Diet TBPN: October 23rd, 2025

Overview

This episode dives into the evolution of company branding, the challenges of originality in design and naming, the energy demands of data centers, the rise of self-driving taxis, and the societal implications of AI and short-form video content.

Notable Quotes

- Good artists copy, great artists steal. - Jordi Hays, on the challenges of originality in startup branding.

- Further up the supply chain, a single year of Nvidia's revenue almost matched the past 25 years of total R&D and CapEx from the five largest semiconductor equipment companies combined. - John Coogan, highlighting the scale of investment in AI infrastructure.

- The TAM of people that today only want to watch AI video is basically zero. - Jordi Hays, critiquing the current demand for AI-generated video content.

🖋️ The Evolution of Branding and Naming

- Jordi Hays reflects on the Browser Company of New York's name, which juxtaposed a 150-year-old naming convention with modern technology to stand out.

- The hosts discuss how copying successful branding, like Instagram's name, can dilute originality but acknowledge the difficulty of finding unique names in a crowded market.

- Jordi Hays critiques startups that mimic great design, arguing it signals a lack of value for originality.

⚡ Energy Demands and Data Centers

- The hosts explore the massive energy consumption of data centers, with John Coogan noting Elon Musk's emphasis on building the largest, most energy-intensive facilities.

- Jordi Hays raises concerns about whether new energy sources will be discovered to meet these demands.

- The conversation humorously touches on the idea of wood-fired data centers as a throwback solution.

🚖 Self-Driving Taxis and Market Dynamics

- Waymo's self-driving taxis have seen a 69x increase in rides since 2023, now handling 876,000 rides per month in California.

- The hosts debate whether Waymo will collaborate with Uber or remain a standalone luxury service. Jordi Hays suggests Waymo could position itself as a premium option, akin to Lyft's early market differentiation.

📹 AI, Short-Form Video, and Societal Impact

- John Coogan discusses the moral panic around short-form video apps like Meta Vibes, questioning their long-term societal effects.

- Jordi Hays critiques the lack of containment in AI video platforms, arguing that the demand for purely AI-generated video content is currently negligible.

- The hosts reflect on the addictive nature of AI-driven platforms and their potential to reshape media consumption.

📈 AI Investment and Market Trends

- Jordi Hays argues that the tech market is not in an AI bubble, citing lower valuations compared to the dot-com era and CapEx funded by cash flow.

- The discussion highlights external factors like trade wars, high interest rates, and geopolitical instability as constraints on market growth.

- Breaking news includes Waymo's growth and speculation about Warner Brothers' buyout drama, with Jordi Hays noting Larry Ellison's involvement.