More or Less - Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin

Latest Episodes:

#23: Why (and How) SMBs and Creators Will Win With AI, the New Financing Contracts, and More Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

The gang discusses how you build dense networks of real value around small business in the AI future. Also, bonus discussion on content maxis vs. community maxis...and the symmetry of Jessica's face.

Try the More or Less GPT:

https://chat.openai.com/g/g-Lt0xdU9Jp-more-or-less

#22: Your GPT Will Make More Money Than Your Substack? Please Tell Us More… Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

The gang discusses OpenAI's developer conference and whether the new ‘GPT Store’ is a serious platform developers and entrepreneurs should care about, or just another slick PR announcement. Also thoughts on the IPO market (why bankers keep saying it isn’t open, but will soon) and way too much discussion of The Morning (After) Show.

#21: AI Regulation, War and the Future of the American Tech Stack Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

The gang shares predictions around AI for the year ahead. Are we at digital war and don't even know it? Thoughts on defining an "American Tech Stack" and digital citizenship to defend against foreign speech and bots - and how to think about academia in an era where universities and research are no longer disconnected from politics and business.

Discussed

Greeking Out from National Geographic Kids

Photoleap by Lightricks AI Photo Editing App

Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence

⁠FACT SHEET: President Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence⁠

New: Leica M11-P

Show Notes

[00:00:00] Opening

[00:01:37] Halloween and the Greeking Out Podcast

[00:03:17] Brit hosted a Howl-O-Ween Dog Costume Contest.

[00:03:36] Investing in Dog DNA Startups

[00:05:55] Product Idea: AI Dog

[00:06:25] AI Ninja Tricks

[00:07:50] The Big Debate: The Biden Executive Order on "Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence"⁠⁠

[00:10:36] We need National Tech Stacks.

[00:15:28] Every single Federal Agency was directed to appoint a Head of AI.

[00:18:35] Lack of transparency at AI.gov?

[00:19:31] The difference between academic research and application has collapsed and it is dangerous.

[00:20:50] OpenAI took research from the Google world and commercialized it.

[00:21:20] National AI research should be like the Manhattan Project.

[00:22:39] The Executive Order invokes the Defense Production Act.

[00:24:03] We have an AI War already playing out on American Turf and it is called TikTok.

[00:24:22] We are at war in the technological world and we have no defenses in terms of how this is playing out on our home front.

[00:25:20] We are going to look back in 20 years and realize "Oh my God, we were actually at war, and we were being assaulted on the home front but we don't even fully recognize the attack."

[00:25:30] What is going to happen in 2024?

[00:26:10] Silicon Valley technologist are good at problems where a "solution" is the goal, but are uniquely bad at Washington style problems where "balance" is the goal.

[00:27:29] We need to take the American Tech Stack very very seriously.

[00:28:35] TikTok's Larry Ellison Proposal for continuing to exist in the US.

[00:29:20] Why aren't conservatives demanding action on this?

[00:29:53] If we are in a war, where are we in it?

[00:30:16] American Identity and Digital Citizenship

[00:32:00] What is the American Tech Stack really?

[00:37:14] A hypothetical question: How would you change a government you don't like with AI?

[00:39:32] Does digital identity really have to be tied to a single country?

[00:41:48] Our generation has the most skewed view of globalization in history.

[00:45:50] Where did this conversation start? It started with AI.

[00:46:50] AI Predictions for the next year.

[00:56:04] Closing

#20: The New Founder Mindset: The End of the Product-Focused CEO Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

Following news at Snap, the gang debates what the media gets wrong about founders and how founders need to react in this new market.

Discussed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHsHKzYOV2E&t=779s

Show Notes

(00:00) Opening

(06:05) Evan Spiegel's Persistence and Motivation

(11:25) Founders and Product as Powerful Motivating Force

(15:39) Challenges of Starting Over from Scratch

(19:36) Balancing Product and Business Strategy

(29:54) The End of the Product-Focused CEO?

(37:02) Crypto Market Update and Outlook

#19: Answering for Misinformation: The New York Times Needs to be Held To Account Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

The Morins and the Lessins debate how to solve misinformation across even legacy media sites. Plus, prepping for VCs' big annual reports to shareholders.

Discussed

Psilocybin Treatment for Major Depression Effective for Up to a Year for Most Patients, Study Shows

Slow evolution of a NYTimes headline. "Israeli Strike" -> "Strike" -> "Blast"

After Hospital Blast, Headlines Shift With Changing Claims

What To Do About Misinformation in the Upcoming Election Cycle?

Show Notes

[00:00:00] Intro and Check In

[00:01:46] RIP Dr. Roland Griffiths, Johns Hopkins scientist who proved psilocybin is the cure for depression.

[00:05:39] AGM Season. What are AGMs?

[00:08:05] The big topic: Misinformation and The New York Times

[00:11:17] How did this happen? Where is the accountability in media?

[00:15:58] The importance of being right not first.

[00:20:19] How we get our information.

[00:22:37] Trust in the media.

[00:25:56] Should influencers know each other more deeply as humans?

[00:29:38] Civilization vs Not-Civilization.

[00:33:40] Building bridges through conversation.

[00:35:23] The role of colleges.

[00:37:41] AR and VR's are anti-social technology.

[00:41:30] Social networks cracking down.

[00:46:26] More questions about the end of the factory model of venture capital.

[00:48:57] Are we really not investing in AI startups?

[00:52:03] Capital is just gone.

[00:54:51] Backing founders without safety nets.

[00:55:00] Wrap Up

#18: Why This Week Changed Social Media Forever Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

The Morins and Lessins discuss the urgent questions Hamas’ terrorism against Israel raises for tech companies. Plus, how leaders should—and should not—respond to the attacks.

Show Notes

[0:00] Intro

[0:36] Opening Discussion

[2:03] It is a very important and troubling time in the world. Sharing some of our thoughts as a group.

[2:10] Impossible to not talk about the Israel and Hamas situation.

[2:15] We are not a political podcast nor are we political experts. We are tech people.

[2:25] This podcast is going to be about the tech side of it and the important tech stories about it.

[2:30] We are floored and upset. The situation with Hamas is beyond comprehension. They are a terrorist organization. What they’ve done, the atrocities, are beyond pale.

[2:49] We wish the Israeli people the best in doing the extremely painful and hard work ahead. Which clearly has to be done.

[3:03] On the tech front, 3 things on the agenda to talk about:

1. Funding and LPs in this era: As a company or a fund how do you think about who’s funding you and who you’re funding in light of the geopolitical situation?

2. Social Networks and News: Section 230, the US election in 14 months, AI is now a thing.

3. Tech Leaders and the interesting thing about who can say what on the internet.

[4:46] Debate about tech leaders' statements on the situation. Note of the lack of strong condemnation of Hamas among tech leaders.

[13:15] Suggestion that tech leaders may be hesitant to speak out strongly due to security concerns.

[15:52] Debate on social networks, news, misinformation, and AI. Prediction that Section 230 is dead.

[19:47] Losing the "town square" into encrypted group chats and why social media will never be the same.

[26:25] Idea that an alternative social network for “actual relationships” should exist.

[27:23] Proposal that we go back to where we were before: “don’t trust the network, trust the individual.”

[27:36] Idea to build clubs of trust and community among Celebrity Influencers to protect the commons.

[28:40] Is there an opportunity for quality journalism?

[28:54] Skepticism that news organizations can regain trust due to business model issues.

[30:33] The Rock is the answer.

[30:46] Discussion on founders, VCs, and LPs in this era. Who are you ok making money for?

[34:53] Agreement that transparency enables the individual founder or venture capitalist to make their own decisions about who they’re making money for.

[36:31] Note that pushing VCs for transparency has worked for issues like diversity. California signed a law this week.

[38:32] Wrap Up

#17: How to Save Your Startup, Twitter/X, Threads (and Swift’s Stunt Romance) Oct 20, 2023

Show notes

The couples unpack how to "Survive to 2025" and debate whether Threads had the right launch strategy. Plus, Yaccarino needs media training.

Show Notes

[00:01:18] Our first ever More or Less event.

[00:04:44] Startups shutting down in Q3.

[00:07:39] Seed investor and founder cramdown risk.

[00:10:38] Not so lifestyle businesses.

[00:13:37] Avoid debt at all costs.

[00:17:51] Normalizing shut downs.

[00:21:32] Will Twitter shut down?

[00:24:50] Should Linda stay as CEO?

[00:27:05] Twitter's debt negotiation strategy.

[00:31:05] Threads’ graph and growth.

[00:35:12] Growth hacks and social apps.

[00:36:36] Discovery and finding new people in social apps.

[00:40:00] FTX and Michael Lewis' new book.

[00:43:33] Taylor Swift's media circus.

[00:49:29] See you guys next time.

#16: Why Your AI Startup is Probably* Already Dead - Special Guest Scott Belsky Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Adobe Chief Strategy Officer Scott Belsky joins the Morins and the Lessins as the Fifth Wheel for an episode about all things AI. Plus, inside the FTC’s case for breaking up Amazon.

*probably dead, but maybe not Show Notes [00:00:14] Developer experience and ease of use. [00:04:24] Scott Belsky and AI. [00:09:55] Empowering SMBs with AI. [00:12:26] Proprietary data and AI. [00:16:09] Building clouds and competition. [00:18:30] AI regulation and fast growth. [00:21:19] The concept of agents. [00:24:09] Agents working on your behalf. [00:27:27] AI agents and their potential. [00:31:36] The limitations of today's LLMs. [00:34:41] The big antitrust kahuna, Amazon. [00:36:51] Amazon's impact on independent sellers. [00:41:30] Amazon's advantage in multiplexing. [00:44:27] The fifth wheel.

#15: Instacart’s Fake IPO and Why Hiring in Tech Is So Broken Sep 22, 2023

Show notes

As the news heats up, the couples discuss why recent IPOs tell us little about whether the window is, in fact, open and ponder the future of leadership in Silicon Valley.

Show Notes:

[00:00:10] Startup location rules.

[00:05:30] Silicon Valley regulation debate.

[00:08:18] Younger and hungrier talent.

[00:11:30] Generational transfer in big tech.

[00:14:10] Florida signaling and tax optimization.

[00:18:23] Tech events worth attending.

[00:23:02] Female CEO of Instacart.

[00:25:13] Staying private for too long.

[00:29:27] Small tech equity risks.

[00:32:23] Hiring challenges for startups.

[00:36:49] The role of capital market timing.

[00:38:02] Cost of compliance for going public.

[00:42:05] Power dynamics in public markets.

[00:45:09] Price equals quality.

#14: The Apple Episode (Carbon Neutralish) Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

The couples take you up close and personal with this week’s Apple event and discuss the future of the company, hardware and the garbage product they can’t live without. Plus, Brit schools Sam on pop culture, part 10.

Show Notes:

[00:00:00] New composting trash can?

[00:05:23] Apple event changes.

[00:08:56] Recycling Cobalt and climate impact.

[00:10:46] Apple's first Carbon Neutral Product.

[00:15:27] Camera technology advancements.

[00:19:44] Apple's trajectory after the launch.

[00:22:11] Cambrian moment in computing.

[00:26:25] The value of Apple's closed ecosystem.

[00:29:41] The capital structure of hardware.

[00:31:19] Hardware companies are entreprenuership on expert mode.

[00:35:30] The Mill magical bottomless composting trash can.