#98: OpenAI Acquires Windsurf for $3B, Google's Stock Dips
The countdown to Episode 100 is on, but this week, it's more news and less Sam.Jessica, Brit, and Dave dig into a jam-packed week across tech, AI, VC, and culture—starting with Dave topping a surprise list of top angel investors (yes, above Peter Thiel), raising questions about who really shows up on cap tables and why no women made the cut.The crew unpack:Windsurf’s $3B acquisition by OpenAIApple’s potential move to replace Google with its own AI search in SafariA historic week of M&A with DoorDash, Datadog, and Function Health, andWhy tech was (mostly) absent from this year’s Met GalaWe’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Trailer01:24 Nearly 100 episodes02:35 Top one angel investor: David Morin07:22 Big M&As and vibe coding20:09 Digital media22:09 Is Google search dying?30:13 New Netflix interface32:18 Fund entities and structures (Sam, don't listen!)44:37 Pop culture corner: Barry Diller46:20 Pop culture corner: Met Gala54:44 Happy birthday to Jess55:26 Outro
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#97: How OpenAI Is Beating Google and Meta at Their Own Game
Jess, Sam, Brit, and Dave are back on More or Less with plenty to unpack—from Meta and Google’s AI sprawl to Snap’s fading relevance and the monetization questions hanging over tech.Here’s what they get into:– Why OpenAI is crushing the consumer AI game– Sam’s new startup: The Ruck Rock fitness empire– Meta’s AI app confusion (and Ray-Ban power moves)– Snap’s ad crash—and a left-field fix involving Sam Altman– AI and mental health: the risks no one’s talking aboutPlus: the parenting trick Meghan Markle and Sam both swear by—and why Dave might soon be replaced by an AI on the board.We’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Trailer01:20 AI investors, New York, Austin05:01 The Ruck Rock, Methaphone, Weighted Tungsten cases11:02 Meta AI, Google Gemini, ChatGPT21:46 The way to win in AI31:39 Snap snapped, and macroeconomics too34:29 Thinking Machines Lab38:21 AI and mental health45:32 Pop culture: Beyonce, Warriors, Meghan Markle48:56 Outro
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#96: Google & Meta on Trial, Tesla, AI & Media
Jess, Sam, Brit, and Dave returned from spring break to catch up on chaotic headlines from the last week — from Tesla’s bad quarter to Google’s courtroom drama.On the docket:– the antitrust cases shaking up Google, Meta, and the entire ad economy – is OpenAI quietly building the next Facebook? – Sam’s theory on “zombiecorns” – is OnlyFans the new Uber?We’re also on ↓X: https://x.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit00:00 Trailer01:25 Recruiting PMs and hard-to-fake filters08:34 Google anti-trust legal theater13:58 Market narratives and fruit monopolies22:21 LLMs and media companies25:49 Is the web dying?32:05 People want resonance38:19 Adult content and AI40:59 Meme stock Tesla and messiah Elon47:30 How Musk handles the poliola49:15 "Spam" Lessin's factory-farmed VC unicorn end52:23 National medal of motherhood55:48 Be the mountain, not the storm58:10 Outro and announcement
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#95: OpenAI’s Social Network & Figma’s Potential IPO
With Jess and Sam taking the week off Brit and Dave are joined by two leading voices in venture and tech: Ben Lerer (Managing Partner, Lerer Hippeau) and Morgan Beller (General Partner, NFX; Co-creator of Libra). Together, they dive into the shifting tides of tech, venture, and AI:– OpenAI’s next move: A social network?– Venture’s broken math– The ‘AI’ label inflation, and– Figma’s IPO and what it signals for techPlus, Ben and Morgan weigh space travel risks—would you commit to a ticket to Mars?Let us know in the comments below!00:00 Trailer01:16 Guest Intro03:39 VC East Coast scene08:39 Offline from tech10:32 OpenAI social media leak? 15:08 Investing in AI22:59 Like AI companies28:49 Figma's Potentital IPO33:08 LPs and founders are pissed41:52 Pop culture corner: Katy Perry went to space45:02 Humans on Mars by 2040? 46:36 OutroFeaturing: Ben Lerer: https://x.com/benjlererMorgan Beller: https://x.com/bellerWe’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit
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#94: Will Elon Quit DC? Trump’s Chaos & AI’s China Threat (with Joanna Coles)
This week on More or Less, Jessica hosts with Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer at The Daily Beast, while Sam, Dave, and Brit are off for “spring break”!They explore:• Elon’s DC stint• Trump’s cabinet leaks: Leaks fuel Rubio-Elon tension• China’s AI edge: Cheap tech shakes Valley’s leadPlus, Joanna ponders plastic surgery risks in space—will implants hold up?Featuring: Joanna Coles: https://x.com/JoannaColesThe Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.comWe’re also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessSpotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/moreorlesspodConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit01:13 The only one standing felt abandoned03:05 Guest intro04:36 What's it like inside the newsroom frontlines07:03 Betrayal, greed, power, ambition, love...12:17 What character is Elon Musk playing20:25 The Donald, the Valley, and the Trade War28:29 What the insider insiders are talking about31:20 Space, plastic surgeons, celebrities37:06 Another pop culture moment: Meghan Sussex40:52 Royalty and the tabloid46:05 Gloria Steinem, women's rights, reproductive health48:23 Moments that break out51:46 Outro
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 than a decade at Google, Apple and Facebook later, they are opening up the debate. From The Information, Offline Ventures, and Slow Ventures.
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