FRESHLY BAKED: SAM ALTMAN ON AI'S FUTURE

People prepare for emergencies in various ways. Some create earthquake kits, while others have unique strategies, like Kim and Kanye with their prenup. Sam Altman, however, has his own unconventional approach: he’s stocked up on weapons, gold, potassium iodide, antibiotics, batteries, water, Israeli Defense Force gas masks, and even has a remote piece of land in Big Sur as a refuge.

For those unfamiliar with him, here’s a brief overview:

Altman became the head of Y Combinator at just 28 and is recognized by Paul Graham, the founder, as one of the most intriguing startup founders of the past three decades—sharing that honor with legends like Steve Jobs and Larry Page. Prior to Y Combinator, he founded Loopt, which sold for $5 million, then secured $21 million from Peter Thiel for his next ventures. His investment fund has seen remarkable growth, backing notable companies like Stripe and OpenDoor. Now, he leads OpenAI and is investing significantly in groundbreaking projects like fusion energy.

This week, he participated in an extensive interview about the trajectory of technology and AI.

Did we listen so you don’t have to? Absolutely! Here’s a summary of our key takeaways:

• Altman is a prolific investor with over 400 personal investments in startups.
• He gravitates towards hard tech and high-risk projects, but crypto and Web3 are not his focus—he admits he doesn’t fully understand them.
• While there's much buzz around GPT-4, he cautions that the hype may lead to disappointment, and they plan to roll out updates cautiously.
• He doesn’t foresee ChatGPT replacing Google, as he believes Google will remain relevant for quite some time.
• Detecting and regulating ChatGPT usage in schools will be challenging, prompting the need for students to acquire new skills.
• Altman envisions a bright future for AI, one that enhances our lives in ways we can't yet fully comprehend.
• He is skeptical of a fully remote work culture, predicting that many significant companies will maintain in-office settings.
• He believes it's an opportune time to establish new businesses, noting that while fundraising has become tougher, executing operations has grown easier.

COOKIES CRUMBS: BITE-SIZED TECH NEWS

Here’s what’s been happening in the tech world this week:

• Amazon has launched RxPass, allowing Prime members to purchase unlimited generic medications for just $5 a month, covering 80 different drugs.
• YouTube has teamed up with Arizona State University to offer college credit courses, initially starting with four classes, with plans to expand.
• Google faced a challenging week, laying off 12,000 employees and getting sued by the DOJ over monopolistic practices.
• ChatGPT had a successful week, scoring a B on a Wharton MBA exam and introducing a $42 monthly subscription plan, which offers perks like high-demand access and faster response times.
• The IRS has released updated tax brackets for 2023—tax season is here!
• Reed Hastings is stepping down as CEO of Netflix after a remarkable 25-year tenure, with COO Greg Peters taking the reins.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS: OUR TOP PICKS

• Five simple tips to instantly boost your confidence.
• A website focusing exclusively on positive news—perfect to counteract negativity!
• Exploring how to utilize ChatGPT as a life coach or therapist—an intriguing potential for telehealth.
• Sequoia is accepting applications for their seed-stage catalyst program, offering $500K to $1M in investment along with a startup bootcamp.

FROM THE COOKIE JAR: TWEET OF THE WEEK

"Remember: Don’t spend life in deferral."

SNICKERDOODLES: THURSDAY MEMES

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That wraps up this week’s edition, folks! See you next Thursday!

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Sam Altman discusses the future of AI, addressing its potential impact on society and the workforce.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shares insights on technology's trajectory and the evolving landscape of AI.