Tremendous

An angel investor's take on life and business

  • Elon just dropped Grok 4.1. I tested it this morning. This is the best model I’ve ever used. 

    xAI’s claims 4.1 has fewer hallucinations than prior models. It ranks number one on LMArena, ahead of Gemini, Claude and ChatGPT. 

    Let’s see what this thing can do! 

    Round #1: Are Consumers In Trouble?

    Layoffs in America are surging. Consumer confidence has plummeted. Are we headed into a recession?

    I asked Grok 4.1 to help me assess how American consumers are doing.

    Grok found that credit card delinquencies are increasing. But auto loan and mortgage defaults are holding steady.

    This tells me that consumers are under some financial stress but are holding on for now.

    Grok did a great job of finding relevant information and citing sources. That made it easy to verify the stats. It was also faster than Grok 4, scraping sources with incredible speed. 

    I’m giving this round an A.

    Round #2: German Industry Falling Behind

    I keep seeing headlines about problems in German manufacturing. Can Grok 4.1 get me up to speed? 

    Energy price increases after the invasion of Ukraine made German industry less competitive. German carmakers are also behind technologically.

    Facing higher costs and stiff competition, companies like VW and Bosch have done major layoffs this year. 

    Grok searched 130 results in about two seconds. It searches faster than any other model I’ve tried.

    Some of the sources it cites are poor quality, like WSWS.org, a socialist party website. But for the most part, Grok 4.1 delivers a thorough response.

    I’m giving this round an A-. 

    Round #3: Learning About Fighter Jets 

    This morning on Bloomberg, I heard the United States is planning to sell F-35 fighters to Saudi Arabia. These are the most advanced jets we have.

    I wondered, how are these different from other fighters we produce? Let’s ask Grok…

    The F-35 is stealthier than other jets. It also shares data with other aircraft and drones, which earlier jets can’t do. 

    Grok’s answer is thorough, but sourcing could be a bit better. The links sometimes go to homepages for the Air Force and other sites, as opposed to specific pages with information on the fighters.

    Overall, I’m giving this round an A.

    Wrap-Up

    In my testing, Grok 4.1 earns an A overall. 

    This makes it the best model I’ve ever tested. Grok 4 and Kimi 2 Thinking are right behind, both earning A-’s.

    This new model’s speed is astounding. It searches over a hundred sites in seconds.

    Grok 4.1 occasionally cites a weak source. But overall, the quality of its responses is very high.

    If Grok can nail sourcing in the next version, I’ll give it an A+.

    I’m excited to see what applications founders create using Grok 4.1. If you’re building in AI, your capabilities just went through the roof.

    Have you tried Grok 4.1?

    More on tech:

    OpenAI Behind Competitors Despite GPT 5.1 Release

    Kimi 2 Thinking — A Real Threat to ChatGPT and Grok

    Testing Zuck’s $70 Billion Model

    Save Money on Stuff I Use:

    Fundrise

    This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

    More on Fundrise in this post.

    If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

    Misfits Market

    I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

    I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

    Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

  • You need to raise money today, not three weeks from Thursday. So I’m working on getting back to founders faster than ever. 

    The VC Runaround

    When you email an investor, it can take days or even weeks to get a response. Then, it can take weeks longer to get on their schedule.

    If you have to wait two weeks to even get a meeting, that’s two weeks of runway burned. It may be convenient for the VC, but it sure as heck isn’t convenient for you. 

    And that meeting you’re waiting for? It’s just the first of many.

    How I’m Trying to Serve Founders Better

    I’ve seen many founders struggle with slow turnaround from investors. So I’m trying to do things differently.

    My goal is to get back to founder messages within 24 hours. If they meet my criteria for a meeting, I try to get them a meeting within 24 hours.

    Here’s my criteria: 

    • Launched product with a couple paying customers (or prototype if deep tech)
    • Builder founders 
    • Incorporated (DE C Corp)
    • In a market I cover (US/CAD/UK/IRE/AUS/NZ)

    The Basics Are Everything

    In venture capital, the founders are our customers. 

    Just like any other business, success comes down to the basics: replying to messages and giving good customer service.

    Imagine if you called customer service and they took a week to get back to you. You probably wouldn’t do business with that company anymore, right? 

    But if they got back to you right away, you might tell your friends! 

    If we have a reputation for getting back to founders quickly, more great founders will come our way. We also won’t miss great investments that are moving fast.

    Wrap-Up

    Sometimes life gets in the way and I can’t respond to a message as quickly as I’d like. But I’m trying to move as fast as possible so you can get back to building. 

    If you’re building something special, shoot me a DM on X or a connection request on LinkedIn. Include some information about what you’re building. 

    I’m looking forward to seeing some amazing new tech! 

    More on tech: 

    My New Investment Strategy

    Why Short Decks Raise Millions

    The Perfect Pitch

    Save Money on Stuff I Use:

    Fundrise

    This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

    More on Fundrise in this post.

    If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

    Misfits Market

    I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

    I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

    Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

  • This morning, I tested OpenAI’s new GPT-5.1. It still falls behind the best models from xAI, Google, and Kimi. 

    When I tested GPT-5 in August it performed poorly, notching a C-. It gave me outdated data and struggled to cite sources.

    OpenAI claims that GPT-5.1 is better at reasoning and easier to customize. I ran a three-round test to find out…

    Round #1: Finding Fertility Startups

    Low fertility is a huge problem across much of the world. Italy just registered a fertility rate of 1.1, an all-time low.

    Even folks who want to have a child sometimes can’t. But what if we were able to cure infertility and help people have more babies?

    I asked GPT 5.1 to find me startups working on infertility.

    ChatGPT did a great job of finding some leading startups working on infertility. It gave citations on the technologies they’re developing and the amount of capital they raised.

    I’m giving this round an A. 

    Round #2: Defending Against a Robot War

    We’ve seen some incredible new robotics demos recently, like the Neo. These androids will help us clean up around the house and build things in factories.

    But what if androids are used against us in a war? What would be the best way to stop them? 

    ChatGPT comes up with some interesting ideas, like hacking the software that drives the robots. This could allow us to neutralize a large number of robots at once more easily than if we used munitions.

    But ChatGPT does not cite any sources in its response. So, we don’t know how accurate it is. ChatGPT should’ve cited reports by scholars of war and experts on robotics.

    I’m giving this round a C.

    Round #3: The Origins of Fall Colors

    Let’s move on to happier topics! 

    Looking out my window right now, I can see the beautiful red-yellow foliage. What exactly causes these gorgeous colors? 

    GPT-5.1 gives us a great response, including some beautiful leaf pictures.

    It explains that a reduction in chlorophyll makes the leaves change color. The citations are good, linking to an article in the Smithsonian.

    I’m giving this round an A. 

    Wrap-Up

    Overall, I’m giving GPT-5.1 a B+. That’s up from a C- for GPT-5, but still well below the leading models. 

    The quality of GPT-5.1’s responses is inconsistent. Some have great sourcing and follow instructions well, while others do not. 

    Grok 4, Kimi 2 Thinking and Gemini 2.5 Pro are all better than GPT-5.1. The outputs are more consistent and the information more reliable. 

    When GPT-3.5 came out in late 2022, OpenAI was way ahead. That’s no longer the case.

    For all the billions in investment, OpenAI is falling behind its competitors. 

    But Sam still has some incredible researchers on his team. I wouldn’t count out OpenAI yet.

    Have a great weekend, everybody!

    More on tech: 

    Kimi 2 Thinking — A Real Threat to ChatGPT and Grok

    GPT-5 Fails Again

    Testing Zuck’s $70 Billion Model

    Save Money on Stuff I Use:

    Fundrise

    This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

    More on Fundrise in this post.

    If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

    Misfits Market

    I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

    I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

    Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

  • Your pitch deck has one job: to get you an investor meeting. Here are three easy ways to make your deck better… 

    1. Bigger Text. Make the text huge. I like at least a size 72 font with minimal text per slide.

    Don’t forget that many of the people who invest in startups are older. Our eyes are getting weaker by the day.

    Help us out! 

    So many times, I’ve had to squint to make out text in a deck. When the print is hard to read, your message gets lost. 

    2. Readable Color Scheme. Now you’ve got a nice, legible font size. Next, choose the right colors to make your deck easy to read. 

      You wouldn’t believe the color combinations I’ve seen! Light gray on white. Pink on white. Very difficult to read. 

      Choose a text color and background color that strongly contrast. I like white or bright yellow on black. A traditional black on white is also fine.

      The exact colors you pick aren’t that important. It just needs to be very easy to read. 

      Never let your message get lost due to bad formatting. 

      3. Add a Demo Video. A demo is worth a thousand words. There’s nothing like seeing your product to help me understand why it’s valuable.

        The best way to do this is to embed a YouTube video. YouTube works with most any browser, so investors should be able to see it easily.

        Keep the video short, about a minute. You don’t have to show every feature, just the core value that your product provides. 

        Wrap-Up

        On any day, I might have 20 decks to look through. I need to flip through them quickly and find out what this company does.

        When you make a good deck, you make my job easy. I’m grateful for it!

        Big fonts, easily readable color schemes, and a little demo make it easy for me to see how special your company is. Never let your message get lost in illegible text or bad formatting.

        Get these simple things right, and you’ll be that much closer to raising millions of dollars.

        More on tech:

        Why Short Decks Raise Millions

        Your Deck Probably Sucks. Here’s How to Fix It.

        The Perfect Pitch

        Save Money on Stuff I Use:

        Fundrise

        This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

        More on Fundrise in this post.

        If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

        Misfits Market

        I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

        I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

        Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

      1. This week, Buffett announced he’s “going quiet.” No more letters in the annual report, no more Q&A at the shareholder meeting.

        In a poignant message, Buffett reflected on his life and building Berkshire. 

        “I was late in becoming old – its onset materially varies – but once it appears, it is not to be denied.”

        Success Through Patience

        “In 1958, I bought my first and only home. Of course, it was in Omaha, located about two miles from where I grew up (loosely defined), less than two blocks from my in-laws, about six blocks from the Buffett grocery store and a 6-7-minute drive from the office building where I have worked for 64 years.”

        Imagine going to the same building and doing the same job for 64 years. Few have the patience.

        No wonder Buffett became such an incredible investor. 

        Charlie Munger said that Buffett’s skills “markedly increased since he turned 65.” Buffett’s knowledge compounded along with his capital. 

        It’s easy to become impatient and expect success overnight. I struggle with that. But if Buffett had to wait for it, so do we.

        Part of that is accepting the mistakes along the way. 

        Warren’s Advice for Life

        From where I sit, Buffett seems perfect. But he’s quick to disabuse us of that notion:

        “My advice: Don’t beat yourself up over past mistakes – learn at least a little from them and move on. It is never too late to improve. Get the right heroes and copy them.”

        If he’s entitled to a few mistakes, so are we.

        Buffett often talks about the importance of choosing the right heroes. He’s always been a hero of mine.

        Buffett came from the middle of nowhere. He used his powers of analysis to build something incredible. 

        Growing up in a small town in northern Wisconsin, that spoke to me. If he could do it, maybe I could too. 

        Wrap-Up

        I’m going to really miss Warren’s letter in the annual report. But Warren isn’t going silent altogether. 

        He will write an annual Thanksgiving message to shareholders. I can’t wait to read them!

        I’ll leave you with a wonderful thought from Warren:

        “Greatness does not come about through accumulating great amounts of money, great amounts of publicity or great power in government. When you help someone in any of thousands of ways, you help the world.”

        More on investing: 

        Buffett’s Annual Letter

        Poor Charlie’s Almanack

        My New Investment Strategy

        Save Money on Stuff I Use:

        Fundrise

        This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

        More on Fundrise in this post.

        If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

        Misfits Market

        I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

        I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

        Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

      2. Every founder needs to cut costs and sell more. Here are some great ways to do that, courtesy of my portfolio companies…

        Make Incorporation and Fundraising Easy – Capbase

        Capbase makes it easy to get incorporated, prep for due diligence, and raise money.

        If you want to raise venture capital, you need to have your incorporation and cap table squared away. Capbase is the best way to do that. 

        Capbase’s pricing is startup-friendly — just $999 a year.

        Get Higher ROI from Conferences – Mobly

        If you go to a lot of conferences, Mobly is for you. It scans badges and business cards and pipes the data to your CRM.

        Mobly enriches each of these leads so you’re ready to make sales. Conferences are a big investment — make them count!

        Cut Your Cloud Costs by 50% – North

        Cloud compute is a huge cost for many startups. North can lower those costs by 50% or more. 

        It plugs into your stack and gets you discounts automatically. Major companies like Brave use North to save a fortune on cloud costs. So can you!

        Cut SMS Costs by 80% – Sent

        Does your application send a lot of text messages for things like 2FA? Sent can cut those messaging costs by 80-90%. 

        Sent does this by using alternative messaging channels instead of costly SMS. If a customer uses iMessage, for example, Sent delivers your message there. 

        Analyze Data In Seconds – Querio 

        What percent of your free trials convert? Who are your top sales guys this month? Querio can answer these questions in seconds.

        It’s basically ChatGPT for your data. 

        Don’t spend hundreds of thousands on tools like Tableau or Looker. Querio can give you that information at a fraction of the cost.

        Wrap-Up

        Being a startup founder means having limited resources. But if you use the right tools, your dollars can stretch a heck of a lot further.

        To find each of these companies, I had to look at around 200 startups. So I’m confident these are the best tools on the market. 

        Spend just 5 minutes looking into one of these products. You might save yourself a fortune!

        There will be no blog tomorrow in honor of Veteran’s Day. See you on Wednesday! 

        More on tech:

        Kimi 2 Thinking — A Real Threat to ChatGPT and Grok

        Testing Zuck’s $70 Billion Model

        Neo Launches Android — Which Jobs Are Safe, Which Are Toast?

        Save Money on Stuff I Use:

        Fundrise

        This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

        More on Fundrise in this post.

        If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

        Misfits Market

        I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

        I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

        Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

      3. Kimi just dropped Kimi 2 Thinking. I tested it this morning. It’s as good as Grok 4, the best model I’ve ever used. 

        In July, I ran the prior Kimi through testing. It scored a B+, solid but below Grok 4. 

        This time, Kimi performed far better. Let me show you what it can do… 

        Round #1: Researching FP&A Startups

        I recently saw an interesting new FP&A startup. It can forecast your runway based on when you pay bills. 

        But FP&A is a crowded category. So I asked Kimi what the leading startups in FP&A are and what they can do.

        Kimi provides a table with all the leading FP&A startups. It clearly explains the features of each.

        Looks like this category is even more crowded than I thought! 

        Kimi did include citations, but they’re all in a list on the side. I’d prefer to see the citations integrated into the response to make clear what information comes from where. 

        Still, Kimi’s response is very useful. I’m going to give this round an A.

        Round #2: Looking for Missile Defense Startups 

        SpaceX just won a huge contract for missile defense radar. It’s part of President Trump’s Golden Dome project. 

        This made me wonder: what startups could work together with SpaceX to improve our missile defenses?

        Kimi found some fascinating companies. Apex in particular grabbed me. They’re making space-based interceptors to shoot down missiles.

        Kimi cites many sources, but it’s unclear which source goes to which piece of information. This makes it harder to rely on Kimi’s response. 

        Overall I’m giving this round an A-.

        Round #3: Make New York Build Again 

        The biggest reason Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election this week is the high cost of housing. 

        If we build more housing, we’ll lower rents. What’s the best way to do that? 

        Kimi provides some interesting ideas, from office conversions to upzoning near transit. It also does a good job of citing sources in the body of the response this time.

        But Kimi doesn’t give me much idea who has the power to make these changes. In red tape-loving New York, understanding the regulatory environment is critical. 

        I’m giving Kimi an A- for this round.

        Wrap-Up

        Kimi turned in a strong performance in my testing. It answered my questions thoroughly and accurately. 

        Overall I’m giving Kimi an A-.

        This is the same grade I gave Grok 4, the best model I’ve used so far. If Kimi could more clearly tie citations to responses, I’d give it an A. 

        China has caught up to the very best models from the United States. To regain our lead, the top American labs must release tools more powerful than anything we’ve ever seen. 

        Have you tried Kimi?

        Have a great weekend, everybody!

        More on tech:

        GROK 4: THE BEST AI MODEL EVER?

        DID CHINA JUST DROP THE WORLD’S BEST AI MODEL?

        CAN DEEPSEEK BEAT THE BEST AMERICAN MODELS?

        Save Money on Stuff I Use:

        Fundrise

        This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

        More on Fundrise in this post.

        If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

        Misfits Market

        I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

        I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

        Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

      4. $13 million — that’s my median entry price this year. In the hottest market ever, I’m watching valuations carefully. Here’s why…

        Behind the Scenes In My Portfolio

        First, let’s take a peak inside my portfolio and see what I’ve been paying, year by year:

        These deals are almost all seed and pre-seed stage. They typically have between $200,000 and $500,000 ARR.

        What stands out most to me is how consistent my entry price is. 

        It rises and falls slightly from year to year but stays somewhere a little over $10 million. The price is even more consistent when you adjust for inflation. $10 million in 2021 is around $12 million today. 

        The Risks of a Hot Market

        We’re seeing some amazing companies created now. But a market this hot also has huge risks.

        It’s easy to get swept up in the mania. To justify paying any price.

        If it’s Uber, it won’t matter right?

        Many people have parachuted into venture capital with that mindset. Over and over, they blow themselves up.

        SoftBank Vision Fund, Tiger, the list is longer than your arm.

        Trees don’t grow to the moon. We cannot invest at any price and still make money.

        How I Know If a Valuation Makes Sense

        In order to justify investing in a start-up, an enormous exit has to be possible.

        In most venture funds, nearly all the gains come from one company. To justify investing in startups with the risks and illiquidity, you need at least a 4x fund in 10 years (15% IRR). 

        A typical early-stage fund might contain 35 companies. To hit 4x, you need one of those companies to grow 280-fold (35 companies * 4 * 50% dilution). If it’s a syndicate deal with fees, you need an even bigger return, around 370-fold. 

        So I ask myself: in the best-case scenario, could this company be a 280x?

        Trees Don’t Grow to the Moon

        Say we’re looking at a deal at a $13 million pre-money valuation, my median entry price for this year. Perhaps they’re raising $2 million. 

        I have to believe that this company can exit at $4.2 billion (280 * 15 million). That’s difficult, but doable.

        Now, what if it’s a hot deal raising at $35M? I have to believe the company can reach $9.8 billion.

        There just aren’t a lot of $10B startups. Maybe I get lucky and hit one, but I don’t want to depend on it.

        Making Exceptions

        Entry price is very important. But at the same time, great startups sometimes go for a premium.

        I don’t want to lock myself out of a fantastic deal. That’s why I focus on median entry price, not average.

        This allows for the occasional outlier. 

        Let’s say you get an opportunity to invest in Travis Kalanick’s next company. It’s not going to come cheap.

        I still want to do that deal. I’d balance it with other, more reasonably priced deals in less well known founders.

        Wrap-Up 

        In a market like today’s, it’s easy to get sloppy.

        $35 million for a pre-revenue company? Sure, why not! 

        Fill a portfolio full of those hot deals, and 10 years from now you’re in for a rude awakening. 

        Most won’t perform. And even when you hit a big winner, your entry price is so high that you don’t make much money. 

        That’s why I’m scrutinizing valuations closer than ever. Even in a world transformed by AI, price still matters.

        More on tech:

        Meet My Latest Investment: Verustruct

        My New Investment Strategy

        How to Get Started Angel Investing

        Save Money on Stuff I Use:

        Fundrise

        This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

        More on Fundrise in this post.

        If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

        Misfits Market

        I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

        I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

        Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 

      5. Zohran Mamdani made a lot of big promises. But most of his agenda will never happen. Here’s why…

        Defunding the Police — Doubtful 

        Mamdani has repeatedly called for defunding the police. In this year’s election, he changed his tune. 

        No wonder – he wanted to get elected! 

        Once he’s sworn in, Mamdani could attempt to cut the police budget anyway. But those budgets have to be approved by the City Council.

        Most of the City Council does not support defunding the police. Especially given the COVID crime spike, cutting the police risks their seat. 

        Mamdani’s election may also lead President Trump to deploy the National Guard to New York City. Ironically, this could result in more police than ever.

        I hope President Trump comes through! 

        Rent Freeze — Maybe 

        Mamdani has promised to freeze the rent. But this only applies to rent-stabilized units. 

        What’s more, he cannot freeze rents by decree. The Rent Guidelines Board must approve it. 

        The mayor does have the power to appoint the Rent Guidelines Board. So a rent freeze on rent-stabilized units may be feasible.

        But it won’t help most New Yorkers, who don’t have a rent stabilized unit. 

        If the rents are too low to maintain the unit, the landlord may take the apartment off the market. If units are taken off the market, rents will increase.

        Tax Increases — Good Luck

        Mamdani has pledged to increase taxes on millionaires and businesses. But the mayor does not have the authority to raise taxes.

        Any new taxes have to be approved by New York State. Governor Kathy Hochul has said she’s against new taxes.

        Without this new tax revenue, many of Mamdani’s other plans become difficult or impossible. No new tax revenue means no money for free buses or government-run grocery stores.

        Wrap-Up

        Celebrating his election victory last night, Mamdani looked like he was on top of the world. But when he’s sworn in on January 1st, reality will set in.

        He’ll simply be one politician out of many in New York State. Most of his pie-in-the-sky promises will not happen. 

        He simply does not have the power or support to push them through.

        As far as I’m concerned, that’s wonderful news! Raising taxes on an already overtaxed city makes no sense. Getting rid of the police that keep people safe makes even less.

        Score one for checks and balances. 

        More on politics: 

        As Cuba Starves, Elites Funnel Money Out

        Goodbye Charlie

        Three Priorities for the Trump Administration

        Save Money on Stuff I Use:

        Fundrise

        This platform lets me diversify my real estate investments so I’m not too exposed to any one market. I’ve invested since 2018 with great returns.

        More on Fundrise in this post.

        If you decide to invest in Fundrise, you can use this link to get $100 in free bonus shares!

        Misfits Market

        I’ve used Misfits for years, and it never disappoints! Every fruit and vegetable is organic, super fresh, and packed with flavor!

        I wrote a detailed review of Misfits here.

        Use this link to sign up and you’ll save $15 on your first order. 


      6. Zuck is investing $70 billion in AI this year. Is it finally paying off? My testing says no.

        When I tested Meta’s Llama model in May it scored poorly, earning a C+

        Since then, Zuckerberg created the Superintelligence team, headed by Alexandr Wang. Meta has poached top researchers with pay packages as high as $1.5 billion.

        This morning, I gave Llama another shot, running it through 3 real world tests. It scored even worse, notching a D+ overall. 

        Let me show you how flawed Llama really is…

        Round #1: Missile Defense Startups

        Last week, I watched House of Dynamite on Netflix. It shows what could happen if an adversary launched a nuclear missile at the United States.

        That got me thinking about missile defense. So, I asked Llama to find me the best new startups in this area.

        Llama gave me a nice list of missile defense startups. But it didn’t cite any sources.

        If I want to verify information about any of these companies, I need to go to Google or Grok. So, there’s no point in using Llama. It also gave me mostly late stage startups, despite my instructions to focus on early stage.

        I’m giving this round a C-.

        Round #2: Robots Building Robots

        I saw a tweet yesterday about Chinese robots that build more robots. In a matter of weeks, the number of robots could double.

        So I wondered, what startups are working on this?

        Llama gave me a list of general robotics companies like Figure and Boston Dynamics. These companies make some awesome products, but they’re not focused on robots-building-robots. 

        Llama also failed to cite any sources. How can I rely on this information?

        I’m giving this round a D.

        Round #3: Llama as Personal Trainer

        I work out 5 times a week, doing a mix of weights, yoga, biking and swimming. But I’ve never really been a runner.

        The NYC Marathon on Sunday got me thinking: should I add running to my routine?

        Llama noted that although we worry about running hurting our knees, moderate running can actually strengthen the muscles and stabilize the joint.

        Llama cited a source for that info, but when I clicked through, the source had nothing to do with knee arthritis. Instead, it covered how to train for a 10k.

        Once again, it’s hard to trust Llama’s info when it can’t cite a source properly. I’m giving this round a C.

        Wrap-Up

        Llama scored poorly in this re-test. I’m giving it a D+ overall.

        That’s down a full letter grade from my test in May. At this point, Zuckerberg doesn’t have any more excuses.

        He’s investing tens of billions of dollars into AI. He’s hiring the best people in the world.

        Why can’t they produce a decent product?

        I’m hoping Meta gets its act together and makes a model I actually want to use. Until then you’ll find me on Grok.

        More on tech:

        Wispr Flow: Voice Dictation That Finally Works

        Can DeepSeek Beat the Best American Models?

        Neo Launches Android — Which Jobs Are Safe, Which Are Toast?

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