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Can't listen to anymore interviews w/ Andreesen after the rambling, self-serving podcast he gave on Econtalk (https://www.econtalk.org/marc-andreessen-on-softwa

Can't listen to anymore interviews w/ Andreesen after the rambling, self-serving podcast he gave on Econtalk (https://www.econtalk.org/marc-andreessen-on-software-immortality-and-bitcoin/ https://www.econtalk.org/marc-andreessen-on-software-immorta...), which is normally one of my favorite podcasts. Unfortunately Roberts (the host) barely pressed Andreesen on his visionary love-fest for NFTs and crypto, which barely surpassed the typical nonsense spewed on twitter from NFT nuts who just so happen to have a lot to gain from folks buying in to their latest crypto site or NFT marketplace. Lots of talk of decentralized data and the power of people owning their own data, and ignoring the reality that 1) this idea has failed before and 2) it has always failed in the face of massive corporate greed, convenience, and walled gardens. Andreesen was right about "software eating the world", I just wish he (or any VCs with his money and power) would try to grapple with or even acknowledge the negative consequences that have come from it.

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kareemsabri 4y ago
What do you think are the primary negative consequences from software eating the world?
- maxlamb 4y ago
  Increasing wealth disparity
  - kareemsabri 4y ago
    That's interesting. What sort of examples do you have of software leading to large scale wealth disparity increases? I would venture the primary cause of the increase in wealth disparity from the 1970s to today is the outsourcing of labor overseas paired with financial engineering.
- rchaud 4y ago
  The primary negative consequence is driving ungodly amounts of capital towards ridiculous businesses that at best create nothing except a layer of rent-seeking and at worst, use up the same amount of electricity as economically beneficial initiatives like domestic manufacturing. Just look at the ridiculous indulgences VC funds have propped up over the past decade: - social media apps that can only make money with ads and tracking - exchanges where you can trade dog money - office rentals, but at a made-up $50bn valuation - "homesharing" rentals (don't call it a hotel because regulations) - "ridesharing" (don't call it a taxi because regulations) And let's not forget a key logistical challenge for human society -- food delivery.

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[deleted]

kareemsabri 4y ago

What do you think are the primary negative consequences from software eating the world?

maxlamb 4y ago
Increasing wealth disparity
- kareemsabri 4y ago
  That's interesting. What sort of examples do you have of software leading to large scale wealth disparity increases? I would venture the primary cause of the increase in wealth disparity from the 1970s to today is the outsourcing of labor overseas paired with financial engineering.
rchaud 4y ago
The primary negative consequence is driving ungodly amounts of capital towards ridiculous businesses that at best create nothing except a layer of rent-seeking and at worst, use up the same amount of electricity as economically beneficial initiatives like domestic manufacturing. Just look at the ridiculous indulgences VC funds have propped up over the past decade: - social media apps that can only make money with ads and tracking - exchanges where you can trade dog money - office rentals, but at a made-up $50bn valuation - "homesharing" rentals (don't call it a hotel because regulations) - "ridesharing" (don't call it a taxi because regulations) And let's not forget a key logistical challenge for human society -- food delivery.