#108 Meta vs. OpenAI: Who Wins the Next Attention War?
In this episode of More or Less, we dive into the shifting landscape of AI, attention, and business models. From the rise of ChatGPT as both productivity tool and entertainment, to the coming collision between commerce and AI-driven recommendations, the Morins and Lessins debate what’s hype, what’s real, and where the next big opportunities are for startups and VCs. Plus: the truth about local news, why coding is fun again, and a pop culture corner you won’t want to miss. Chapters:01:30 – Wedding Stories & The Early Jackson Hole Days03:00 – Interviewing Mark Zuckerberg Goes Wrong09:30 – Building Audiences: Why Longer is Better (and Sponsors Are Lining Up)14:00 – Is AI for Productivity or Personal Use? The Real Data16:00 – Big Tech vs. Startups: Who Wins Consumer AI?20:00 – Can AI Save Local News? The Verticalization Debate24:00 – The Real Business of Local Data: City Councils and Real Estate28:30 – AI Business Models: Advertising, Affiliate, or Something New?31:00 – Is AI Stealing Attention from Instagram? The Frenetic Race33:00 – Commerce, Discovery, and the Death of Search37:00 – The Productivity Trap: Why Margins Go to Zero39:00 – How Are VCs Really Using AI? The Memory Game40:30 – AI as Entertainment: Coding vs. Netflix43:00 – The Future of Commerce: Push vs. Pull, Meta vs. OpenAI46:00 – Google, Gemini, and the Battle for Relevance47:30 – Late Night Coding: Why Claude Is Addictive53:00 – Pop Culture Corner: Lena Dunham, AI Bands, and WimbledonWe’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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#107 Anatoly Yakovenko: Crypto Isn’t for Everyone (And That’s a Good Thing)
We’re joined by a very special guest, Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko for a wide-ranging conversation on crypto, tech, and what’s next. He breaks down the “punks, hoodies, suits” cycle, why AI is just a product while crypto is a movement, and how stablecoins are quietly driving global USD adoption. He shares his $1T stablecoin prediction, explains the Solana phone’s goal to challenge app store monopolies, and argues that crypto’s future lies not in mass adoption, but in serving a small group of high-value users.Chapters:00:00 Intro & Anatoly’s Backstory03:20 Crypto’s Evolution: Punks, Hoodies, and Suits07:00 Bitcoin, Meme Investing, and the Value of Ideas12:00 Meme Coins: Infrastructure and Insanity17:45 Why Build a Crypto Phone? Platform Wars Explained24:00 Talent, Incentives, and the Crypto Dilemma30:00 Stablecoins, Dollar Hegemony, and Global Finance39:50 The Punks Are the Bankers Now41:10 The Internet, Extremes, and the Death of Truth49:00 Engagement, Incentives, and the Future of Platforms52:20 Are the Punks Too Rich to Care?54:30 Wrap-Up: Bold Predictions and Where Crypto Goes NextWe’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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#106: AI Researchers Earning More Than Cristiano Ronaldo
This week, the gloves come off. We're diving into Meta's raid on OpenAI, asking if Mark Zuckerberg is the new Yankees of AI and who will be the 'Moneyball' underdog. Plus, a hot take on why usage-based pricing for AI is a flawed model, the challenge of creating 'God-tier' content that works everywhere, and why AI researchers are now earning more than soccer superstars. It's a packed episode you don't want to miss!Chapters:00:00 - Intro01:18 - X vs. Threads: A Tale of Two Internets04:38 - The “God Content” Challenge: Can You Go Viral Everywhere?11:15 - Google’s “Last Gasp” to Save Publishers14:23 - The Next Big Thing: Vanity Checks & Gold Delivery20:15 - The Problem with AI Business Models21:52 - Usage-Based Pricing is Generally Bad26:45 - The Big News: Meta’s OpenAI Raid29:45 - The AI Moneyball Era: Who are the Oakland A’s?34:26 - What Will Meta’s New Super-Team Actually Build?41:10 - The “Baller” Leader Move OpenAI Didn’t Make42:50 - AI Researchers Are The New Rockstars44:45 - F1 Movie: The Best Film of the Year?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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#105: Tesla, Bumble, And Bezos' Wedding - Everything Is A Mess
Join the More or Less crew for a Summer Edition from the cabins! We dive into how AI is reshaping hiring, the future of resumes, the rise of agentic coding assistants, and why service businesses suck (unless you're Brit doing a fun side-hustle ). As always, we tackle the latest in tech news from The Information, from OpenAI's copyright battles to the next phase of Bumble and the realities of Tesla's Robotaxis. 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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#104: AI Clones, Commoditized Ads, and the Cult of Trust
This week on More or Less, we dive into the escalating AI talent wars, Meta’s bold moves, and what the latest hires really mean for the future of AI innovation. The More or Less team break down why product execution is overtaking research wizardry, what's happening between OpenAI and Microsoft, and how AI is reshaping inbound for all markets.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
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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