Podcast Discussion: The Evolution of Meta
Let's discuss a podcast episode that tells the story of Meta: Meta is a company everyone knows (literally, everyone). But, somehow, it’s also a company that few people feel they actually understand. Their products are used by more humans than any others in history: almost half of the entire world’s population daily. But, what is Meta? Why do they do what they do? How do they do what they do? Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Threads, AI, Oculus, Orion, it’s all here. Tune in for one of the greatest corporate stories of all time: Meta, a Mark Zuckerberg Production.
Here is how it works:
[Optional] Prior to the event: Listen to the following Podcast Episode by Acquired (during your commute or workout). Any of the following 3 link works):
Apple podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/meta/id1050462261?i=1000674646827
Spotify podcast link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6nJwfjrv8oxVzr50WmWHv8
YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS2Lqdwja8o
During the event: We will break out into small groups (max 6 people per group).
Discussion Questions:
Existential desperation forced the invention of the valuable mobile newsfeed ad unit. What current constraints in AI interfaces might force us to invent the next dominant business model?
Absolute founder control allowed Meta to ignore stock crashes and bet billions on hardware. How do we balance funding "blue sky" research with the need for near-term commercial ROI?
Open-sourcing Llama lowers ecosystem costs to protect Meta's core business. If foundational models become commodities, where will we capture the true durable value in the technology stack?
Meta smart glasses enable always-on, first-person AI recording. How do we rewrite our social contracts when every face-to-face interaction is potentially being indexed by a corporation?
Group Mission
Deep Discussions for Bold Innovators.
👥 Who should join
AI practitioners, startup founders, students, and researchers curious about AI’s development and impact.
Community Ground Rules
To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events:
Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question)
Listen to understand, not to respond.
Be open-minded and value differences.