In the early days of OpenAI, writing down ideas helped me identify which ones made sense and which didn't, refining our focus on AGI.

OpenAI's early goal was to build AGI through extensive research and paper writing, a theory that was later recognized as flawed.

The original concept of OpenAI was to operate as a subsidiary of Y Combinator called YC Research, focusing on AI in the public interest.

When launching an AI product, it's crucial to experiment extensively first, as AI results can be unpredictable and exceed expectations.

OpenAI's approach to research was more startup-like, focusing on opinions about necessary advancements rather than a centralized plan, which allowed for a balance between structured direction and exploratory freedom.

At Y Combinator, we emphasize understanding the past to build effective strategies for the future, especially in this rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The AI revolution is driven by individuals following their curiosity and building innovative solutions, even when initial attempts may not succeed.

Character.AI's founding story is a case of 'just build it and they will come,' which broke many conventional rules of the 2010s.

The classic startup advice of detailed customer discovery may be outdated in the AI era; instead, leveraging interesting technology and exploring possibilities is key.