DeepSeek Panic, AI Wars, and the Future of Food with Travis Kalanick

Travis Kalanick delves into the future of food delivery and transportation automation, while the hosts investigate AI's geopolitical impact and its role in US-China dynamics.

Author

Prajwal J
February 03, 2025

Hey champ,

This edition dives into the latest AI drama, the future of food delivery, and how the U.S. government is saving $1B/day.

From DeepSeek's 6M AI model to Travis Kalanick’s vision for Cloud Kitchens, I’ve got insights, actionable takeaways, and a breakdown of what’s next in tech, business, and policy. 

Who Should Read This?

  • Tech enthusiasts: Understand the AI arms race between the U.S. and China.

  • Entrepreneurs: Learn how Travis Kalanick is revolutionizing food delivery with robotics and automation.

  • Policy Buffs: Discover how the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) is cutting federal waste.

  • Investors: Get insights into OpenAI’s $40B valuation and the future of AI commoditization. 

Top Takeaways

Topic

Insights

DeepSeek’s $6M AI Model

DeepSeek claims its R1 model rivals the GPT-4 but was trained for just $6M. Skeptics argue it likely used OpenAI’s models for “distillation” (copying).

OpenAI’s $40B Bet on Consumer AI

OpenAI is raising $40B at a $340B valuation to compete with Meta in consumer AI. Critics argue the real value lies in applications, not just models.

Travis Kalanick’s Vision for Cloud Kitchens

Cloud Kitchens is automating food delivery with robotics, aiming to make high-quality, personalized meals as cheap as groceries.

DoGE’s $1B/Day Savings Plan

Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE) is cutting federal waste by canceling leases, offering buyouts, and streamlining operations.

The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

Waymo’s self-driving cars are becoming normalized, but scaling autonomy faces challenges like grid capacity and energy demands. 

Key Timestamps & Micro-Hooks

  • 15:39:00 DeepSeek’s $6M AI model shakes up the AI industry.

  • 1:01:49 OpenAI’s $40B raise and the battle for consumer AI dominance.

  • 2:12:00 Travis Kalanick on the future of food delivery and robotics.

  • 1:10:00 DoGE’s $1B/day savings plan and its impact on federal spending.

  • 1:25: 13 The challenges and opportunities in scaling autonomous vehicles. 

Memorable Quote

“Cheap AI makes cheap autonomy. As AI gets cheaper and better, autonomy becomes easier and more accessible.” -Travis Kalanick

Episode details