E30: xAI Fundraising, Vivek's BuzzFeed Investment, and Ad-Based AI Monetization

On this week's episode of The Riff, Erik and Byrne talk about xAI's fundraising round, Vivek Ramaswamy's investment in BuzzFeed, and the dynamics of using ads to monetize AI. beehiiv: Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months.

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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at erik@turpentine.co.

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SPONSORS: beehiiv

Head to beehiiv, the newsletter platform built for growth, to power your own. Connect with premium brands, scale your audience, and deliver a beautiful UX that stands out in an inbox. 🐝 Head to https://beehiiv.com and use code "MOZ" for 20% off your first three months

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Autopilot explores the adoption and rollout of AI in the industries that drive the economy and the dynamic founders bringing rapid change to slow-moving industries. From law, to hardware, to aviation, Will Summerlin interviews founders backed by Benchmark, Greylock, and more to learn how they're automating at the frontiers in entrenched industries.

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:21) xAI fundraising

(12:11) Vivek Ramaswamy's majority stake in BuzzFeed & dynamics of media acquisitions

(16:15) Sponsor: beehiiv

(30:03) Changes in private equity

(35:44) Does AI hurt wordcels or shape rotators?

(39:21) Looking at new FTX documents

(44:58) Will AI be monetized mostly through ads?