Built 2 Scale | Episode 17 - Show Notes

Hosts: Scott Wilcox (W & Elycium) & Matt Perrott (BuildPass)

Description: This week on Built 2 Scale, Scotty & Matt break down the most expensive pre-seed valuations in history with Mira Murati's $12 billion Thinking Machines, Grok-4's unprecedented overnight integration into Tesla vehicles, and the browser wars heating up between Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google. Plus Matt's TikTok goes viral with 60K views, Chinese factories train robots with AI glasses, and the talent acquisition battle reaches new extremes.

Episode Timeline

[0:00] Welcome & Headlines Overview

Episode introduction and top news summary

[0:57] Matt's Austin Move & TikTok Virality

Matt's relocation update
Viral TikTok success with 60K views

[3:14] Thanks for Watching: Google, Albo & Chamath

Audience appreciation and notable mentions

[8:15] Cluely vs Clueless Weekend Coding Drama

Development challenges and community feedback

[11:05] Talent Bubble Chart Launch

New tool release for tracking talent market dynamics

[13:54] Pipe Dream Labs Underground Logistics

Deep dive into underground hyper-speed logistics infrastructure

[19:45] OpenAI Note Taker Killer Strategy

Analysis of OpenAI's Mac recording targeting note-taking apps like Fireflies and Limitless

[23:15] AI Wrapper Warning & Windsurf Acquisition

Vertical AI wrapper survival strategies
Google's talent poaching breakdown in Windsurf deal

[30:51] Grok-4 Tesla Integration Analysis

48-hour integration timeline breakdown
Technical and strategic implications

[35:17] Robot Rundown: AI Glasses Training Workers

Chinese manufacturing workers using AI glasses for robot training
Synthetic vs real-world data approaches for humanoid robotics

[42:15] Web Browser Wars Begin

AI-native browser development race
Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google strategies

[47:37] Perplexity Acquisition Predictions

Market positioning and potential buyers

[51:52] Parting Wisdom: Buying Talent vs Building Culture

Zuckerberg's financial approach vs Elon's mission-driven culture
Strategic talent acquisition insights

Key Topics Covered

Major Business Developments

Mira Murati's Thinking Machines: $12 billion pre-seed valuation with zero product
Grok-4 Tesla Integration: 48-hour vehicle integration timeline
Pipe Dream Labs: Underground hyper-speed logistics infrastructure development

AI Strategy & Competition

OpenAI Note-Taking Strategy: Targeting Fireflies and Limitless with Mac recording capabilities
Browser Wars: Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google building AI-native browsers
AI Wrapper Strategies: Vertical approaches for surviving foundational model competition

Technology & Innovation

Robot Training Revolution: Chinese workers using AI glasses for robot data capture
Synthetic vs Real-World Data: Training approaches for humanoid robotics
Convergence Theory: OpenAI, Google, and Tesla as final three AI leaders

Market Dynamics

Talent Acquisition Wars: Comparing acquisition strategies across tech giants
Australia's Strategy: Switzerland diplomatic approach between US-China relations
Apple's Innovation Gap: Why acquisition beats internal development

Acquisition Analysis

Windsurf Acquisition: Google's talent poaching strategy breakdown
Perplexity Predictions: Market positioning for potential acquisition

About Built 2 Scale

Weekly analysis of artificial intelligence business strategy, startup acquisitions, and technology market dynamics. Providing actionable insights for founders, investors, and technology executives navigating the AI transformation.

Connect with the Hosts:

Scott Wilcox: W & Elycium
Matt Perrott: BuildPass

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