AI’s Unpopularity + Competing With ChatGPT — With Olivia Moore - Big Technology Podcast Recap

Podcast: Big Technology Podcast

Published: 2026-03-11

Duration: 57 minutes

Guests: Olivia Moore

Summary

Olivia Moore from Andreessen Horowitz discusses the evolving AI landscape, emphasizing that startups still have opportunities despite the dominance of giants like ChatGPT. She highlights the potential for AI to intensify work and create new business opportunities, while also addressing AI's controversial public image.

What Happened

Olivia Moore, an AI partner at Andreessen Horowitz, discusses the potential for startups to compete in the increasingly AI-dominated tech landscape. Despite the growth of major AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, she believes there are still opportunities in the AI economy for new entrants to carve out niches with innovative applications.

The conversation highlights that while AI is perceived as a threat to jobs, particularly white-collar ones, studies show that companies using AI tend to expand and hire more. Citadel and Anthropic report no significant decrease in unemployment due to AI, suggesting that AI acts as a tool that requires human oversight and interaction.

Moore notes that AI's public perception is not particularly favorable, as evidenced by a poll indicating that 57% of voters think the risks outweigh the benefits. This sentiment is fueled by concerns such as AI's environmental impact, like excessive water usage, and fears of job displacement.

ChatGPT remains the leading AI app, boasting 900 million users and focusing on mainstream consumer applications. Its strategy of offering free services aims to capture a global market, especially in developing countries, while other companies like Anthropic focus on premium data sets.

Agentic products like OpenClaw, which can perform autonomous tasks across applications, are highlighted as a glimpse into the future of AI-driven software. Although not yet consumer-grade, OpenClaw shows the potential for automating workflows and integrating with multiple platforms.

The AI landscape is rapidly evolving, with tools like Cloud Code expanding the pool of potential entrepreneurs by lowering technical barriers. Moore points out that AI doesn't reduce workload but intensifies it by enabling more complex projects and increasing productivity.

AI's role in transforming industries is evident as companies are pushed to become AI-native. Incumbents need to adapt to these changes or risk being overtaken by more agile, AI-focused competitors.

The episode also touches on the quirky aspects of AI, such as AI personality tests, where different bots displayed characteristics like borderline personality disorder and psychosis, showcasing the diverse capabilities and quirks of AI models.

Key Insights

• Despite fears of AI-induced job loss, companies like Citadel and Anthropic report no significant unemployment decrease, indicating AI often requires human oversight and may lead to business expansion rather than contraction.
• AI's public perception struggles with 57% of voters believing its risks, such as environmental concerns over excessive water usage, outweigh its benefits, highlighting the challenge of balancing technological advancement with sustainability.
• ChatGPT, with its 900 million users, focuses on free services to penetrate global markets, especially in developing countries, unlike competitors like Anthropic that prioritize premium data sets for specific applications.
• Agentic products like OpenClaw hint at AI's future by automating tasks across applications, showing potential to transform workflows even though they are not yet consumer-ready.

Key Questions Answered

How many users does ChatGPT have?

ChatGPT currently has 900 million users, making it the leading AI app with a significant usage gap over its competitors.

What is OpenClaw and how is it significant in AI development?

OpenClaw is an AI assistant capable of performing autonomous tasks across applications and platforms. It represents a new wave of agentic products that could reshape software and work by automating workflows.

What are the public perceptions of AI according to recent polls?

A recent NBC news poll found that 57% of voters believe the risks of AI outweigh the benefits, indicating a generally unfavorable public perception influenced by concerns over job displacement and environmental impact.