Episode · This Week in Startups · 2023-01-10
Books mentioned on Coinbase cuts 20%, Microsoft to invest $10B into OpenAI & Ascend Elements CEO Mike O'Kronley | E1654
Molly and Jason discuss the news that Coinbase is doing another 20% RIF. (6:50) Then they discuss the announcement that Microsoft is investing $10B into OpenAI with some pretty favourable terms.
Molly Wood discussed Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson. Also mentioned: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson and others.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
-
Termination Shock
Termination Shock by Neal Stephenson is a near-future science fiction novel exploring the drastic consequences of rogue geoengineering and global climate change.
Discussed“the company's mission was inspired by this recent Neil Stevenson book that I read which was super interesting called termination shot about a Texas an eccentric texas-based billionaire who decides to do some Rogue Geo engineering”
Where to get it
-
The Ministry for the Future
The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson is a gripping speculative science fiction novel that chronicles a near-future world grappling with the escalating and devastating consequences of climate change through the efforts of a newly established UN subsidiary.
Discussed“I guess um so it does seem like there are going to be some good interesting experiments there's one that's also in Ministry for the future that's like pumping water from under the glaciers up to the top so it can re-freeze”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (1) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“like people are going to mess around with Geo engineering because Neil Stevenson did all the research for them in his book or whatever”