers to disrupt the search market, the need for founders to be frugal and maintain equity, and the opportunities for innovation in AI-generated content. The discussion also highlights the ongoing debates surrounding free speech, censorship, and the role of technology companies in regulating information.