Bastian Moritz

I'm trying my hand at a new format called #NewRules on Social.

It stems from a new content strategy and my need to hone my writing and observation skills.

We all come across these absurdities, contradictions and things that trigger emotions in us.

We can ridicule them, ignore them or get angry about them.

Or we can address them with a blend of comedy and commentary and a call to action.

And in doing so, call for concrete changes in society at large or in our own behaviors and actions.

Perhaps the true catalyst for change in our work lives isn't just AI; it might be our own perspective.

John Maynard Keynes once prophesied a future of leisure, where technological advancement – science and compound interest – would slash our work hours. This was in 1930.

As we stand in the age of Artificial Intelligence 94 years later, this vision is tantalizingly close, yet still so far. So far, because the question isn't just about what AI can do for us, but also what we have to demand for ourselves.

Can we redefine success, not by the hours we spend at work, but by the fulfillment we glean from it?

Can we redefine productivity, not by the hours we spend at work, but by the inventiveness we use to solve for work? By the value we create? What is the real value difference between transporting a group of children in an aircraft designed by engineers and accompanying a group of children through kindergarten as an educator for 2 years?

This shift in mindset, coupled with AI's prowess, could unlock the door to a balanced life where productivity is a means to an end, not the end itself.

In this new era, it’s not about AI taking over our jobs, but about us taking control of our time which is limited by the death.

A collaborative, thoughtful approach to integrating AI in our work life holds the key to not just working less but living more. Because life limited only by our time – yes I’ll say it: “death is inevitable.”

Or are we too afraid of falling into an existential crisis? Are those who make our policies afraid that we might fall into an existential crisis?

Thus for the first time since his creation man will be faced with his real, his permanent problem-how to use his freedom from pressing economic cares, how to occupy the leisure, which science and compound interest will have won for him, to live wisely and agreeably and well.

— John Maynard Keynes, Economic Possibilities for our Grandchildren (1930)

The success of Colin and Samir's most viewed video is rooted in a deep understanding of platform-specific dynamics, a focus on engagement through conversation, and leveraging cross-platform insights for content optimization.

This strategy can be a valuable guide for you if you are looking to enhance their content strategy across various social media platforms.

Our Instagram Reel about the new Ray-Ban Meta glasses was shared 1,082,464 times and became our most viewed video ever with 59.2M views.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Colin and Samir (@colinandsamir)

We increased our focus on Instagram this year, specifically with Reels. The built-in messaging aspect of Instagram makes the platform inherently more conversational and our videos more shareable. The IG DM allows for videos to operate as units of conversation, which is very different from Shorts / TikToks. Even when we had a big episode on YouTube, we’d look to Instagram (and TikTok) to see what people were saying about it.

Let's break it down to highlight key elements of your content strategy, which can be shared as advice:

1. Platform-Specific Focus

Strategy: Concentrating efforts on Instagram Reels.

Why It Works: Instagram's format is inherently more conversational than other platforms like YouTube Shorts or TikTok. The ease of sharing and the direct messaging feature on Instagram enhances the shareability and engagement of your content.

2. Utilizing Built-In Features for Engagement

Strategy: Leveraging Instagram's direct messaging (DM) feature.

Why It Works: The DM feature turns videos into conversational units, making them more personal and engaging. This approach differs from other platforms where content is typically consumed more passively.

3. Cross-Platform Analysis for Audience Insights

Strategy: Using Instagram and TikTok to gauge audience reactions to YouTube content.

Why It Works: This allows for a more holistic understanding of audience preferences and perceptions, which can inform content creation across all platforms.

4. Content as Conversation

Strategy: Creating content that serves as a starting point for conversations.

Why It Works: This approach fosters community engagement and encourages sharing, as people are more likely to share content that they find conversation-worthy.

5. Understanding Platform Dynamics

Strategy: Recognizing and utilizing the unique dynamics of each platform.

Why It Works: Different platforms cater to different audience behaviors and preferences. Tailoring content to fit the platform ensures higher engagement and relevance.

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Be open to experiment with creative and understand the algorithms and how they are designed to enhance user engagement by showing content that is likely to interest each individual user, leading to a personalized experience.

Does your content provide value to the user base of the platform you use?

And does it serve a specific audience within that user base?

Just in time for the new year offering us all the opportunity to getting your priorities straight, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, offers a series of insightful principles and advice for success in business with "What I Wish Someone Had Told Me"

Sam’s perspective is so valuable because he is emphasizing a blend of optimism and vision, pragmatism and self-belief, a balance of calmness and urgency, and the importance of human elements and long-term orientation for business success.

From YC Founder to YC President to OpenAI CEO

In his post, Altman emphasizes the importance of long-term orientation in business, suggesting that one should not be overly concerned with short-term perceptions and that this perspective becomes easier to maintain over time. He advocates for audacious ideas, noting that challenging tasks are more motivating for teams than simpler tasks. He also highlights the power of incentives, the need for clear, concise communication, and the importance of fighting against bureaucracy and inefficiency.

Additionally, Altman underscores the significance of recruitment, stressing the importance of taking risks on individuals with high potential and a rapid rate of improvement. He advocates for fast iteration, where quick corrections can compensate for initial errors, and suggests that while plans should be long-term, execution should be swift.

Altman warns against fighting the fundamental laws of business and notes the unpredictable qualities that emerge as a business scales. He also discusses the 'magic' of compounding exponentials, especially in building a business that gains compounded advantages with scale.

Finally, Altman reflects on the value of working with great people, considering it one of the best aspects of life. His post is a result of his experiences and learnings, particularly relevant after a tumultuous year at OpenAI.

The "make it more" trend with generative AI is super addictive and fun.

Try yourself and share with your friends.

Make sure to use DALL-E not just ChatGPT.

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Also, my second try took an even more interesting  turn: GPT-4 venturing on transcendent paths to discuss what success looks beyond the superlatives.

There are these tempting startup ideas that you would better leave unpursued or pivoting away from fast.

Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel discuss these seemingly irresistible startup ideas that are almost too good to be true—and that's precisely why they likely are—or are they?

They are too good to be true because they might be so called tarpit ideas. Ideas that seem obviously awesome at first, but even appearing to be fantastic opportunities to many, they harbor deep-seated issues that could doom entire venture.

Therefore, you must have compelling reasons to pursue these apparent gold rush opportunities. Tarpit ideas metaphorically represent all projects that ensnare you in situations where you expend significant effort but achieve minimal progress.

I find these ideas fascinating because it often seems not to be the technological advancement that keeps great developments from happening, but rather human factors, as we discuss in the startup idea examples.

Perhaps my interest sometimes appears as default skepticism, but I am genuinely eager to explore these ideas and delve into (yes, I said it…) the crucial question of “Why now?”.

Don’t shy away from the fact that very smart, very well-funded, very determined teams have tried them before. Maybe now is just the right point in time for the idea to find its fitness.

One year after GPT-4 was released we are all excited for a monumental leap forward with GPT-5.

People who have close ties to or are investors in OpenAI seem to be traveling to San Franscico right now as their Twitter status updates show. Is GPT-5 close to its public release?

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, shared his excitement for the most recent podcast with Lex Fridman.

"I'm excited about being smarter," Sam remarked, highlighting the holistic improvement of GPT-5 over its predecessor.

Altman emphasizes that the forthcoming iteration isn't just about isolated advancements. Instead, it's "getting better across the board."

I'm excited about being smarter.
The really special thing happening is that it's not getting better in one area and worse at others.
It's getting better across the board.
— Sam Altman

Lex Fridman eloquently suggests that the true magic lies in the notion of being "heard and understood" by an AI.

He hopes that GPT-5 will increase the moments of "intellectual connection," that mirror these magical moments of connection one feels when another person just "gets you."

This is insofar fascinating as Lex highlights that it isn't solely about raw intelligence or the mechanical processing of language. But the moments when the AI can grasp the deeper questions behind your questions, providing responses that make you feel profoundly understood, even when articulated imperfectly, in the way only a close friend or colleague only grasps one.

…it's just such a good feeling when it got you like what you're thinking about. And I look forward to it getting me even better.
— Lex Fridman

Both Sam and Lex share the excitement for an AI that does more than just compute or predict. An AI that can truly understand you, that can truly "get" you, making the interaction with it feel more like a dialogue with a thoughtful partner rather than strings of unsatisfactory query-response transactions.

As Fridman aptly puts it, "all of us love being understood, heard, and understood."

You feel like there's an understanding in your crappy formulated prompts that you're doing, that it grasps the deeper question behind the question that you posed. Yeah, I'm also excited by that.
— Lex Fridman

The anticipation surrounding GPT-5 centers on this very concept—AI that not only hears but understands and responds in a way that feels deeply connected to our thoughts and intentions.

With Altman’s remarks, that the enhancements are not confined to a single aspect but extends across the board the evolution from GPT-4 to GPT-5 promises AI interactions getting more empathetic, more intuitive, and more aligned with a human-like experience and not just a technical upgrade.

Arguably the best job ad in the world? Comes from Extropic in a very straightforward way.

"Yes, but Bastian, a sexy startup has no shortage of skilled specialists".

It's not a sexy ad either.

Because, curious people want to work on interesting problems - not on boring tasks that a computer could do but you refused to invest in.

And how do you spark curiosity?

By making an engaging video.

A good video has nothing to do with effects, VFX and SFX, or quick cuts that make you and your applicants feel nauseated as if you've just been on a rollercoaster.

A good video needs a compelling theme.

A theme that captivates its target audience AND people who think "Oh, Charlie might be interested in this topic and they probably haven't heard of it yet so I am going to tell them about it…"

"That's an exciting topic!", even I thought to myself, who understands nothing of what the founders are discussing. Even though we were once invited by the researchers at Fraunhofer IAF to find out first-hand how research is being conducted at the bleeding-edge of III-V semiconductors. So yes, I may know a bit more about semiconductors than the average person on the interwebs. But I didn't study physics, computer science nor electrical engineering.

“A good video is all about an interesting topic told well and without cliches,” as Niko likes to say.

How do you make a great video?

IMHO: The easiest way is to simply explain it.

Explain it to an interested layperson.

Just like Guillaume Verdon and Trevor McCourt explain it to Garry Tan. Garry is asking these questions that we’d like to ask Guillaume and Trevor ourselves. And questions that the right applicant might be able to ask them very soon themselves.

The entire video leads with “what ground-breaking thing is going on here?”

Not the fact that they're going from stealth startup to launch.

Not the fact that Verdon’s anonymous X account had been "doxed" by the New York Times.

But the fact that they were able to keep my attention for 10 minutes, despite it quickly became clear that it was a recruitment video, makes it... arguably the best job ad in the world.

Last week I talked about the best product demo in the world.

This week I talked about the best job ad in the world.

If you don't want to miss anything "best in the world", subscribe now and click the like button.

Creating a Custom GPT: See how easy it is to create a Custom GPT yourself!

Taking the use case of a phonetic spelling application as an example to create a Custom GPT that you can use as your personal assistant.

BTW, you know what a fun prompt for the “Phonetic Speller” Custom GPT is?

Do you say "gif" or "gif"?

It told me that “[…] the creator of the GIF format, Steve Wilhite, has stated that the correct pronunciation is with a soft "g" (/dʒɪf/), like "jiff".”

I guess the longstanding debate over its pronunciation settled then?

Can somebody please fact check that?

For the entire instructions see Custom GPT documentation here.

Watch the video on YouTube and subscribe for more builds.

A marvel of modern engineering. And a marvelous way to demonstrate it.

I liked the Top Gear’s Jack Rix #Tesla #Cybertruck review and his interview with the VP of Engineering Lars Moravy and the Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen.

But this? This is product demonstration done right.

This is a product demo on the next level and although wild and you would never do it, this product demo seems much more appropriate.

This is what we actually want to see doing a car like this. Not your 40-year-old driving it to go shopping and dropping your kids of at soccer practice.

This will take care of the “German E-Angst.”

If you want to see the entire video (parental advisory advised), go to YouTube and search for Danny Duncan “I Drilled Horns On My Cybertruck!” #CreatorEconomy #InfluencerAdvertisment #BrandIntegration

The new text-to-video AI model from OpenAI is capable of generating up to minute-long videos from text prompts, including complex scenes with accurate details and emotions.

Sora understands interactions in the physical world, but for now it has limitations, such as difficulties with physics simulation and specific cause-effect scenarios.

Despite these challenges, Sora represents a significant advancement in AI's ability to create dynamic and interactive video content.

Deep Inside the Minds of YC Leadership

Listening to the new YC Partner Podcast feels like being a fly on the wall within the pulsating heart of Silicon Valley.

It's as if you're privy to the very essence of the moment, tuning into conversations that resonate with the immediacy of the now.

The discussions unfurl topics that have likely been thoroughly explored in similar circles, hinting at a familiarity and depth only insiders possess.

Yes, the dialogue is moderated, and to the participants, it might tread over well-worn paths.

Yet, what captivates us are the underlying principles they navigate, principles that echo Paul Graham's essays and the inevitable intersection of business minds and administrative forces—highlighting a path to success that doesn't always necessitate their early involvement. Success, they imply, can be as simple as creating something remarkable.

YC has a long standing history shared their knowledge not just in essays and YC Startupschool and Garry Tan becoming a YouTuber.

But this time is different. It feels much more like in the present, they are talking about the now and the principles are the underlying truths, not the stars of the show. It seems they have become a media company not just a school where they as the professors graduate their students with a multi-million dollar evaluation on Demo Day.

This essence of being that proverbial fly, listening in on conversations that flow as naturally to them as breathing, offers a unique perspective.

It's exhilarating to be part of a dialogue that embodies the optimism of a generational shift, the dawn of the AI Age.

This confidence, this shared optimism, provides a comforting reassurance that my own aspirations aren't misplaced, even if they seem to be navigating the future with a six-month lead.

In "The Reciprocity Advantage: A New Way to Partner for Innovation and Growth," authors Bob Johansen and Karl Ronn offer a visionary yet pragmatic guide that could very well be the Rosetta Stone for modern business growth.

At its core, the book is a clarion call for a seismic shift in how businesses approach partnerships, innovation, and growth in an increasingly interconnected world.

The Premise: A New Business Paradigm

Johansen and Ronn, both seasoned in the art of innovation, argue that the future belongs to those who can effectively find and leverage reciprocity in their business relationships.

They posit that the traditional competitive strategies are giving way to a more collaborative and mutually beneficial approach.

It's not just about beating the competition anymore.

It's about joining forces with them to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Executive Summary

The 4 most crucial insights for business leaders of The Reciprocity Advantage are:

1. Identifying Complementary Partners:
   One of the book's most compelling insights is the emphasis on identifying partners with complementary assets. The authors guide readers through the process of finding and engaging with potential partners whose strengths can offset their weaknesses and vice versa.
2. Shared Vision for Mutual Benefit:
   Johansen and Ronn stress the importance of creating a shared vision. This isn't just about aligning goals but about forging a path where each partner stands to gain significantly from the collaboration, thus ensuring sustained commitment and effort.
3. The Power of Pilot Experiments:
   The book advocates for starting small – using pilot experiments to test the waters. This approach allows businesses to manage risks better and learn from early failures without jeopardizing the entire venture.
4. Scaling for Impact:
   Perhaps the most crucial insight for growth-hungry businesses is the strategy for scaling these partnerships. The authors provide a roadmap for turning successful pilot projects into large-scale operations, emphasizing the need for agility and adaptability.

A Real-World Approach

What sets "The Reciprocity Advantage" apart is its grounding in real-world examples. The book is replete with case studies from various industries, demonstrating how companies have successfully applied the principles of reciprocity. These stories not only illustrate the book's concepts but also provide a source of inspiration for business leaders.

A Call to Action for Future-Ready Leaders

Yes, Johansen and Ronn's book is a business strategy guide but it is so much more. It's a call to action for leaders to rethink how they approach business growth in a world where collaboration can often be more effective than competition.

It challenges leaders to be future-ready, to embrace uncertainty, and to be willing to share not just resources but also visions and aspirations.

This talk by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy is the busy person's intro to LLMs and a great introduction for anyone who wants to understand LLMs, “the core technical component behind systems like ChatGPT, Claude, and Bard.”

Andrej Karpathy's talk "Intro to Large Language Models" provides a comprehensive understanding of the current state and future potential of LLMs.

He emphasizes the models' simplicity in structure yet complexity in capability, highlights the expansion beyond text generation, underscores the importance of security, and anticipates future developments in AI that are critical for informed business decisions.

What insights does he offer for businesspeople?

Notes on Marc Andreessen with Rick Rubin on Tetragrammaton

Marc Andreessen had a key role in the development of the early internet by working on both the MOSAIC browser and the Netscape browser.

With Generative AI at the forefront of a similar technological revolution like the commercial internet

This is a very well rounded discussion between 2 titans of what one could consider an opposite spectrum. This makes for very interesting question by Rick Rubin, those you were not smart enough to ask but really make Marc Andreessen tell interesting aspects.

If you truly want to understand what makes Silicon Valley tick and how technology shapes our world this is will be the best 3 hours spend in 2024.

Happy to discuss with you afterwards!

On Startups

1. Founders tend to make similar mistakes, with the most common being internal dissension within the team. The pressures of money, fame, and high stress can reveal the true nature of individuals, leading to conflicts and mistakes within the team.
2. The success of a start-up depends on whether the team can stay cohesive and trusting through difficult times. If the team is not able to stay integrated, even small cracks can magnify and potentially destroy the company.

On Corporations

1. Corporate executives have the authority to prioritize long-term brand value over short-term profits and are increasingly considering the impact of their decisions on a broader scale.
2. Businesses that can afford to spend money on marketing likely have a good product, as it indicates they are making money and have a healthy budget for advertising.
3. Companies face pressure to grow in order to add new valuable features and capabilities for users, but achieving optimal growth rate can be challenging.

On Technological Change

1. The tension between valuing tradition and embracing innovation is a natural aspect of human society. Technology not only changes the tech industry but also disrupts the social hierarchy and status of people.
2. Entrepreneurial personalities require resources, money, and partners to realize their ideas. Criticism of venture capitalists and disruption process is misguided as it is necessary for progress and change.
3. Taking personal responsibility, prioritizing impactful conversations, and building trust are crucial in communication and relationships.
4. The computing power of modern laptops allows individuals to conduct groundbreaking scientific and artistic work from their desks or pockets.
5. Andreessen acknowledges the sharp limits to the explanatory power of science and technology and remains open-minded to new ideas and underlying truths that are not yet known.

This already is the best podcast of 2024@pmarca with @RickRubin on @tetranow https://t.co/ao7hu70Kz0

— Mx Moritz (@mxmoritz) January 13, 2024

These principles, identified through Cialdini's extensive research and experiences, highlight key psychological factors that drive human behavior, particularly in contexts of persuasion and influence.

1. Principle of Reciprocation

We feel obligated to return favors or behaviors we receive.

The Hare Krishna Society often gives small items like flowers before asking for donations, leveraging this principle.

2. Principle of Scarcity

Items that are rare or limited in availability become more desirable.

Marketers create urgency through limited-time offers, enhancing the attractiveness of a product.

3. Principle of Authority

We are more inclined to follow the lead of credible, knowledgeable experts.

Authority figures or experts can influence decisions and behaviors more effectively.

4. Principle of Commitment

Once we take a stance or make a choice, we're more likely to act in ways that are consistent with that commitment.

Small initial commitments can lead to more significant actions aligned with the initial commitment.

5. Principle of Liking

We're more likely to comply with requests from people we know and like.

Tupperware parties use social relationships to facilitate sales, as purchases are made from friends or relatives.

Biases and Tupperware always reminds me of Charlie Munger; stack a couple of those biases and you have the Lollapalooza Effect.

6. Principle of Consensus

We're more likely to do something if we see others doing it too, especially those we identify with.

Products marketed as "best-selling" or "most popular" often use this principle to encourage purchases.

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More:

The Best Summary of Robert Cialdini’s book “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion”.

We also applied Robert Cialdini's insights on influence for salespeople and how marketing professionals can use the psychology of persuasion.

Reid Hoffman's lecture at Stanford's CS 183 provides a valuable introduction into the concept of “Blitzscaling”, particularly in the context of Silicon Valley's startup culture.

The Premise of Blitzscaling

To understand the Blitzscaling concept and decide whether it is applicable to your business we should understand the premise and philosophy this framework is built on.

The Abundance of Startups and Globalization of Venture Capital

The accessibility of venture capital and entrepreneurial knowledge has globalized, making it possible to start ventures in various parts of the world. However, Silicon Valley remains unique in its ecosystem's ability to support rapid scaling.

• The Unique Position of Silicon Valley:
  Hoffman emphasizes that Silicon Valley's strength lies not just in starting businesses but in rapidly scaling them. This ability to scale, more than just the abundance of startups, sets Silicon Valley apart.
• The Necessity of Capital for Blitzscaling:
  Significant capital is required for blitzscaling, either from revenue reinvestment or external financing sources like venture capital or public markets.

The following are the 7 key takeaways to remember. They provide us with a foundational understanding of blitzscaling and its critical components.

Before we dive deeper to into Hoffman's and Yeh’s book Blitzscaling, these concepts from their lectures offer an understanding of the strategies and decisions necessary for successful rapid scaling in a startup environment.

1. Blitzscaling as a Key Differentiator

The core of blitzscaling lies in the capacity to grow a company quickly and significantly. This involves scaling the business model, customer base, and organizational structure at a pace much faster than traditional business growth strategies.

2. Importance of Networks in Blitzscaling

Networks, including those of talent, capital, and know-how, play a crucial role in the blitzscaling process. Silicon Valley's success is partly attributed to its rich and intertwined networks.

3. The Role of Speed and Risk Management

Hoffman discusses the importance of moving faster than the competition, even if it means accepting higher risks and potentially higher error rates in the short term.

4. The Evolution from Generalist to Specialist Roles

As a company grows through blitzscaling, its workforce evolves from generalists to specialists. This evolution is necessary to manage the increasing complexity of the business.

5. Continuous Innovation During Scaling

Innovation doesn't stop with initial success; it needs to be an ongoing process even as the company scales. This includes innovation in product development, market strategies, and operational processes.

6. Adaptability and Operational Excellence

There's a balance to be struck between maintaining adaptability and striving for operational excellence. Sometimes, rapid scaling requires prioritizing adaptability, even at the cost of efficiency.

7. Product-Market Fit and Customer Focus

Understanding and achieving product-market fit is essential in the early stages of a startup. This involves not only developing a valuable product but also understanding and catering to the needs of the customers.

"Tenacious D's 'Tribute' music video hits all the right notes – a comedy rock opera distilled into a bite-sized cinematic gem. Blending reality with the absurd, Jack Black and Kyle Gass channel their palpable charisma into a potent mix of hilarity and rock 'n roll reverence.

Their lively performances ignite the screen, fueling a zany narrative that seamlessly oscillates between live-action and animated sequences. It's a heady visual cocktail, perfectly poured to match the raucous rhythm of the song.

This isn't your run-of-the-mill music video; it's a captivating mini-feature that commands your attention from the first chord to the final laugh. The unexpected twist from humdrum to supernatural leaves you reeling, transforming the mundane into an unforgettable musical misadventure.

Cleverly edited, the video's pacing echoes the heartbeat of the song, each quick cut amplifying the energy while the visuals stay perfectly in sync with the lyrical rollercoaster ride.

'Tribute' is more than just a music video - it's a testament to the imaginative spirit of Tenacious D, their ability to create a visual spectacle that's as audacious and entertaining as their unforgettable sound. This is not just a music video in the world. This is... a tribute."

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