Election Security, Skift's Rafat Ali, and Anthropic Unleashes PC AI | E2030

Jason and Alex kick off the show 0s

• The 2020 US presidential election raised questions about its fairness and the process, with many lawsuits contesting the outcome being dismissed on procedural grounds rather than being heard substantively 28s.
• This lack of resolution has led to ongoing questions and concerns about the election's legitimacy, with some people still doubting the outcome 45s.
• The court process should have been allowed to run its course to resolve these questions and provide a clear conclusion on the claims made 1m14s.
• The hosts, Jason and Alex, are discussing election security and integrity, and the role of technology in the process, as part of their series 2m26s.
• They mention that election fraud is a topic of concern, with some statistics showing actual cases of people stealing votes, and they plan to discuss the issue with their guest Hans Von Spakowski from the Heritage Foundation 2m53s.
• The hosts also mention that they will be discussing other topics, including a new AI tool from Anthropic, and possibly solar energy, depending on time 3m47s.
• The show is sponsored by Squarespace, LinkedIn Jobs, and Ki, a regulated predictions market 1m31s.
• Jason and Alex introduce themselves as the hosts of the show, "This Week in Startups," and welcome their guest Hans Von Spakowski 2m10s.

Heritage Foundation's stance on election integrity and fraud 4m10s

• The Heritage Foundation is a think tank, likely the largest conservative think tank in the world, which has been running a project to compile a database of proven cases of election fraud for about 7 years. 4m10s
• The database only includes cases where someone has been convicted in a court of law of committing fraud, a judge has ordered a new election due to fraud, or there is an official finding by a government agency. 4m53s
• The database is available on the Heritage Foundation's website, featuring a map of the US where users can click on a state to view a summary and list of cases, along with backup documentation such as newspaper articles and court documents. 5m38s
• The database is going through a facelift and is expected to be updated within two weeks, making it easier to use and more visually appealing. 5m59s
• The database is bipartisan, including cases of both Democrats and Republicans convicted of election fraud, as well as cases of individuals within the same party committing fraud against each other. 6m13s
• The database currently contains nearly 1,600 cases of election fraud, spanning local and federal elections, although this is not a comprehensive list as many cases are not reported or prosecuted. 7m7s
• The cases in the database date back to the early 1980s, with the first cases included in the database from that time period. 8m15s
• There are 1,600 cases of election fraud in the database over 40 years, which is a relatively small number considering the total number of votes cast in the United States each year, approximately 100-200 million votes 8m28s.
• The number of election fraud cases is minuscule, at 0.001% of all votes, but it is still a concern, especially in close elections where it could make a difference 8m52s.
• The Supreme Court has acknowledged that election fraud occurs in the US and has been documented by journalists and historians, citing the upholding of Indiana's voter ID law in 2008 9m42s.
• While some cases of election fraud involve lone individuals taking advantage of the system, others have resulted in the overturning of elections, such as in the ninth congressional district in North Carolina in 2018 10m9s.
• A recent case in Texas involved a judicial race in Harris County, where a judge overturned the election due to 1,400 illegal votes, including 1,000 people who registered and claimed to live in the county but did not 10m15s.
• The overturning of the election in Harris County is an example of how election fraud can occur without being prosecuted, as there is no indication that the 1,400 illegal votes would have been referred to the local district attorney for prosecution 10m42s.
• If the 1,400 illegal votes in the Harris County case had been prosecuted and resulted in convictions, it would have significantly increased the number of cases in the database, from 1,600 to 2,600 11m5s.
• The lack of prosecution in cases like the Harris County election highlights the need for concern about election fraud, despite the relatively small number of cases 11m14s.

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• Squarespace is a platform for building beautiful websites with amazing design and believable functionality, eliminating the need to hire developers or a web shop, which can charge thousands to tens of thousands of dollars 11m18s.
• Hiring a web shop can be unreliable, as they may disappear, change careers, or ghost the client, leaving them with a total mess and having to start over 11m33s.
• Squarespace is a trusted platform that has maintained and evolved its web presence for over a decade, making it a reliable choice for businesses 11m45s.
• Every business needs a gorgeous website, including startups, schools, banks, projects, and books, and Squarespace now offers a design intelligence tool that can build a custom website with ease 11m52s.
• Squarespace's design intelligence tool is built into the platform and can create a custom website that is gorgeous and easy to use 12m3s.
• In addition to a great-looking site, Squarespace also offers built-in payment technology, analytics, and domain registration, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses 12m17s.
• Squarespace is offering a free trial and a 10% discount on the first website or domain purchase for users who sign up at squarespace.com/twist 12m34s.
• To receive the discount, users can go to squarespace.com/twist and use the offer code TWIST when they're ready to launch their website 12m38s.
• Squarespace is the longest-running partner on This Week in Startups, and they are appreciated for their generosity and reliability 12m44s.

Technological improvements for secure elections 12m48s

• The Heritage Foundation has a database that tracks election security issues and found that many people are unaware that felons often cannot vote, which is a recurring issue 12m57s.
• The Heritage Foundation also has an Election Integrity Scorecard, a database that evaluates states based on 50 criteria for running secure elections, including accurate voter rolls, absentee ballot handling, and voter ID requirements 13m24s.
• No state has scored a perfect 100 on the Election Integrity Scorecard, with the highest score being around 82 three years ago and now around 90 14m3s.
• The top three best practices for election security include requiring an ID to vote, providing a free ID to those who don't have one, and running monthly comparisons between voter registration lists and driver's license records 14m36s.
• Running monthly comparisons between voter registration lists and driver's license records can help identify discrepancies in addresses and ensure that voter registration addresses are up-to-date 14m52s.
• Using technology to link voter registration lists and driver's license records can help automatically update voter registration addresses when a person's address is updated with the DMV 15m38s.
• While monthly updates are an improvement, real-time updates would be ideal, but state governments often lag behind private industry in terms of technology 16m0s.
• State governments have various databases, including DMV and public assistance agency databases, which can be used to verify voter information and ensure election security 16m33s.
• Election security can be improved by linking databases to the voter registration database to update and check the accuracy of information, but state governments face challenges in doing so due to funding issues and the inability to compete with private industry salaries for IT specialists 16m52s.
• State governments' technological underpinnings of elections are often outdated, and it's a combination of funding problems and the inability to attract top IT talent due to lower salaries compared to private industry 17m18s.
• The guest from The Heritage Foundation surprisingly advocates for increased public servant salaries to address the issue 17m47s.
• The US election system is a distributed system, with each state handling its own elections, which has pros and cons, including the inability to have a national hack but also a lack of standardization 18m21s.
• The process of contesting the 2020 election outcome was not satisfactory, as many lawsuits were dismissed on procedural grounds without a substantive hearing, leaving questions about the election's fairness 19m15s.
• The court process should have been allowed to run its course to resolve questions about the election, and the dismissal of cases on procedural grounds was a mistake 20m2s.
• Despite questions about the election, it is acknowledged that Biden won the 2020 presidential election, and The Heritage Foundation also accepts this outcome 20m32s.
• President Biden was certified as the President, and there is no point in arguing about it today 20m36s.
• It is essential to acknowledge that Biden won the election and Trump lost to avoid leaving room for conspiracy theories 20m52s.
• The Heritage Foundation has stated that Trump lost, Biden won, and it was a clean election 21m2s.

Hans von Spakovsky's perspective on the 2020 election 21m7s

• The claims made about the 2020 US presidential election were never resolved, and at this point, they are unlikely to be resolved, with the outcome being that Joe Biden won the election, but some may argue it was not properly adjudicated 21m10s.
• Sydney Powell, who attempted to dispute the election results on behalf of Donald Trump, later gave a press conference in which she stated that she did not have any evidence to back up her claims 21m30s.
• This lack of evidence from Sydney Powell supports the point that people should reserve judgment when disputes arise and allow the court process to work itself out 21m52s.
• The outcome of the 2020 election is compared to the 2000 presidential election in Florida, where the court process was allowed to run its course, and once it was over, the president was declared the winner 22m2s.
• The recommended approach to dealing with disputed election outcomes is to learn from the mistakes made, identify vulnerabilities in the system, and fix them to prevent similar problems from occurring in the future 22m14s.

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• LinkedIn Jobs is a valuable resource for finding talented candidates, with the platform having surpassed 1 billion members, 70% of whom do not visit other leading job sites 22m52s.
• Many LinkedIn users are not actively looking for jobs but are engaged in professional development, networking, and sharing content, making them potential top hires 23m11s.
• LinkedIn has a special deal allowing companies to post jobs for free, which can be accessed at linkedin.com/twist, with terms and conditions applying 23m28s.
• The mention of Sydney Powell is related to her involvement in efforts to ensure election security, but she was found guilty of conspiring to interfere with election duties and sentenced to six years of probation 23m41s.

Election security and legal consequences of fraud 24m1s

• The job of ensuring election security is made more difficult when people make unsubstantiated claims, which is why a database of proven and substantiated cases of federal election fraud is necessary 24m20s.
• The database contains almost 1,600 cases, but the exact number of cases from the 2020 presidential election is not specified 24m57s.
• The concern about election security is whether the upcoming election will be clean, and knowing the extent of presidential election fraud in 2020 would be helpful 25m17s.
• A nation that is doing a good job using technology to ensure a fair and safe election environment is not specified, but some European countries have implemented measures such as uniform identification requirements for voting 25m58s.
• In Europe, voters are typically required to show identification when voting, which is not a standard requirement in the United States 26m18s.
• European countries also have limited absentee balloting, also known as postal voting, due to concerns about fraud, errors, and delays 26m35s.
• While absentee ballots are necessary for people with physical disabilities, the push for all-mail ballots is not considered a good idea by some, who point to the risks and vulnerabilities associated with postal voting 26m55s.
• The European Union's approach to election security, including uniform identification requirements and limited absentee balloting, may offer lessons for the United States 27m20s.
• If an individual attempts to vote twice in a presidential election in the United States, they may face penalties under both state and federal law, which could range from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on the jurisdiction and the prosecutor 27m36s.
• The potential penalties for election fraud vary, and motivation and the value of stealing a vote can play a significant role in determining the severity of the punishment 28m21s.
• The cost of election fraud can be severe, with some individuals receiving lengthy prison sentences, while others may receive more lenient punishments, such as fines and no jail time 28m38s.
• A former Democratic Congressman in Pennsylvania, Mike "Ozzie" Myers, was indicted for bribery and went to jail for stuffing fraudulent ballots into the ballot box on behalf of his clients 29m5s.
• In contrast, a US attorney in North Carolina prosecuted about two dozen aliens for illegally registering and voting in elections, but they received only small fines and no jail time 29m30s.
• The severity of the punishment for election fraud depends on the state, the prosecutor, and the judge, highlighting the need for consistent and effective enforcement of election laws 30m1s.

Closing remarks on election security 30m6s

• The progress made in election security is acknowledged, with 35 or 36 states now requiring ID, which is considered a positive development, with only 14 states left to implement this measure, indicating that the country is 70% of the way towards achieving this goal 30m16s.
• The compilation of 1600 examples of election issues is seen as a significant effort, and assuming there are 10 or 100 times more, it suggests that the elections are very safe, thanks to the work of watchdogs who are actively trying to find examples of issues 30m28s.
• Prediction markets are highlighted as a valuable tool for understanding future events, allowing people to buy and sell contracts based on market opinion, and providing insight into where "sharps" (smart people) are putting their money 31m5s.
• The world's largest prediction market, Ki, has made it legal to trade on the upcoming US elections, allowing US citizens to place trades on election outcomes for the first time in 100 years 31m18s.
• This development is seen as significant, as it allows anyone to protect themselves against election uncertainties, not just large corporations and the wealthy, and provides a way to hedge bets on election outcomes 31m49s.
• The Ki platform provides real-time election odds, and users can trade on their predictions, with the host encouraging listeners to check out the platform and get involved 31m54s.

Reflecting on the election fraud discussion and transfer of power 32m11s

• A discussion about election security and the possibility of election fraud took place, with the conclusion that while there may be some instances of fraud, it's unlikely to be widespread enough to swing an election, except perhaps in very minor local ones 33m0s.
• The US has 50 different election systems in place, making it difficult to systematically manipulate the outcome of an election, and there are many people looking out for potential fraud 33m5s.
• The idea that a foreign entity, such as Russia, or a group of people could be paid to vote for a particular candidate and swing the election is unlikely, given the numbers involved 33m12s.
• The discussion highlighted the importance of looking at data and examining it from first principles, rather than relying on partisan perspectives 33m39s.
• The ability of the US democratic system to withstand challenges, including the refusal of a candidate to concede, was noted, with the example of the transfer of power after the 2020 election 34m58s.
• The judicial system played a crucial role in upholding the integrity of the election, with Trump's lawsuits being dismissed and individuals who promoted conspiracy theories being held accountable 35m14s.
• The difficulty of committing widespread election fraud, given the large number of voters and the scrutiny of swing states, was emphasized 35m46s.
• The consequences of attempting to commit election fraud, including the risk of going to jail, were also noted 36m1s.

Introduction of Rafat Ali and discussion on Uber-Expedia rumors 36m6s

• The Heritage Foundation has created a database that is useful, but they have also been involved in hidden camera footage to Latino voters, trying to extrapolate and create the idea of rampant voter fraud, which is disappointing and fearmongering around election time 36m19s.
• There should be serious conversations about data, and organizations should speak with one voice and move away from fearmongering, as democracy and election security matter a lot 36m56s.
• Having a simple list of things, such as showing an ID, is a good idea, but it should not disenfranchise voters who don't have access to it; a free ID program would solve the issue 37m6s.
• Uber's acquisition or trial balloon of acquiring Expedia has been talked about, and Uber has a big valuation and a frisky CEO 37m36s.
• Rafat Ali, the CEO of Skift, is a friend and has a discussion about election integrity, and he thinks that Heritage may not be coming on the show again due to tough questions 37m56s.
• Rafat Ali praises Jason's ability to handle tough questions and considers him a journalist, and he adds that bringing on non-traditional guests, even partisan ones, has value if they are pushed 38m48s.
• Partisan people can be pushed to have valuable discussions, and it's a range of how partisan some friends can become or always have been 39m16s.
• The conversation about politics has become unavoidable, even for those who don't care about it, as it's a topic of great importance to some individuals, and even partisan people want to have hard discussions about it 39m19s.
• Partisans often want to answer hard questions, and it's been observed that they enjoy being asked tough questions, as seen in conversations with Trump and JD about certifying the election and other topics 39m35s.
• Heritage Foundation maintains a relationship with Trump, so they tend to avoid giving direct answers that might contradict his views, such as whether Trump won the 2020 election 39m57s.
• The importance of listening to the other side and being patient has been a valuable lesson learned, as seen in Jason's podcast, which encourages giving the other side a patient listen 40m21s.
• Having an independent mind and questioning things is essential, especially when coming from a media background where bias and insincerity are often observed 41m12s.
• Skift is a reputable source for travel news, often covering companies like Uber, and has discussed the pros and cons of a potential Expedia deal 41m29s.
• The pros of an Expedia deal include the low frequency of US AG involvement in the travel industry, which could make the deal more feasible 42m7s.

Evaluating the potential Uber-Expedia acquisition 42m16s

• The cost of acquiring a customer for online travel booking sites, such as Expedia, is high, with billions of dollars spent on Google, and this cost is a significant concern for Expedia 42m20s.
• The frequency of usage of Uber and its services, such as Uber Eats, is high, and from an Uber perspective, acquiring Expedia could provide an opportunity to upsell a bigger ticket item to its existing 150 million users 42m56s.
• Uber's CEO, Dara, has expressed interest in creating a super app and understands how to create synergies and motivate people, which could be beneficial in integrating Expedia's services 43m5s.
• Expedia has struggled in recent years, particularly with tech integration, and an acquisition by Uber could provide a boost to its languishing stock 43m32s.
• The potential combination of Uber and Expedia may not resonate with users who, like the author, use Uber and Uber Eats primarily on mobile but book flights and hotels on desktop 44m2s.
• Despite the assumption that mobile is predominant, many transactions in the Western world still occur on desktop, and this could be a consideration in the potential acquisition 44m17s.
• The author questions whether Uber's acquisition of Expedia would be a backwards progression from mobile to web, but this concern may not be a significant sticking point in the deal 44m52s.

Challenges and consumer behavior in online travel industry 45m4s

• Product integration is considered the biggest challenge in the online travel industry, with many customers coming through online acquisition channels like Google, rather than being loyal to specific brands 45m5s.
• There is no loyalty in online travel, with people primarily looking for the best price, often starting their search on Google and comparing multiple sites before booking 45m41s.
• Research has shown that people typically look at tens of sites before booking, especially for big trips, as it's a considered purchase 46m9s.
• Uber has been experimenting with adding a travel tab to their platform, offering hotels and flights, and has seen a high rebooking rate of around 60% for people who convert 47m15s.
• The idea of a membership that saves money is becoming a phenomenon in travel, with examples like Uber One, Bonvoy, and United, which can lead to customer loyalty 48m14s.
• The value of time is also a factor in the online travel industry, with people willing to pay for convenience and time-saving services, such as food delivery and ride-hailing 48m5s.

Future of loyalty programs and travel industry partnerships 48m33s

• Loyalty programs play a significant role in the travel industry, with airlines and hotels having large programs that allow customers to earn and redeem points or miles for free flights, hotel stays, and other perks 48m35s.
• Airlines have been able to pre-sell miles to banks and credit card companies, generating significant revenue and helping some airlines stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic 49m18s.
• Hotels also have loyalty programs, with Marriott's Bonvoy being one of the largest in the industry, and some hotels have experimented with subscription-based models 49m34s.
• Some airlines, such as Alaska Air, have launched subscription-based services, while others have experimented with co-working space subscriptions 49m47s.
• Companies like Soho House have built their business model around subscription-based services that combine working and staying 50m5s.
• The global distribution system (GDS) companies, such as Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport, provide the technological backbone for the travel industry, but are facing disruption from new technologies and competitors 50m42s.
• There have been rumors of Uber approaching Amadeus, but it is unclear what the purpose of such a move would be, and it is possible that Uber may instead choose to build its own travel booking platform 51m43s.
• If Uber were to enter the travel booking market, it could potentially use its existing user base and technology to create a competitor to Expedia or Hotels.com 52m3s.

Uber's strategic moves in the travel sector 52m17s

• Uber is likely to continue experimenting with its attach rate, which refers to the number of people opting in to book additional services when using the platform, from a partnership perspective rather than an acquisition perspective 52m18s.
• There were rumors that Uber might look at Grab, a Southeast Asian ride-hailing company, which is considered a super app in that region and has a market cap of $16 billion despite struggling since going public 53m0s.
• Uber's focus is on a few key markets where it can perform well, rather than expanding back into big markets, with the company's worth estimated to be around $170-180 billion 53m27s.
• VRBO, a vacation rental marketplace owned by Expedia, is seen as an underappreciated asset that could be leveraged by Uber, given its existing customer base and trust in the brand 54m13s.
• The conventional wisdom that Airbnb is the predominant brand in the vacation rental market is not considered settled science, with an opening for competitors like VRBO, which has been around for a long time and performed well during the pandemic 54m42s.
• VRBO's growth has languished as people returned to cities and hotels, but it remains a potential opportunity for Uber, especially given the close relationship between Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Expedia's chairman Barry Diller 56m10s.
• Barry Diller, considered one of the best dealmakers in the media and tech world, could potentially facilitate a deal between Uber and Expedia, especially if he were looking to retire 56m21s.

AI advancements in travel and media 57m0s

• The travel search box has remained largely unchanged since the 1990s, despite significant advancements in technology, and there is a need to remove friction and create a seamless travel experience from airport to hotel to airline 57m0s.
• Currently, airlines, hotels, and other travel providers often do not have access to information about a traveler's plans, making it difficult to provide a seamless experience 57m40s.
• Companies like Uber, China Metan, and others are working to create super apps that can provide a more integrated travel experience 58m5s.
• Skift has launched an AI-powered Q&A service on its website, which is a B2B service focused on providing information to businesses in the travel industry 58m22s.
• The service was initially launched in May last year using chat GPT and has since been relaunched with an answer engine paradigm, trained on Skift's content, including daily news, research, conferences, and SEC filings 58m54s.
• The service is designed to provide accurate information on the travel industry, covering around 140 public companies, and is intended for business use 59m23s.
• Skift's information has likely been indexed by AI models like Perplexity, Claud, or Open AI, and while this is seen as a compliment, it raises questions about data ownership and permission 59m38s.
• There have been instances where Skift's data has been used by other companies, such as Google, without permission, but Skift views this as a sign of the value of its content 1h0m12s.

Media strategies and data monetization 1h0m19s

• Skift is a small company with a website that has been ranked as the 500th most useful site on the web, with 100% human-created content and high-quality editorial, making it a valuable source of unbiased information 1h0m19s.
• The company has blocked GPT from crawling its site over the last year, as it started as an option to opt out of being trained, and they don't send data back through the API call 1h0m54s.
• Skift uses tools like Ask Gifft, which is not free, but offers one or two queries a month for free, and unlimited access for paid subscribers to Skift's paid services, serving as a good retention tool for the sales team 1h1m43s.
• The sales team presents Ask Gifft to Enterprise subscribers who pay between $25 to $100,000 a year for access to daily news and research, and it's available for them to use 1h2m11s.
• Skift receives around a couple of thousand queries a day for Ask Gifft, which is a fair number for a niche product, but the growth has not been drastic, with an initial bump in the early days due to novelty, and then staying around the same number 1h2m28s.
• The cost curve of AI models has impacted how Skift builds AI-driven products, initially using GPT 3.5 due to the prohibitively expensive cost of GPT 4, but now using GPT 4 as the cost has dropped, making it comfortable for the company 1h3m18s.
• The AI model being discussed has made significant improvements, with its ability to provide quick overviews and make users smarter being particularly notable 1h3m50s.
• The average analyst at a venture firm or company like Skift would take two days to research something that this AI model can do in two minutes, allowing users to start their research at a more advanced point 1h4m1s.
• The AI model is not perfect and can get things wrong, but it is great at providing quick overviews and making users smarter 1h4m24s.
• The AI model is being used in day-to-day duties, such as coming up with ideas for memos or making lists, and its usage is increasingly involving voice commands rather than typing 1h4m36s.
• The AI model is also being used to learn new things, such as history, with the ability to ask it a series of questions and receive quick answers 1h5m1s.
• The AI model is being used in a hands-free capacity, such as while driving, with the ability to activate it using a voice command on a phone 1h4m53s.
• The AI model is being used to help learn about history, with the ability to ask it easy questions such as who the first president of the United States was, when the revolution happened, and who wrote the Declaration of Independence 1h5m10s.

Skift's business model, LinkedIn's role, and remote work strategies 1h5m21s

• The publishing business has seen green shoots of hope in the form of subscriptions, licensing data for models, and revenue sharing from Apple News, with some publications making seven or eight figures from the latter 1h5m21s.
• Skift, a niche industry publication, has limited visibility and access to revenue programs from platforms like Apple News, Facebook, and Twitter, making it challenging for them to benefit from these programs 1h6m4s.
• As a result, Skift focuses on direct usage with users through email, LinkedIn, and other channels, with LinkedIn being a significant platform for the company, having over 500,000 followers 1h6m36s.
• Skift's founder, Rafat Ali, also has a substantial following on LinkedIn, with around half a million followers, making the platform a crucial channel for the company's content and engagement 1h7m2s.
• Despite the importance of LinkedIn, the company encourages users to visit their website by clicking through from the platform, as this is where they can engage more deeply with Skift's content 1h7m20s.
• Skift is exploring other platforms, including TikTok, where they have started creating short, vertical videos, although the founder acknowledges being outside the platform's target demographic 1h7m42s.
• The company has a fully remote workforce of almost 100 people, spread across 15 different countries, and has given up its physical office, with team members meeting in person only a few times a year 1h8m21s.
• Mentoring young analysts remotely can be challenging, but it is outweighed by the benefits of having a globally distributed cost base, which allows for hiring people in less expensive locations, 1h9m3s.
• Skift has a majority of employees in the US, but also has people working in the UK, India, Philippines, Panama, and other countries, which provides a lower cost workforce, 1h9m47s.
• The workforces in these countries are not only lower cost but also more loyal, with employees staying at the company for four to six years, compared to American employees who might view the job as a springboard, 1h10m2s.
• Having a mix of nationalities and a diversified cost base is beneficial for a global industry like Skift's, which covers the globe and has a truly global output, 1h10m37s.
• Skift's homepage often features stories from five different countries and continents, showcasing its global reach, 1h10m45s.
• Rafat Ali is an investor in Skift and can be found on Twitter, 1h11m2s.
• Venture capitalists want to see distribution and a lack of DPI (Distributions Per Investment) from investments, which is a topic Jason has been discussing, 1h11m19s.

Skift's growth and potential IPO discussion 1h11m24s

• Skift's growth has been slow and steady, with 25% to 50% growth every year, doubling its revenue base every two to three years, and having downside protection, which is a desirable mix in a portfolio 1h11m42s.
• The company has a strong brand and product, and is profitable, which is a rare combination in the media industry 1h12m10s.
• Skift's success can be attributed to its focus on B2B media, which has been a stable and profitable sector, with some companies in this space reaching hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars in revenue 1h12m57s.
• The media industry is currently experiencing consolidation, with companies like Penske and Vox buying and shutting down brands, but Skift and other subscription-based B2B publications have done well in this environment 1h12m21s.
• Skift's growth and success have led to speculation about a potential IPO, but the company's founder, Jason, is not looking to retire based on his investment strategy 1h11m30s.
• Skift's website, skift.com, is a great resource for those in the industry, and subscribers can access valuable information and insights 1h13m3s.

Uber's expansion into the airline industry 1h13m18s

• Uber's worth is equivalent to about seven United Airlines, sparking the idea that the company could consider acquiring an airline, but the airline industry is not profitable 1h13m28s.
• Airbnb had previously considered starting an airline, and companies like Virgin have expanded into airlines and hotel chains, but the airline industry is challenging due to its low profitability 1h13m45s.
• A commuter airline might be a viable option, but the future of air travel may lie in vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, which could be a more likely area of expansion for Uber 1h14m1s.
• Uber might consider buying VTOLs or partnering with VTOL manufacturers, and potentially creating a system where VTOL operators can offer their services to Uber One subscribers 1h14m13s.
• Companies like United, Delta, or American Airlines could also consider buying VTOLs or partnering with VTOL manufacturers, but Uber's existing marketplace and subscriber base could give it an advantage 1h14m29s.
• Acquiring a company like JetBlue, which is worth $2.6 billion, might be feasible for Uber, but acquiring a larger company like Marriott, which is worth around $75 billion, would be much more challenging 1h14m43s.
• The main challenge for a company like Uber expanding into the airline industry is that owning and operating assets is a different skill set and a lower-margin business than its current marketplace model 1h15m2s.
• The airline industry is also more vulnerable to disruptions like COVID-19, terrorist attacks, or economic downturns, which can put companies out of business or require government subsidies 1h15m14s.
• In contrast, companies like Uber, Airbnb, and Lyft were able to weather the COVID-19 pandemic more gracefully due to their scalable business models 1h15m27s.

Latest developments in AI with Anthropic's Claude 3.5 model 1h15m41s

• Anthropic has released a new version of its CLA 3.5 model, called Claude, which includes a computer use API in beta that allows the model to take over a user's computer and perform tasks in a browser window 1h15m51s.
• The computer use API enables the model to interact with web pages, fill out forms, and perform other tasks that can be done in a browser, with potential use cases including automating tasks, data scraping, and more 1h16m10s.
• The model can be instructed to perform tasks such as searching for flights, checking prices, and reporting back to the user, with the potential for developers to create custom applications using the API 1h16m59s.
• The release of the computer use API has the potential to enable new use cases and applications, but also raises concerns about the potential for misuse, such as automating tasks to trick people or create fake accounts 1h18m6s.
• The API could potentially be used to automate tasks that are currently done by humans, such as data entry or customer service, and could also be used to create fake social media accounts or engage in other malicious activities 1h18m11s.
• The release of the computer use API is seen as a positive development, as it shows that AI models are improving and can be used to automate tasks and create new applications, but also highlights the need for monitoring and regulation to prevent misuse 1h19m34s.
• The computer use API could potentially be used to create more realistic automated tasks, such as building spreadsheets or sending emails, which could be used to make it appear as though an employee is working when they are not 1h19m49s.
• The release of the computer use API is seen as a significant development in the field of AI, and highlights the potential for AI models to be used to automate tasks and create new applications 1h20m2s.

Announcement of Angel University workshop 1h20m7s

• Angel University is a workshop that teaches people how to become professional Angel Investors, and the next session is scheduled for November 6th, taught by the host and Mike Saino, a partner at Launch 1h20m17s.
• The workshop is based on the host's book and their experience investing in over 400 startups, including successful companies like Uber and Robin Hood 1h20m39s.
• The course covers the fundamentals of investing, the host's personal philosophy, and how to source and decide which companies to invest in, including a 13-point criteria for investing and 30 "pink or red flags" to watch out for 1h21m1s.
• The workshop also covers adding value as an investor, portfolio construction, and securing pro-rata rights, as well as getting investor updates and what information is important 1h21m33s.
• The workshop is open to all investors, whether retail or accredited, and all proceeds go to charity, with a full list of donations available at angel.university/charity 1h22m12s.
• The host's Angel Investing Syndicate is also available, allowing accredited investors to see deal flow and invest in startups, and can be accessed at syndicate.com 1h22m3s.
• The workshop is scheduled to be held twice a year due to the host's busy schedule, and interested individuals can sign up at angel.university 1h22m22s.
• Investing in early startups requires a different set of criteria than investing in public companies, and the workshop aims to teach attendees how to make informed decisions when investing in companies in their early years 1h23m1s.
• Many people find being an angel investor to be a life-changing career that they love, often consisting of young professionals or individuals who have sold their companies and are looking to learn and make a difference 1h23m21s.
• Angel investing can be a path to becoming a venture capitalist, as having real-world experience and a track record of successful investments can make a person more attractive to venture capital firms 1h23m37s.
• Having made multiple angel investments, even if only a few are successful, can demonstrate initiative and experience, making a person more likely to be hired as a venture capitalist 1h23m53s.
• Many retired individuals with significant wealth are also drawn to angel investing as a way to have fun and be involved with entrepreneurs who are trying to change the world 1h24m3s.
• Angel investing allows individuals to set their own schedule, meet interesting people, and potentially hit big winners, making it an exciting and rewarding pursuit 1h24m29s.
• In addition to potential financial rewards, angel investing provides non-financial benefits, such as seeing where the world is headed, meeting inspiring people, and being a part of plans to change the world 1h24m48s.
• Overall, being an angel investor is considered a fun and fulfilling career or hobby that offers a unique combination of financial and personal rewards 1h25m0s.