Red-pilled Billionaires, LA Fire Update, Newsom's Price Caps, TikTok Ban, Jobless MBAs

The Besties welcome Mark Pincus! (0s)

• The Allin podcast welcomes back David Sacks, who is living a modern 1950s aesthetic lifestyle, and Chamath Palihapitiya, who is ready to take a victory lap, with their guest Mark Pincus, also known as Marcus Pincus, for the first time on the show (0s).
• Mark Pincus is an old friend of the hosts, and they met in the 90s when Mark was doing Silicon Alley and David was a reporter (1m52s).
• David Sacks is being teased about his haircut, which he got last week, and Chamath is joking that he told David it wouldn't look good (42s).
• Chamath was in Florida earlier in the week but came back to play poker with friends and see his family, and he will be flying back out tomorrow morning (1m10s).
• Mark Pincus is being jokingly referred to as David's landlord, as he has been paying rent to David for the last year (2m0s).
• The conversation touches on the topic of price gouging, with David being accused of gouging Mark Pincus, but Mark defends David, saying he was getting a good deal on rent in the Presidio (2m36s).
• The Presidio Trust manages the federal land and gets to keep all the money, which is reinvested in things like restoring natural habitats and archaeological digs (3m5s).
• Mark Pincus used to be on the board of the Presidio Trust and saw the operation up close (3m10s).
• The hosts also discuss the historic houses in the Presidio, which have been preserved as landmarks but have limitations, such as only having one bathroom for four bedrooms (3m31s).

Mark's background (3m53s)

• Mark was involved in the creation of early social networking apps, including Farmville and Zinga Poker, and was offered an investment opportunity in Zinga Poker, which he initially thought was a bad idea but turned out to be a multi-billion dollar company (4m17s).
• Mark made early investments in social media companies, including a $100,000 investment in Napster, and was involved in the first round of funding for Facebook, along with Peter, and was also an early investor in Twitter (4m59s).
• Mark and Reed invested in the company "friender" and were lucky enough to invest in the first round of Facebook (4m57s).
• Mark owned the six degrees patents, the original social network in the 90s, which was a company called six degrees, and bought them to prevent Yahoo or Friendster from blocking the whole industry, paying $750,000, which was a lot at the time (5m42s).
• Mark and Reed were accused of being patent trolls for buying the six degrees patents, but they never used them to block others and still own them to this day, with Mark owning half and Microsoft owning the other half (5m51s).

How Mark got red-pilled for Trump, maintaining friendships despite political differences (6m2s)

• A billionaire had a change in political views after having a "red pill moment" which started with reading articles from Pirate Wires and Mike Salana, and eventually led to questioning the Democrats and mainstream media (7m6s).
• The billionaire's "red pill moment" was specifically triggered by reading an article about Trump's speech in Charlottesville, which they later found to be misinterpreted by the media and politicians (7m48s).
• The billionaire realized that the media and politicians were misrepresenting Trump's speech, where he denounced the Nazis, and this was a turning point in their change of views (8m12s).
• The billionaire started questioning the Democrats and mainstream media, and as a result, received shame, anger, and hatred from others (9m6s).
• The billionaire's chief of staff, who had been protecting them from themselves on Twitter, parted ways with them in April of last year, allowing them to start tweeting their true thoughts and feelings (9m16s).
• The billionaire found a new audience of "techno optimists" on Twitter and eventually came out publicly in support of Trump two days before the election (9m50s).
• A person shared their experience of publicly supporting Trump on Twitter, which led to their name being on the front page of the New York Post on the day of the election, and surprisingly, their New York friends were not judgmental about it (10m10s).
• The person appreciated their friend Reed's reaction to their support for Trump, as Reed said he was "team Mark" and wanted to understand the principles behind the decision, which led to a 4-hour dinner conversation (11m8s).
• The conversation shifted to the topic of Silicon Valley's approach to leadership, with the suggestion that the industry often gets it wrong by not embracing authenticity and instead using "gatekeepers" like executive assistants or chiefs of staff, which can filter one's true self from others (12m34s).
• The person shared their own experience of using a virtual assistant service called Athena, which provides administrative support without the opinions or gatekeeping, and found it to be the most effective support they've had (13m32s).
• The idea was discussed that having too many "interlopers" or gatekeepers in big companies can get in the way of a person's true self and perception, citing Mark Zuckerberg's transformation as an example (13m57s).
• The concept of authenticity is gaining importance, and people are appreciating those who are genuine and true to themselves, even if it's not always easy or convenient (14m18s).
• Reed Hastings advised that one should choose their narrative, or the press will create one for them, highlighting the importance of being honest and authentic in public life (15m11s).
• Long-form podcasts and social media platforms have enabled people to directly share their thoughts and defend themselves, as seen in Elon Musk's approach to correcting the narrative and engaging with the public (15m31s).
• This shift towards authenticity has unshackled people from the need to present a curated image, allowing them to be more genuine and unfiltered in their interactions (16m19s).
• Mark Zuckerberg is now presenting a more authentic version of himself, which is a positive development in the current cultural landscape (16m45s).
• A lunch meeting with Joe Biden was discussed, where he seemed sharp and engaged, despite initial concerns about his mental acuity (17m3s).
• The meeting was held in the tennis house on the White House property, which was seen as a way to circumvent rules and hold a fundraising lunch (17m52s).
• The conversation with Biden was impressive, as he was able to keep the thread of conversation going for an extended period, lasting around an hour and a half to two hours (18m4s).
• A conversation was had with a 90-year-old individual who was able to follow and engage in the discussion, showing no signs of mental debilitation due to dementia, although it was clear they were being managed and handled by the people around them (18m28s).
• The individual was not reading from a script, unlike a previous instance where they used a teleprompter at a fundraiser at someone's home (19m30s).
• The concept of "Sun Downing" was mentioned, where people in that age group tend to be more exhausted and less coherent as the day progresses (19m56s).
• The Democratic party's current state was discussed, with the feeling that they are lost and not providing a clear direction or leadership (20m36s).
• The possibility of the Democratic party moving towards more authentic and centrist candidates was mentioned, as the current corporate candidates may not resonate with the electorate (21m16s).
• The idea that the party may not go as far as needed in terms of change and reform was also discussed, with the suggestion that they may not take the necessary steps to regain the trust of the people (22m5s).
• The direction of certain individuals or groups may become clearer in a year or two, particularly around the midterms (22m22s).
• The popularity of a potential FDR-style Trump figure could lead to increased isolation for those opposing them, making it a lonely place to be in two years (22m44s).
• California Governor Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass seem to be nearing the end of their careers and may be attempting to become more pragmatic in their approach (23m9s).

LA Wildfires update: Newsom's EOs, market impact of price controls (23m21s)

• A devastating wildfire in Los Angeles has resulted in 25 deaths, 40,000 acres of land destroyed, and 80,000 people under evacuation orders, with estimated damages ranging from $135 billion to $150 billion, making it the most expensive wildfire in history (23m22s).
• The fire has destroyed over 9,000 structures, mostly homes, with many people losing their personal belongings, documents, and memories (23m29s).
• California Governor Gavin Newsom has issued executive orders to address the crisis, including making it illegal to make lowball offers to impacted homeowners for the next three months and eliminating the coastal acts review of permits for houses along the Pacific Coast Highway (25m41s).
• Newsom also aims to extend price gouging protections to help make rebuilding more affordable, with price gouging defined as raising rent or prices more than 10% from the last marketed price (26m5s).
• LA Mayor Karen Bass has created a snitch hotline to report price gouging and rent increases, with some people naming and shaming Zillow and Redfin listings that show significant price hikes (26m25s).
• The rebuilding effort is expected to be challenging, with concerns about the free market not being allowed to progress due to price controls and mechanisms for controlling price changes on insurance and housing services (27m27s).
• The insurance issue in California is a significant burden that could lead to a substantial effect on long-term housing prices due to the state's insurance market structure and regulations (28m6s).
• The governor suspended permitting requirements for the coastal act and CEQA review for affected homes, which is seen as a positive step, but also implemented an executive order to extend price gouging prohibitions indefinitely in the region (28m44s).
• The executive order, based on California Penal Code section 396, prohibits businesses from raising the price of essential goods and services by more than 10% above their pre-emergency price for an indefinite period (29m1s).
• This price cap applies to consumer goods, emergency supplies, building materials, and services related to housing work, which could limit the ability to attract builders, contractors, electricians, and plumbers to the LA area (29m35s).
• The price cap may hinder the free market's ability to respond to the rebuilding effort, as it restricts the ability of service providers to increase their prices and attract more workers to the area (30m8s).
• The implementation of a hotline (LA 311) by Karen Bass allows people to report instances of price gouging, which could lead to investigations and penalties for those found to be charging excessive prices (31m0s).
• The recent executive order by Governor Newsom regarding unsolicited offers on real estate in affected areas of Los Angeles has been met with criticism, as it may reduce the incentive for service providers to participate in the rebuilding effort and ultimately hurt the market and the affected homeowners (31m18s).
• The order prohibits making unsolicited offers to acquire real estate in specific zip codes for an amount less than the fair market value of the property for a period of three months (33m38s).
• The intention behind the order is to protect homeowners from fraudulent activities and pressure tactics that often occur after natural disasters, such as inflated prices and poor quality of work (34m21s).
• The order is hyperspecific to unsolicited offers in a handful of zip codes and is time-boxed for three months, aiming to prevent people from taking advantage of the situation to make money (33m26s).
• The order may have unintended consequences, such as reducing the number of offers and liquidity in the market, making it harder for homeowners to sell their lots and rebuild their homes (32m22s).
• The lack of service providers in the affected area is already causing delays, with some people waiting six or seven years to get their homes rebuilt (31m47s).
• The order has been defended as somewhat reasonable, considering the specific circumstances and the need to protect homeowners from exploitation (33m15s).
• California is facing a severe crisis, with a $322 billion budget and teetering on the path to bankruptcy, due to a broken cartel that runs the state, led by Governor Newsom and Karen Bass, who are grossly negligent and out of touch (35m15s).
• A recent executive order by Governor Newsom aims to prevent unsolicited offers on real estate, which can drive fraud, by not allowing people to make pressure tactic offers to those affected by wildfires when they are in a stressful situation (36m41s).
• The order does not prevent people whose houses burned down from listing their lots for sale, and it's not perturbing or distorting the free market, but rather protecting people from making mistakes under pressure (36m30s).
• The order also includes a separate provision for services, which prohibits increasing pricing on goods and services by more than 10% for an indefinite period, creating a disincentive for service providers to come into the state (37m34s).
• While the free market can solve many problems, real-life situations can be messy, and some checks and balances are needed to protect people affected by crises, such as the recent wildfires in California (37m54s).
• The recent wildfires have caused widespread destruction, and many people are reaching out for condolences and support, highlighting the need for protection and support for those affected (38m37s).
• A discussion is taking place regarding a moratorium on unsolicited offers for properties that have burned down in the Pacific Palisades, with some arguing that it would protect homeowners from making rash decisions during a difficult time (38m43s).
• Mark, a sophisticated individual, is asked for his opinion on the matter, and he expresses concerns that the moratorium would be treating homeowners like children, implying they are not capable of making good decisions (39m11s).
• Mark initially agrees with the idea of allowing the free market to work, but then considers the possibility that people in dire situations might make panic decisions, and a 90-day cooling-off period could help them make more rational choices (39m39s).
• The discussion touches on the idea that the government might be overstepping its bounds by trying to protect people from themselves, but also acknowledges that there may be situations where people are not in the best position to make decisions (39m54s).
• A comparison is made to the cooling-off periods that exist in most states for marriages and divorces, suggesting that there is precedent for the state to intervene in certain situations (42m13s).
• The idea of a 90-day cooling-off period is proposed as a way to give people time to think and make more rational decisions, while also allowing the government and other infrastructure to provide support to those affected (41m46s).

Congestion pricing in NYC, fixing broken cities (51m32s)

• New York has implemented congestion pricing, a concept that exists in London, where drivers are charged a fee to enter certain areas of Manhattan between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. (51m32s)
• The fee is $9, but it's $2 for those going clubbing between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m., and it will increase to $12 in 2028 and $15 in 2031, with trucks paying more and taxis paying less. (52m0s)
• The results of the congestion pricing have been positive, with wait times to get on the island decreasing by 50% across the board, and specific decreases of 46% at the Lincoln Tunnel, 63% at the Holland Tunnel, and 35% at the Williamsburg Bridge. (52m20s)
• The congestion pricing is expected to have various benefits, including faster emergency services, reduced noise pollution, improved air quality, and a better experience for pedestrians and bike riders. (52m37s)
• Some people are opposing the congestion pricing, calling it a money grab for the transit authority, as the funds generated will be used to improve public transportation. (52m58s)
• The concept of congestion pricing is part of a broader discussion about the value and purpose of cities, and how they need to innovate and compete with other options to remain relevant and attractive. (53m10s)
• Cities have lost their original purpose, which was to provide economic opportunities, cultural experiences, and a high density of desirable amenities, and they need to rethink and reinvent themselves to regain their value. (53m43s)
• The mayor of San Francisco, Daniel Lurry, is working to rethink and address the city's core problems and make it a more enjoyable place to live and work. (55m10s)
• The current state of cities, particularly in California, is being criticized for being poorly managed, with issues such as homelessness, congestion, and crime, and a lack of innovation to address these problems (55m27s).
• There is a need for cities to reinvent themselves and take a startup mentality to solve these issues, rather than relying on incumbency, and to make cities fun and joyful again (56m23s).
• San Francisco is specifically mentioned as a city that "sucks" and is "trash" due to its dirtiness, crime, and grime, with some individuals avoiding the city altogether (56m57s).
• The poor management of cities is attributed to a lack of will to address issues such as crime, invest in the arts, and create usable spaces for people, with corruption and waste being major contributing factors (57m46s).
• The issue is not just about red tape, but about the willpower of the people running the cities, and even if red tape is reduced, those in power can still find ways to obstruct progress (58m26s).
• The coastal commission in California is mentioned as an example of an organization with a policy of "managed retreat," which can be used to stop and obstruct progress, even if some red tape is cut (58m55s).
• The decision to manage cities in a certain way is ultimately up to those in power, and in California and San Francisco, the decision has been made to prioritize certain policies over others (59m18s).
• Some cities are catering to undesirable elements, such as fentanyl dealers and junkies, by providing them with stipends, hotel rooms, and allowing them to take super drugs on the streets, which can negatively impact thousands of people with no recourse (59m21s).
• Ender Palmer, a billionaire, is building a new plant in Ohio, which is expected to create 4,000 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs, making it the largest single job creation event in Ohio history (59m51s).
• Palmer chose Ohio for the plant because the state guaranteed the timeline needed for the project and offered a skilled workforce, with over a million people capable of working in the facility within a 45-minute drive (1h0m20s).
• Ohio's politicians and government agencies, including Jobs Ohio, have been supportive of the project, offering to work with Palmer on higher education to train people for the jobs (1h0m25s).
• The state's willingness to work with companies and create a favorable business environment has made it an attractive location for businesses, with Palmer noting that some states are good at "pushing you out and slowing you down" while others are good at "pulling you in and speeding you up" (1h1m13s).
• The situation highlights the competition between states to attract elite companies and the importance of having a willpower and intention to make projects happen (1h1m22s).
• Cities have the right to be what they want to be, and not every city should cater to progress, acceleration, and industrialization, as some cities may prioritize preserving their character and charm (1h1m51s).
• The example of Pino, a city that values its character and would not want to see giant glass towers or office buildings, illustrates the importance of preserving a city's unique identity (1h2m11s).
• San Francisco, in particular, has struggled with the opposing viewpoints of progress from the technology sector and the desire to keep the city small and charming, leading to frustration and challenges (1h2m50s).
• Cities have the right to be what they want to be, but the problem lies in the promises made by people in government that are not delivered, creating a dysfunctional environment instead (1h3m4s).
• The tension between progressivism and the desire for a creative melting pot has been present in cities like San Francisco, but the former has become more prominent in the last 15-20 years (1h3m41s).
• Cities should be honest about what they can deliver, rather than making promises they cannot keep, and the trade-off between being a quaint town and attracting industry is a false one (1h4m12s).
• Cities like San Francisco, London, and New York promise a lot but do not deliver, and the money spent on these promises is often wasted (1h4m50s).
• The example of Los Angeles is given, where Rick Caruso, a qualified candidate who built many successful experiences and shops, was not chosen as the leader, and instead, Karen Bass, who lacks operational experience, was elected (1h5m28s).
• Karen Bass's resume is described as tragic, and she is considered unqualified for the position, whereas Rick Caruso took proactive measures to protect the Pacific Palisades Village from a fire (1h5m49s).
• The contrast between Rick Caruso's actions and Karen Bass's lack of connection to the needs of Los Angeles and its citizens is highlighted (1h6m37s).
• A recall movement can be an effective way to remove unqualified officials from office, as seen in the case of Chesa Boudin, who was recalled in 18 months, and citizens of Los Angeles are encouraged to take action against their current officials (1h7m3s).
• David Sacks, a republican entrepreneur and venture capitalist, started a recall movement against Chesa Boudin and hired a journalist to cover the victims of crime in San Francisco (1h7m5s).
• James Woods posted a petition on change.org to recall Karen Bass, which gained over 90,000 signatures, demonstrating the power of the people in California (1h7m52s).
• Citizens are encouraged to reply to tweets from officials like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass with the word "resign" to shame them into resigning, as this tactic has been effective in the past (1h8m7s).
• The people of California have more power than they realize, and taking action, such as recalling officials or signing petitions, can lead to positive change (1h8m3s).

TikTok ban: origin and potential outcomes (1h8m33s)

• The US government is set to ban TikTok unless its parent company, ByteDance, divests by January 19th, with Google and Apple forced to remove the app from their stores and Oracle stopping hosting services (1h8m33s).
• The ban is due to concerns over national security and fairness, as Chinese companies have more rights in the US than American companies do in China (1h9m15s).
• However, there are concerns about the law of unintended consequences, as the ban could be seen as censorship and drive users to other apps, such as the Chinese government-owned app Red Book (1h10m2s).
• A possible solution is for ByteDance to be forced to divest and sell TikTok to an American company, but if this doesn't happen, there could be a backlash (1h10m41s).
• The reason for bipartisan support for the bill is believed to be due to briefings on the severity of the security violations of the app, which have not been made public (1h11m23s).
• The Supreme Court has heard arguments on the ban, but it's unclear if they will overturn it, and it's possible that a suitable buyer will be found for TikTok, potentially at a low price (1h12m3s).
• A potential deal between the federal government and TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, may result in a "buy at now price" that is very cheap (1h12m31s).
• TikTok's real-time recommendation algorithm was open-sourced, and the learning method is called Monolith, which is an incredible paper that showcases the cleverness of the algorithm's design (1h12m41s).
• The algorithm's design allows for real-time, collisionless recommendations, making it a tour-de-force in computer science (1h13m15s).
• Despite the technical innovations, concerns about TikTok's ties to the Chinese government and potential security risks remain (1h13m53s).
• China has stated that they will not give over the algorithm if TikTok is divested, but the algorithm's methodology has been described in a paper, and open-sourcing it may not solve the security concerns (1h14m10s).
• The security concerns stem from the potential for state-sponsored attacks on phones, which can be imperceptible and sophisticated, and have happened to several people, including Jeff Bezos (1h14m23s).
• Open-sourcing the algorithm may not solve the problem, as the security risks come from a few talented individuals who can create sophisticated exploits (1h15m23s).
• The Chinese government's interests are not aligned with those of Americans, and there is no concept of reciprocity, which is a major reason to be concerned about TikTok's security (1h15m42s).
• The two biggest imports from China are Fentanyl and TikTok, and the Chinese government's goal is to make Americans addicted, impact society, and divide the country (1h15m55s).
• TikTok is considered a spyware and has been proven to have spied on journalists, making it a bad actor that needs to be removed, but a potential compromise could be to take over its video content and creator graph with a safer and American-governed app, such as X, which would allow creators to restart their content creating capabilities (1h16m11s).
• The app Freeberg has added a new left-hand tab dedicated to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) content, which may be a new feature for all users or a micro-targeted update (1h16m56s).
• Chuck Schumer is calling for a delay in the TikTok ban, and it seems that both Democrats and Republicans are pushing for a deal to keep TikTok active in the US, which could be part of a larger deal with China (1h17m25s).
• China is currently facing significant economic distress, including deflationary challenges and low bond yields, which could weaken its position in potential negotiations with the US (1h17m57s).
• The US may try to work out a deal with China that provides access to the Chinese market in exchange for minimizing the tariff effect on Chinese importers to the US, which could ease tensions and create mutual economic value (1h18m25s).
• A potential "grand deal" with China could be a positive outcome, leveraging the US's current position of strength and Trump's negotiation skills (1h18m49s).
• Some investors have been loading up on Chinese tech stocks, such as Alibaba, in anticipation of a potential deal between the US and China (1h19m5s).

MBA hiring downturn (1h19m15s)

• A recent spike in unemployment has been observed among MBA graduates from top business schools like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford, with some attributing this trend to a mismatch between the risk-averse nature of MBA graduates and the current economy (1h19m21s).
• The idea that an MBA guarantees a high salary and a great job for life is no longer true, and the most interesting sectors are now in startups and entrepreneurship, which require a more risk-tolerant approach (1h20m56s).
• Many MBA graduates are fundamentally risk-averse and prefer to work for established companies like McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Meta, or Google, rather than joining startups or founding their own companies (1h22m53s).
• The current job market for MBA graduates is highly competitive, and many are struggling to find employment, partly due to the high expectations and debt associated with pursuing an MBA degree (1h21m44s).
• Some believe that the job market for MBA graduates will need to adjust to a new equilibrium, where the guaranteed opportunities and high salaries are no longer available, and graduates will need to be more open to taking risks and pursuing non-traditional career paths (1h22m47s).
• The speaker shares their personal experience of starting their first company with little to no opportunity cost, having "torched" their career and resume, and suggests that MBA graduates may need to reach a similar point of having nothing to lose before they are willing to take risks and pursue entrepreneurial ventures (1h22m2s).
• Many MBA graduates are struggling to find jobs that meet their high expectations for pay and opportunity, leading to a decrease in demand for MBA programs (1h23m12s).
• The job market for MBA graduates has changed, and many are no longer guaranteed high-paying jobs, making it less appealing for people to pursue an MBA (1h23m30s).
• An alternative career path is product management, which can provide a good income and opportunities for growth (1h23m50s).
• Many MBA graduates who raise money to buy and run existing businesses often fail, as they lack the necessary experience and skills (1h24m2s).
• The success of some entrepreneurs, such as the founder of Assurion, is more due to their individual cleverness and abilities rather than their MBA education (1h24m25s).
• The rise of AI is likely to disintermediate middle management positions, as AI-enabled systems take over decision-making tasks (1h24m57s).
• The software industry has created many dysfunctional organizational charts, leading to the creation of unnecessary middle management positions (1h25m55s).
• The implementation of new software systems often leads to the creation of new job positions, which can contribute to the bulkiness of organizational charts (1h26m26s).
• The trend of next-generation businesses ripping out old software systems may lead to the elimination of middle management layers (1h27m2s).
• The trend of not hiring MBAs is expected to grow, as the skills and knowledge they provide are no longer necessary due to advancements in technology and automation, allowing people to learn and adapt on their own (1h27m6s).
• The collapse of the MBA program could be the beginning of the unwinding of the higher education market, as people start to realize that they can acquire the necessary skills and knowledge through alternative means such as self-learning and apprenticeships (1h27m36s).
• With the rise of AI and automation, the traditional college experience may no longer be necessary, and people can gain practical experience and social skills outside of the college infrastructure (1h27m52s).
• The idea of an apprenticeship-type model or self-learning model is proposed as an alternative to traditional higher education, where people can learn from personal tutors and online resources (1h29m12s).
• Johnny I's approach to education is mentioned, where his kids skipped college and went to work directly with him and his design firm, serving as an example of alternative education paths (1h29m26s).
• The concept of a podcast started by the daughters of the individuals involved in the conversation is mentioned, with a proposed name of "The Nepo Pod" (1h29m56s).
• The product "Deep Research" is discussed, which is a tool that can provide accurate and comprehensive reports in a short amount of time, potentially replacing the need for expensive consulting firms and MBA research (1h30m12s).
• A new tool allows users to pay $20 for a report that would typically cost thousands of dollars, with the tool using a spider to crawl 150 pages in real-time and ask follow-up questions to gather more information, similar to what a manager at Boston Consulting Group would ask an MBA to do (1h30m49s).
• The tool can be set up to automatically update the research every week, filling in new information and highlighting changes, and can even be integrated with Google Docs (1h31m25s).
• Another tool, Grock, is also capable of performing similar tasks, including indexing tweets and web pages related to a query, and can show users the sources used to gather information (1h31m51s).
• The use of these tools could potentially disrupt the value of higher education, particularly for MBAs, as they can provide similar research capabilities at a lower cost (1h33m36s).
• The rise of AI-powered tools could lead to a future where people have access to personalized tutors and educational experiences in real-time, potentially eroding the value of traditional higher education (1h33m0s).
• A new Fleshlight product was showcased at CES, which can be synced to a video being watched, and other innovative products were also featured at the event (1h33m46s).
• When the topic of AI comes up, two different reactions are observed, with Freeberg finally having a best friend and Chth having a lover that will do exactly what it's told (1h34m24s).

Conspiracy Corner: Mark's take on UFOs and UAPs! (1h34m37s)

• A theory has been proposed that something will happen to break the current understanding of physics theory and laws, and one possible area where this could occur is around Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) or Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) (1h35m3s).
• A friend who made the movie Icarus was approached with the idea of creating a Netflix docu-series on UAPs, but instead decided to work on a documentary about the fentanyl crisis and how China has contributed to it (1h35m25s).
• The friend was interviewing a former Department of Defense (DOD) contractor who claimed to have information about UAPs, which he shared with the friend and the narrator (1h35m48s).
• The contractor claimed that while running war games for the defense department, they inadvertently summoned UAPs, and he had tons of video footage and classified information to support his claims (1h36m21s).
• The contractor's claims included that different triggers during the war games would cause different types of UAPs to appear, some of which were aggressive and could take out electronics and communications (1h37m0s).
• The narrator and their friend considered funding the contractor's research with $1.5 million to recreate and film the UAPs, but the contractor eventually stopped responding and went dark (1h37m21s).
• The contractor later appeared at a gathering and allegedly summoned a large drone-like UAP, with pictures taken by the narrator's friends showing a grainy image of the object at night (1h37m51s).
• The narrator is skeptical of the contractor's claims and believes that he may have been trying to scam them out of money (1h38m21s).
• Despite this, the narrator thinks that there is a possibility that some kind of drone or UAP is showing up in response to the war games, but is unsure of its origin (1h38m32s).
• The discussion revolves around the possibility of unidentified objects or vehicles from other planets existing, with the speaker questioning whether it's guaranteed that there are no such objects in any government vaults, citing the Fermi paradox and the possibility of billions of inhabitable planets and species out there (1h39m9s).
• The speaker suggests that the odds of no unidentified objects existing are not exactly zero, and that with billions of planets, it's logical to think that at least one has been visited or explored by an advanced civilization (1h40m16s).
• The speaker also mentions the idea of a vehicle that could be autonomous and unmanned, and that the possibility of such a vehicle existing cannot be ruled out (1h40m8s).
• The conversation shifts to a programming note, announcing that the Allin podcast team will be attending inauguration parties and doing live episodes, likely on Sunday or Monday, and encourages listeners to subscribe to their YouTube channel and follow them on x.com (1h41m17s).
• The team also thanks Mark Pinkus for fitting in and congratulates him on his baby, and mentions that they will be doing live streams and encourages listeners to turn on notifications to get updates (1h41m5s).
• The conversation ends with a mention of opening up the podcast's theme song to fans, who have created their own versions, and a call to get merchandise (1h42m0s).