a16z, AI and Investing in the new era (ft. Packy McCormick)

About this episode

a16z cofounders Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz join a16z general partner Erik Torenberg and Not Boring founder Packy McCormick for a conversation on how the media and information ecosystem has changed over the past decade. The discussion breaks down the shift toward a more open and decentralized speech environment, the rise of writer- and creator-led platforms like Substack, and the erosion of centralized media gatekeepers. Marc and Ben also tie these dynamics to their investing worldview, outlining how supply-driven markets, major technological step changes, and reputation-driven venture platforms shape outcomes in the AI era. Timecodes: 00:00  Introduction 00:46  How the media ecosystem is changing 4:20  Why a16z invested in Substack 6:28  Supply-driven markets and new content creation 8:07  Why writers felt trapped by media companies 10:09  Databricks and the 10x cloud multiplier 13:58  Long-form podcasting proves demand 15:40  What the new fund signals about the future 16:24  AI as a universal problem solver 18:49  Why market sizing is broken 20:45  Go-to-market, policy, and platform power 22:37  Turning inventors into confident CEOs 25:58  Borrowing power to scale faster 2