Episode 2023: How the AI "bubble" isn't really a bubble and why Keith Teare might be emigrating to China
Is there such a thing as an economic bubble? Not according to That Was The Week author Keith Teare who argues that all bubbles reflect innovation and promise (even if you lose your shirt by investing in tulips or dotcoms). While Keith still doesn’t seem to have met a bubble he wouldn’t invest in, his argument probably does make sense for the current “AI bubble” which many skeptics today are writing off as just more irrationally exuberant techno-babble. For all his critique of techno-pessimism, Keith himself sounded pessimistic this week about the future of innovation, arguing that it’s China now, rather than America, that captures the really disruptive spirit of Silicon Valley.
Keith Teare is a Founder and CEO at SignalRank Corporation. Previously he was Executive Chairman at Accelerated Digital Ventures Ltd - A UK-based global investment company focused on startups at all stages. He was also previously the founder at the Palo Alto incubator, Archimedes Labs. Archimedes was the original incubator for TechCrunch and since 2011 has invested, accelerated or incubated many Silicon Valley startups including Around (sold to Miro), Millicast (Sold to Dolby), InFarm, Miles, Quixey; M.dot (sold to GoDaddy); chat.center; Loop Surveys; DownTown and Sunshine. Teare has a track record as a serial entrepreneur with big ideas and has achieved significant returns for investors.
Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.
Keen On is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit keenon.substack.com/subscribe
Episode 2492: Daniel Bessner on how Trump is a natural outgrowth of FDR
Episode 2491: Richard Kreitner 0n 6 Jews, 7 Opinions and the American Civil War
Episode 2490: Stephen Witt explains the rise of NVIDIA and its relentless CEO Jensen Huang
Episode 2489: Gianna Toboni on whether Death Row Prisoners have the Right to Die With Dignity
Episode 2488: Diane Coyle on Measuring the Good Life
Episode 2487: Keach Hagey on Sam Altman's Superpower
Episode 2486: Bethanne Patrick on how our Facebook generation has gotten the Gatsby we deserve
Episode 2485: Paul Rice on why Tariffs are dumb
Episode 2484: David Masciotra on how every day has become April Fools Day in Trumpian America
Episode 2483: Peter Wehner on the ethical darkness that has fallen upon America
Episode 2482: Is AI really about to change the publishing industry?
Episode 2481: Jonathan Rauch on The Resistance to Trump 2.0
Episode 2480: Dr Andy Lazris on how Big Pharma controls the American healthcare system