Jason’s Tesla Optimus prediction, Anthropic’s latest mega-raise and more | E2172

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Sep 3, 2025

Runbin Dong, founder of Scale Social, shares his vision for transforming word-of-mouth marketing into a digital powerhouse. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing your worth in the evolving business landscape. The discussion delves into societal reactions to autonomous technology and Tesla's ambitious plans for humanoid robots. They also touch on Apple's understated role in AI innovation, and how genuine customer experiences can be leveraged for impactful marketing, showcasing the shift towards authentic, testimonial-driven strategies.

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ADVICE

Document Interference With Autonomous Vehicles

Document and report interference with autonomous vehicles so police have a paper trail and can act.
Use certified mail/FedEx and follow up to ensure authorities record incidents.

INSIGHT

Apple's Edge-First AI Strategy

Apple is shipping targeted, small open-source models optimized for on-device inference to strengthen its hardware ecosystem.
That approach can lock users into Apple's devices by improving creative workflows and on-device features.

ADVICE

Account For Interface And Habit In AI Bets

Bet on the interface shift from apps to chat/voice and watch for AI-first OS entrants.
Consider the user habit inertia when predicting how fast new entrants can take smartphone share.

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Today’s show:

Find out why it’s important to “get curious,” and more deep founder insights on a new TWiST.

Jason and Alex are back with a look at Robot vs. Human violence spilling out into the streets, Elon Musk’s vision for humanoid robots, and a reconsideration of Apple’s open-source AI models. Is the hardware giant not getting enough credit for its smaller-scale innovations?

Plus Grok has another hit model, AND a chat with Scale Social founder Runbin Dong about the importance of knowing your worth.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Robot vs. Human violence in the streets! Is anti-clanker behavior inevitable?

(05:13) Producer Claude’s company Anthropic is growing FAST, raising BIG money

(09:21) More on why Jason is convinced Tesla’s Optimus robots are the future

(10:35) Monarch Money - Get 50% Off Monarch Money, the all-in-one financial tool at www.monarchmoney.com/TWIST

(11:50) Show Continues…

(20:00) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST

(21:19) Show Continues…

(23:31) Ask Jason: Should you get a ticket for messing with an autonomous vehicle?

(27:04) Is Apple not getting enough credit for its open-source AI models?

(30:30) AWS Activate - AWS Activate helps startups bring their ideas to life. Apply to AWS Activate today to learn more. Visit aws.amazon.com/startups/credits

(31:55) Show Continues…

(38:08) Grok has another hit AI model… how can anyone even keep track of this?!

(40:27) Runbin Dong of Scale Social stops by from ICELAND

(42:54) How Runbin’s job delivering homemade dumplings inspired his startup

(47:05) Why founders need to know their WORTH when pricing their products

(59:21) Jason’s advice for companies that are creating their own category

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(20:00) Squarespace - Use offer code TWIST to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain at https://www.Squarespace.com/TWIST(30:30) AWS Activate - AWS Activate helps startups bring their ideas to life. Apply to AWS Activate today to learn more. Visit aws.amazon.com/startups/credits

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