Intro
In this episode of “The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway,” Scott discusses the future of AI in search, shares his journey of becoming a professor at NYU, and provides insights on finding a balance between ambition and contentment. He also addresses listener questions and offers advice on transitioning to a career in academia. The episode is filled with valuable insights and practical tips for navigating the world of AI, education, and personal growth.
Main Takeaways
The Future of AI in Search
- The enduring appeal of Donald Trump is explained by fan culture, where people love being in a community of those who share the same excitement, whether it’s about a political figure or a celebrity. (00:00:00 – 00:00:59)
- A listener from Fort Wayne, Indiana asks about the impact of AI-based search engines on search engine optimization and website traffic. (00:01:00 – 00:01:59)
- Jeff Bezos has invested in Perplexity, a challenger to Google, valued at 520 million, which uses AI to provide direct answers instead of just links. (00:02:00 – 00:02:59)
- The speaker invested in Niva, a subscription search engine, with the belief that paid returns would incentivize the company to provide more relevant and less polarizing content. However, it didn’t gain traction, and the investment was returned. (00:03:00 – 00:03:59)
- Bezos’ investment in Perplexity is based on the advantage of using AI to provide direct answers rather than links, challenging Google’s dominance in search.
- AI-powered tools help businesses target relevant keywords and create customized content to connect with their audience (00:04:00 – 00:04:59)
- TikTok uses AI to curate content and personalize user experience, making it revolutionary in the world of content consumption (00:04:00 – 00:04:59)
- The problem with search is the overwhelming number of choices, which have been weaponized for profit (00:05:00 – 00:05:59)
- AI’s core value proposition is to provide one accurate answer instead of overwhelming users with multiple options, similar to a retail merchant selecting the best product (00:05:00 – 00:05:59)
- Google was caught off guard by OpenAI’s rapid rise, a classic case of the innovator’s dilemma where a company ignores innovation due to the success of its core business (00:06:00 – 00:06:59)
- Despite Google’s dominance in search, they lacked a competitive AI product, allowing others to disrupt the market (00:07:00 – 00:07:59)
- Despite these challenges, Alphabet (Google’s parent company) is seen as a promising stock pick due to its technological capabilities (00:07:00 – 00:07:59)
- Differentiation between companies like Anthropics and OpenAI lies in proprietary access to valuable content, which can be leveraged for generative AI (00:08:00 – 00:08:59)
- Alphabet is positioned to excel in generative AI due to its access to rich content such as Gmail, calendar, and YouTube search preferences, enabling personalized and efficient content delivery (00:08:00 – 00:09:59)
- Alphabet is a stock pick for 2024 due to its advantage in content for informing generative AI, positioning it as a strong player in the upcoming AI competition (00:08:00 – 00:09:59)
Becoming a Professor at NYU and Transitioning to Academia
- A listener in their early 50s seeks advice on transitioning to a career as an adjunct professor after a successful marketing career, aiming to give back to the next generation and make a little money while doing so (00:10:00 – 00:10:59)
- Procter and Gamble is a paternal and innovative company (Start: 00:11:00, End: 00:11:59)
- The speaker decided to change his life in 1999 by getting divorced, moving to New York, and quitting his job to join the faculty (Start: 00:11:00, End: 00:11:59)
- He found New York to be more honest and raw compared to San Francisco, and he enjoyed teaching brand strategy at NYU (Start: 00:12:00, End: 00:12:59)
- Initially, he made $12,000 teaching brand strategy and received a score of 4.9 out of 7 from students, but he improved over 22-23 years to become one of the most popular courses at Stern (Start: 00:13:00, End: 00:13:59)
- He eventually demanded greater compensation and benefits as a full-time faculty, including a free three-bedroom in Soho (Start: 00:13:00, End: 00:13:59)
- To become an adjunct, he suggests guest speaking, pitching universities, creating a syllabus, and focusing on teaching well (Start: 00:14:00, End: 00:14:59)
- Leverage strong enrollments for more compensation: Reach out to other institutions for market value and use it as leverage with the current institution (00:15:00 – 00:15:59)
- Academia as a platform for additional income: Use academia as a platform for writing books, starting companies, and developing a lucrative sideline business in media (00:15:00 – 00:16:59)
- Academia can be rewarding: Despite being the worst paying job initially, leveraging the platform can make it the best paying job in terms of return on time and psychic return (00:16:00 – 00:16:59)
Finding Balance Between Ambition and Contentment
- A teacher, Ken, in his late 30s, seeks advice on balancing pursuing more and embracing contentment. He feels a renewed focus on education but wonders if he should stay in his current position or seek something new. (Start: 00:19:00, End: 00:19:59)
- Advice from PropGy: Embrace the philosophy of wanting what you have rather than getting what you want. Ken should consider where he wants to be in five years and reverse engineer the steps required to get there. He should stay in his current job unless he finds something better that excites him. (Start: 00:20:00, End: 00:21:59)
- It’s important to conduct diligence before making a career change (Start: 00:22:00, End: 00:22:59)
- Education isn’t always a meritocracy, and tenure is often rewarded over talent
- School districts are offering time-based bonuses to retain teachers
- There are usually good retirement benefits and job satisfaction in teaching
- It’s crucial to stay hungry and competitive in one’s career (Start: 00:23:00, End: 00:23:59)
- Smart and ambitious people may struggle to find true contentment
- Perspective and wisdom come with age and experience
- It’s advisable to stay in a job that rewards tenure until a fantastic opportunity arises
- The importance of thoughtful and talented individuals shaping tomorrow’s youth
Summary
The Future of AI in Search
AI-based search engines are disrupting the search landscape by providing direct answers instead of overwhelming users with multiple options. Jeff Bezos’ investment in Perplexity, a challenger to Google, highlights the advantage of AI in delivering accurate and efficient search results. Businesses can leverage AI-powered tools to target relevant keywords and create customized content, while platforms like TikTok revolutionize content consumption through AI-driven curation. Despite Google’s dominance, Alphabet is seen as a promising stock pick due to its access to rich content, positioning it for success in the upcoming AI competition.
Becoming a Professor at NYU and Transitioning to Academia
Scott shares his personal journey of becoming a professor at NYU, starting from humble beginnings and gradually building his reputation as a popular faculty member. He provides valuable advice for individuals interested in transitioning to academia, including tips on becoming an adjunct professor, leveraging strong enrollments for better compensation, and using academia as a platform for additional income. Despite the initial challenges, academia can be rewarding both financially and personally.
Finding Balance Between Ambition and Contentment
Scott addresses the dilemma of balancing ambition and contentment, offering advice to a teacher seeking guidance. He emphasizes the importance of wanting what you have rather than constantly pursuing more, while also encouraging individuals to consider their long-term goals and reverse engineer the steps required to achieve them. Scott highlights the value of diligence in making career decisions and acknowledges the challenges and rewards of the teaching profession. He also emphasizes the importance of staying hungry and competitive, while finding fulfillment and shaping future generations.
Conclusion
This episode of “The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway” delves into the future of AI in search, Scott’s journey as a professor at NYU, and the quest for balance between ambition and contentment. It provides valuable insights for individuals interested in AI, academia, and personal growth. Scott’s practical advice and real-life experiences make this episode both informative and inspiring.
