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AI’s High School Cafeteria

August 1, 2026 · 58 min

Show notes

This week we unpack Silicon Valley’s latest AI power struggle, asking whether the battle over open models is really about competition or about taking down Anthropic. We also explore why the internet feels increasingly broken, how content marketing quietly won, and what happens when every company becomes a media company. Good Product this week is a healthy ego. We discuss how it affects leadership, mental health, ambition, insecurity, and what it means to build a healthier relationship with success. Plus: AI agents in communities, the future of branding, and one very chaotic recording session from Sicily.

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* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer

* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Chapters:

* 00:00 Open

* 00:35 Welcome

* 02:16 Anonymous Feedback Sparks

* 08:38 Open vs Closed AI Drama

* 12:03 Who Benefits From Open Weights

* 17:28 Power Plays and Regulators

* 21:10 Meet Linda the Agent

* 25:35 Content Marketing Wins

* 32:47 Paywalls Ruin the Web

* 37:27 Platforms and New Moats

* 41:29 AI Flood and Filtering

* 47:53 Good Product

* 56:45 Credits



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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