#101: The Business of OnlyFans, Future of Identity, and Navigating Privacy in the AI Age
This week on More or Less: Investors too squeamish for OnlyFans, AI makes the creator economy weirder (and richer), and why your next ETF might be Mormon. Plus, the real reason nobody watches your full podcast, and a healthy dose of tech industry self-roasting. TakeawaysOnlyFans presents a unique investment opportunity despite its controversial nature.Market dynamics in the sex work industry are shifting due to platforms like OnlyFans.Investment perspectives on controversial industries are evolving with societal changes.Digital identity verification is becoming increasingly important in the tech landscape.AI is transforming content creation and user interaction on platforms like OnlyFans.The need for robust age verification systems is critical for online safety.Social engineering poses significant risks to digital security and identity verification.The intersection of technology and privacy raises important ethical questions.New technologies are emerging to address identity verification challenges. Cybersecurity is a growing concern in today's digital age.Personal security measures are becoming increasingly important.The evolution of media is leading to new forms of content consumption.Platforms like TBPN are disrupting traditional media models.Cultural shifts are changing the landscape of digital content.Celebrity ventures are becoming significant players in the market.The importance of remembering complex passwords cannot be overstated.Media companies must adapt to the soundbite era to stay relevant.Tech hiring is experiencing a downturn post-pandemic.The de-stigmatization of platforms like OnlyFans is creating new opportunities.We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessConnect with us here:Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessinDave Morin: https://x.com/davemorinJessica Lessin: https://x.com/JessicalessinBrit Morin: https://x.com/britChapters00:00 Celebrating Milestones and Listener Engagement03:00 The Business of OnlyFans and Its Market Dynamics05:58 Investment Perspectives on Controversial Industries09:04 The Evolution of Digital Identity and Security12:00 The Intersection of Technology and Privacy14:59 The Future of Age Verification and Digital Safety17:53 The Role of AI in Content Creation and Interaction20:59 Exploring New Technologies for Identity Verification24:06 The Implications of Social Engineering and Security Risks34:00 Navigating Cybersecurity Challenges36:55 The Importance of Personal Security39:57 Media Evolution and Disruption44:03 The Future of Tech and Media49:57 Cultural Shifts in Digital Content53:58 Celebrity Ventures and Market Trends
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#100: OpenAI Teams Up with Jony Ive, Vibe Coding, Gemini, and More
This week, Sam and Dave are joined by a very special guest: Synthetic Fidji. Yes, an AI version of Fidji Simo, created after the real one politely declined (hey, the show must go on, okay?).They get into:the bull and bear case for vibe codingGemini vs. GPT (is Sam having second thoughts?)why GitHub might be quietly, ruthlessly winning the AI dev racethe identity crisis no one’s cracked with LLMsPlus: OpenAI just spent $6 billion on hardware to team up with Jony Ive, the MEO phone is suddenly everywhere, and more.We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessinDave Morin: https://x.com/davemorinJessica Lessin: https://x.com/JessicalessinBrit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Introduction01:24 OpenAI CEO of Applications?07:55 Tools that ACTUALLY work18:47 Is everyone lying about vibe coding?43:10 The big identity problem with LLMs (and Zapier)52:26 Google I/O: "Who cares?"54:13 Is OpenAI big tech? They buy Jony Ive's startup56:17 The "hyper-viral" Methaphone. How?59:40 Outro
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#99: The Airbnb Strategy Nobody’s Talking About
What happens when Sam gets fed up with shady secondary brokers mid-recording? He starts vibe coding a platform to replace them—live on the pod!On this week’s More or Less, the gang dives deep into the messy mechanics of the secondary markets and how early cashouts might be a bigger red flag than anyone wants to admit.Plus:Airbnb’s déjà vu product strategyThe quiet crisis in venture liquidity (and who’s actually good at selling)OpenAI’s new “CEO of Applications”, andThe looming threat of Trump’s nonprofit tax crackdown (and what it means for Harvard, endowments, and… Froyo)We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit
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#98: OpenAI Acquires Windsurf for $3B, Google's Stock Dips
The countdown to Episode 100 is on, but this week, it's more news and less Sam.Jessica, Brit, and Dave dig into a jam-packed week across tech, AI, VC, and culture—starting with Dave topping a surprise list of top angel investors (yes, above Peter Thiel), raising questions about who really shows up on cap tables and why no women made the cut.The crew unpack:Windsurf’s $3B acquisition by OpenAIApple’s potential move to replace Google with its own AI search in SafariA historic week of M&A with DoorDash, Datadog, and Function Health, andWhy tech was (mostly) absent from this year’s Met GalaWe’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Trailer01:24 Nearly 100 episodes02:35 Top one angel investor: David Morin07:22 Big M&As and vibe coding20:09 Digital media22:09 Is Google search dying?30:13 New Netflix interface32:18 Fund entities and structures (Sam, don't listen!)44:37 Pop culture corner: Barry Diller46:20 Pop culture corner: Met Gala54:44 Happy birthday to Jess55:26 Outro
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#97: How OpenAI Is Beating Google and Meta at Their Own Game
Jess, Sam, Brit, and Dave are back on More or Less with plenty to unpack—from Meta and Google’s AI sprawl to Snap’s fading relevance and the monetization questions hanging over tech.Here’s what they get into:– Why OpenAI is crushing the consumer AI game– Sam’s new startup: The Ruck Rock fitness empire– Meta’s AI app confusion (and Ray-Ban power moves)– Snap’s ad crash—and a left-field fix involving Sam Altman– AI and mental health: the risks no one’s talking aboutPlus: the parenting trick Meghan Markle and Sam both swear by—and why Dave might soon be replaced by an AI on the board.We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Trailer01:20 AI investors, New York, Austin05:01 The Ruck Rock, Methaphone, Weighted Tungsten cases11:02 Meta AI, Google Gemini, ChatGPT21:46 The way to win in AI31:39 Snap snapped, and macroeconomics too34:29 Thinking Machines Lab38:21 AI and mental health45:32 Pop culture: Beyonce, Warriors, Meghan Markle48:56 Outro
Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin have debated the future of Silicon Valley and tech as the closest of friends for the last 15 years. Now six companies, two venture funds and more than a decade at Google, Apple and Facebook later, they are opening up the debate. From The Information, Offline Ventures, and Slow Ventures.
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