More or Less

Stargate—a $500 billion AI venture straight from Trump 2.0's White House—has all the drama of a sci-fi blockbuster. But instead of aliens (like in the movie from 30 years ago), we’ve got Elon Musk, Satya Nadella, and Sam Altman trading shots. “SoftBank doesn’t have the money,” Elon posted on X, while Microsoft’s Nadella shot back, “I’m good for my $80 billion.” Meanwhile, Altman’s keeping things spicy with OpenAI already breaking ground. Also on the docket: • $TRUMP token, • the inauguration at Capitol Hill, and • if SoftBank buys, must you sell? We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

On this week’s episode of More or Less, Meta kills DEI and fact-checking (right after their $27B moderation exit), Zuck's talking "masculine energy" on Rogan, and TikTok's facing a ban while DJI mysteriously drops US flight restrictions. It's not even February. We also share opinions on: • why tech's gender gap persists (18% of CS grads are women) • whether Elon's X could inherit TikTok's distribution • what NYC's congestion tax reveals about tech's bubble Just another week in Silicon Valley's great realignment. We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 00:00 Trailer 01:22 Tech's gender gap 07:52 Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies 18:36 Implications of TikTok Ban 26:52 If TikTok goes dark 30:51 Balkanization 38:21 Inauguration 41:01 Wellness festival 44:12 Congestion tax and consumption patterns 48:08 Girl math 49:41 Los Angeles 53:10 Outro

Meta is ditching fact-checkers, Nvidia hitting $3T, and everyone is building robots for some reason. Episode # 81 of More or Less kicks off 2025 by asking: • How much of Zuck's community notes pivot is political theater? • Can NVIDIA actually pull off this "mega omniverse" industrial AI play? • Will companies thrive as the great tech exodus accelerates? Plus: Sam explains why centralized moderation was always destined to fail (backed by that wild 30% spike in misinfo post-fact-checking), Dave remains unimpressed by CES's 170,000-person gadget circus, and Brit introduces us to Generation Beta -- the first true AI natives. Bonus round: Is 2025 the year Texas tech finally takes the crown? We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit (00:00) Trailer (01:50) Introduction (03:02) CES, NVIDIA, Generation Beta (10:00) Breaking down Zuck’s announcement (25:22) What could go wrong? (38:34) Los Angeles (40:46) Robots (44:01) Pop Culture Corner (47:50) Outro

Time for Part 2 of our More or Less highlights special! We've curated some clips to check off our tech bingo card for 2024. This past year gave us Trump swapping press rooms for podcasts, the DOJ taking swings at Big Tech, BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF hitting record highs ($50B AUM) and—because why not—a government department named after DOGE, a not so subtle nod to Trump's pro-crypto stance. What's in store for 2025? We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit (0:00) Intro (1:13) Mar 29, 2024 | Apple v. DOJ (8:53) Aug 9, 2024 | Google Antitrust Decision (14:08) Oct 11, 2024 | Google's Potential Breakup (26:46) Jun 12, 2023 | Crypto and the SEC (35:27) Dec 8, 2023 | Crypto bounces back (46:30) Nov 15, 2024 | D.O.G.E. (01:03:16) Dec 6, 2024 | Trump and Web3 (01:10:56) Outro

Welcome to Part 1 of the More or Less highlights special! We’re taking a look back at an action-packed year in AI, from groundbreaking developments to game-changing predictions about the future. Don’t miss this collection of standout moments and stay tuned for Part 2! We’re also on ↓ X: ⁠https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/moreorless⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod⁠ Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: ⁠https://x.com/brit⁠ 2) Dave Morin: ⁠https://x.com/davemorin⁠ 3) Jessica Lessin: ⁠https://x.com/Jessicalessin⁠ 4) Sam Lessin: ⁠https://x.com/lessin (00:00:00) Introduction (00:00:54) SEGMENT 1: OpenAI Developer Day, Altman firing (00:01:08) OpenAI Developer Day and GPTs (00:15:22) CEO Sam Altman was fired (00:35:27) SEGMENT 2: Apple + OpenAI, LLMs Business Realities (00:35:42) Apple Intelligence (00:51:51) SEGMENT 3: Agentic Predictions, Adoption, Business Models (00:52:23) OpenAI's Mega Funding Round (01:08:39) Agentic future and Building software through AI (01:24:25) Silicon Valley Hype Waves, Tech Infrastructure and Great Products (01:40:11) Outro

In this episode, the Morins & Lessins dive into the highs and lows of 2024 to uncover who came out on top. Google made a strong showing, but are they well-positioned for the long haul? Waymo keeps moving the needle with self-driving cars and big moves in AI, making it a strong contender for years to come. Apple? They’ve been a bit slow to innovate this year, but don’t count them out just yet. Meta really hit their stride in 2024, proving the naysayers wrong. AI? Check. Hardware? Check. Will they keep the momentum going? Let’s get into it. In this episode, the Morins & Lessins dive into the highs and lows of 2024 to uncover who came out on top. Google made a strong showing, but are they well-positioned for the long haul? Waymo keeps moving the needle with self-driving cars and big moves in AI, making it a strong contender for years to come. Apple? They’ve been a bit slow to innovate this year, but don’t count them out just yet. Meta really hit their stride in 2024, proving the naysayers wrong. AI? Check. Hardware? Check. Will they keep the momentum going? Let’s get into it. We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin (00:00:00) Trailer + Introduction (00:01:46) God bless capitalism (00:04:08) A+ love story, 3-hour marathon (00:07:32) 2024 Tech Outlook (00:09:50) Why AI was transformative (00:13:21) A major year for tech? (00:17:55) A remarkable year for VC (00:31:51) Waymo (00:35:35) The company of the year (00:53:29) 2025 Predictions (01:03:20) Food, health, pop culture, sports (01:08:15) Outro

How will OpenAI's latest video technology affect the creator ecosystem? Could this new tech pave the way for a new type of entertainment? Also in this episode ↓ - Does Google have a lead in the AI race? - Should digital trade play a larger role in policy discussions? - The End of the Eras Tour and Sam's Pink Pilates Princess Strut Pop Season We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 00:00 Trailer 01:24 Introduction 02:04 The Eras Tour 06:56 AI, TikTok, and Arrests 07:31 AI Video Debate 10:28 Creator Economy and AI Tools 16:10 Trust and Attention in Creator Businesses 19:24 Digital Drugs and AI Content 22:13 Spotify Wrapped and Music Trends 27:54 AI Agents 35:04 The Death of the Open Web? 39:42 Policy, Big Tech, and Digital Trade 48:29 Reflecting on Leadership in Media and Policy 52:18 Amazon Autos and Miata Chronicles 55:01 Outro

What’s it like being the CEO of Box and a full-time internet meme lord? Well… ask Aaron Levie. In this episode, he joins Jess, Dave, and Sam to answer: • what it’s like being a “toxic Bitcoin maxi” as the price soars past $100k • more or less M&A for MAANG • how far we are from AGI We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Aaron Levie: https://x.com/levie 2) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 3) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 4) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 5) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 00:00 Trailer 01:27 Introduction 05:26 Web3, Crypto Enthusiasm 13:44 Political Dynamics in Tech 22:27 Antitrust and Regulatory Challenges 34:59 The Future of AI in Enterprise Software 40:36 The Personal App Revolution 43:47 AI Accuracy 51:38 Killer Use Cases and Business Models 1:01:59 Future Predictions 1:05:02 Pop Culture Corner 1:07:10 Outro

The artist vs. tech bros—classic tension or chaos ahead? In EP 75, Brit, Dave, and Jess are joined by Matt Vascellaro as they dive into: • Sora's leak and the fiery backlash from Hollywood • The uneasy marriage of AI and art, and why the "right" UI still feels like chasing rainbows • And, of course, the rise (and roast) of the Bay Area tech bro We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod  Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless  Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod  Connect with us here: 1) Matt Vascellaro: https://x.com/wizardgenius  2) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit  3) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin  4) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin

Meet Adrian Aoun—an OG listener and one of Alphabet’s best-kept secrets. He recently wound down Forward, his company that set out to reinvent the doctor’s office with AI. He joins Brit, Dave, and Jess in this episode to explore the exit, Adrian’s hardware + software play with CarePods, and what it means to create a generational company for healthcare. Also on the agenda: • is primary care venture-scalable? • are Elon & Trump BFFs?? • Optimus for the military??? We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Adrian Aoun: https://x.com/adrianaoun 2) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 3) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 4) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 00:00:00 Trailer 00:01:17 Introduction 00:02:22 Navigating New York City 00:07:13 Some Silicon Valley history 00:11:05 More Or Less: Trump and Musk 00:15:36 Forward's Journey and Challenges 00:24:00 Healthcare Innovations and Market Shifts 00:30:07 Future of Healthcare and Business Models 00:43:39 Unwinding a company 00:47:31 Healthcare Technology Adoption 00:59:15 The Emotional and Logistical Aspects 01:01:55 Outro

With Musk’s bio now updated to read, “The people voted for major government reform,” it’s clear he’s not just dabbling in policy. In this episode, the Morins and Lessins break down what it means for democracy when a “super VC” like Musk mingles tech interests with government influence. Also on the docket: - will Bitcoin surge to $100K? - monetization for LLMs, and - the new wave of Silicon Valley internships in government We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin Mark Zuckerberg & T-Pain's New Song 'Get Low': https://open.spotify.com/track/3Wn1ZONJX2yfbzWo2aPuQN?si=5368065e3e994f54 00:00:00 Trailer 00:01:10 Introduction and Brit’s New Look 00:03:17 IV Drip, Lingo, suPAR 00:08:49 PSA: Cookies and Feedbacks 00:10:09 Another big week in AI 00:12:30 Department of Government Efficiency 00:21:53 The cryptos and the VCs 00:29:39 AI in B2B2C and Verticalized Markets 00:37:50 AI Investment Strategies and Market Trends 00:52:32 Pop Culture Corner: Zuck and T-Pain 01:00:15 Outro

Are incumbent media networks losing ground? Kamala stuck to broadcast media, while Trump bypassed traditional filters and reached audiences as an influencer, taking his message to Rogan and Fridman. Among concerns over echo chambers and AI-controlled narratives, there’s a flip side—more people now have a platform, giving everyone a voice. Guillermo Rauch of Vercel says “everyone needs to be empowered to create.” The more people who can build their own platforms and apps, the more we decentralize the conversation. Tune in as we break down the election aftermath and the future of content in a post-AI world. We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin

In this episode, the crew dives into why no self-respecting Silicon Valley developer is ditching AI tools anytime soon. Sam and Jess go back and forth on Snap’s subscription model and whether it can stand up to Meta’s dominance. Plus, Bezos seems wary of a potential Trump comeback. We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin 00:00:00 Trailer 00:01:02 Introduction 00:01:22 Phone problems as features 00:07:00 Tech earnings season overview 00:09:45 Meta's quarterly performance and VR discussion 00:15:30 Google and Microsoft's AI-driven growth 00:19:55 User growth for tech companies 00:23:56 How users are using Snapchat 00:30:46 Get laid, get paid, get entertained 00:36:40 Earnings predictions 00:40:09 Creator economy's influence on election campaigns 00:51:09 Bezos ends Washington Post presidential endorsements 00:57:53 Celebrity collaborations and entertainment updates 01:03:47 Outro

Apple’s Vision Pro has had its fair share of challenges. Initially aiming for 3 million units, the forecast adjusted down to 900,000, then 800,000, and ultimately? Just 450,000 sold. For a $3,500 device, that's a tough spot to be in. Going from developer kit to flagship in a hurry? Classic Apple. In this episode, the Morins and Lessins talk about: - Apple vs Meta on AR - AI & mental health, and - journalistic integrity in tech reporting We’re also on ↓ X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin

Elon’s robots are real... kind of? On this episode of More or Less, we take a deep dive into the duality of Tesla. Are we witnessing the future or yet another Disney ride? Tune in as Brit, Dave, Sam, and Jess unpack: • Tesla’s We, Robot event • Why the retail army craves Planet Elon • Waymo & the future of robovehicles • Late-stage capitalism We’re also on ↓ X: https://x.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspod Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin

Google’s enjoyed a monopoly-sized head start for a while. But it now looks like the DOJ’s ready to throw a wrench in its works. Is a breakup of the search giant on the cards? In EP 068 of the pod, Brit, Dave, and Jess talk all things: - antitrust and Google, - screen time and parental control, and - why leveraging AI for consumer apps might still be a pipe dream. We’re also on ↓ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MoreorLessPodv X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/moreorless Connect with us here: 1) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit 2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin 3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin 4) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin Chapters: 00:00 Trailer 01:11 Introduction 04:25 Google: A Breakup On The Cards? 08:24 Big Tech & Antitrust 27:43 Screen Time & Devices 31:14 Ditch Your Phone 32:14 Dr. Becky & Parenting 33:06 Health & Longevity 34:00 Spin-Offs: Good For Big Tech? 35:36 AI Predictions 43:52 The Future of Software 50:51 Consumer AI & Business Models 59:12 AI at Wimbledon and Final Thoughts

OpenAI Sets a Record and Will Apple Make Its Next Move? 00:00 - Introduction and The @VCBrags Twitter Account04:48 - The Sam and Dave Contest07:15 - OpenAI's Record-Breaking Funding Round13:04 - OpenAI's Product Strategy Shift18:05 - The Future of A.I. and Consumer Experiences19:28 - Apple's Potential in the A.I. Space26:23 - The Impact of A.I. on Software Development33:55 - Dave's Three A.I. Buckets: Fast, Slow, and Edge Models35:54 - Insane Evaluations and VC Funds39:24 - How Japan's Declining Birthrate is a Good Thing43:10 - Pop Culture Corner46:47 - Closing Thoughts and Future Tech Trends in Japan

Meta Connect, the Hardware Renaissance (or Not?) and Special Guest Dan Feder 

Plus, China, the supply chain and Sam climbs a mountain. MrBeast Strategy Doc: https://cybernews.com/news/mrbeast-leaked-pdf-spills-secrets-how-to-be-successful-on-youtube/ 0:00 - Introduction and Debriefing Sam's Mountain Climbing Trip 5:50 - Instagram's New Teen Controls 10:20 - The Role of Tech Companies in Child Safety 12:34 - YouTube's New Hype Feature 13:30 - MrBeast's Leaked Strategy Doc 15:00 - Parental Controls 22:10 - Are YouTube Hypes just Tips? 27:45 - Amazon and The Shift Back to In-Person Work 32:54 - Temu and Regulation Loopholes 40:30 - Sam's Phrase: "Lick the Cookie" 41:50 - Crypto Innovations and Investments

Plus, is MrBeast the new BuzzFeed? And the latest with Stripe. Sam's MrBeast is Buzzfeed 2.0: https://x.com/lessin/status/1833545048543375856?s=46 00:00 - Introduction and A Mystery 02:54 - An Honest Review of The Mill 04:46 - The Happenings and Headlines 05:16 - Reflections on The Acquired Podcast Live with Mark Zuckerburg 14:41 - A Critique of the Live Podcast Format 16:43 - Reflections on The Apple Launch Event 22:13 - New Markets for Apple to Break Into: CPAPs and Parental Controls 27:59 - An Honest Review of Bevel 29:54 - Revisiting the Parental Controls Conversation 30:19 - The Information's AI Summit 31:44 - University of Michigan's Venture Summit 33:37 - The Bill Gurley Chronicles 39:06 - Is MrBeast the New BuzzFeed? 48:39 - Strategies and Business Models for the Creator Economy 55:19 - The Intersection of the Payments Business and the Creator Economy 59:08 - PCC: The US Presidential Debate 1:00:10 - Outro