A few months back, Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, posted a tweet reflecting on what he would change if he could go back in time and build Reddit again. He expressed his desire to spend less time attending events. In contrast, my personal experience differs as I have always found value in traveling to events, despite initial reservations about getting on a plane or using ride-sharing services like Uber. I’ve consistently discovered something magical from attending such gatherings.
However, for our TC+ team, anecdotes from either Alexis or myself are insufficient. They prefer a data-driven approach, so they conducted a survey involving more than 50 founders to assess whether attending events remains a viable strategy in 2023. The results show that there’s no clear consensus, but there are compelling pros and cons. I recommend reading the article to determine the circumstances in which you can expect a worthwhile return on investment for your event-related endeavors.
Today’s newsletter is going to be more concise than usual because I’m currently at home dealing with pneumonia. So please forgive any medication-induced ramblings this week. I hope to return with my usual insights next week.
In the realm of artificial intelligence, it’s no surprise that our most-read stories continue to revolve around AI. The AI hype cycle is ongoing, and this week, we’ve explored various aspects, including the less savory side of AI, where humans play a role in tricking AI systems into generating inappropriate content. We also spoke with investors to understand the potential future of AI beyond these issues.
Rumors are circulating about OpenAI considering the development of its own AI chips, which could be particularly interesting considering Nvidia’s stock market success driven by the AI boom. Adobe has also made strides with its Firefly generative AI models, allowing for more realistic image generation and aiding artists in creating vector graphics.
In other AI news, a Dutch startup named Tidalflow, backed by Google’s Gradient Ventures, aims to facilitate compatibility between software and various language model ecosystems like ChatGPT. Adobe is also working on easier image editing through Project Stardust, showcasing its next-generation AI photo editing engine.
Shifting gears to tangible technology, we’ve seen advancements in augmented reality and virtual reality, with Meta Quest 3 bringing these technologies closer to mainstream adoption. However, there have been legal setbacks for audio company Sonos, whose patents were ruled unenforceable, resulting in a significant loss against Google.
In the world of mobile devices, it appears they may be gradually displacing personal computers, as PC shipments have slowed and Apple’s sales have declined.
Switching to the topic of social media, Reddit’s API-related issues are beginning to resolve, and VidCon continues to thrive, even hosting an industry leadership summit. Meanwhile, Mastodon and Twitter are experiencing unexpected changes in their user statistics, and a former TikTok employee is developing a social app to support content creators in networking and improving their content.
Lastly, X (formerly Twitter) is testing various tiers of its Premium service, one of which may offer an ad-free experience, potentially reshaping the social media landscape.
