In this episode, we dive into the high-stakes world of AI, starting with the impact of DeepSeek R1, a Chinese LLM that initially disrupted the market by undercutting leading models by over 90% on output token pricing. We'll explore the intriguing shift in user behavior, where DeepSeek's own web app and API service lost market share to third-party hosts, despite its low price. This shift illuminates the crucial role of tokenomics, revealing how a model's price per token is an output of key performance indicators like latency, interactivity, and context window, which DeepSeek actively trades off to save compute for its AGI research goals rather than user experience. Then, we pivot to Meta's aggressive pursuit of superintelligence, a strategy spurred directly by losing its open-weight model lead to DeepSeek. Discover how Mark Zuckerberg is personally driving this effort, reinventing Meta's datacenter strategy to prioritize speed with new "Tents" and building multi-gigawatt AI training clusters such as Prometheus and Hyperion. We'll also uncover the technical missteps behind the "epic fail" of Meta's Llama 4 model, including issues with chunked attention, expert choice routing, and data quality, and how Meta is addressing its talent gap by offering unprecedented compensation to top AI researchers.

This week on Agora, we dive into Ray Dalio’s proven framework for success, distilling the principles that propelled him to build Bridgewater Associates into a global powerhouse. Explore his “idea meritocracy” driven by radical transparency and unpack his five-step process for achieving goals: setting clear objectives, pinpointing problems, diagnosing root causes, crafting strategic plans, and executing with precision. We’ll also cover life and work principles that emphasize self-awareness, open-mindedness, and aligning your career with your core values. Tune in to gain practical insights for navigating reality and advancing your personal and professional growth.

• This excerpt introduces “Deep Dive: The Anthology of Balaji - A Guide to Technology, Truth, and Building the Future,” a book compiled by the same individual behind the “Almanac of Naval Ravikant.”

• The text highlights Balaji Srinivasan as a prominent entrepreneur, investor, and futurist, suggesting that his ideas offer unique perspectives on identifying opportunities, breakthrough technologies, and constructing impactful ventures.

• The book is presented as a comprehensive collection of Srinivasan’s most valuable and enduring ideas, gathered from various sources throughout his career.

• The provided snippets offer insights into Srinivasan’s thoughts on the decline of state trust, the importance of independent thinking over conformity, a tiered understanding of leadership that champions technological advancement, and a staged process for developing ideas into successful businesses.

• The source advocates for “building an alternative” as a response to perceived systemic flaws rather than merely critiquing them.