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Uncapped #15 | Vinod Khosla from Khosla Ventures

In this wide-ranging conversation, Vinod Khosla, a visionary technologist and investor, explores the future of innovation across artificial intelligence, energy, healthcare, and transportation. Drawing from his decades of experience in venture capital and entrepreneurship, he discusses how emerging technologies are poised to reshape industries and redefine the way we live and work.
Kholsa envisions a future where AI will perform most human jobs by 2040, leading to an era of abundance where traditional work becomes optional. He emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in fields like medicine—where it's already outperforming doctors in diagnostics—and predicts rapid advancements in robotics and automation. Despite concerns about job displacement and global AI competition, he remains optimistic about technology's role in solving major societal challenges. In energy, he believes fusion and geothermal innovations could enable zero emissions by 2050. As a venture capitalist, he focuses on supporting bold entrepreneurs who challenge norms and drive disruptive change, advocating for active mentorship over passive support. His investment philosophy prioritizes long-term impact over short-term metrics, rooted in a belief that the most consequential breakthroughs come from those willing to think independently and take extreme risks.
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Anticipation of an era where people will work only out of desire.
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AI will be able to do 80% of human jobs within five years.
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Professionals will get AI 'interns' to boost productivity.
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A world of abundance is inevitable within our lifetimes.
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The speaker emphasizes the need for the Western world to lead in AI development to avoid falling behind authoritarian leaders.
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OpenAI was seen as a necessary vector for AI progress due to competition and talent.
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Humanoid robots may enter homes by the 2030s, starting with kitchen-related tasks.
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Startups were key in developing the COVID vaccine
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Hubris and first principles thinking are key entrepreneurial traits.
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High-temperature geothermal can yield more power and be cost-effective
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Designed a self-driving public transit system with 10x capacity of light rail or cars
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AI could provide free primary care for less than a dollar a month
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Mentions making a 2,500x return and influencing the internet to use TCP/IP instead of ATM
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Strong entrepreneurs improve with a challenging debating partner.
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Reframing a self-driving heavy machinery business from automation to driver rental makes it an easier sell.
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I'd choose more impact over higher return as long as LPs get a minimum acceptable return.