Built 2 Scale | Episode 17 - Show Notes

Hosts: Scott Wilcox (W & Elycium) & Matt Perrott (BuildPass)

Description: This week on Built 2 Scale, Scotty & Matt break down the most expensive pre-seed valuations in history with Mira Murati's $12 billion Thinking Machines, Grok-4's unprecedented overnight integration into Tesla vehicles, and the browser wars heating up between Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google. Plus Matt's TikTok goes viral with 60K views, Chinese factories train robots with AI glasses, and the talent acquisition battle reaches new extremes.

Episode Timeline

[0:00] Welcome & Headlines Overview

• Episode introduction and top news summary

[0:57] Matt's Austin Move & TikTok Virality

• Matt's relocation update
• Viral TikTok success with 60K views

[3:14] Thanks for Watching: Google, Albo & Chamath

• Audience appreciation and notable mentions

[8:15] Cluely vs Clueless Weekend Coding Drama

• Development challenges and community feedback

[11:05] Talent Bubble Chart Launch

• New tool release for tracking talent market dynamics

[13:54] Pipe Dream Labs Underground Logistics

• Deep dive into underground hyper-speed logistics infrastructure

[19:45] OpenAI Note Taker Killer Strategy

• Analysis of OpenAI's Mac recording targeting note-taking apps like Fireflies and Limitless

[23:15] AI Wrapper Warning & Windsurf Acquisition

• Vertical AI wrapper survival strategies
• Google's talent poaching breakdown in Windsurf deal

[30:51] Grok-4 Tesla Integration Analysis

• 48-hour integration timeline breakdown
• Technical and strategic implications

[35:17] Robot Rundown: AI Glasses Training Workers

• Chinese manufacturing workers using AI glasses for robot training
• Synthetic vs real-world data approaches for humanoid robotics

[42:15] Web Browser Wars Begin

• AI-native browser development race
• Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google strategies

[47:37] Perplexity Acquisition Predictions

• Market positioning and potential buyers

[51:52] Parting Wisdom: Buying Talent vs Building Culture

• Zuckerberg's financial approach vs Elon's mission-driven culture
• Strategic talent acquisition insights

Key Topics CoveredMajor Business Developments

• Mira Murati's Thinking Machines: $12 billion pre-seed valuation with zero product
• Grok-4 Tesla Integration: 48-hour vehicle integration timeline
• Pipe Dream Labs: Underground hyper-speed logistics infrastructure development

AI Strategy & Competition

• OpenAI Note-Taking Strategy: Targeting Fireflies and Limitless with Mac recording capabilities
• Browser Wars: Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google building AI-native browsers
• AI Wrapper Strategies: Vertical approaches for surviving foundational model competition

Technology & Innovation

• Robot Training Revolution: Chinese workers using AI glasses for robot data capture
• Synthetic vs Real-World Data: Training approaches for humanoid robotics
• Convergence Theory: OpenAI, Google, and Tesla as final three AI leaders

Market Dynamics

• Talent Acquisition Wars: Comparing acquisition strategies across tech giants
• Australia's Strategy: Switzerland diplomatic approach between US-China relations
• Apple's Innovation Gap: Why acquisition beats internal development

Acquisition Analysis

• Windsurf Acquisition: Google's talent poaching strategy breakdown
• Perplexity Predictions: Market positioning for potential acquisition

About Built 2 Scale

Weekly analysis of artificial intelligence business strategy, startup acquisitions, and technology market dynamics. Providing actionable insights for founders, investors, and technology executives navigating the AI transformation.

Connect with the Hosts:

• Scott Wilcox: W & Elycium
• Matt Perrott: BuildPass

For more episodes and analysis, search "Built 2 Scale" on your preferred podcast platform.