Reid Hoffman

1/ I recently listened to David Autor on @reidhoffman.bsky.social's podcast and really enjoyed it. It got me thinking about how we've adapted to past technological shifts and why we need to think differently about adaptation with AI. A few thoughts in this thread🧵

Good framework.

Take driverless vehicles, for example.

The goal isn’t to launch a car that never gets into an accident. It's to launch a car that is safer on the road than one driven by a human (we’re already there).

And as we evaluate these tools, we must remember: the benchmark isn’t perfection or zero errors, it's fewer errors than we would have made without the tech in the loop.

Our job, as citizens, entrepreneurs, and leaders, is to ensure we’re accelerating toward the kind of future we actually want to live in.

Whether AI serves to uplift billions or exploit them, whether biotech heals or divides, whether platforms connect or polarize, all of that depends on how we shape the systems around them.

As the former President reminded us, science and technology are tools. They are amplifiers of human will, not substitutes for it.

“Science, like all technology, has no conscience of its own. Whether it will become a force for good or ill depends on man.” - JFK

Sometimes tech critics lose sight of this, treating technology itself as inherently bad. That’s when society starts surrendering its agency instead of exercising it

Unfortunately, I agree with you –– but hopefully it will change as more people make the right arguments for how AI can be an extremely positive force..

One of the people tagged in the post below came to the US on a graduate student visa. Countless iconic American companies have been founded and fueled by those who started their journey the same way.

Science Friday Natural Sciences Podcast · Updated Daily · Covering the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about scienc...

The first episode features Nobel Laureate
@kkariko.bsky.social's story of determination in the face of naysayers:

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...

Recommend listening to The Leap, a terrific new podcast about the scientists who are taking risks in pursuit of something huge.

It's a great show about discovery, conviction, and adaptation –– Produced by Hypothesis Fund & weekly on @scifri.bsky.social

It is his real profile!

I’ve long believed Bill Gates deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. His decision to distribute virtually all his wealth through the Gates Foundation by 2045 is just the latest evidence of this fact. It reflects the kind of decisive, high-leverage action we need.

Donate to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley In one week, $1 million worth of food was canceled due to federal cuts. If we can raise $1 million from our community between now and April 30, The Benificus Foundation will match every gift. Impact....

We’re working to raise that $1m from the community, and would love your help: shfb.online/reid-t

The shipment was equivalent to 17 truckloads of vital, protein-rich items like milk, chicken, eggs and cheese.

Urgent: We've learned that USDA funding cuts will prevent 630,000 lbs of food from reaching Second Harvest of Silicon Valley.

This would've been distributed to our most vulnerable neighbors–– and was to be sourced from US farmers, who are now losing out on crucial revenue.

We need your help

Vote for the best of the internet I just voted in The Webby People's Voice Awards and checked my voter registration.

Fellow @karaswisher.bsky.social fans: Possible is in the Pivot feed this weekend, so dropping in to say Kara Swisher, Aria Finger, and I are nominated for a Webby!

Vote here for the Possible episode ft Kara on AI, media, and accountability: vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting...

Clip of @dkthomp.bsky.social on why tariffs are antithetical to abundance... and why there's no one in the White House to stop the spiral.

Full episode with Derek on the Possible Podcast comes out in a few weeks!

YouTube video by Nonzero Reid Hoffman's p(bloom) | Robert Wright & Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman’s p(bloom) | @reidhoffman.bsky.social, LinkedIn co-founder and author of the new book Superagency: What Could Possibly Go Right with Our AI Future, offers an optimistic view of the coming AI earthquake.
@robertwrighter.bsky.social

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UodL...

Thank you!

My thoughts on today's tariffs: If you see them as anything other than a power grab, you must reconsider.

This administration continues to erode trust in the American markets, first with crypto grifts, and now with tariff policies drafted by a team that can't even do basic mathematics.

This is a long game to hurt everyday Americans and consolidate power at the top.

You know it's bad when you've lost the founder of Jesusdoll.com.

Do you feel liberated yet, America?

Very important research. AI is better & cheaper for communities that don't yet use the web –– meaning it can unlock exponential gains for entire countries.

On LinkedIn

Why?

Devastating. Efficiency in the CDC looks like hiring MORE people to integrate AI systems that allow us to research quicker and detect outbreaks faster.

Staying still doesn’t spare us pain—it just delays it and prevents us from navigating away from the most significant obstacles. We've also learned from previous transitions.

Some examples: we need to distribute technology more evenly, use it on big societal issues quicker, and red teams are good.

I know many consumers who use Generative AI as much as they use Google. They draft emails, think through ideas, use it to search, etc.

That's even ignoring the more specialized usecases (video editing, for example). There's a ton of value even in free tools.

Could not agree more.