048 SpaceX IPO, The Enhanced Games & Jobs-pocalypse is Canceled

We break down the latest in tech, AI, and startups live every Thursday at 11:00 AM Pacific and 2:00 PM Eastern on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

E048 Topics:
1. SpaceX is going IPO
2. Sam Altman and Dario Amodei are both walking back their AI jobs apocalypse prophecies as they eye blockbuster IPOs
3. Eli Lilly has developed permanent gene therapy for LDL cholesterol
4. The Enhanced Games are not so enhanced
5. The Vatican weighs in on AI
6. We love Rick Rubin’s appearance on David Senra’s podcast
7. The era of token maxxing is over
8. Berkeley is home to the most startup founders

Episode Overview
This week Gregory and Paul tackle the biggest IPO in history as SpaceX prepares to hit public markets with a reported $1.7 trillion valuation. From Starlink and space tourism to AI infrastructure and Mars colonies, they break down what makes the company so fascinating and why they are still skeptical about buying the stock.

Connect with Gregory & Paul

Gregory Kennedy
Website – https://www.vibeyoursaas.com
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregorykennedy/
X (Twitter) – https://twitter.com/gregorykennedy

Paul
Website – https://karmic.buzz
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pxue/
X (Twitter) – https://twitter.com/pxue

1. SpaceX Files for the Biggest IPO Ever

02:30 to 16:19

SpaceX seeks a reported $1.7 trillion valuation and a massive public offering. Gregory breaks down the numbers, the role of retail investors, Starlink's growth, and why the company may be one of the most ambitious businesses ever created. The discussion covers everything from AI infrastructure and connectivity to asteroid mining and Mars colonization.

2. Why Neither of Them Is Buying the IPO

13:50 to 16:19

Despite admiring the company, both hosts remain cautious. They discuss lockup periods, valuation risk, regulatory uncertainty, and why buying into highly anticipated IPOs is often a difficult game for retail investors.

3. Sam Altman and Dario Amodei Walk Back AI Job Apocalypse Claims

16:26 to 18:29

After years of warnings that AI would replace huge portions of the workforce, major AI leaders appear to be softening their stance. Gregory argues that many of the original predictions were unrealistic and created unnecessary anxiety.

4. Uber's Token Budget Problem

17:35 to 22:24

The hosts examine growing concerns around AI costs. Companies are spending millions on tokens, yet many struggle to connect AI usage directly to revenue growth or productivity gains. The discussion explores model routing, optimization, and the challenge of measuring actual ROI.

5. The AI Hallucination Problem Is Still Very Real

22:34 to 25:16

Gregory shares multiple examples of AI confidently providing incorrect information while analyzing the SpaceX filing. The conversation becomes a broader critique of how heavily people rely on AI outputs without validating the underlying facts.

6. Eli Lilly's Gene Therapy Breakthrough

25:24 to 27:37

New developments in LDL cholesterol treatment spark a discussion about the future of personalized medicine. The hosts explore whether gene therapies could eventually provide individualized solutions for chronic disease and dramatically extend human health spans.

7. Enhanced Games Challenge Traditional Sports

27:45 to 38:15

Peter Thiel backed Enhanced Games become a jumping off point for a larger conversation about performance enhancing drugs, technological augmentation, Olympic monopolies, and whether future athletic competition will eventually divide into enhanced and traditional categories.

8. The Vatican Enters the AI Debate

38:15 to 42:50

The Vatican releases new guidance focused on the moral implications of AI and algorithmic decision making. Gregory and Paul discuss sovereign AI, religious values embedded into models, and the possibility of a future Vatican trained language model.

9. Rick Rubin, Vibes, and Why Taste Matters

43:00 to 54:10

Rick Rubin's appearance on the Founders podcast sparks a discussion about creativity, confidence, and taste. The hosts explore why some founders obsess over metrics while others trust instinct, and why conviction may be one of the most underrated business skills.

10. Why Berkeley Produces So Many Venture Backed Startups

54:14 to 57:55

A surprising data point shows Berkeley leading the world in venture backed startup creation. The conversation explores proximity to Silicon Valley, institutional history, startup culture, and why Berkeley continues to punch above its weight in technology and entrepreneurship.