What I read and listen to the week of 06/23?
What I read
Valuation is a Terrible Scorecard
Valuation is a misleading metric for startup success, often obscuring financial realities like dilution and execution risks. Instead of focusing on valuation, startups should prioritize efficiency, retention, progress toward breakeven, and realistic assessments of equity payouts. High valuations may create pressure to justify numbers, shifting focus from building a sustainable business.
Relying on AI for performance assessments prevents managers from developing crucial skills.
Reinforcement learning, explained with a minimum of math and jargon
Reinforcement learning (RL) teaches AI models through trial and error rather than just copying human examples, allowing them to learn from mistakes and stay focused on complex tasks. Although RL has always been a part of training LLMs, companies have recently started using two new approaches to scale up the amount of data available: using AI models to grade another AI model's outputs and creating specialized environments for tasks with verifiably correct outcomes, like coding or math.
AI changes how we speak by influencing vocabulary and speech patterns, leading to a more uniform language style. Studies show an increase in AI-preferred words and a decline in others, raising concerns about trust and perceived authenticity in communication. The challenge lies in balancing AI integration with preserving linguistic diversity and individual expression.
What I listened to
From ChatGPT to Instagram to Uber: The quiet architect behind the world’s most popular products
Peter Deng has led product teams at OpenAI, Instagram, Uber, Facebook, Airtable, and Oculus and helped build products used by billions—including Facebook’s News Feed, the standalone Messenger app, Instagram filters, Uber Reserve, ChatGPT, and more. Currently he’s investing in early-stage founders at Felicis. In this episode, Peter dives into his most valuable lessons from building and scaling some of tech’s most iconic products and companies.
Some special takeaways: the usage of a meeting notes app: https://www.granola.ai/
Have a great week!
