a16z Podcast

The a16z Podcast discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future – especially as ‘software eats the world’. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices from around the world. This podcast is produced by Andreessen Horowitz (aka “a16z”), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. Multiple episodes are released every week; visit a16z.com for more details and to sign up for our newsletters and other content as well!

  1. How to Build a Successful Company in an Era of Disruption

    16 HR AGO

    How to Build a Successful Company in an Era of Disruption

    What happens when a startup becomes a giant—and then has to reinvent itself all over again? In this episode, Martin Casado sits down with Raghu Raghuram (former CEO of VMware) and Jeetu Patel (President and CPO at Cisco) for a deep, tactical conversation on scaling, disruption, and navigating transformation from the inside. They share hard-won lessons from leading two of the most iconic infrastructure companies in tech—through waves like virtualization, cloud, containers, and now AI. They cover: How to keep innovation alive inside large companiesWhy the best companies operate with a founder’s mindset, even without foundersThe difference between selling to buyers vs. practitionersWhy the story is the strategy, and how to tell it at scaleHow Cisco is rebuilding its startup DNA in the age of AIIf you're building or leading through a major tech wave, this episode is a playbook.   Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction  2:02 Weapons of Mass Disruption: Abstractions, Business Models, and Cloud   5:57 Cisco’s Missed Cloud Wave & Resetting for Innovation   6:39 Operating Like a Startup: Speed, Scale, and Leadership   10:00 Go-to-Market Challenges: Fencing Off Innovation   11:04 Organic vs. Inorganic Growth: Lessons from VMware   12:04 The 10x Rule and Competing with Incumbents   14:39 Structuring for Disruption: Two-Pizza Teams and Ideal Customer Profiles   18:43 Storytelling as Strategy: Galvanizing Large Organizations   19:42 The AI Wave: Consumerization and Infrastructure Demands   25:34 Founders vs. Operators: Leading Transformations   31:47 Product-Led Organizations: From Sales to Product Focus   34:35 The Future of Infrastructure: AI, Market Size, and Vertical Integration   39:34 Timing, Market, Team, Product, Brand, and Scale   41:19 Authenticity, Opportunity, and Final Thoughts     Resources: Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado Find Raghu on X: https://x.com/raghuraghuram Find Jeetu on X: https://x.com/jpatel41   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    43 min
  2. Dwarkesh and Noah Smith on AGI and the Economy

    2 DAYS AGO

    Dwarkesh and Noah Smith on AGI and the Economy

    In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined in the studio by Dwarkesh Patel and Noah Smith to explore one of the biggest questions in tech: what exactly is artificial general intelligence (AGI), and how close are we to achieving it? They break down: Competing definitions of AGI — economic vs. cognitive vs. “godlike”Why reasoning alone isn’t enough — and what capabilities models still lackThe debate over substitution vs. complementarity between AI and human laborWhat an AI-saturated economy might look like — from growth projections to UBI, sovereign wealth funds, and galaxy-colonizing robotsHow AGI could reshape global power, geopolitics, and the future of workAlong the way, they tackle failed predictions, surprising AI limitations, and the philosophical and economic consequences of building machines that think, and perhaps one day, act, like us.   Timecodes:  0:00 Intro 0:33 Defining AGI and General Intelligence 2:38 Human and AI Capabilities Compared 7:00 AI Replacing Jobs and Shifting Employment 15:00 Economic Growth Trajectories After AGI 17:15 Consumer Demand in an AI-Driven Economy 31:00 Redistribution, UBI, and the Future of Income 31:58 Human Roles and the Evolving Meaning of Work 41:21 Technology, Society, and the Human Future 45:43 AGI Timelines and Forecasting Horizons 54:04 The Challenge of Predicting AI's Path 57:37 Nationalization, Geopolitics, and the Global AI Race 1:07:10 Brand and Network Effects in AI Dominance 1:09:31 Final Thoughts    Resources:  Find Dwarkesh on X: https://x.com/dwarkesh_sp Find Dwarkesh on YT: https://www.youtube.com/c/DwarkeshPatel Subscribe to Dwarkesh’s Substack: https://www.dwarkesh.com/ Find Noah on X: https://x.com/noahpinion Subscribe to Noah’s Substack: https://www.noahpinion.blog/   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    1h 1m
  3. Balaji on How Tech Truly Wins Media

    5 DAYS AGO

    Balaji on How Tech Truly Wins Media

    What really caused the breakdown between tech and media—and what comes next? Erik Torenberg sits down with Balaji Srinivasan (entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Network State) to explore the long-building conflict between Silicon Valley and legacy journalism. Balaji explains how the collapse of traditional media business models gave rise to political capture, clickbait, and adversarial coverage of the tech industry. They discuss why “going direct” is no longer optional, how tech became the villain in establishment narratives, and what it would take to build a new truth infrastructure - from decentralized content creation to cryptographic verification. This episode covers power, distribution, and the future of media, with a signature mix of historical insight, social analysis, and Balaji’s forward-looking frameworks. Timecodes:  0:00 Introduction  1:26 The Media vs. Tech Conflict 2:11 The Collapse of Journalism Revenue 2:39 Rise of Wokeness and Political Realignment 6:50 State vs. Network: A New Framework 9:00 The Power Structure of Media Institutions 19:25 The Role of Distribution and the Internet 29:20 The Social War: Red vs. Blue America 30:05 X Day and the Shift in Social Media Power 42:56 Strategies for Technologists: Go Direct 48:36 The Importance of Individual Creators 1:10:00 Decentralized Truth and the Ledger of Record 1:36:00 The Future of Media, Democracy, and Equality 1:37:08 Conclusion & Final Thoughts Resources Find Balaji on X: https://x.com/balajis Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    1h 38m
  4. AI Content and the War for Your Attention

    30 JUL

    AI Content and the War for Your Attention

    What happens when AI starts generating content for everyone—and no one wants to watch it? In this episode, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes and ad tech veteran Antonio García Martínez join a16z General Partner, Erik Torenberg to unpack the shifting economics of attention: from the rise of “AI slop” and spammy feeds to the difference between what we want to pay attention to and what platforms push on us. They explore: How AI changes what gets created and what gets seenWhy internet ads still mostly suckThe return of group chats—and the slow death of mass cultureBased on Chris’s new book The Sirens Call, this is a candid look at what AI might amplify or break in our online lives.   Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction  1:47 Meet the Guests: Chris Hayes & Antonio Garcia Martinez 3:01 The Economics of Attention & AI Slop 6:38 Acquisition vs. Retention: The Attention Challenge 10:01 Fame, Identity, and Social Media Fragmentation 13:21 The Group Chat Solution & Privacy 16:01 Business Models, Community, and Technology 19:01 Mass Culture, Fragmentation, and the Algorithm 23:01 Ad Tech, Personalization, and Advertising Effectiveness 29:01 The Future: AI, Growth, and Abundance   Resources:  Find Chris on X: https://x.com/chrislhayes Find Antonio on X: https://x.com/antoniogm Learn more about Chris’ book ‘The Sirens' Call’: https://sirenscallbook.com/ Learn more about Antonio’s book ‘Chaos Monkeys’: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/chaos-monkeys-antonio-garcia-martinez?variant=32207601532962   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    41 min
  5. Balaji Srinivasan: How AI Will Change Politics, War, and Money

    28 JUL

    Balaji Srinivasan: How AI Will Change Politics, War, and Money

    a16z General Partners Erik Torenberg and Martin Casado sit down with technologist and investor Balaji Srinivasan to explore how the metaphors we use to describe AI—whether as god, swarm, tool, or oracle—reveal as much about us as they do about the technology itself. Balaji, best known for his work in crypto and network states, also brings a deep background in machine learning. Together, the trio unpacks the evolution of AI discourse, from monotheistic visions of a singular AGI to polytheistic interpretations shaped by culture and context. They debate the practical and philosophical: the current limits of AI, why prompts function like high-dimensional programs, and what it really takes to “close the loop” in AI reasoning. This is a systems-level conversation on belief, control, infrastructure, and the architectures that might govern future societies.   Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction: The Polytheistic AGI Framework 1:46 Personal Journeys in AI and Crypto 3:18 Monotheistic vs. Polytheistic AGI: Competing Paradigms 8:20 The Limits of AI: Chaos, Turbulence, and Predictability 9:29 Platonic Ideals and Real-World Systems 14:10 Decentralized AI and the End of Fast Takeoff 14:34 Surprises in AI Progress: Language, Locomotion, and Double Descent 25:45 Prompting, Verification, and the Age of the Phrase 29:44 AI, Crypto, and the Grounding Problem 34:26 Visual vs. Verbal: Where AI Excels and Struggles 37:19 The Challenge of Markets, Politics, and Adversarial Systems 40:11 Amplified Intelligence: AI as a Force Multiplier 43:37 The Polytheistic Counterargument: Convergence and Specialization 48:17 AI’s Impact on Jobs: Specialists, Generalists, and the Future of Work 57:36 Security, Drones, and Digital Borders 1:03:41 AI, Power, and the Balance of Control 1:06:33 The Coming Anti-AI Backlash 1:09:10 Global Implications: Labor, Politics, and the Future   Resources: Find Balaji on X: https://x.com/balajis Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    1h 6m
  6. 25 JUL

    Ben and Marc on New Media: Podcasts, Politics & the Collapse of Trust

    On this episode of The Ben & Marc Show, a16z co-founders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz sit down with Erik Torenberg— General Partner at a16z and founder of the media company Turpentine—to unpack how the internet shattered the old media order and reshaped the way power works in America. What begins as a look at the evolution of media quickly becomes something bigger: a conversation about truth, trust, and the collapse of institutional authority. They explore how social media became both an x-ray and an engine, why authenticity now beats polish, and how the rules of politics, and journalism, have permanently changed. Together, they break down: -Why 2017 marked a structural break between tech and the press -Trump’s real training ground -The tension between objectivity, activism, and “speaking truth to power” -Why podcasters. not pundits, are setting the agenda - How the barbell strategy is reshaping media: short-form virality meets long-form depth With stops at Watergate, the rise of Rogan, the fall of legacy gatekeepers, and the media playbooks behind Obama, Trump, and the Kardashians—this episode explores how we got here, what’s next, and what it means for founders, voters, and anyone trying to build (or tell) a story.   Timecodes:  0:00 Introduction 0:55 The Evolution of Media: From Centralization to Fragmentation 2:34 The Internet’s Impact on Traditional Media 4:06 Unionization and Technological Change in Media 6:39 Oversupply and Competition in News Organizations 8:44 The Changing Role and Ideology of Journalism 11:46 Speak Truth to Power: Conflicts in Journalism 13:39 The 2016 Election and the Collapse of Media Trust 23:20 Martin Gurri and the Crisis of Authority 31:34 Decentralization: From the 1970s to Social Media 48:06 Trump, Reality TV, and the New Media Playbook 59:10 Drama, Authenticity, and the Barbell Effect in Media 1:16:40 Podcasts, Direct Communication, and the Future of Authority 1:34:48 Advice for Founders and the Importance of Personal Branding 1:37:35 Conclusion & Final Thoughts   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    1h 38m
  7. Critical Minerals: Mining for the Industrial Future

    23 JUL

    Critical Minerals: Mining for the Industrial Future

    It can take more than 15 years to permit and build a new mine in the United States - yet nearly every modern technology we rely on, from smartphones to fighter jets to AI data centers, depends on a steady supply of critical minerals. In this episode, Erik Torenberg is joined in the studio by Turner Caldwell, founder of Mariana Minerals, along with American Dynamism general partner Erin Price-Wright and partner Ryan McEntush. Turner spent nearly a decade at Tesla, working his way upstream from factory design to battery materials and mining. Now, he’s building a new kind of mining and refining company - vertically integrated and software-first- designed to meet the demands of our industrial future. We get into why the industry is so broken, what it actually takes to turn rocks into usable materials, and how the U.S. can rebuild its capacity to mine, refine, and manufacture the things that matter most.   Timecodes:  00:00 Introduction to Critical Minerals 00:45 The Importance of Mining in Modern Technology 00:58 Meet Turner Caldwell and Marianna Minerals 03:02 The Mining and Refining Process 05:10 Challenges in the Mining Industry 07:11 Turner's Journey from Tesla to Marianna 15:31 The Role of AI and ML in Mining 22:00 Geopolitical and Talent Pool Dynamics 23:46 Challenges in Junior Mining Exploration 25:30 Mariana's Product and Approach 25:47 Leveraging Technology in Mining and Construction 28:29 Optimizing Refining Processes with AI 37:31 The Importance of Critical Minerals 41:18 Permitting and Regulatory Challenges 46:08 Future Strategies and International Expansion 46:53 Conclusion and Future Outlook   Resources:  Find Turner on X :https://x.com/tbc415 Find Erin on X: https://x.com/espricewright Find Ryan on X: https://x.com/rmcentush   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    48 min
  8. The Future of Software Development - Vibe Coding, Prompt Engineering & AI Assistants

    21 JUL

    The Future of Software Development - Vibe Coding, Prompt Engineering & AI Assistants

    Is AI the Fourth Pillar of Infrastructure? Infrastructure doesn’t go away — it layers. And today, AI is emerging as a new foundational layer alongside compute, storage, and networking. Erik Torenberg interviews a16z’s Martin Casado, Jennifer Li, and Matt Bornstein breaking down how infrastructure is evolving in the age of AI — from models and agents to developer tools and shifting user behavior. We dive into what infra actually means today, how it differs from enterprise, and why software itself is being disrupted. Plus, we explore the rise of technical users as buyers, what makes infra companies defensible, and how past waves — from the cloud to COVID to AI — are reshaping how we build and invest.   Timestamps:  (00:00) Introduction  (01:49) Defining Infrastructure in the AI Era (03:15) The Fourth Pillar: AI's Role in Infrastructure (06:01) Historical Context and Evolution of Infrastructure (08:20) The Impact of AI on Software Development (10:18) Investment Strategies and Market Dynamics (17:02) Developer Tools and AI Integration (20:57) Defensibility in the AI Landscape (22:16) Founders' Intuition and Industry Progress (22:26) Defensibility in AI Infrastructure (24:00) Expansion and Contraction Phases in the Industry (24:35) The Role of Layers in Market Consolidation (27:43) The Future of AI Models and Specialization (29:27) The Decade of AI Agents (29:54) Context Engineering and New Infrastructure (34:23) The Evolution of Software Development (42:13) Horizontal vs. Vertical Integration in AI (43:54) Conclusion and Final Thoughts   Resources:  Find Martin on X: https://x.com/martin_casado Find Jennifer on X: https://x.com/JenniferHli Find Matt on X: https://x.com/BornsteinMatt   Stay Updated:  Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures.

    44 min

About

The a16z Podcast discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future – especially as ‘software eats the world’. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices from around the world. This podcast is produced by Andreessen Horowitz (aka “a16z”), a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm. Multiple episodes are released every week; visit a16z.com for more details and to sign up for our newsletters and other content as well!

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