More or Less

By Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin

Dave Morin, Jessica Lessin, Brit Morin, and Sam Lessin have debated the future of Silicon Valley and tech as the closest of friends for the last 15 years. Now six companies, two venture funds and more... more

· Technology

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How many episodes does More or Less have?

The podcast currently has 136 episodes available.

More or Less episodes:

February 23, 2024 #35: 2024 IPO Dreams, Apple's Sports Game and Reddit's Biz Gamble
Plus, inside Sequoia's Klarna drama and the latest AI demos

Show Notes
00:00 Introductions
03:00 The Potential of Reddit Advertising
09:00 Licensing Data and Monetization Challenges
13:00 The Moderation Challenge of Reddit
18:00 Private Group Moderation and Content Control
22:00 Failed Coup at Klarna
26:00 Tensions and Divisions in Late-Stage Pre-IPO Companies
30:00 The OpenAI Board Situation
31:00 Apple's New Sports App
33:12 Moon Landing and Advertising
33:45 Tech Companies and NBA Streaming Rights
34:27 Betting Odds in Digital Formats
36:15 Frequent Sports Betting
37:03 Tennis and Sports Rights
37:41 Pop Culture Corner: Movies and Oscars
40:00 Beyonce's Country Song and Marketing
43:02 OpenAI's Sora and Marketing Strategies
44:41 The Importance of Marketing in Startups
50:47 Building Trust through Individuals
53:24 Community Building and Brand Ownership

...more
53min
February 16, 2024#34: 7 Trillion Reasons Why
The gang unpacks all the latest news about OpenAI and Sam Altman. Plus, does Google have a shot in AR/VR? And our dream Vision Pro apps.
Takeaways
Sports media has become a successful form of linear storytelling in the internet age, creating a national monoculture.

The globalization of sports presents challenges in creating a unified global sports event.

The Vision Pro and Quest devices offer different experiences, with the Vision Pro being more suitable for work and the Quest providing a more immersive gaming experience.

There is a debate on the potential role of Google in the face computer market, with some believing that Google's strategy may not be successful.

The Vision Pro and Quest strategies have different focuses, with the Vision Pro being more spatial computing oriented.

The potential of spatial computing and its impact on social software is a topic of interest and exploration.

Communication and social interaction in the Vision Pro present challenges that need to be addressed.

There is excitement and positive impressions of the Vision Pro, with potential for professional and enterprise applications.

Agents and their role in AI are gaining attention, with potential for enhancing various tasks and workflows.

OpenAI's plan to raise $7 trillion for AI chips is seen as absurd and lacking credibility.

Tech leaders making outrageous statements can harm the perception of the tech industry and overshadow the serious work being done.

The episode highlights the need for rational and disciplined business practices in the tech industry.
Show Notes
00:00:46 - Introduction and Welcome
00:00:57 - The Full Quad Gathered
00:02:50 - AI News Discussion
00:03:02 - Vision Pro Analysis
00:03:45 - Missed Pop Culture Corner
00:04:58 - Superbowl and Taylor Swift Discussion
00:07:40 - Brock Purdy's Super Bowl Performance
00:08:26 - Sports Documentary Entertainment Genre
00:10:52 - Sports Media as the Final Frontier
00:12:13 - National vs. International Sports
00:13:06 - The Monoculture of Sports
00:14:04 - NBA and Global Sports Tournaments
00:15:00 - The Flailing Olympics
00:15:41 - The Decline of Olympic Storytelling
00:17:14 - AI News and Vision Pro
00:17:43 - Vision Pro vs. Oculus
00:18:06 - Vision Pro as a Work Machine
00:18:17 - Oculus Content and Games
00:18:49 - Camera and Social Potential
00:19:20 - Spatial Computing
00:20:24 - Google's XR Software Shift
00:21:19 - Android vs. iOS in XR Space
00:25:01 - Content-Driven Business Models for XR
00:25:43 - Vision Pro's Unique Position in XR
00:26:09 - The Potential of the Spatial Internet
00:29:05 - Social Software Challenges
00:35:20 - Developer and Creator Interest in Vision Pro
00:38:03 - Zillow Gone Wild and Vision Pro Ideas
00:38:44 - Music Video Apps
00:39:45 - Gaming and Social Apps
00:41:37 - Professional Apps
00:42:07 - Aviation Apps
00:45:59 - AI News
00:46:23 - OpenAI's Agent
00:46:46 - Brett Taylor's New Company Launch
00:47:17 - OpenAI Search Product
00:49:20 - Google's AI Rebranding to Gemini
00:51:34 - OpenAI's $7 Trillion Semiconductor Funding Strategy
00:53:43 - The Era of Absurdist Capitalism?
00:54:03 - The OpenAI Governance Crisis
00:55:11 - A Rational Comparison to the US Budget
01:00:15 - The Tree Removal Story
01:02:09 - Episode Wrap-Up and Thanks
...more
1h 4min
February 09, 2024#33: Yes/No, Vision Pro? w/Special Guest Brian Singerman of Founders Fund
As the Morin household goes full Vision Pro, the gang reveals what everyone is missing about the device. Plus, the earthquake through digital media and (maybe) the end of AI everything.
Takeaways
The Apple Vision Pro offers a truly immersive and transformative experience, changing the way users think about computing.

The Vision Pro represents a new computing paradigm and has the potential to expand into various devices and accessories.

Developers will play a crucial role in exploring and innovating new use cases for the Vision Pro.

The joint streaming service for sports by major networks reflects the significance of sports in the media industry and the growing demand for streaming sports content. Streaming services are disrupting the traditional cable industry, but the challenge lies in the fragmentation of content and the lack of a comprehensive aggregator.

The demand for a comprehensive sports package remains high, as sports fans struggle to find a streaming service that offers all the games they want to watch.

Esports has not yet reached its full potential in the United States, as it lacks the community engagement and water cooler conversations that traditional sports have.

The venture capital industry is constantly evolving, but the key to success remains investing in the few companies that truly matter.

AI is no longer a standalone category in venture capital, but rather a tool that is integrated into various industries and sectors.
Show Notes
00:00 Introduction and Special Guest
03:01 Discussion on Apple Vision Pro
11:00 Impressions and Potential of Apple Vision Pro
17:26 Competition and Future of Apple Vision Pro
25:08 Developer Perspective on Apple Vision Pro
34:48 Discussion on Joint Streaming Service for Sports
35:44 Streaming and the Cable Industry
36:13 Challenges of Streaming Bundles
37:40 Need for a Sports Package
39:05 Competition and Market Share in Streaming
41:37 Future of TV News
43:24 Challenges of Esports
50:28 The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital
52:06 Evolution of AI in Venture Capital
...more
57min
February 02, 2024#32: Taylor Swift vs. MrBeast w/Casey Neistat and Ricky Van Veen
In a special episode, the gang sits down with two digital media veterans and stars to discuss the current era of digital fame, the future of YouTube, TikTok, what A.I. means for creators, and more.
Takeaways
The rise of small creators and the viability of their work is a result of the democratization of content creation and the ability to build communities of fans.

The shift from physical space to online identity has allowed individuals to define their uniqueness and value based on their voice and audience rather than their geographical location.

The challenges of fame and the entitlement of fans can impact creators' mental health and privacy.

AI has the potential to revolutionize content creation by providing powerful tools for creators and elevating those with a unique perspective. AI also has the potential to desensitize people to personal conversations and wash away the value of authenticity.

Investment in personal outreach and one-on-one conversations holds significant power and can create meaningful connections.

Refined bullshit sensors have developed due to the abundance of AI-generated content, leading to skepticism and a desire for raw and real interactions.

The value of effort and authenticity in content creation cannot be replaced by AI-generated perfection.
Show Notes
00:00:04 - Introduction
00:01:07 - Broadcasting from Lessinfest in Jackson Hole
00:02:40 - Origin of Podcast Title
00:05:48 - Tech World Updates
00:06:09 - Elon Musk's Pay Package Lawsuit
00:09:28 - Delaware's Influence on Corporate Governance
00:10:18 - Amazon and iRobot Deal
00:11:08 - Mergers and Acquisitions Climate
00:12:16 - Super Bowl 2024 Predictions
00:13:16 - Taylor Swift's Impact on the NFL
00:14:04 - Cultural Significance of Taylor Swift
00:15:25 - Changing World of Creators and Media
00:16:05 - Fandom and Influencer Shifts
00:18:04 - NFL and Celebrity Integration
00:19:47 - Megastars vs. Long Tail of Influencers
00:20:24 - Fandom and Community Support
00:21:44 - Middle Class of Celebrity
00:22:39 - MrBeast's Universal Appeal
00:23:35 - Niche Appeal and Creator Identity
00:24:36 - Creator Burnout and Quitting YouTube
00:25:14 - Creator Fame and Mental Health
00:26:30 - Parasocial Relationships with Podcasters
00:27:37 - Younger Generations Rejecting Social Media
00:28:13 - Personal Connection vs. AI Interactions
00:32:00 - There Is No Fame Like YouTube Fame
00:33:11 - Public Perception of Fame
00:34:02 - New York City's Attitude Towards Celebrities
00:35:16 - Maintaining Privacy and Safety as a Creator
00:36:28 - AI's Impact on the Creator Economy
00:38:49 - AI and the Value of Personal Outreach
00:39:26 - AI Enhancing Creator-Fan Interaction?
00:40:09 - AI's Potential to Devalue Personal Investment
00:41:06 - AI Brit and Real Brit
00:42:19 - TikTok's Creative Tools
00:46:10 - AI as a Tool for Creators
00:48:17 - AI and the Perception of Authenticity
00:53:48 - AI and the Value of Human Connection
00:55:25 - AI and the Devaluation of Perfection
00:57:23 - Pop Culture Corner
...more
1h 3min
January 26, 2024 #31: Fintech Struggles, Netflix Rises and 'Big' is Winning
From Netflix to the NFL, the incumbents are having quite a moment. Plus, crypto's new energy and the gang's fiercely different views on.... peptides.

Show Notes
00:00 Introduction and Silicon Valley banter
01:03 Discussion about football and personal influences
03:15 Challenges in the news and startup landscape
06:50 Struggles of fintech companies like Brex
08:11 Success of Netflix and the streaming wars
09:11 Difficulties of platformization in fintech
15:22 Investing in fintech and the challenges of valuation
20:31 Future of Stripe and the fintech industry
24:39 Network effect and competition in the payments industry
27:22 Need for a unique business model to compete with incumbents
28:20 Impact of crypto on transaction costs
28:41 Promise of Crypto
30:21 Rise of Stablecoins
32:41 Future of Payments
37:31 Success of Netflix
46:27 Re-Bundling of Streaming Services
49:16 Power of Big Players
53:21 Future of Media
53:54 Impact of Apple TV
54:26 Oscar Nominations and Movie Lengths
55:29 The Influence of TikTok
57:32 Future of Robotics in Beauty and Wellness
58:51 Wellness Gadgets and Peptides
01:00:41 Introducing Paul and His Gaming Startup
01:02:19 Closing Remarks
...more
1h 2min
January 19, 2024 #30: The Great App Store Debate, Layoffs, and Playoffs...Oh My!
As regulators move in, the gang discusses the future of Apple and Google's app stores and their role over the next decade. Plus, the new layoff normal and Silicon Valley gets classy.

SHOW NOTES
00:00 Opening and Introductions
01:11 Working with Partners
03:14 The Information Gala and Dress Code
03:45 NFL Playoffs and Sports Betting
07:02 Layoffs at YouTube and Privacy Changes
11:29 Apple Allowing Third-Party Payment Mechanisms
14:56 Frustrations with the App Store
16:21 Importance and Future of the App Store
21:20 Rabbit R1 and AI Powered Gadgets
27:31 ChatGPT App Store as a Potential Competitor to the Apple App Store?
28:23 Difference in Distribution Advantage between the ChatGPT App Store and Facebook Platform
29:05 Importance of Distribution Opportunities for Developers on New Platforms
30:03 Collapse of the Economic Model of Facebook Platform and the Potential Challenges for the ChatGPT App Store
32:55 Potential Advantage of Google Integrating a Bard App Store
33:30 Uncertainty of Monetization and Revenue Opportunities for Developers on AI App Stores
36:05 Long-Term Competition between Apple, Google, Meta, and Adobe in the AI and Platform Space
42:43 Debate on the App Store's Anti-Competitive Practices
46:04 Potential of AI to Make Google Services Stickier
47:41 Use of AI and Language Learning Apps for Children
48:47 Announcement of a New Season of More or Less and Future Plans
...more
48min
January 12, 2024 #29: Is the Year of Startup Austerity Over? What Can Save the News Business?
In the first pod of 2024, the gang previews the year in VC to come and OpenAI vs. NYT. Plus, layoffs, boomerang VC and Brit's oh-so-Brit resolution.
...more
51min
December 22, 2023 #28: What We Got Right and Wrong in ’23 and Calls for ’24
The gang does a retro on their 2023 calls…from AI to Vision Pro (we couldn’t come up with a Z)…and makes predictions for tech, media, and capital in 2024.

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Creative Act, A Way of Being by Rick Rubin
The Order of Time by Carlo Rovelli
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
SHOW NOTES:
00:00 Introduction and Holiday Reflections
03:06 The Adobe-Figma Merger
05:35 The Pro-Capitalism Argument
06:52 Antitrust Laws and Government Intervention
09:03 The Valuation and Future of M&A
16:07 Reviewing VC and IPO Predictions
18:32 The Future of Remote Work
30:00 Twitter and the Rise of Threads
40:20 Appreciating Instagram and the Future of Social
41:19 The Slow Future of Threads
42:33 Compliments and Bromance
43:14 Predictions for Audio and Video Experiences
43:39 The Return of Path
44:17 Apple Vision Pro and the Future of MR
46:24 Spatial Video and Memories
47:10 Losing Memory and Talking to Ourselves
48:43 AI Layoffs and Clip Art Music
50:48 Taylor Swift and Creator AI
52:22 More Crypto Predictions
57:12 TikTok's Fate and the Chaotic Presidential Election
59:39 Pickleball Rollups and Crypto Launches
01:01:26 Expecting the Unexpected in 2024
01:08:23 Book Recommendations
01:10:29 Closing Remarks and Farewell
TRY THE GPT:
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FOLLOW THE POD:
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FOLLOW THE GANG:
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http://threads.net/brit
http://threads.net/jlessin
http://threads.net/lessin
...more
1h 9min
December 15, 2023 #27: Make Number Go Up, and The Problem with Nonprofits
The gang discusses the Harvard debacle (and Sam's run for the Board of Overseers), why double-bottom lines are challenging, tech regulation, and more.

DISCUSSED:
The 19th News

SHOW NOTES:
[00:00] Opening.
[01:10] We have a non-zero hit rate on making things things.
[01:50] How did we start the pod?
[03:01] The parable of launching a rocket at the moon.
[04:23] This week's headlines.
[06:28] Venture Capital Strategy: Why go super vertical?
[10:56] Guess the Product: Is it a Cold Plunge a Shiftwave Chair or ???
[14:03] Wild new moisture farming technology.
[18:03] The big debate: Harvard, nonprofit governance, and the future of society.
[21:31] Sam is now running as a write in candidate for the Harvard Board of Overseers.
[24:40] Has business become too big? Or has business just become too weird?
[25:55] The tale of two Twitters: one missionary, one capitalist.
[29:01] How do you solve for leadership in a woke world moving forward?
[29:45] Is there a strong argument that nonprofits should not exist?
[33:15] The problem with "make number go up".
[35:34] Isn't it the case that all organization exist at some intersection of "number go up" and values?
[37:00] The dirty secret of nonprofits: they have to raise money.
[37:36] What happens when institutions become too rich that they no longer listen to external feedback?
[38:51] The bigger question about the gap between the board and the people at these institutions.
[39:46] Is this a transient property of internet culture?
[42:32] Quick return to talking about TikTok governance.
[45:55] Jess plugs one of her favorite nonprofit, 19th News, which exists to cover all of the range of topics and polices and ideas that relate to women.
[49:28] Brit is heading to the California Governor's Mansion to the California Gender Equity Summit.
[52:50] Closing.

TRY THE GPT:
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FOLLOW THE POD:
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FOLLOW THE GANG:
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http://threads.net/brit
http://threads.net/jlessin
http://threads.net/lessin

...more
54min
December 08, 2023#26: Google Gemini, Meet Crypto-Cyber-Crystals
The gang discusses the release of Google Gemini...the crypto resurgence, crystals and the Cybertruck.
DISCUSSED:
Introducing Gemini: our largest and most capable AI model

Millions of new materials discovered with deep learning

The Top 100 Articles from The Information’s First 10 Years

The Organized Mind: Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload

How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen

Top Gear: Tesla Cybertruck DRIVEN!
SHOW NOTES:
[0:00:00] Opening.
[0:02:15] Very Very Happy Birthday to Brit Morin! Questions about automated birthday messages.
[0:03:20] Idea: Automated Birthday Greeting AI Thing
[0:04:24] Idea: AI Responder
[0:07:13] Headlines: Next volley in the AI wars with Google launching the Gemini AI Model, more layoffs at Spotify, media news with Disney finishing acquiring the rest of Hulu from Comcast, more bad news in venture capital land with a Boston based firm closing it's doors, and some book recommendations.
[0:09:35] The Information Wrapped: With The Information turning 10 this week, what are Jess' big lessons? Biggest stories?
[0:11:35] Google AI: What are the implications of powerful multi-modal models like Gemini?
[0:13:59] Impressive More or Less Show Notes brought to you by Google Gemini.
[0:14:57] It was always ridiculous to count Google out. Of course they were going to build really interesting stuff.
[0:16:50] An even more interesting Google AI Announcement: DeepMind's breakthrough in discovering millions of new crystals and other materials.
[0:21:10] Don't forget Meta AI: WhatsApp Bots, Meta Imagine, and Meta buying the most Nvidia H100s in the world.
[0:23:05] The Big Product Strategy Question: You're running Google or Meta, what is your AI rollout strategy?
[0:32:28] VC Temperature Check: Firms shutting down, IPOs were suppose to come but did not really come, yet crypto is ripping?
[0:35:45] Next Phase of Crypto: We are now in the phase of crypto where we are starting to connect these technologies to the real world.
[0:37:14] Crypto, Fandom, and CRM 3.0: Giving creators the power to engage more deeply with their fandoms.
[0:41:33] The pitches in crypto have finally become good business pitches.
[0:41:58] So where are we on crypto tokens now?
[0:43:55] Happy Birthday to Brit again!
[0:44:47] Book Recommendation: The Organized Mind - Thinking Straight in the Age of Information Overload
[0:47:34] A More or Less Book Proposal: Is our date night an ops meeting or a date night?
[0:48:45] Book Recommendation: How to Know a Person - The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
[0:49:50] Cybertruck: Thoughts on the Tesla Cybertruck design, and engineering.
[0:52:25] Closing.

TRY THE GPT:
http://gpt.moreorlesspod.com
FOLLOW THE POD:
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FOLLOW THE GANG:
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http://threads.net/brit
http://threads.net/jlessin
http://threads.net/lessin
...more
55min

FAQs about More or Less:

How many episodes does More or Less have?

The podcast currently has 136 episodes available.

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