My guest today is Ravi Gupta. Ravi is a Partner at Sequoia Capital and a host on Glue Guys, a podcast on the Colossus network that intersects business and sports. I wanted to have him back on Invest Like the Best to discuss his recent most recent blog post titled “AI or Die.” As both an investor and former Instacart operator and CFO, Ravi believes we're entering an era where the constraints that historically limited small teams are dissolving, creating unprecedented opportunities for those willing to embrace change aggressively. We discuss why traditional metrics of corporate success like headcount and process adherence may become liabilities, what it means to be a world-class reactor vs predictor, and how "magic per employee" and organizational agility will emerge as crucial measures of value creation. Please enjoy my conversation with Ravi Gupta.
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For the full show notes, transcript, and links to mentioned content, check out the episode page here.
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Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant (https://thepodcastconsultant.com).
Show Notes:
(00:00:00) Learn About Ramp, Ridgeline, & Alphasense
(00:06:00) Introduction to 'AI or Die' Essay
(00:06:29) Initial Reactions to AI Advancements
(00:08:24) The Concept of 'AI or Die'
(00:10:40) Adapting to Rapid Technological Change
(00:12:02) Using AI for Real Work
(00:13:58) Evaluating Company Agility and AI Integration
(00:18:58) The Cost of Employees in the AI Era
(00:25:36) AI's Impact on Business Strategy
(00:36:55) Changing Perspectives on AI Models
(00:37:50) The Importance of Context in AI
(00:39:09) Optimism in the Age of AI
(00:40:22) Predictors vs. Reactors
(00:42:54) AI Tools in Business Operations
(00:46:07) The Future of Small Teams and Efficiency
(00:49:01) Investing in the AI Era
(00:55:11) The Role of Board Members in AI Adoption
(00:57:22) Embracing Change with Humility
(00:59:17) The Ghost of Competition
(01:05:04) Seizing the AI Opportunity