Stuck @Om – Détails, épisodes et analyse

The buzz around artificial intelligence (AI) and its wide-ranging impact is inescapable. But beyond industry disruption, what significant effects does this groundbreaking technology hold for geopolitical dynamics and conflicts? 

Joining me in this episode is Sean Gourley, a renowned scientist and founder of data and machine learning-focused startups Quid and Primer. Sean will share his profound insights on AI, exploring its potential to both benefit and harm humanity. He draws parallels between the rapid 'automation' at the turn of the last century, which was weaponized, leading to wars, and the current situation. He highlights how the stakes are now even higher, with countries like the US, China, and others vying for dominant positions in this field.

Although Sean's perspectives may not always be comforting, they offer valuable insights. A regular guest on our podcast, he joins me annually for a review of significant technology trends and developments. Sean and I have been collaborating since the late 2000s, and his ability to accurately forecast trends has been impressively precise. In other words, his insights are something I pay close attention to.

Grab a cup of coffee and tune in as we explore the dualities we've experienced during the COVID lockdowns, the apparent deficit in societal imagination posing future challenges, and the critical role of AI in shaping various aspects of our world, including the potential for either global peace or conflict.

If you're interested in the following topics, you won't want to miss this episode:

• What we've lost and gained over the past three years.
• The dangers that a lack of imagination poses to our future.
• Sean's perspective on why AI might lead to a challenging 20 to 30 years ahead.
• The global balance of power and its dependence on control over AI technologies.
• Sean's views on how China is positioning itself to gain an AI advantage.
• The influence of AI on real-world medical sciences.
• Reflecting on the kind of world we desire and the extent of our commitment to achieving it."

• WeWork

• Zoom

• Open.ai

• Sean on LinkedIn

• Om’s website: https://om.co/ 

• Om on LinkedIn

• Om on Twitter: @Om

• Om on Instagram: @Om

• Om on Threads: @Om

This conversation with my friend Reilly Brennan - a VC expert for the automotive industry, roams across a broad landscape of topics, from the beginning of Reilly’s interest in the car industry, to his assessment of the auto industry’s progress in 2023, to Reilley’s predictions for 2024, and more — but all of those topics are tied together along the theme of technology. A.I. in particular is making the opportunities in the automotive industry bigger and bolder than we’ve seen for a very long time. Listen to learn what’s going on, what may be coming down the tube, and to learn why the kind of progress that’s typically predicted takes longer than anyone ever says it will.

• How Reilly got into the car business and automobiles

• The changes TESLA has brought to the car industry in the last 10 years

• How Reilly sums up the auto industry’s progress in 2023: the craziest year

• Why do individuals need private cars in the world we live in today?

• Why Om and Reilly actually prefer automated vehicles

• How Waymo could offer its cars in a franchise approach

• Reilly’s predictions for 2024

• Uber

• Waymo

• Mobile-eye

• Invidia

• Qualcomm

• Zitara

• May Mobility

• Gattik 

• Reilly’s company: https://www.trucks.vc/

• Reilly on LinkedIn

• Om’s website: https://om.co/ 

• Om on LinkedIn

• Om on Twitter: @Om

• Om on Instagram: @Om

In this episode of Stuck@Om my good friend Matt Mullenweg joins me. Matt is the CEO of Automattic and a founding member of WordPress. Matt usually travels extensively for work — he logged over 500,000 miles in the air last year — but is enjoying his extended time at home. 

Recently, I started embracing a concept Matt popularized called “Away From Keyboard”, shortened to “AFK”. It began as a simple way to relate that you were away from your desk but evolved into a way to encourage vacation and time off. It’s important to embrace rest and restoration — it helps us become more productive and mentally stable. 

Matt shares that they’ve cultivated a culture at Automattic that’s open and honest, where everyone communicates freely. They’ve found success implementing an open vacation policy (taking as much time off as employees want or need). Every 5 years, Automattic requires its employees to take a 2-3 month paid sabbatical. Matt finds those team members return full of ideas and renewed energy, positively impacting the company. 

We also chat about the importance of virtual social gatherings and the importance of continuing human-to-human connection. Matt also shares some tips for those new to the work-from-home model. Be sure to listen to this short but expansive conversation. 

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• How Matt is enjoying being “grounded” 
• The big idea behind “Away from Keyboard” 
• Automattic’s open vacation and sabbatical policy 
• Matt implemented “half days” due to Covid-19
• Fall back on the core of your culture
• The 5 levels of autonomy
• Make space for virtual social gatherings

• The 5 Levels of Autonomy
• Stuck@Om with Jason Fried
• The Welfare Effects of Social Media
• Automattic
• WordPress
• Houseparty
• Grist

• LinkedIn
• Matt’s Website

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om

In today’s episode of Stuck@Om, I have a conversation with my friend Jason Fried — Co-founder and CEO of Basecamp. We talk about the parts of lockdown that we’ve enjoyed as well as the ways it’s made us more thankful. Jason admits that we don’t realize how much we take for granted. Hopefully, when we emerge from this pandemic we can be more appreciative of the teachers, nannies, and cleaning services that help us manage our everyday lives. 

Jason and I chat about the reality that there are no full-time employees right now. Those lucky enough to work from home are juggling caring for their children, cooking meals, and other priorities. Leaders must recognize this reality and adjust their expectations accordingly. Basecamp has taken this to heart. They know that everyone must find a balance that works for their family. If that means they can only contribute 4 hours towards a workday, they’ve articulated to their employees that they understand — things will be okay at a slower pace. 

We talk about technology and the concept of efficiency and effectiveness. How doing more isn’t always accomplishing more and that activity doesn’t equate to achievement. We also ponder the micro-level changes we will see when we emerge from this pandemic. Will we always stand a foot further apart? Will shaking hands no longer be a social norm? Will the ability to trust become the largest victim of this pandemic? 

Jason and I chat about everything from the coronavirus and climate change to Grand Seiko watches and custom clothing. Listen to hear an engaging conversation between friends. 

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• How Jason and his wife are navigating lockdown with 2 children
• Be creative instead of being bogged down by negativity
• The greatest things about technology are also the worst
• Leaders have to recognize and adapt to the new reality we’re in
• The concept humans struggle with that our identity is found in work
• We need to eliminate the cultural expectation of an immediate response
• Not everything is categorized “breaking news”—it isn’t all important
• Do we have too many tools creating more chaos than order?
• Will trust become the largest victim of this pandemic? 
• The hope that new technologies will emerge out of this
• The coronavirus is just a symptom of larger issues at play
• We have to change and adapt to new realities
• Dealing with mass paranoia: everyone has become dangerous
• We talk about our mutual love of Grand Seiko Watches
• Why I have exactly 100 pieces of clothing in my wardrobe
• The things you should spend money on: good food and comfort

• Basecamp
• Basecamp: Shapeup
• Basecamp’s new creation: Hey
• GitLab
• Son of a Tailor
• The iShuffle Principle
• My Guilty Pleasures
• Thunders Love Socks
• Grand Seiko Watches

• Jason on LinkedIn
• Jason on Twitter

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om

In this episode of Stuck@Om, I chat with my friend Paul Kedrosky, Ph.D.— a general partner in SK Ventures. In our conversation, Paul notes that he’s pretty happy with the way he’s constructed his reality. He jokingly states he’s been in preparation for self-quarantine for the last decade—it’s his time to shine. Aside from missing coffee and sushi, he’s enjoying his time at home with his wife and children. 

When our conversation takes a deeper turn, we chat about how the implicit assumptions our lives are based on are changing — that we are more fragile than we ever imagined. Paul’s been studying the Black Plague and realized that the diaries of that time could’ve been written yesterday in a blog post. The way we deal with global pandemics was the same in the 1600s as it is now—a diet of social distancing and isolation.

Paul and I cover a wide range of topics such as how the airlines are concerned more about their bottom-line than spreading viruses and the information we choose to consume. We talk about the potential creation of new vaccine technologies and his optimistic view of how we will emerge from this pandemic financially. Listen to this episode for some light-hearted banter coupled with deeper topics about the state of our world.

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• How Paul Kedrosky has naturally prepared for self-quarantine
• Is the pandemic exposing who we really are?
• The implicit assumptions our lives are based on
• How the Black Plague compares to the Coronavirus pandemic
• How airlines care little about the consequences of their actions
• Convincing the population to care before it’s far too late
• Understanding what our information diet should consist of
• Humans overestimate their importance in the grand scheme of things
• How Paul thinks we will emerge from this pandemic
• The emergence of new vaccine technologies
• Paul’s optimism about the impact on the economy

• BOOK: Normal Accidents
• The Atlantic

• Paul’s website
• Paul’s Twitter (on sabbatical) 
• Paul on LinkedIn
• SK Ventures

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om

In this episode of Stuck@Om, my dear friend Reilly Brennan — lead partner of Trucks Venture Capital — joins me to talk about the future of the transportation industry. We have a very philosophical conversation about how the Coronavirus pandemic has taken away our basic level of societal trust. Will we think twice before climbing in an Uber ride? What about public transportation? We wonder if rideshare services will start monitoring the health of their drivers and whether or not their vehicles are frequently disinfected. 

Reilly’s venture capital firm invests in auto industry startups in their earliest stages, so he has unique insight into the autonomous vehicle industry and the strides they’re making. We talk about delivery robotics and the increased need for autonomous vehicles to deliver necessities like groceries. We question how the auto industry will survive as dealerships across America are being shut-down. 

It is now becoming apparent that we — as a society — need to redefine what is essential and our treatment of essential workers. Delivery drivers are risking their lives to deliver goods to provide for their families. Families now quarantined at home and teaching their children are realizing just how much work teachers carry on their shoulders. We have an immense need for more healthcare workers who are now on the front-line of the battle. These people need to be treated as essential outside of pandemics and war-time. 

Reilly and I discuss the auto industry in-depth and toss around what the future landscape of the industry could look like. Perhaps people will gravitate towards purchasing new vehicles versus ridesharing or public transportation. The truth is — we don’t know. Please, give our conversation a listen.

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• Reilly Brennan joins me in this episode
• The creation and launching of delivery robotics
• We must redefine what we define as ‘essential’
• Do we need to rethink capitalism?
• How will the automobile sector survive a prolonged shutdown?
• The difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
• The projected future of electric vehicles
• How the micro-mobility landscape will change

• Trucks Venture Capital
• Refraction AI
• Nuro AI
• Instacart
• Shipt
• Lime Rentals
• Bird Rentals
• Spin Rentals

• Reilly on Twitter
• Reilly on LinkedIn

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om

In this episode, I’m Stuck@Om with John Markoff—a renowned technology reporter for the New York Times. John currently allocates his time to writing a biography for Stewart Brand—a writer, editor, and entrepreneur—who is famous for saying “We are as God’s and we might as well get good at it”. John and I discuss topics revolving around the biography, such as the Whole Earth Catalogue and Stewart’s organizations “The Long Now Foundation” and “Revive & Restore”. 

During our conversation, we talk about the importance of our history. As the pandemic is sweeping through the world and we’re losing many of our elderly population—the realization hits me that we are losing a piece of our past. Collective wisdom is being snuffed out and it cannot be replaced. 

We also talk about the evolution of the internet and social networks. We once believed a connected world was a better world — but is that our reality? With the Coronavirus pandemic; will we see a fundamental transformation of the way we communicate? Children are now growing up with iPads, Facetime, and interacting with ‘Alexa’ is normal. We’re already seeing a fundamental shift that will likely be perpetuated. 

Could the pandemic be preparing us for something bigger? A changed planet — perhaps a dystopian future where we are forced to live indoors? John points out that the futures that happen tend to surprise us and come out of nowhere. This world is a giant game of ‘wait and see’. Listen to this conversation for a full exploration of the future of our world, communication, and technology. 

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• John Markoff is staying busy writing Steward Brand’s biography
• The controversial world of Revive and Restore
• John’s origin story is tied to the 1918 Spanish Flu
• Why John had to get out of cybercrime
• The evolution of the internet — good and bad
• Why John wouldn’t permit anonymity across the internet
• The development of language models and artificial intelligence
• The line between machine and human creativity
• A fundamental transformation of the way we communicate
• What the future of tech media looks like

• The Long Now Foundation
• Stewart Brand
• Revive & Restore
• BOOK: Facebook by Steven Levy
• GPT-2 Artificial Intelligence
• The AI institute

• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• New York Times

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om

In this episode of Stuck@Om my friend Matt Buchanan (Executive Editor at Eater.com) joins me for a conversation surrounding the restaurant industry. Matt points out that there are approximately 12 million jobs in the foodservice industry. Of the 10 million people who’ve now filed for unemployment — many were likely from this sector. Dining rooms across the country are forcefully emptied, leaving many restaurants closing their doors. 

Matt believes that takeout and delivery aren’t sufficient to cover the overhead for most restaurants. If they don’t get the help they need, there won’t be a recognizable restaurant industry when we emerge from this pandemic. There may soon be a trickle-down effect as waiters, cooks, busboys, and delivery drivers are laid off. Will farmers be impacted due to a lack of demand? And what about the streak of racism becoming rampant as we see an immense drop in Chinese restaurants being frequented? 

There will also be a long-term physical and psychological impact from the Coronavirus. Will people feel comfortable—even safe—returning to restaurants like they used to? We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis that feels surreal — how do we humanize the lives being lost if we aren’t directly impacted? These are just a few of the many topics that Matt and I talk about. Listen to hear our full conversation about the resounding economic impact the restaurant industry has in our culture. 

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• How restaurants are dealing with the pandemic 
• The recession will have continuing effects for months
• How Eater.com has been navigating the Coronavirus
• We must support our local businesses and restaurants
• How do we humanize the lives being lost?
• We are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis
• Donate coffee to medical professionals on the frontlines
• Amazon is pulling back on affiliate deals
• Why local publications will be hit the hardest
• What Matt and I are doing to pass the time 

• Eater.com
• John le Carré
• Netflix series ‘Lovesick’
• The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa

• Twitter

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om

In this episode of Stuck @ Om, my friend Toby Ord — author and Senior Research Fellow of Philosophy at Oxford University — joins me. Our conversation revolves around topics found in his new book, “The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity”. Could we face the downfall of civilization or human extinction? Even better — what could we achieve if we survive? 

His book explores what could happen if humanity ignores the potential dangers we face. One nation making a serious mistake could trigger a nuclear war which could lead to massive global repercussions. What about engineered viruses that lead to global pandemics? What about the effects of pollution and global warming? 

But we also focus on the need for optimism. After all, without optimism, we can’t invent a better future. Toby points out that we should focus on a vision of what we could create. What could the upper bounds of our achievements look like? Could we change the quality of our lives? Remove pain and suffering? Travel throughout the galaxy?

Will our generation be the one that drops the ball? Or will we be the greatest generation that ever lived? Listen to our conversation as we explore the existential crises we face and how humanity should move forward. 

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• Toby’s book — “The Precipice: Existential Risk and the Future of Humanity”
• Humanity has been at risk of extinction for our entire lifespan
• Where does the Coronavirus pandemic fit in context with other pandemics?
• Existential risk factors and existential security factors
• The impact of global networks of communication
• We must remain optimistic about a better future for humanity
• Why are the biggest risks so neglected?
• How do we help humanity overcome self-interests?
• The most surprising thing Toby learned from his research

• Toby’s Book: The Precipice

• Toby’s Website
• Toby on LinkedIn

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om

My good friend Anne Dwane (General Partner at an early-stage venture capital firm, Village Global) joins me in this episode of Stuck@Om to chat about how we are both navigating life at home during a pandemic. Anne and I have both lives through multiple downturns — the dotcom crash, the 2008 meltdown and of course, the present. So it is obvious we talked about how her experiences through those tough times have given her some insights into navigating the current crisis.

We question if startups will have to deal with salary cuts, layoffs, furloughs, and elimination of non-essential expenses? Ann proposed a thought exercise — If elements of our ‘new normal’ are retained once we emerge from this pandemic, does that change the nature of the startup? Must they already plan to adapt, change strategies, or implement a full pivot? 

Anne points out that we’re living through a threat to our health and way of life that also happens to have an economic impact. We are living in unprecedented times. She believes that the best entrepreneurs realize when the rules of the game have changed. We must learn how to adapt and be thoughtful with our communication. 

In addition, we talked about Anne’s practice of doing something kind for someone else to help ease the hopelessness we’re all feeling. How a simple thing like a phone call, an encouraging email, or a donation to someone in need can make a lasting impact. 

These are just a few of the topics Anne and I peruse in this conversation among friends. Take a moment to listen.

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• The Practice of doing something kind for someone else
• An aviation analogy to demonstrate the importance of communication
• Find clarity and joy in your work when life is personally scary
• How cigarettes, coffee, and work got me through the last downturn
• How to plan for the worst—but hope for the best
• Anne proposes a thought exercise: Does the new normal change the startup?
• Experience helps with confidence and courage
• We are allowed to say “I don’t know” and “I don’t have the answer”
• Be empathetic to the current realities our teams are facing
• Why it’s imperative to embrace your health and wellness 
• What Anne is doing to pass the time

• The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
• Zinch (now Chegg)
• Red Herring
• Military.com
• 7-Minute Workout app
• Calm Meditation app

• LinkedIn

• www.Om.co
• Om on Twitter: @Om
• Om on Instagram: @Om