Returning energized from a summer sabbatical. It gave me the space to travel and dive deeper into AI while also pulling in some broader context around innovation and entrepreneurship.
A few highlights and recommendations:
📚 Reading List
- Range – David Epstein. Why generalists often thrive in a world that values specialization. My son even loved reading some of the chapters with me (e.g. Nintendo).
- A Brief History of Intelligence – Max Bennett. A tour through our biological intelligence and what it tells us about AI. Long but important context.
- Superintelligence – Nick Bostrom. Exploring the risks and long-term trajectory of advanced AI.
- Empire of AI – Karen Hao. Inside look at Sam Altman and the rise of OpenAI.
- Secrets of Sand Hill Road – Scott Kupor. Lessons on how the world of VC works. Made sure to get this read before our visit to SF.
🎬 Bonus Watch
On the flight to Hawaii, I made it through Andrej Karpathy's excellent Deep Dive into LLMs — a 3-hour intro that makes the mechanics of LLMs accessible and engaging. Going to rewatch again soon.
🎤 Acquired Live at Radio City
Saving the best for last: I had the chance to attend Acquired Live at Radio City with Jamie Dimon. A few takeaways that really stuck with me:
- Build even though you know you'll make mistakes.
- Have a purpose. Give it your all. Treat people right.
- Your net worth isn't your self-worth.
Hearing Jamie reflect on getting fired from Citibank — while in line for CEO — and how he responded with grace and grit was a powerful reminder that setbacks often shape our greatest growth.
Grateful for the chance to rest, step back, and learn.