thought compression + our pursuits

Z / Runner 🏃🏻‍♂️

🏃🏻‍♂️ re: naming; i treat internal naming/code names as a compression of time/thoughts; early on, i always default to under-index b/c it feels like polishing the door before building the house. That said, open to hear suggestions.

• 🏃🏻‍♂️ destination is never the point when it comes to travel, it is always the smallest thing that leaves the biggest memory, hard to describe. The low hanging fruits re: traveling are done (searching, matching, booking… level 1; $10T global business), but level 2 tourism is incomplete. Translating preferences, filtering for taste into choices. Most people don't know what they don't know re: travel/tourism. Plus, there is no optimal plan when it comes to travel, all decisions are local max at best; quality is "vibe" dependent, so star rating systems are no longer valid. Show me a travel product w/ "intent search" for: "i want spontaneous & iconic", or "i hate wasting time, but love to experience the top rated recommendations" and "i hate crowds, but love people watching"... this is what I can hidden intents. NO product in the market allows for this type of travel planning. Like jensen said, recommendation algo has reached it is peak, what i am (and suspect most others) are looking to have is to go beyond listings → synthesis. Also, when was the last time, a travel plan takes into account of energy level, walking load, jet lag…

• 🏃🏻‍♂️ most travel planning are on two extremes: overplanned or chaotic;

• Strongly disagree w/ AI = solo use cases only. Travel plan is perfect example, i never had a family trip w/o talking to Yo, family, or friends… AI use cases across board will have "N+1" types of UX… just b/c you don't see it today, doesn't mean it is not needed. The market is already evolving into this.

• When was the last time you had a post-trip debrief?

• Level 1 trip = basic logics, transactional; nothing to add for startups

• Level 2 planning = coherence, persistent activities of taste discovery and formation. Tradeoffs that are hidden or unintended, update prior w/ post trip debrief (not a performative yelp review…)

• HATE, no AI listicles or generative slop content.

Stephen / Basketball 🏀

• 🏀 per "名正言順" below – use simple words, shared terminology instead: intent alignment (coherence), performance fees (negative commitment contract), month-long agent (ghost), tech stack (panel 3)..
• AI & Ads: Google blue box "Unlike the keyword-based auctions we've lived with for 20 years, this new front is being fought over Conversational Intent.". But putting Ads inside of chats will not work; I think Zuck will figure this out before everyone else. IG ads are already winning against Google and Amazon.

🏀 z, last quiz: per your "gradient mapping: .. life shaping", if not films or podcasts – is travel (maps) worthy of our pursuits?

• 🏀 yes, per "gastronomic tours" below.

• 🏀 what are strong examples / tractions of "social ai"? shared sessions, collaborative tasks..?