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In this episode, we dive deep into the mixed reactions to OpenAI's highly anticipated GPT-5 release, questioning whether it lives up to the hype or represents a missed opportunity to dominate the AI coding space.

**Key Topics:**
• GPT-5 honest review: Router system confusion and the "eager puppy" problem
• Why OpenAI may have missed their chance to crush Claude in coding
• Perplexity's shocking $34.5 billion unsolicited bid for Google Chrome
• GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke stepping down - what it means for Microsoft's AI strategy
• The "extra step" problem with GPT-5 and how it compares to Claude Code
• Microsoft's ambitious 2030 vision for "agentic Windows" - realistic or overhyped?
• Why community-based AI models could be the next big thing (Reddit, Twitter, Amazon)
• The shift from social media to interest media to community media

We explore the current state of AI coding tools, infrastructure battles, and whether the big tech companies are making the right strategic moves in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

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Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

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This episode covers the rise of AI companions among teenagers, Claude's controversial usage limitations, and OpenAI's massive infrastructure scaling to handle billions of daily requests.

**Key Topics:**
• 72% of US teens have tried AI companions - the shift from tools to lifestyle integration
• Grok's controversial anime companions and the ethics of AI relationships for teens
• Claude Code's secret usage limits frustrating developers and enterprise users
• OpenAI's 2.5 billion prompts per day - up from 1 billion in December
• OpenAI's plan to acquire 1 million GPUs including Google TPUs and NVIDIA alternatives
• Meta refuses to sign EU AI Act alongside Microsoft and Google - regulatory pushback
• Amazon's new S3 Vector storage promising 90% cost savings for vector workloads
• AWS Bedrock Agent Core for enterprise agentic AI workflows

We discuss the psychology of teenagers using AI for personal conversations rather than homework, the dangerous game companies play when limiting successful products, and the infrastructure arms race driving AI development.

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Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

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AI With Friends S2E9: The $10 Billion AI Arms Race - XAI, Oracle's Rise, and the End of Free Data 💰

This episode covers the most significant AI funding and infrastructure developments of the year. From Elon Musk's massive XAI funding round to Oracle's emergence as a major cloud player, we break down what these moves mean for the future of AI.

**Key Topics:**
• Elon Musk's XAI raises $10 billion - breaking down the competitive landscape
• OpenAI and Oracle's Stargate partnership: massive infrastructure expansion
• Meta's aggressive talent acquisition from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic
• Cloudflare's revolutionary "Pay Per Crawl" system - the end of free AI training data
• Oracle becomes the 4th major cloud provider alongside AWS, Azure, and GCP
• AI officiating in sports - when algorithms make judgment calls that affect careers
• The gigawatt power requirements driving AI data center nuclear discussions
• Grammarly acquires Superhuman: creating AI-powered email ecosystems

We explore how the AI talent wars are reaching unprecedented levels, with engineers commanding $10M+ packages, and why infrastructure and data access are becoming the new battlegrounds in AI development.

Support the show

Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

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This episode dives into the seismic shift happening in digital marketing and the future of work. We break down Andreessen Horowitz's groundbreaking GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) framework and what it means for businesses still stuck in the SEO era.

**Key Topics:**
• The death of traditional SEO and rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)
• Google's strategic response: Gemini integration in Chrome and Workspace
• Why 62% of executives regret AI-driven layoffs and want their employees back
• Anthropic CEO's prediction: 50% of entry-level jobs obsolete within 3 years
• How small businesses can survive the transition to AI-powered search
• OpenAI hits 400 million weekly users - what this means for the industry
• Practical GEO optimization tips for your website and content strategy

We explore the historical parallel between AI adoption and the university revolution post-industrialization, discussing why "AI is the new college" and how businesses should partner with AI rather than replace humans.

Essential viewing for business owners, marketers, and anyone planning their career in an AI-transformed world.

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Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

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AI With Friends S2E10: "AI Love Island" - The Windsurf Drama, Vibe Coding, and 9,000 Jobs Gone 💔

This episode covers the wildest AI startup saga of the year - we're calling it "AI Love Island" because of the drama, betrayal, and billion-dollar heartbreak. Plus we dive deep into the reality of AI coding tools and their limitations.

**Key Topics:**
• The Windsurf acquisition saga: $3B OpenAI deal → $2.4B Google acqui-hire → Company collapse
• "Vibe Coding" with Claude Sonnet 4, Cursor, and AI development workflows
• Why AI coding agents hallucinate and how to work around their limitations
• Microsoft eliminates 9,000 call center jobs, saving $500M through AI automation
• The "save scumming" approach to AI-assisted development
• Multi-agent AI workflows: Using Claude + Google Gemini CLI together
• Investment firm losses: Kleiner Perkins and others lose $250M+ in Windsurf collapse
• Real-world AI coding failures: fake URLs, cheating tests, and ignored failures

We explore the current instability in AI development tools, why you should "hold your beliefs lightly" about which platforms will survive, and practical tips for working with unreliable AI coding agents.

Support the show

Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

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AI With Friends S2E7

In this episode, we dive deep into the controversy surrounding Replit's CEO and their bold claims about AI replacing CTOs. We test Google's new Veo 3 video generation tool and discuss the limitations AI video models still face with violence and realistic content.

**Key Topics:**
• Replit's controversial claim that "Replit is our CTO"
• Hands-on testing of Google's Veo 3 video creation tool
• Why AI video models avoid generating violent content
• The reality vs. hype in AI-powered coding platforms
• MCP (Model Context Protocol) explained
• Claude vs ChatGPT for coding tasks
• The future of AI agents and business applications

Join us for an honest conversation about the current state of AI tools, separating hype from reality in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence and development.

Support the show

Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

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🎙️ Welcome to AI With Friends – your weekly launchpad into the world of Artificial Intelligence!

Hosted by Marlon Avery, a pioneer in GenAI innovation, alongside Adrian Green, VP of Engineering at LiveNation, and Sekou Doumbouya, Senior Staff Cloud Systems Engineer, this show is your go-to source for all things AI.

Our hosts bring diverse expertise—from AI strategy and tech innovation to industry leadership. Every week, they break down the latest AI trends, interview top experts, and simplify complex concepts for AI enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals alike.

Marlon, Adrian, and Sekou combine their unique perspectives—whether it’s Marlon’s collaborations with tech giants, Adrian’s leadership in global entertainment engineering, or Sekou’s cloud systems expertise. Together, they make AI insights accessible, actionable, and exciting.

📅 Tune in live on LinkedIn every Wednesday at 10:00 AM ET or catch us on all major podcast platforms.

🔹 Cutting-edge insights from AI leaders
🔹 Real-world applications of AI technology
🔹 A vibrant community of forward-thinkers

💡 Ready to stay ahead of AI trends or spark your next big idea? Subscribe now and become part of the future of AI with AI With Friends!

🔥 Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FZMQXZu5xb

Support the show

Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

Affiliate Links:

• Opus Pro Clips

Send us a text

🎙️ Welcome to AI With Friends – your weekly launchpad into the world of Artificial Intelligence!

Hosted by Marlon Avery, a pioneer in GenAI innovation, alongside Adrian Green, VP of Engineering at LiveNation, and Sekou Doumbouya, Senior Staff Cloud Systems Engineer, this show is your go-to source for all things AI.

Our hosts bring diverse expertise—from AI strategy and tech innovation to industry leadership. Every week, they break down the latest AI trends, interview top experts, and simplify complex concepts for AI enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and tech professionals alike.

Marlon, Adrian, and Sekou combine their unique perspectives—whether it’s Marlon’s collaborations with tech giants, Adrian’s leadership in global entertainment engineering, or Sekou’s cloud systems expertise. Together, they make AI insights accessible, actionable, and exciting.

📅 Tune in live on LinkedIn every Wednesday at 10:00 AM ET or catch us on all major podcast platforms.

🔹 Cutting-edge insights from AI leaders
🔹 Real-world applications of AI technology
🔹 A vibrant community of forward-thinkers

💡 Ready to stay ahead of AI trends or spark your next big idea? Subscribe now and become part of the future of AI with AI With Friends!

🔥 Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FZMQXZu5xb

Support the show

Follow the Hosts:

• Marlon Avery: @IamMarlonAvery
• Adrian Green: @Adrian_Poupon
• Sekou Doumbouya: @SekouTheWise1

Affiliate Links:

• Opus Pro Clips