Your AI Research Assistant and Startup Signals

Hello, and happy Sunday! It’s high summer in the United States, and much of the country (not to mention the rest of the world) is or will be under a heat dome. Evan and I have been sweating it out on the east coast, hoping our air conditioners hold up, while Dan has been in Rome (where ACs are comparatively less prevalent) for an Aspen Institute conference. If you want to feel a sense of hope while you pray for the humidity to drop, scroll down for a heartwarming story about refrigerant emissions (really!). 

On to everything (else) we published this week, along with our take on the latest tech and business news.—Kate Lee

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Knowledge base

🔏 "Why Talk to Customers When You Can Simulate Them?" by Chris Silvestri: Ever wish you could read your customers' minds? AI might be the next best thing. Chris shows how to use large language models to create detailed customer personas, test marketing copy, and uncover hidden insights—all in hours instead of weeks. Read this if you want to turbocharge your market research and create messaging that truly resonates with your audience. 

"Paramount's Dilemma: Content Isn't King—Distribution Is" by Evan Armstrong/Napkin Math: The former Hollywood giant is getting an $8 billion lifeline, but it might not be enough. Paramount's new owners may think content is king, but history shows that distribution is the real crown jewel. Between block booking and launching TV networks, Paramount's past success came from controlling how—not just what—people watched. Read this for a fascinating look at how the internet broke a century-old business model and why even Top Gun: Maverick can't save Paramount from the attention economy.

🎧 "The AI-powered Era of Scientific Discovery Is Here" by Dan Shipper/Chain of Thought: In this episode of AI & I, Dan dives deep into how large language models like BrainGPT are transforming neuroscience with professor Bradley Love. Dr. Love argues that AI could revolutionize how we approach scientific discovery, such as in predicting experimental outcomes or challenging our need for simple explanations. Listen to this if you want to understand how AI might reshape the future of science—and why that future might be less about elegant theories and more about powerful predictions. 🔏 The transcript of this episode is for paying subscribers.

"Searching for Signal" by Evan Armstrong/Napkin Math: Have you ever had that gut feeling about a startup, even when the odds were stacked against it? It turns out that that irrational instinct might be your best compass. Evan tells the story of Clay, a $500 million company that succeeded because its founders trusted their intuition over cold, hard data. Read this if you want to learn why emotion, not just strategy, is crucial for startup success—and how to tap into that "divine belief" in your own work.