Kostas Fintrilis

I just got around to watching the Jensen Huang Mark Zuckerberg interview from Siggraph 2024. There is a lot to unpack here, I highly recommend listen to it at 1.75 or 2.0 speed ;-). But these two are the founding CEOs of two frontrunners of GenAI - Nvidia for their GPU that made all of this possible, and Facebook which has taken the lead in LLM building because: 1) Meta has 20 years of social data and 12 years of chat data (with WhatsApp acquisition). Social data and Chat are the foundation of Chat AI. 2) Facebook has embraced open source: PyTorch, React, and now Llama 3.1. Zuck made a real good point that Apple is a closed hardware and software ecosystem, whereas Microsoft created an open compute ecosystem where Windows can run on all different kinds of OEM hardware. Llama 4+ will be that open unified LLM that can work on many different verticals. I think a takeaway from this Huang/Zuckerberg talk is that the next step in AI evolution is Personalized AI. Just think of Personalized Search, what Google tried to do but could not because they couldn’t track users once they leave their SERP. But Facebook has all the social and chat data that users are openly giving to the platform. So with Personalized AI, you don’t have to strain as much to write these elaborate multi step prompt. Since Facebook has your personal context, it can better deduce your intent with just a few words, and provide you with a personalized solution or offer. That’s extremely powerful and something that no company can offer.

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Last year, I lived in SF and flew to LA weekly to attend MBA classes at UCLA. I flew back and forth at least 20 times. I am not a morning person by any means, but this required me to have a routine of waking up at 5:00AM on Sunday, Ubering to SFO to catch the earliest flight that would get me to LA before my classes started at 8:00. I would attend class all day Sunday, work remotely Mondays, attend more classes Monday night and then fly back Tuesday morning just in time to get to the office before standup. I am proud to say that I did not miss a single flight or a single class during this period. Last month, I officially graduated from UCLA Anderson. I wore my graduation cap and gown and lived through an event I had been dreaming about for the past 3 years. Now the big question: was it worth all the flights, tuition costs, and time spent studying? Yes, it was absolutely worth it. And here’s a story that encapsulates why. On one my MBA trips, we had a few executives from the Executive MBA program join us on the trip. One of the executives had immigrated to the US over 20 years ago and was nearly a billionaire. He snuck a few of us Chinese speaking MBA students out for a dinner and afterwards we all grabbed beers by the beach. Towards the end of the dinner he told us that we were no different than him. He pointed at each one of us and told us that we could all become successful too as long we just went for it. I’ve heard similar words from guest speakers, but the informal setting of having a mentor tell us this to our faces while enjoying beers near the beach in a foreign country really made me believe that I could do it. To sum up my MBA experience, being able to learn valuable life lessons from classmates, professors, and guest speakers made me confident that I could pursue whatever I put my mind towards. This is the true value of the MBA in my opinion. So what’s next? Before entering UCLA, my goal was to start my own startup and be a "real" founder. I can proudly say that my dream is starting to become a reality. I will be posting more news about this in the future, but my cofounders and I just raised an angel round and are now working full time on a new startup with a mission that we all care deeply about. #mba #uclaanderson #startup #graduation

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Yesterday, Alphabet Inc. announced a tremendous Q3 2024 results, exceeding expectations and demonstrating the power of our long-term focus on innovation and AI. Key Highlights: 1. Record-breaking revenue: driven by strong performance in advertising, cloud computing, and hardware sales, Q3 revenue reached $88.3 billion, up 15% year-over-year 2. Continued growth in Cloud: Google Cloud continues its strong momentum, fueled by increased customer adoption and innovative solutions. Revenue soared 35% to $11.4 billion, fueled by strong growth in AI infrastructure and Gen AI solutions 3. AI advancements: Google remains at the forefront of AI, with groundbreaking research and development across various applications AI is transforming our products and driving user engagement. We're seeing incredible momentum across Search, YouTube, Payments and Cloud - also, we're making significant strides in simplifying transactions, enhancing user experiences, and expanding our global reach through Google Pay Our commitment to innovation remains unwavering. We're pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AI, and we're excited to continue building products and services that make a difference in the lives of billions of people around the world. #Google #GooglePay #GoogleCloud #Technology #Innovation #Ecommerce #Android #Chrome #Payments

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Getting started with AI can seem daunting, especially when contemplating its safety against data privacy. But past that fear lies a fix for itself: AI tools can be harnessed to overcome cybersecurity hurdles. Join us for an insightful discussion at the intersection of security, building resilience, and emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and others such as operational technology, and products intersecting with information technology and engineering. Get inspired, learn something new, and connect with peers, partners, and Googlers!

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This week, Paul Graham’s Founder Mode vs. Manager Mode has caught a lot of attention. Many people are intrigued by the Founder Mode concept, and I have to say, I’m a big fan of it as well. It feels like a potential solution to a question that’s puzzled me for a long time. However, I believe that for the foreseeable future—at least for the next 1-2 years—Manager Mode will likely remain the mainstream approach in organizational management. So, if we can't change the status quo just yet, let’s think about how we can be better in the role of a manager. https://lnkd.in/gz8CrFKY

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𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗻'𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗔𝗺𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 "Money is the only singular reason not to start a company. The odds of success are low, and if wealth is your sole motivator, you'll likely regret the journey. Instead, start a company because you believe in your idea, are passionate about it, and want to create something extraordinary. Have a unique perspective and be ready to overcome any challenge to make it happen." Focus on your passion, not the payout. See The video Here : https://lnkd.in/gw83NYG7  #StartupAdvice #Entrepreneurship #PassionOverProfit

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Join us on Wednesday, 8/14, for ADPList San Francisco Chapter's inaugural event! 🙌 We're hosting an exclusive panel event featuring leading designers at Applied Intuition, a company on a mission to develop cutting-edge technology and simulation tools for self-driving vehicles. We'll kick off with some casual community networking, transition into a panel discussion, and then close with more networking. ​What we'll discuss: • How design solves complex problems • How to find your niche as a designer • How to jumpstart a career in software design and more! Regardless of your background, seniority, or industry, this event is sure to be a great opportunity for any designer who wants to gain insights from sharp and innovative minds. ​By attending, you'll gain: ​👉 Expert Insights: Discover the innovative design principles and strategies used by Applied Intuition's designers and how they tackle complex challenges. 👉 Networking Opportunities: Connect with fellow designers and industry leaders! Share ideas and build relationships that could open doors to future collaborations. 👉 Career Prospects: Did we mention that Applied Intuition is hiring? Make yourself known and leave a lasting impression on their design team. RSVP and learn more about the event, here: https://lnkd.in/ghZ72QYM

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"Last year, more than 50% of all global venture funding for AI-related startups went to companies headquartered in the Bay Area, Crunchbase data shows, as a cluster of talent congregates in the region." In other news, water is wet. There was a moment during the pandemic when it looked like everyone was going to work remotely and there was an opportunity for startups to be founded anywhere. I think that time has gone: the San Francisco Bay Area is once again the place to found any kind of technology startup. Yes, there are always exceptions, but the confluence of community density, living conditions, universities, and mindset make for a perfect storm. NYC and London - and maybe Boston / Cambridge - are pretty good too, for what it's worth, but the sheer volume of startup activity in the area gives San Francisco the edge. This is something I fought earlier in my career: my first startup was proudly founded in Scotland and largely run from England. I wish we'd just moved to San Francisco. This isn't to completely sing the praises of the city: the cost of living is now astronomical, and there's a contingent of right-wing activists that seem to want to paint it as some doom spiraling hellhole, as if its progressive past isn't something to be proud of. But there is still beauty, there is still that can-do sense of adventure, and if I was founding something new, that's probably where I'd be.

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🔥 Wildfires are a growing threat across the globe, and Southeast Asia is especially vulnerable. But there's hope! 🚀 Google Research is teaming up with the Earth Fire Alliance, Muon Space, and others to launch #FireSat, a revolutionary satellite constellation that will transform how we detect and respond to wildfires. Here's how FireSat will make a difference: 👁️‍🗨️ Sees Everything: High-resolution images updated every 20 minutes will allow us to spot even the tiniest fires before they become infernos. 🧠 AI-Powered Smarts: AI will analyze images, infrastructure, and weather data to pinpoint fires with incredible accuracy. 🤝 Global Teamwork: This collaboration will boost wildfire modeling and understanding, helping communities everywhere. Learn more about this game-changing technology: https://lnkd.in/gEjC2g8m #AIforGood #Google #AIForPositiveChange #WildfireDetection #ClimateAction

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On my second Googleversary the message below really got me thinking about how much I've learned over the past 2 years at Google. It also made me acknowledge how excited I am to shape the future. More recently, I've started working much closer to product and feel super energized by imagining the future and building a roadmap to get us there. " Hi Fernanda,  Happy Googleversary! We know how quickly each year flies by, so we encourage you to reflect on your impact and consider how you can help shape Google’s future."

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🎤 Watch this informative interview w/ Kate Niedermeyer, #VC and #Startups Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Business Development | Corporate VC and Innovation. 📺 #Watch the #Video and add a #Comment if you have any Questions? https://lnkd.in/gJdRpJBA 👉 #Event produced by #TechAlliance: Laura Ruderman, Nick Nelson, Stacey Martens Kate Niedermeyer is an experienced investor, builder, and innovator helping startups, their investors, and corporate innovators accelerate and scale with Amazon. Partner, AWS Startups CVC and Innovation, Business Development. With nearly 20 years of experience gained from supporting hundreds of thousands of startups that have come before, AWS helps founders prove that their world-changing ideas are possible, at any stage of growth or level of funding. We know what it takes to launch, build, and scale successful startups. That's why 96% of AI/ML unicorns run on AWS. Visit: https://lnkd.in/gRPUNkAe | https://lnkd.in/g8_wsCPs -- The Seattle AI Investor Summit and Showcase, hosted by the Technology Alliance, is a unique opportunity for corporate venture investors and venture capitalist’s from around the world to learn about the groundbreaking innovations in artificial intelligence emerging from the Pacific Northwest. Visit: https://lnkd.in/gRUKV7_p The Technology Alliance is a statewide, non-profit organization of leaders from Washington’s technology-based businesses and research institutions united by our vision of a vibrant innovation economy that benefits all of our state's citizens. Through programs, events, data analysis, and policy activities, we advance excellence in education, research, and entrepreneurship to support the growth of our high-impact industries; the creation of high-wage jobs; and economic prosperity for our entire state. Enterprise Capital Alliance: https://lnkd.in/gb724YBy – the Tech Alliance's initiative to create a regional pipeline for global corporate investment in Washington state. Our mission is to catalyze the connection between Washington's thriving entrepreneurial community and the venture investment, innovation, and strategic arms of Fortune 1000 companies. We achieve this through a range of resources, regional research, and networking events, including the highly successful Corporate Venture Connections Series program. Our goal is to foster investments, collaborations, and best practices in enterprise capital that showcase the Pacific Northwest's robust technology capabilities. By leveraging the reach of the Tech Alliance's board member companies, we're able to support founders across Washington State.

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🎉 I'm thrilled to share Part 2 of my series on Generative AI! Building on the first article I shared here on LinkedIn, I’ve just published "Rapid Expansion of Generative AI: A Call to Action" on DZone. 🌐✨ In this article, I explore further the impact of generative AI and discuss essential strategies for product managers looking to adapt and thrive with this technology. Discover practical advice on how to incorporate responsible AI effectively into your product decision-making processes. 🔗 Dive into the details here: https://lnkd.in/erqJAxar I’d love to hear from you— how are you planning to build responsible AI in your product solutions? #GenerativeAI #ProductManagement #TechTrends #Innovation #AI

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