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Really great post. I’ve definitely stopped myself from even using simple but effective tools while working as a data scientist. Part of it was to build my skills so that I can apply for more intense, well-payed jobs, but another component was a feeling that using the simple approach was “cheap.”

When thinking about building business, I’ve definitely noticed handicapping myself, and convincing myself I’m doing it for “ethical” reasons. I still think some business practices are unethical and I want to be careful to not do them, but I need to make sure that unwillingness to do things doesn’t bleed into preventing myself from doing “cheap” things. It’s obvious Pieter has developed a winning formula even before his AI apps. He’s just constantly on the lookout for opportunity and then pounces on it. Like, dude just uses PHP for most things.

Another example is Jarvis AI. They didn’t build their own models, they just used OAI’s models. Typically, as an investor you might be worried because they are reliant on OAI. Well, no. Now they have money and have clients, and other companies (like Stability/Carper AI) are popping up and can make deals with Jarvis at any time. But even if that wasn’t the case, Jarvis could now start building it’s own lab (but it won’t since it can just use OAI’s or Stability’s models).

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Thanks for that article. It actually helped me unlock a little bit of knowledge about myself. Now I need to get into the mindset that doing something the "cheap" way is better than not doing something at all.

There is no right way, especially in business and competition.

I think the "right way" is something that relates more to a sense of beauty or in some way personal ethics. If something is your hobby and you want to do it the "hard way", because it's a challenge and you enjoy it, then go for it. But in business, why not think about the shortcut first?

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Nov 22, 2022Liked by Scott Stevenson

Dig

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