The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
20VC: The Future of Foundation Models | The Future of AI Consumer Apps and Why OpenAI Did a Disservice to Them | The Future of Music: Spotify vs YouTube & Spotify vs TikTok: What Happens with Mikey Shulman @ Suno
· Summarized
Key takeaways
- The competition among AI models is intensifying, with a future leaning towards specialized models that offer tailored user experiences.
- Suno aspires to transform listeners into active musicians and foster a community around music creation.
- Collaboration between traditional music industries and AI companies is crucial to building a sustainable future for music.
- Music discovery will increasingly rely on algorithms, with platforms significantly determining what audiences listen to.
- The future of music should embrace both creation and consumption, creating engaging experiences for users across platforms.
Summary
The Future of Models
Mikey Schulman discusses the competitive landscape of AI models, particularly the dominance of OpenAI and the implications for other players like Anthropic. He anticipates a future dominated by specialized models rather than a single generalized model. He asserts that scaling laws might not continue as they have with text, as music is more subjective and requires different techniques. He further believes that models will become less relevant to users over time, as they will care more about the user experiences and less about the underlying technology.
The Evolution of Music Creation
Suno, founded by Schulman, aims to revolutionize how music is created and experienced. He explains Suno's transition to a tool that empowers users not just to passively listen but actively participate in music-making. He emphasizes the concept of converting listeners into musicians, making music creation as engaging as video games by enhancing interactivity and collaboration. He highlights that in a future where music shares similarities with gaming in terms of engagement, people will be willing to pay more for such enriched experiences.
Suno's Position in the Industry
Schulman addresses Suno's ongoing legal challenges with major music labels, clarifying that the lawsuit stems from standard industry practices. He advocates for collaboration between AI companies and traditional music industries to harness the potential of AI in music without relegating creators to the sidelines. Schulman expresses optimism that discussions will shift towards building a larger, more inclusive music industry rather than merely legal confrontations.
The Future of Music Discovery
A significant point of discussion is the future of music discovery amid the explosion of new music being created daily. Schulman argues that with the vast amount of available content, discovery becomes both easier and harder. The role of algorithms on platforms like Spotify and TikTok is essential in shaping audiences' access to new music, with Schulman suggesting that algorithms increasingly dictate what becomes popular, shifting the landscape of music consumption.
Relationship with Major Platforms
Examining potential partnerships, Schulman predicts future relations between Suno and established platforms like Spotify and YouTube. He envisions a more integrated music experience that merges creation and consumption, enhancing user engagement. Schulman asserts that the future of music must be social and participatory, moving beyond simple streaming to create more meaningful listener experiences.
Sponsors
- Kajabi · Kajabi is the leading creator commerce platform with an all-in-one suite of tools, including websites, email marketing, digital products, payment processing and analytics for as low as $69 per month. 20VC listeners can try Kajabi for free for 30 days by going to kajabi.com/20VC.
- Remote · Remote handles payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance to help companies of all sizes pay and manage full-time and contract workers all over the world. Enjoy 10% off your first three months by using the promo code 20VC at checkout.
- Brex · Brex is the ultimate financial stack for startups designed to solve the gritty challenges founders face, combining the best of checking, treasury, and FDIC insurance in one account.
Show notes
Mikey Shulman is the Co-Founder and CEO of Suno, the leading music AI company. Suno lets everyone make and share music. Mikey has raised over $125M for the company from the likes of Lightspeed, Founder Collective and Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross. Prior to founding Suno, Mikey was the first machine learning engineer and head of machine learning at Kensho technologies, which was acquired by S&P Global for over $500 million.
In Today's Episode with Mikey Shulman:
1. The Future of Models:
-
Who wins the future of models? Anthropic, OpenAI or X?
-
Will we live in a world of many smaller models? When does it make sense for specialised vs generalised models?
-
Does Mikey believe we will continue to see the benefits of scaling laws?
2. The Future of UI and Consumer Apps:
-
Why does Mikey believe that OpenAI did AI consumer companies a massive disservice?
-
Why does Mikey believe consumers will not choose their model or pay for a superior model in the future?
-
Why does Mikey believe that good taste is more important than good skills?
-
Why does Mikey argue physicists and economists make the best ML engineers?
3. The Future of Music:
-
What is going on with Suno's lawsuit against some of the biggest labels in music?
-
How does Mikey see the future of music discovery?
-
How does Mikey see the battle between Spotify and YouTube playing out?
-
How does Mikey see the battle between TikTok and Spotify playing out?
Follow this show on AudioBrevity and new episodes get summarized for you. Create a free account