Gm.

Starting with the answers to Friday's poll. Good news for the album-lovers still out there. I dropped a crazy recommendation in the Monday Music section later in the email.

Onto this week's poll. A much-debated question on Twitter.

FRESH POWDER

Looking at three startups that recently topped up their coffers. Congrats!

AI

Buzzfeed Embraces AI

I'll confess: I love Buzzfeed.

What is there not to like? Their writing is entertaining, their news content is underrated, their original video series are always fun, and their quizzes are just a notch less addicting than TikTok.

Perhaps the only thing not to like about Buzzfeed is the thing that investors care about the most: stock price. Since going public in 2021, Buzzfeed's stock has straight up not had a good time to the tune of a 60% decline.

But, new developments give hope that not all is lost for Buzzfeed bag holders.

Sam Altman's army of robot monkeys are coming to save the day.

Yep, Buzzfeed is now using OpenAI to help create content.

"A Forward-Looking Strategy"

Buzzfeed CEO Jonah Peretti described Buzzfeed's plans to embrace AI-generated content as a "forward-looking strategy", and it's hard to disagree with him.

Besides the robot that can liquify itself and escape from prison cells (why the hell are we building that?), AI is as forward-looking as it gets.

Especially in the content creation world. As Peretti puts it, "the next 15 years will be defined by AI and data helping create, personalize, and animate the content itself".

For Buzzfeed, it makes all the sense in the world to get ahead of the curve.

And it appears the market agrees, with Buzzfeed stock up ~150% since the announcement.

What About The Humans?

Although Buzzfeed is now leaning heavily on AI, humans are not yet completely obsolete.

AI doesn't replace human creativity, it augments it. Buzzfeed recognizes this, and thus, sees humans playing the crucial role of providing the ideas and prompts that power the AI.

Buzzfeed is also doubling down on creators, and even inked a deal with Meta to bring more creators onto Facebook.

Will Buzzfeed's bet on AI and the creator economy work out?

I'm not sure, but I'll definitely be taking the AI quizzes in the meantime.

IPO

Stripe's Response to $2 billion IPO Rumors

No comment." Lol, you thought they'd say something helpful???

QUICK HITS

Seed Round

Stat: 1.21 billion: The number of smartphones sold in 2022, the lowest it's been since 2013.

Story we're watching: As if he didn't have enough problems already, the DOJ is now accusing SBF of attempting to influence witness testimony. Seriously, what is wrong with this dude?

Rabbit hole: Nerd Momentum (Jason Levin)

WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON

• Google has created a text-to-music AI, but won't release it. Lameeeee.

• NYC is requiring all Ubers and Lyfts to be electric by 2030.

• Zuckerberg has finally figured out that Meta might have too many middle managers.

• Good luck trying to break the screen of the new Samsung Galaxy.

MONDAY MUSIC

Jason here. I don't usually listen to albums in one go.

But this album by Vince Staples hit different. I lied in bed kicking it with no distractions.

It's also great for working and walking through your city.

Top Tracks: Papercuts, Lemonade, and The Blues

LAYOFFS TRACKER

https://www.trueup.io/layoffs

Notable layoffs this week

Decent: 50 people (100%)

Dealshare: 100 people (6%)

SSENSE: 138 people (7%)

FOUNDERS CORNER

The best resources we came across this weekend that will help you become a better founder, builder, or investor.

🤑 Check out the ultimate guide to VC terms. Super helpful. And I mean actually helpful. Not the "Let me know how I can be helpful" stuff.

🗄 Julian Shapiro and Demand Curve dropped a free Guide to LinkedIn Organic.

👕 For any e-commerce nerds out there, check out Shopifreaks E-Commerce Newsletter.