Explore every episode of the podcast Generative Now | AI Builders on Creating the Future
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your Questions Answered: Vibe Coding, Consumer Defensibility, and the Future of Agent Management | 17 Apr 2025 | 00:17:30 | |
In this special mailbag episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano tackles your questions from X and LinkedIn. He gets into AI's market expansion, startup defensibility, which verticals investors are watching, and how the most interesting new roles are being shaped by AI. Plus, Michael shares what is exciting about consumer AI products right now. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:35) AI Opportunities: New vs. Existing Markets (02:09) Will SaaS TAMs Expand or Contract with AI? (02:59) Creating Defensibility for Consumer AI Startups (05:29) Emerging Roles: Agent Engineers vs. Agent Managers (08:25) Best Verticals for Consumer AI (11:39) What Acquisition Could Fix Apple's AI Lag? (13:19) AI's Potential in Dispute Resolution (14:38) The State of VC Funding in AI Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah: Seed Markets, Vibe Coding, and the Flappy Bird Effect | 10 Apr 2025 | 01:00:04 | |
History may not repeat itself, but it certainly rhymes. Vibe coded games, like a flight simulator from @levelsio, are reminiscent of early iPhone app store games like Flappy Bird and Paper Toss. How else are consumer tech cycles evolving? Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano welcomes back investor Semil Shah for their quarterly check-in. They talk about the landscape of VC seed investing, the impact of AI on tech hubs like New York, LA, and the Bay Area, and whether accelerators like Y Combinator still have the same edge? Flight Simulator: fly.pieter.com Episode Chapters: (01:22) LA vs NYC Tech Scenes (02:54) AI's Geographic Pull (05:37) Gaming as Future Consumer Tech (08:35) Vibe Coding (17:40) Seed Investing in the AI Era (25:13) The Series A Crunch (36:03) Rising Series A Standards (41:14) Bootstrapping vs VC for AI (45:26) Value of University Degrees (55:32) YC's Expanded Cohorts (57:52) Overlooked Seed Trends Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Rajarshi Gupta: Artificial Intelligence and Crypto at Coinbase | 06 Feb 2025 | 00:43:30 | |
This week on the podcast, we’re looking at how machine learning is optimizing how crypto giant Coinbase operates. Coinbase Head of Machine Learning Rajarshi Gupta joins the Generative San Francisco stage to discuss with Anand Iyer, Lightspeed Venture Partner focused on crypto.
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| Anu Atluru: Will AI Change How We Use Social Utilities? | 30 Jan 2025 | 01:12:53 | |
In this episode of Generative Now, host Michael Mignano, Partner at Lightspeed, chats with Anu Atluru—a startup founder, operator, angel investor, and co-runner of Slang—a product studio dedicated to social consumer products. Anu shares her insights on the evolving landscape of social products, the difference between social utilities and social networks, and how AI could reshape the healthcare landscape. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Generative Now (02:55) Exploring Social Utilities and Networks (10:21) Subscription Services and Consumer Behavior (17:14) The Role of AI in Social Utilities (34:06) The Future of Software Creation (37:34) The Value of Software Creation (38:34) Ecosystem and Marketplaces for Software (39:34) Artistic Side of Software (47:42) AI in Medicine and Healthcare (52:21) Will we have AI Doctors? (01:05:19) Lightning Round (01:12:13) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch: X: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/ Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.co Email: generativenow@lsvp.com The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Bill Dally: NVIDIA’s Evolution and Revolution of AI and Computing (Encore) | 16 Jan 2025 | 00:41:06 | |
Inspired by NVIDIA’s announcements at CES, we are looking back at one of our favorite episodes. The explosion of generative AI-powered technologies has forever changed the tech landscape. But the path to the current AI revolution was paved by many breakthroughs. Bill Dally had a hand in quite a few of them. In this week’s episode of Generative Now, we are revisiting a conversation Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano had with Bill Dally, NVIDIA's Chief Scientist and Senior Vice President for Research, whose nearly four-decade long career spans from experiments with neural networks in the 1980s to leading NVIDIA's groundbreaking research. He discusses the work at NVIDIA in advancing GPU technology, as well as the shift towards generative AI. Michael and Bill also explore the challenges of keeping up with rapid advancements in AI, the future implications for the industry, and advice for aspiring engineers. Bill Dally joined NVIDIA in January 2009 as chief scientist, after spending 12 years at Stanford University, where he was chairman of the computer science department. He has published over 250 papers, holds over 120 issued patents, and is an author of four textbooks. Bill received a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech, a master’s in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from CalTech. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:22) Bill Dally's Journey from Neural Networks to NVIDIA (01:39) The Evolution of AI and Computing: A Personal Account (05:48) The AI Revolution: Expectations vs. Reality (08:58) Inside NVIDIA: The Role of Chief Scientist and the Power of Research (11:30) Exploring the Frontiers of Generative AI and Research (15:24) AI’s Role in the Future of Autonomous Vehicles (21:54) The Impact of AI on Chip Design and Efficiency (26:56) Building NVIDIA's Elite Research Team (37:01) Anticipating the Future: Advice for the Next Generation (40:59) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch: www.lsvp.com X: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/ Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.co The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Nir Zicherman: Looking Back at Anchor and the Future of Oboe | 09 Jan 2025 | 00:58:01 | |
Nearly a decade after launching Anchor, cofounders Michael Mignano and Nir Zicherman have a new venture: Oboe. Oboe’s mission is to make humanity smarter through AI-powered tutors. The duo delves deep into their entrepreneurial journey, starting from the early days of Anchor to their latest venture, Oboe, where Nir is the CEO. They discuss the trials and errors of building Anchor, their vision for Oboe, and why AI-driven learning could revolutionize education. Additionally, they touch upon the evolution of social audio, challenges in growth marketing today, and answer questions from X. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:36) Reflecting on Anchor's Early Days (02:08) Podcasting Challenges and Insights (03:11) Introducing Oboe: The New Venture (05:03) The Limitations of LLMs in Education (09:40) Lessons from Being a Second-Time Founder (13:04) The Evolution of Product Development (17:36) Are MVPs relevant anymore? (24:56) Reflecting on Social Audio and Anchor (28:32) The Early Days of Anchor (29:33) The Bet on Podcasting (30:27) Distribution Challenges (31:29) What if Anchor Had Pivoted to Video? (34:14) The Future of Audio and Video (37:30) Hybrid Work Model (43:26) Acquisition by Spotify (52:27) The Future of Learning with AI (57:26) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch: www.lsvp.com X: https://twitter.com/lightspeedvp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightspeed-venture-partners/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lightspeedventurepartners/ Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: generativenow.co The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah: AI Expectations vs Reality, Tech Trends, and 2025 Predictions | 26 Dec 2024 | 01:03:25 | |
Did 2024 live up to the AI hype? Investor Semil Shah joins Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano for another installment of Generative Quarterly. They cover key tech trends from 2024, including Jensen Huang’s Rockstar CEO status and AI consumer devices. Looking ahead to 2025, the duo delves into venture capital dynamics, IPO and M&A prospects, and the influence of tech in Washington D.C. Plus, Michael spins Juan Soto's signing into a lesson for Tech. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:09 Reflecting on 2024: AI Expectations and Reality 02:31 The Cost and Progress of AI 09:53 Funding and Valuation in AI 11:42 Private vs Public Markets 18:21 AI Devices: Hits and Misses 28:59 Jensen Huang: The Rockstar CEO 32:58 The Rise and Risks of AI Giants 35:29 Tech's Influence in Washington 38:45 M&A Predictions and IPO Outlook 43:32 Emerging GPs and Venture Capital Trends 57:41 Juan Soto and the Tech-Baseball Connection 01:02:54 Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Dr. Olga Russakovsky: Shaping the Next Generation of AI Leaders | 19 Dec 2024 | 00:44:32 | |
Dr. Olga Russakovsky, Computer Science at Princeton University, joins Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano to discuss what the next generation of AI talent is learning and where she expects to find the next big innovation in artificial intelligence. From her research in computer vision and human-computer interaction to her work in fairness, accountability, and transparency in AI, Dr. Russakovsky has earned many awards, including the MIT Technology Review’s 35-under-35 Innovator award and the Foreign Policy Magazine’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers award. Dr. Russakovsky is also the co-founder and Board Chair of AI4ALL, a nonprofit that aims to increase the diversity of thought in Artificial Intelligence. Episode Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview 01:17 Olga's Career Journey 02:30 Understanding Computer Vision 04:43 Generative AI and Computer Vision 06:36 Interdisciplinary AI Research 15:00 AI4All: Diversity of Thought 17:44 Challenges and Bias in AI 30:01 Future of AI and Data 40:08 ImageNET 43:38 Closing Thoughts Stay in touch: The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Marissa Mayer: AI to Make the Mundane Magical | 12 Dec 2024 | 00:38:19 | |
What is the future of AI in consumer technology? Marissa Mayer believes this future includes AI that makes the mundane magical. Marissa has been leading consumer technology that affects billions of lives since the dawn of the modern Internet. She was one of the first 20 employees at Google and worked on Google Maps, Gmail, and Google Search. She served as the CEO at Yahoo! where she reinvented the website for the mobile era. Now she is the co-founder and CEO of Sunshine Products, a technology startup focused on making everyday tasks, like contact management or scheduling, magical. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Logan Kilpatrick: Building Google Gemini | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:37:31 | |
This week, Logan Kilpatrick joins Michael Mignano on the Generative NYC Stage to discuss leading the product for Google AI Studio. He and his team built the Google Gemini API into one of the best platforms in the world for developers to build with AI. Logan worked at OpenAI before Google, and he has had a front row seat to the meteoric rise to AI over the past few years. Michael and Logan discuss how Google feels like a startup, why consumers care about product over anything else, and what’s the future landscape of artificial intelligence. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Logan Kilpatrick (01:15) Logan's Journey in AI (02:38) Life at Google AI Studio (03:28) Understanding AI at Google (09:15) The Future of AI Applications (14:29) Scaling Limits and Compute Power (18:37) The Role of Talent in AI (20:35) Thoughts on AGI (29:24) Audience Q&A Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| M.G. Siegler: VC’s Crisis, Defensible Startups, and Hack-quisitions | 27 Nov 2024 | 01:12:27 | |
Writer and investor M.G. Siegler joins Host and Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano from London to discuss the European tech scene and his experiences stepping back from venture capital after a decade with GV. The discussion covers the current 'VC Crisis', including CRV Ventures' decision to return funds, and the complex M&A and IPO landscape. Siegler offers his perspective on investing in people vs ideas, the defensibility of startups, and the anticipated evolution towards AGI. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:32) M.G. Siegler's Background and Move to London (01:07) Investing in London vs. San Francisco (03:56) Exploring the London Tech Scene (10:32) Venture Capital’s Crisis (13:26) AI and the Future of Startups (18:03) The Role of Acquisitions in Tech (22:15) Challenges and Opportunities in Venture Capital (36:06) Current M&A Environment (39:17) VC Funds and the AI Market (42:01) Scaling AI and Future Breakthroughs (54:00) Is the Consumer Market Dead? (59:39) Apple's Position in the AI Race (01:11:26) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| PART 2: Matthew Hartman | The Value of Premium Content and the Shifting Economics of the Internet | 21 Nov 2024 | 00:29:38 | |
We are back with PART 2 of our conversation with Matthew Hartman, a managing partner at the venture firm, Factorial Capital. Factorial partners with angel operators, with a focus on startups in the AI space. Host and Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano talks with Matt about the value of premium content, software on demand, and the shifting economics of the Internet. Plus, is this actually the moment for product managers?
Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Scott Belsky: Content Creators, Creativity, and Marketing in the AI Landscape (Encore) | 03 Apr 2025 | 00:31:41 | |
This week, we’re revisiting a conversation with Scott Belsky, who recently announced a new role leading innovation at A24. Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano talks with Scott about the evolution of marketing with generative content, the future of personalization, and overlooked opportunities in the AI landscape. This conversation took place at the Robin Hood Opportunity x AI Summit. Robin Hood is the largest foundation fighting poverty in New York City. The group has invested nearly $3.5 billion over 35 years and Robin Hood supports all five boroughs with food pantries, high-performing schools, job-training programs, shelters and more. The group has a venture-like approach; they scale programs that are working and find new programs to fill gaps. Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:32) Scott Belsky on AI and Creativity (04:06) The Role of Creators (5:18) AI Generated Content on Social Media (7:59) Customers Inspiring Product Development (09:59) The Hyper Personalization of Digital Experiences (13:57) Overlooked Business Opportunities in AI (18:38) How AIs Can Scale SMBs (20:46) Legal Risks with Enterprise Adoption (25:02) Custom Tuned Models Generated From IP (26:34) The Rise of AI Agents (29:12) Why Scott Belsky is An AI Optimist Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| PART 1: Matthew Hartman | How Factorial Invests in the Future | 14 Nov 2024 | 00:42:57 | |
This week, we are sharing PART ONE with Matthew Hartman, a managing partner at the venture firm Factorial Capital. Factorial partners with angel operators, with a focus on startups in the AI space. Host and Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano sits down with Matt to discuss how Factorial partners with technical founders to explore opportunities. They discuss OpenAI, Apple Intelligence, WebGPU, Suno, and much more. Join us next week for PART TWO of this conversation. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Lulu Cheng Meservey: Go Direct | 31 Oct 2024 | 00:48:06 | |
Lulu Cheng Meservey puts founders in control of their narrative using one simple principle: Go Direct. Lulu is the Founder and CEO of Rostra, the go-to communications expert for Silicon Valley founders of places like Ramp, SSI, Scale, Andruil, Suno, and The Free Press. Lulu joins Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano on the podcast to talk about her modern communications playbook for founders and why a comms strategy is just as important as a product strategy. Plus, Lulu shares her after action reports on Based Zuck, SpaceX, Tesla, and Waymo. Episode Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:29) Why Founder Led Communication Works (03:47) Challenges and Strategies for Founders (06:49) Lulu's Career Experience (08:34) Substack (12:11) Have a Clear Company Mission (18:01) The ‘Go Direct’ Manifesto (23:59) Traditional Media in Communication Strategy (24:40) Targeted Communication: Persuading Key Decision Makers (25:54) Effective Use of Press and Media Outlets (28:30) Lulu’s After Action Report: Tesla's Recent Event (36:11) Apple's Strategy and Public Perception (38:46) Waymo's Underrated Progress in Autonomous Vehicles (40:17) Meta's Positive Feedback Loop and Based Zuck (43:42) The Importance of Founder-Led Companies (47:27) Final Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Toshit Panigrahi: Navigating the Future of Content Monetization | 24 Oct 2024 | 00:45:22 | |
Toshit Panigrahi, CEO and co-founder of TollBit, joins Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano for this week’s episode of Generative Now. TollBit is a platform that enables publishers and content creators to extract revenue from AI companies that use their data. Toshit and Michael discuss how advancements in AI are already reshaping the economics of the internet, TollBit’s innovative “bot paywall” for publishers, and how to incentivize content creation in this constantly evolving landscape.
Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Andrew Mason: Craft and Control in AI Content Creation with Descript | 17 Oct 2024 | 00:40:16 | |
Descript CEO and founder Andrew Mason joins Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano on the podcast to talk about the future of content creation with AI tools. Michael and Andrew talk about the evolution of Descript as an AI product designed for podcast and video creators, navigating a world of synthetic content, and Descript’s new features including Descript Rooms and Underlord. Andrew talks about raising a $50 Million Series C led by OpenAI Startup Fund and how seeing an early version of ChatGPT inspired confidence in Descript’s foundational vision and goal to simplify media production. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| PART 2: Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah | ASI, AI Agents and The Future of Work | 10 Oct 2024 | 00:21:10 | |
This week, we are back with part two of Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah and Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano. Semil is a founding General Partner of Haystack and a Venture Partner at Lightspeed. Semil and Mike pick up their conversation on consumer AI technology, starting with innovative consumer tech like Friend AI by Avi Schiffmann. Mike and Semil consider the impact of Artificial Super Intelligence on the future of work, debate the future evolution of software on demand, and ask if we need AI agents to help us solve our boredom? Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:31) Consumer AI Tech (03:05) Autonomous AI Agents Versus Copilots (04:19) Matt Levine: Robots Make Good AI Junior Analysts (05:53) Future of Training Entry Level Consultants (07:55) Artificial Super Intelligence as a Drop in Coworker (09:38) Will We Have Our Own Agentic Consultants? (11:50) Software On Demand (16:32) AI Generated Music and Content (20:31) Conclusion Stay in touch:
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| PART 1: Generative Quarterly with Semil Shah | Consumer AI Tech, Seed Investing, and Apple | 03 Oct 2024 | 00:34:37 | |
Semil Shah is back for another episode of Generative Quarterly with Michael Mignano, Lightspeed Partner and host of Generative Now. Semil is a founding General Partner of Haystack and a Venture Partner at Lightspeed. Semil and Mike discuss the seed investing landscape, challenges and opportunities in building consumer tech, and competition between Apple and Google. Episode Chapters (00:00) Welcome and Introduction (00:37) Shohei Ohtani and Baseball (03:25) State of Seed Investing (11:04) Semil’s Advice on Pitching Venture Capitalists (14:26) VC Fund Dynamics and AI Hype Machine (18:42) Miami’s Tech Scene (19:18) Building the Next Big AI Consumer Product: Hype vs Reality (26:52) Apple’s New iPhone: Where is the Apple Intelligence? (32:17) Google Android (34:04) Conclusion Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Johnny Ho: Perplexity’s Opportunity to Reinvent Search | 26 Sep 2024 | 00:43:58 | |
Johnny Ho, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Perplexity, joins Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano for this week’s episode of Generative Now. Perplexity is the AI powered search engine that is rapidly growing and challenging the industry status quo. Johnny and Michael talk about his background as a competitive programmer, the business model of search, and Perplexity’s Publisher Program, where publishers earn a share of advertising revenue. Johnny has been ranked number one in the world of competitive programming. He previously worked at Quora as a software engineer – he accomplished all of this before graduating from Harvard. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:40) Johnny Ho's Engineering Background and IOI Achievements (02:44) Transition to Product Strategy (05:39) Perplexity: The Answer Engine (11:06) Technology Behind Perplexity (15:47) Challenges and Future of AI Models (19:41) Growth and Distribution Strategy (23:54) Setting and Achieving Team Goals (25:35) Perplexity's Business Model and Future Plans (31:01) Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Search (32:55) Publisher Program and Content Credibility (39:59) Voice and Multimodal Experiences (42:04) What's Next for Perplexity? (43:12) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Chris Urmson: The Future of Autonomous Vehicle Technology | 19 Sep 2024 | 00:49:32 | |
Generative AI is making it possible to not only remove the human from the driver seat, but, in the world of trucking and freight, from the vehicle entirely. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano speaks with Chris Urmson, CEO and co-founder of Aurora Innovation, a company that makes software for autonomous vehicles with a focus on the trucking industry. Chris shares his journey from participating in the self-driving vehicle DARPA Grand Challenge early in his career, to leading the autonomous vehicle program at Google. Michael also talks with Chris about why Aurora focuses on the trucking and freight industry, the challenge of designing AI systems for self-driving technology, and how technological advancements in radar and LiDAR have helped make autonomous vehicles possible . Chris discusses his insights about developing AI systems to mimic human driving, and how he sees the future of autonomous vehicles for both trucking and personal cars. Chris Urmson is the co-founder and CEO of Aurora Innovation. Before co-founding Aurora, Chris led the development of Google’s autonomous vehicle project (later known as Waymo) from 2009 to 2016. As a graduate student, he also led the Carnegie Mellon University team for the DARPA Grand and Urban Challenge as the Director of Technology, winning second and third place in 2005, and first place in 2007. Chris received his BEng in Computer Engineering from the University of Manitoba, and his Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (01:44) Chris Urmson’s Early Work (04:43) Founding Aurora Innovation (06:25) Aurora’s Focus on Freight and Trucking (09:32) The Challenges in Trucking (17:08) Advancements in Autonomous Vehicle Technology (25:01) Using AI to Enhance Safety in Autonomous Vehicles (27:06) Handling Complex Driving Scenarios (31:40) Addressing Maintenance and Fueling for an Autonomous Vehicle (36:36) Regulatory Considerations (45:47) Predictions for the Future of Autonomous Vehicles (48:57) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Gustav Söderström: Catapulting Spotify to the Front of the AI Revolution (Encore) | 12 Sep 2024 | 00:59:51 | |
Spotify’s personalized recommendations have set it apart from the pack of music streaming platforms for years. Those curated recommendations have only gotten stronger with the onset of AI, with the ability to power things like your own personal AI DJ. This week on the podcast, we’re revisiting a conversation with Spotify’s Co-President, CPO & CTO, Gustav Söderström. Gustav joins host and Lightspeed Partner Michael Mignano to talk about building UX that can power more efficient AI, the future of AGI, and what the technology could look live over the next few iterations. Episode Chapters (00:00) An introduction to Gustav Söderström (01:29) How Spotify became one of the first consumer AI companies (05:57) A philosophical shift: UI that works for AI, not the other way around (12:52) “Talk is cheap, so do a lot of it” (15:00) Building for the tech we will have, not the tech we do have (19:43) What will AI do for media creation? (25:00) The Wild West of model training (29:45) How anthropomorphizing AI can help you understand its potential (37:04) What happens when cognitive labor gets automated? (40:42) How much more intelligent could AI get? (47:45) Is AGI on the horizon, or already here? (53:48) Should we be worried about AGI? Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Gaurav Misra: Building an AI-Powered Creative Studio (Encore) | 05 Sep 2024 | 01:08:00 | |
Captions.AI is taking the world of video creation by storm. With features like AI-corrected eye contact and automatic captions in 28 languages, more creators than ever can bring their ideas to life. This week, we’re revisiting a conversation with Captions.AI Co-Founder and CEO Gaurav Misra. Guarav joined Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano for a conversation spanning from his days as a design engineer at Snap to finding a surprise $500k in his Apple account. Episode Chapters (00:00) An intro to Gaurav Misra, co-founder and CEO of Captions.AI (06:03) Gaurav got an early start in startups (09:24) Getting a phD in machine learning before it was cool (12:04) From Lattice Engines to Microsoft to Localytics (17:26) Making the leap to Snapchat’s elite engineering team (20:57) Keeping innovation alive at a huge consumer company (26:48) Being on the ground floor of Snapchat’s major feature overhauls (30:47) Leaving Snapchat to found a top-tier AI company (33:48) It all started as a social network (38:10) The happy accident of the original Captions.AI tool (44:08) They raised a series A for the social network only to find a $500k surprise (50:00) Building a text-based video editor from the ground up (58:25) Beyond the editor - launching the AI-powered Lipdub (01:04:14) What will video editing look like 5 years from now? (01:06:52) Is Captions.AI hiring? Stay in touch:
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| Lulu Cheng Meservey: The New Rules of Founder Comms (Encore) | 27 Mar 2025 | 00:47:41 | |
Lulu Cheng Meservey puts founders in control of their narrative using one simple principle: Go Direct. This week, we’re revisiting our conversation with the CEO and Founder of Rostra, the go-to communications agency for Silicon Valley founders. Lulu joins Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano on the podcast to talk about her modern communications playbook for founders of places like Ramp, SSI, Scale, Anduril, Suno, and The Free Press. They talk about why a comms strategy is just as important as a product strategy. Plus, Lulu shares her after action reports on Based Zuck, SpaceX, Tesla, and Waymo. Episode Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:29) Why Founder Led Communication Works (03:47) Challenges and Strategies for Founders (06:49) Lulu's Career Experience (08:34) Substack (12:11) Have a Clear Company Mission (18:01) The ‘Go Direct’ Manifesto (23:59) Traditional Media in Communication Strategy (24:40) Targeted Communication: Persuading Key Decision Makers (25:54) Effective Use of Press and Media Outlets (28:30) Lulu’s After Action Report: Tesla's Recent Event (36:11) Apple's Strategy and Public Perception (38:46) Waymo's Underrated Progress in Autonomous Vehicles (40:17) Meta's Positive Feedback Loop and Based Zuck (43:42) The Importance of Founder-Led Companies (47:27) Final Thoughts Stay in touch:
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| Mikey Shulman: Suno and the Sound of AI Music (Encore) | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:47:33 | |
Most of the hype around AI has revolved around its text capabilities, and the powers of LLMs like ChatGPT. But Suno is focusing on the unsung hero of AI - music. Suno is building a future where anyone can make good music - all you need to do is type in a prompt, and out will come a song that’s never existed before. This week, we’re revisiting a conversation with Mikey Shulman, CEO and Co-Founder of Suno. He joined Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano earlier this year to talk through the intricacies of programming for sound, and what this technology could mean for music. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Mikey Shulman and Suno (04:03) How transcribing S&P earnings calls inspired Suno (08:41) There’s no Common Crawl for audio - they had to make their own (12:37) Hacking text-to-speech to make music (16:25) What’s the product market fit for generative music? (21:15) How will AI change the format of music? (28:44) Suno’s highlight reel so far (31:39) Designing with the end user in mind (38:26) Can AI transcend the creativity ceiling? (40:48) How does Mikey think regulation and music rights will shake out? (46:19) Is Suno hiring? Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Chris Pedregal: Revolutionizing Meetings with AI | 22 Aug 2024 | 00:38:11 | |
For many of us, meetings take up a disproportionate amount of our time at work. But with the advent of AI-powered tools, meetings may become more manageable and even productive, all without the sacrifice of control. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano speaks with Chris Pedregal, CEO and co-founder of Granola, an AI-powered notepad and meeting assistant. Chris discusses the unique features that set Granola apart from other AI meeting bots, as well as the challenges of building AI-driven products. Michael also talks with Chris about Granola’s development, user feedback, and the importance of AI-human collaboration. Chris shares his insights about the nuances of effective note-taking, and the future potential of augmented thinking tools. Chris Pedregal is the co-founder and CEO of Granola, an AI-powered meetings tool designed to to change the way we work, with tools that understand us, anticipate our actions, and augment our abilities. In May 2023 they raised a $4.25m Seed round from Lightspeed Venture Partners, betaworks and FirstMinute. He is based in London. Prior to Granola, Chris studied Computer Science at Stanford before joining Google as a Product Manager, where he worked on Gmail, Search and Maps. In 2013 he quit to launch Socratic, an AI-powered tutor for high school students, which was acquired by Google in 2018. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:39) Life in London - from Shoreditch to Street Art (02:10) Building Startups in London vs. New York (03:53) The AI Talent Pool in London (05:03) Deep Dive into Granola's Product Design (11:33) Granola's Unique Approach to AI Meeting Bots (18:38) Avoiding the Feature Trap (20:14) User-Centric Design in Granola (21:07) Ensuring Accuracy in AI-Generated Notes (23:43) Collaborative AI Interfaces (26:23) Future Directions for Granola (31:43) Insights from User Behavior (37:20) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Mati Staniszewski (Eleven Labs) and Demi Guo (Pika): The Future of Media and Generative AI | 15 Aug 2024 | 00:37:37 | |
This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Mati Staniszewski (co-founder of Eleven Labs) and Demi Guo (co-founder and CEO of Pika). This conversation was part of a special Summer Edition of Generative NYC, a monthly meetup for AI builders hosted by Lightspeed. Demi and Mati discuss the landscape of AI generated content creation, AI foundation models, and perspectives on the future of the industry.
(02:52) The impact of Eleven Labs on AI content creation (04:54) Demi Guo on the creative applications of Pika (05:43) Building high-quality AI video generation tools (10:40) AI models for content creation (14:20) The research behind AI advancements (17:17) Future perspectives on AI-driven video creation (23:16) Overcoming challenges in model development (26:11) Teams behind Eleven Labs and Pika Stay in touch:
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| Naveen Rao: Inside the Legendary Databricks Acquisition of MosaicML | 08 Aug 2024 | 00:44:31 | |
This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Naveen Rao about big bets in his career, hardware to develop AI, and open source as the key to safety. Naveen Rao is the founder of Nervana Systems and MosaicML, which was acquired by Databricks in 2023. He is currently the VP Generative AI at Databricks and is the former vice president and general manager of the Artificial Intelligence Products Group at Intel. Episode Chapters (00:00) Naveen Rao's Background and Career (01:39) Insights on AI and Neuromorphic Computing (05:37) Founding Nervana and Acquisition by Intel (08:54) Transition to MosaicML (17:07) MosaicML's Mission and Growth (19:36) Open Source AI and Safety (23:07) Acquisition by Databricks (24:57) Cultural Alignment and Acquisition Proposal (36:24) Databricks' Role in the AI Landscape (43:50) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Josh Miller: Building a Better Browser with AI | 01 Aug 2024 | 00:49:23 | |
Browsers have been with us for nearly as long as the internet, and not too much about them has changed. But with this new wave of products enhanced by generative AI, that may be about to shift. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano speaks with Josh Miller, the co-founder and CEO of The Browser Company, about their innovative web browser, Arc, which seeks to transform our experience on the internet. Josh discusses the impact of AI on browsers, as well as the challenges of using AI to summarize web content. Michael and Josh also talk about the pressures and ambitions of tech startups, the challenges of balancing innovation with ethical considerations, and how Josh envisions the future of personal computing. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (01:05) The Inspiration Behind Arc (02:51) Navigating Distractions in Tech (03:46)The Role of AI in Modern Browsing (11:05) The Future of Browsing with Arc (19:17) Competitive Dynamics in AI (23:50) The Browser as Your Operating System (25:12) AI-Powered Functionality: Incremental vs. Leapfrog (28:02) Challenges and Opportunities in AI Summarization (34:53) Thoughts About Regulating AI (38:14) Raising Capital and Managing Pressure (45:06) Josh’s Experience Living in France (48:34) Conclusion Stay in touch:
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| Madhumita Murgia: Exploring AI Safety | 25 Jul 2024 | 00:49:25 | |
Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano speaks with Madhumita Murgia, AI editor of the Financial Times, about her new book ‘Code Dependent’. They discuss the rapid evolution of AI, the balance between technological advancements and human consequences, and the real-life stories from various countries that highlight both the benefits and the harms of AI. Madhu outlines guiding principles for ethical AI development and touches on regulation challenges, the role of big tech, and the positive potential of AI in healthcare. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (03:05) Writing the Book on AI (05:31) Madhumita’s Career Path (10:18) Separating the Wheat from the Chaff (14:32) Stories to watch in AI (18:58) Closing in on General Intelligence (22:40) Big Tech vs. Media (28:32) Code Dependent (33:34) AI Safety (38:07) Guiding Principles for AI (42:37) The Stakeholders in AI Regulation (46:44) AI’s Positive Impacts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Nathan Baschez: The New Age of AI Writing Tools | 18 Jul 2024 | 00:47:18 | |
We’ve all experienced writer’s block at some point in our lives. But thanks to emerging AI-powered tools, writer’s block may soon become a thing of the past. In this week’s episode of Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano speaks with Nathan Baschez, Founder and CEO of Lex, an AI-assisted writing tool. Nathan discusses Lex's development from a simple alternative to Google Docs to a sophisticated collaboration tool with AI features, as well as the challenges of developing AI-integrated writing software. Michael and Nathan also talk about the future possibilities for AI-driven writing tools, the implications of AI in the creative process, as well as the broader AI landscape, including competition with major companies like Google for dominance in search. Nathan Baschez is an entrepreneur, programmer, and writer. He is the founder and CEO of Lex, a collaborative word processor with AI editing tools to unlock your best writing. Previously, he co-founded Every, was the first employee at Substack, and led product at Gimlet Media. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Guillaume Verdon: Exploring the Intersection of Quantum Deep Learning and AI | 11 Jul 2024 | 00:48:05 | |
At some point, we’ve all asked ourselves the core questions to the meanings of life and the universe. It should come as no surprise that tech’s most dynamic players have too, and see generative AI-powered technologies as a way to start answering those questions. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano speaks with Guillaume Verdon, the founder of Extropic, about the fascinating intersections of physics, AI, and computing. Guillaume discusses how his interest in understanding the universe led him to explore theoretical physics, only to transition into AI and deep learning due to the inherent complexity of natural systems. Additionally, Michael and Guillaume talk about the significance of optimism and adaptability in driving societal growth and technological advancements. They also discuss his creation of the e/acc movement, involvement with the Twitter Anon community, and what Guillaume is doing at Extropic to leverage AI for society’s best possible future. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (02:15) Quantum Deep Learning and AI (05:27) Guillaume’s Career Path (10:17) Scaling Intelligence and Civilization (13:53) Adapting to Change and Growth (17:16) Optimism and Cultural Impact (20:10) Regulation and Policy (27:12) Selective Pressure in AI Development (28:24) The Birth of Based Beff Jezos (32:09) The Genesis of Extropic (35:52) Thermodynamic Computing Explained (41:06) Future of AI and Thermodynamic Computing (45:27) Current Progress and Future Plans Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Soumith Chintala: Meta’s AI Strategy, PyTorch, and Llama | 27 Jun 2024 | 00:35:36 | |
This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Soumith Chintala at Generative NYC, a monthly meetup for AI builders hosted by Lightspeed. Soumith is a Vice President and Fellow at Meta and he co-created PyTorch, one of the world’s most beloved ML libraries. He’s had a front row seat to the rise of AI over the past few years at Meta and previously as a researcher at New York University. Michael and Soumith discuss Meta's open-source strategy, and the role of AI models such as LLAMA, and the broader strategy behind AI advancements. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Soumith Chintala, VP at Meta and Co-Creator of PyTorch Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Semil Shah: Apple Intelligence, “The End of Software,” and Where Technology Won’t Go | 20 Jun 2024 | 01:35:06 | |
Semil Shah sits down with Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano for a quarterly conversation about AI and its evolving impact on startups, VCs, and incumbents. They also discuss Chris Paik’s essay “The End of Software,” tech cleanses, Apple’s WWDC, and the difference in thinking between LCs, GPs, and VCs in the landscape of AI. Semil Shah is the Founding General Partner of Haystack and a General Partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners. Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro to Episode (4:42) “The End of Software” (7:30) Computer Science and Philosophy (11:19) Where Technology Won’t Go (19:33) Tech Cleanse (24:07) WWDC24 - Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (26:40) ChatGPT & Apple Intelligence (33:13) Tim Cook (45:20) Ben Thompson (48:10) Google (52:09) VC and AI (59:11) How LPs think about AI (01:06:57) How GPs think about AI (01:12:56) Vinod Khosla, OpenAI, and Square (01:14:49) Opposite George (01:25:40) Jerry Seinfeld, Neal Brennan, Rick Rubin, Lex Friedman (01:28:53) “The Greatest Show on Earth” Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Johnny Ho: The Future of Online Search (Encore) | 20 Mar 2025 | 00:43:55 | |
This week, we are revisiting a conversation between Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano and Johnny Ho, co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Perplexity. Perplexity is the AI powered search engine that is rapidly growing and challenging the industry status quo. Johnny and Michael talk about his background as a competitive programmer, the business model of search, and Perplexity’s Publisher Program, where publishers earn a share of advertising revenue. Johnny has been ranked number one in the world of competitive programming. He previously worked at Quora as a software engineer – he accomplished all of this before graduating from Harvard. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction (00:40) Johnny Ho's Engineering Background and IOI Achievements (02:44) Transition to Product Strategy (05:39) Perplexity: The Answer Engine (11:06 )Technology Behind Perplexity (15:47) Challenges and Future of AI Models (19:41) Growth and Distribution Strategy (23:54) Setting and Achieving Team Goals (25:35) Perplexity's Business Model and Future Plans (31:01) Challenges and Opportunities in AI and Search (32:55) Publisher Program and Content Credibility (39:59) Voice and Multimodal Experiences (42:04) What's Next for Perplexity? (43:12) Conclusion and Final Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Bill Dally: The Evolution and Revolution of AI and Computing | 13 Jun 2024 | 00:40:45 | |
The explosion of generative AI-powered technologies has forever changed the tech landscape. But the path to the current AI revolution was paved by many breakthroughs. Bill Dally had a hand in quite a few of them.
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| Matthieu Rouif: How Photoroom Creates a Standout AI Product | 06 Jun 2024 | 00:44:13 | |
What makes AI truly useful and impactful for users? That’s the question that drives Matthieu Rouif, CEO and co-founder of Photoroom, the AI-first photo editing app for mobile. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Matthieu Rouif about what he learned from his previous ventures in app development, how Photoroom found product market fit early, and how Photoroom went from a feature to a product with more than 150 million downloads and 30 million monthly active users.
Episode Chapters 00:00) Introduction to Matthieu Rouif & Photoroom Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Rahul Roy-Chowdhury: AI as a Tool for Co-Creation at Grammarly | 30 May 2024 | 00:40:17 | |
AI has been powering Grammarly before the current wave of AI adoption. So what can we learn from this beloved AI tool? This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks with the CEO of Grammarly, Rahul Roy-Chowdhury. Michael asks Rahul about privacy and safety when it comes to AI products, the future of AI agents and tools, and why he sees Gen AI as a tool for co-creation. Before becoming Grammarly’s CEO, Rahul was Grammarly's Global Head of Product. Prior to Grammarly, he spent 14 years at Google leading product and Privacy, Safety, and Security. Chapter Episodes (00:00) Introduction to Rahul Roy-Chowdhury Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Josh Silverman: Using AI to Transform Etsy’s Consumer Experience | 23 May 2024 | 00:33:34 | |
Human creativity and AI are often characterized as being at odds with each other. But as the capabilities of AI grow, so too grow the possibilities for empowering humans in creative endeavors.
Episode Chapters Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Lisha Li: Lessons on Creating Consumer AI Products from Creating Generative Games with Rosebud AI | 16 May 2024 | 00:39:49 | |
This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Lisha Li, Founder and CEO of Rosebud AI. Rosebud AI allows users to generate video with a few simple prompts by leveraging AI for every aspect of game design. Lisha shares her diverse background from academia to venture capital and acting, leading up to the inception of Rosebud. Michael and Lisha talk about lessons learned when developing consumer AI products and the different iterations of Rosebud AI and its evolution including stock photos and the viral app TokkingHeads. Lisha is the Founder and CEO of Rosebud AI. She is a former principal at Amplify Partners. Lisha completed her PhD at UC Berkeley focusing on deep learning and probability applied to the problem of clustering in graphs. While at Berkeley she also did statistical consulting, advising on methods and analysis for experimentation and interpretation, and interned as a data scientist at Pinterest and Stitch Fix. She earned her Master of Science in Mathematics at the University of Toronto, with Highest Distinction advised by Prof. Balazs Szegedy in the area of Graph Limits. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Lisha Li and Rosebud AI (00:47) Lisha Li’s Career: Academia, Acting, VC, and AI (07:54) The Genesis of Rosebud AI: Creating a Creative Consumer AI Product (12:14) Navigating Game Development with AI (17:43) Democratizing Game Creation with Rosebud (31:20) Building Rosebud's AI-Powered Platform (35:56) Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Gaming Stay in touch:
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| Sara Beykpour: The Next Wave of AI’s Impact On Journalism | 09 May 2024 | 00:50:19 | |
One could argue that the model for the news business is broken. So can AI help fix it? This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Sara Beykpour, CEO and Co-founder of Particle. Particle is an AI-driven news platform designed to help people learn exactly what they want to know about what's going on in the world in the most efficient way possible. Michael and Sara talk about the central product role she played for groundbreaking products like Twitter, Vine, Secret, and Periscope, as well as why she started Particle and how AI could help make new business models work for publishers. Sara has been on the forefront of creating novel media platforms throughout her entire career. She has built and launched three apps that set the stage for today’s multimedia social landscape online: Vine, Secret, and Periscope. She previously worked as Twitter’s Senior Director of Product Management, leading Twitter Blue, Twitter Video, and conversations. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Sara Beykpour (00:58) Sara's Journey Through Silicon Valley's Startups (02:43) The Early Days at Twitter and the Birth of Vine (06:42) Vine's Impact, Decline, and Shutdown (12:21) From Vine to Secret (Anonymous Social Media) (14:45) The Periscope Era: Live Streaming's Rise (21:47) Exploring the Evolution of Social Media and News Consumption (22:26) The Impact of Twitter on News and Journalism (27:57) Challenges and Innovations in News Consumption (32:14) The Rise of Generative AI and Its Effects on News Publishing (33:26) Leveraging AI in Particle for a New News Experience (46:15) Exploring New Business Models for Journalism with AI (49:28) Opportunities With Particle Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Andrew Feldman: Building the World’s Largest and Fastest Computer Chip for AI | 02 May 2024 | 00:44:07 | |
Cerebras recently announced the launch of The Wafer Scale Engine Three. This is the largest and fastest chip in the history of chips. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Andrew Feldman. Andrew is the CEO and cofounder of Cerebras, the hardware company that builds AI supercomputers known for its Wafer Scale Technology. The Wafer Scale Engine Three is about the size of a dinner plate and promises compute design for AI. Andrew and Michael talk about what it takes to have the conviction to make big bets and push the limits of hardware innovation. Prior to Cerebras, Andrew co-founded and was CEO of SeaMicro, a pioneer of energy-efficient, high-bandwidth microservers. SeaMicro was acquired by AMD in 2012 for $357M. Before SeaMicro, Andrew was the Vice President of Product Management, Marketing and BD at Force10 Networks which was later sold to Dell Computing for $800M. Prior to Force10 Networks, Andrew was the Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development at RiverStone Networks from the company’s inception through IPO in 2001.
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| Verity Harding: How to Build Trust in AI | 25 Apr 2024 | 00:42:20 | |
When the world of AI feels so dramatically new, it’s hard to look anywhere except toward the future. But previous examples of technological innovation can teach us a lot about building public trust and collaboration. This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Verity Harding, one of TIME magazine’s most influential people in AI. Her debut book is AI Needs You: How We Can Change AI's Future and Save Our Own. She points to moments like the Space Race, the development of IVF, and the internet as inspiration for today’s potential regulatory framework for AI. Verity is the Director of the AI and Geopolitics Project at the Bennett Institute of Public Policy at Cambridge. She also runs the tech consultancy Formation Advisory. She previously directed policy for Google DeepMind and worked for Deputy Prime Minister the Rt Hon Sir Nick Clegg. Episode Chapters (01:36) Verity Harding's Transition from Politics to Google DeepMind (08:28) AI Needs You: Unpacking the Book's Message (11:43) Building Public Trust and Engagement in a Polarized Environment (20:34) Advice for Builders Who Don’t Want to Decelerate (24:11) Who are the Stakeholders of AI Governance? (36:06) AI and the Future: Optimism, Challenges, and the Path Forward (41:18) Closing Thoughts and Where to Find the Book Stay in touch:
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| Alan Cowen: Creating Empathic AI with Hume | 18 Apr 2024 | 00:41:57 | |
What if AI could understand what we, humans, are feeling? This week on Generative Now, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Alan Cowen, CEO & Chief Scientist of Hume AI. Hume creates empathic AI that learns our preferences from our vocal and facial expressions. Their goal is to maximize our happiness and quality of life. Hume is now announcing their API for EVI, Hume’s Empathic Voice Interface. The conversation covers Cowen's journey from being a researcher to founding Hume AI, the importance of emotional intelligence in AI for quality human interaction, and the potential to transform user experiences across various apps and devices. Plus, we ask how empathic AI could impact the road to AGI. Episode Chapters (01:38) The Genesis of Hume AI: From Research to Startup (04:01) Affective Computing and Its Impact (10:55) Hume AI: Bridging Human Emotions and Technology (15:37) The Future of AI: Beyond Text to Empathic Interactions (20:37) Introducing EVI: Empathic Voice Interface (21:46) Real-World Applications of Empathic AI (31:19) The Potential Role of Empathic AI in Achieving AGI (36:53) Trust and Privacy (40:02) Opportunities with Hume AI (41:18) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
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| Alex Heath: Tech Journalism in the AI Era | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:42:35 | |
AI news moves fast. But reporters covering AI move faster. This week on the podcast, Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to journalist Alex Heath about predictions for independent model companies, the conversation around training data, and how journalists are adapting to AI disruptions. Alex Heath is the Deputy Editor of The Verge and the author of Command Line, a weekly newsletter about the tech industry’s inside conversation. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Alex Heath (1:20) Inside the AI News Cycle (6:41) Covering OpenAI and Meta Rebrand Breaking News (10:14) Top of Mind Trends: Databricks, Perplexity, Meta (13:35) Google’s AI Strategy and Gemini Fallout (20:25) Second Order Effects of Microsoft’s Inflection Deal (24:02) Journalism Adapting to AI & Future of Industry (32:08) What’s Beyond SEO? (36:19) The Value of Content in Training (38:10) Elon Musk’s X and Grok (41:11) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
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| Dan Shipper: The First MultiModal Media Company | 13 Mar 2025 | 01:03:55 | |
Code is content. Writers build apps. App builders write newsletters. This is Every CEO & Founder Dan Shipper’s vision for the modern media company. Michael Mignano, Partner at Lightspeed, sits down with Dan to talk about building the first multimodal media company, developing viral software like Cora, and cultivating an audience and talent at Every. Check out our episode with Nathan Baschez, Every cofounder and Lex CEO Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction | |||
| Jordan Singer: Building AI Design Tools at Figma | 04 Apr 2024 | 00:43:49 | |
Imagination becomes a reality when building the design tools of the future. This week on Generative Now, we’re talking with someone who has been tinkering with AI and design for about ten years. Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano talks to Jordan Singer, Product Designer at Figma, about how Figma acquired his startup Diagram, what it’s like building AI tools at Figma, and how the role of designers is evolving. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Jordan Singer (01:19) Jordan Singer's Journey from Coder to Designer (09:27) Creating the Experiment that Became a Startup (14:10) Leaving Square to be CEO & Founder of Diagram (22:09) Figma's Acquisition of Diagram (30:24) Designers as Creative Directors in the AI Era (37:14) Other Areas of Interest in AI (40:41) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Semil Shah: Venture Capital Trends in the Age of AI | 28 Mar 2024 | 00:43:04 | |
Semil Shah, General Partner at Haystack and Venture Partner at Lightspeed, is known for at least two things: his insightful Twitter presence and his smart investments at Haystack VC. Semil joins Lightspeed Partner and host Michael Mignano to talk venture capital insights and the unpredictable nature of startup success. The conversation also covers the evolving landscape of AI investments, the unique nature of Reddit's IPO, and the future of unique user-generated content. Additionally, they discuss the dynamics between LPs, venture funds, and startups in the current market environment. Episode Chapters (00:00) Introduction to Semil Shah (03:31) Semil Shah’s Twitter Presence (05:46) Navigating the AI Investment Landscape: Insights and Predictions (10:19) The Role of Acquisitions and Talent in Shaping AI's Future (18:57) Venture Capital Strategies (19:33) Capital as a Weapon in Venture Capital (23:27) The Art of Investment Decisions (25:45) How AI has Changed the Venture Landscape (27:52) The Venture Ecosystem: LPs, Funds, and Startups (32:22) The Future of AI and Open Source (36:26) The Reddit IPO: A Market Turning Point? (41:21) Closing Thoughts Stay in touch:
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| Scott Belsky: Content Creators, Creativity, and Marketing in the AI Landscape | 21 Mar 2024 | 00:32:44 | |
What is the role of a human content creator in a world with AI generated content? It’s a critical piece of the puzzle, according to Scott Belsky, Chief Strategy Officer and EVP of Design and Emerging Products at Adobe. Lightspeed Partner and Host Michael Mignano for a conversation about the evolution of marketing with generative content, the future of personalization, and overlooked opportunities in the AI landscape.
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The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||
| Gary Hustwit: Revolutionizing Filmmaking with Generative AI | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:41:00 | |
Since the beginning of cinema, movies have held to the same format - a linear narrative, told the same way each time. Filmmaker Gary Hustwit wants to change all that. With his new documentary Eno, he’s broken the mold on movies. Hustwit has harnessed the power of generative AI to produce a movie you can never see twice. Through careful editing and groundbreaking software development, Hustwit and his collaborators built an engine that assembles a one-of-a-kind movie for every viewing. Same footage, different sequence. You have to see it to believe it. Episode Chapters Stay in touch:
The content here does not constitute tax, legal, business or investment advice or an offer to provide such advice, should not be construed as advocating the purchase or sale of any security or investment or a recommendation of any company, and is not an offer, or solicitation of an offer, for the purchase or sale of any security or investment product. For more details please see lsvp.com/legal. | |||