(Preview) Deep Research and OpenAI's Business Model, A Counterpoint on White Collar Concerns, The Future of Cognition and Companionship

After Ben's interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Andrew and Ben hold an impromptu symposium on AI and its implications, featuring questions from listeners. Topics include: The long-term UX for Deep Research, OpenAI's allergy to an ads-based business model, a confession from Ben after an Exponent take years ago, how AI might--or might not--change the White Collar economy, an era of startups capitalizing on AI-enabled cost structures, AI for companionship and adult content, and whether generative AI will slowly erode human cognition. At the end: A few follow-ups on Vision Pro, including proof of concept at a bluegrass concert.

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An Interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman About Building a Consumer Tech Company — Stratechery Interview (stratechery.com/2025/an-interview-with-openai-…)

Y Combinator startups are fastest growing, most profitable in fund history because of AI — CNBC (cnbc.com/2025/03/15/y-combinator-startups-are-…)

She Is in Love With ChatGPT — New York Times (nytimes.com/2025/01/15/technology/ai-chatgpt-b…)

Have humans passed peak brain power? — Financial Times (ft.com/content/a8016c64-63b7-458b-a371-e0e1c54…)

The Idea Adoption Curve — Stratechery (stratechery.com/2020/the-idea-adoption-curve)

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