Kling Crosses 12M, China’s Aging Tech Problem, Thinking Machine Turmoil | Rich Greenfield, Jan Sramek, George Lewin, Ara Kharazian

Overview

This episode dives into the rapid growth of Kling AI, the challenges of China's aging tech workforce, the leadership turmoil at Thinking Machines, and the ambitious California Forever city-building project. It also explores the launch of AI liability insurance and trends in AI adoption across industries.

Notable Quotes

- The curse of 35 has long plagued workers across white-collar professions in China, with older staff perceived as less willing to endure long hours. - Jordi Hays, on China's tech workforce challenges.

- AI insurance is the biggest horizontal play for the AI economy—everything in every industry is insured, and AI will be no different. - George Lewin, on the launch of generative AI insurance.

- We need to get ahead of this housing crisis because if we don’t, it’s going to be way worse than what we saw in 2017. - Jan Sramek, on the urgency of building California Forever.

🧠 Kling AI's Meteoric Rise

- Kling AI, a generative video model by Kuaishou, has reached 12 million monthly active users and $20 million in revenue within 18 months of launch.

- Competing closely with Higgs Field, Kling's pricing and niche applications like motion control and physics simulations have driven adoption.

- Concerns remain about scaling costs and access to NVIDIA GPUs amidst export control debates.

🇨🇳 China's Aging Tech Workforce Crisis

- China's tech sector faces significant age discrimination, with workers over 35 often pushed out due to perceptions of declining energy and adaptability.

- Companies like Tencent and ByteDance have some of the youngest workforces, averaging 27-28 years old.

- This trend is exacerbated by economic slowdowns and regulatory crackdowns, leading to widespread layoffs.

⚡ Thinking Machines Leadership Turmoil

- Thinking Machines, an AI startup, faces internal strife as co-founders leave amid disagreements over company direction.

- Former CTO Barrett Zof and two colleagues returned to OpenAI, citing dissatisfaction with Thinking Machines' trajectory.

- The company’s valuation and future are under scrutiny as it navigates these challenges.

🏙️ California Forever: Building a New City

- Jan Sramek's California Forever aims to address Northern California’s housing crisis by building 174,000 homes in Solano County.

- The project spans 69,000 acres and includes plans for manufacturing hubs and a shipyard.

- Sramek emphasizes the need for thoughtful urban planning and transportation solutions to make the region more livable and economically vibrant.

🛡️ Generative AI Insurance: A New Frontier

- Testudo, led by George Lewin, has launched a new category of insurance tailored for enterprises deploying generative AI.

- The insurance covers risks like copyright infringement, defamation, and data breaches, with nearly $1 billion in backing from Lloyd’s of London.

- Early adoption focuses on mid-market enterprises, with plans to expand into AI agents and robotics coverage.