Detangling OpenAI’s Palace Intrigue
In a world where personal privacy has essentially vanished, it’s ironic that we may never know the full story of OpenAI’s mid-November boardroom coup. John Best and I attempted to detangle the saga’s various threads on a wide-ranging episode of The BIGCast. As a companion piece, here’s a somewhat tidier synopsis of the complex and mysterious path leading to CEO/Co-Founder Sam Altman’s brief exile.
Open AI’s Messy First Birthday Party
John and Glen dive into the mysterious, fascinating and perhaps still ongoing Open AI governance saga, dissecting the role of concepts like effective altruism, artificial general intelligence, reinforcement learning and board responsibility (There’s a credit union tie-in, we promise.). Also, John’s special offer to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Venturing Further into VentureTech
More highlights from the VentureTech conference: Penny Finance founder Crissi Cole on her startup’s “women-first” approach to financial planning, QCash CEO Seth Brickman on getting an offer his CUSO couldn’t refuse, and Vertice AI co-founder Mitch Rutledge on collaborating with Wellby Financial’s Richard Sowell to fuel member engagement.
Youth Will Be Served (that’s the goal…)
Just back from last week’s VentureTech conference, Glen has interviews with a trio of founders from standout startups: Sparrow’s Harrison Hochman, Debbie’s Rachel Lauren, and Legal Karma’s Kory Kelly. Also- the PSCU/Co-Op merger, and the relentless pursuit of deposits and the elusive Generation Z.
The History of Money 20/20 – In Three T-Shirts
When Money 20/20 launched in 2012, its name referred to a deep dive into the payments future… eight years out. Perhaps the brand mavens had already planned for the conference’s success, but as the decade drew to a close a slash was added to its title, shifting the meaning to perfect vision into an ever-evolving future.
A Wizard, a Centaur and a Regulator Walk into a Conference…
In Part 2 of our Money 20/20 coverage, Glen speaks with Guppy CEO (and Money 20/20 Wizard!) Sanjib Kalita about how Unicorns have given way to the Age of Centaurs. MSUFCU’s Ami Iceman and Prizeout founder David Metz discuss an adtech solution that leaves everyone better off, and Glen recaps other key takeaways from Vegas.
Hold onto Your Wallets- Debit Interchange under Scrutiny
We at BIG have been advising credit unions for some time not to become overly reliant on revenue from interchange fees. The Credit Card Competition Act, currently winding its way through Congress, is a prime example of the persistent threat. But now there’s an even more clear and present danger.
The Old Fintech Can’t Come to the Phone Right Now…
Glen shares highlights from an even more rousing than usual Money 20/20, including Silicon Valley Bank’s Chief Product Officer Gagan Kanjlia on a bold branding decision, Cushion Founder Paul Kesserwani on BNPL’s awkward evolution, and Twentyfold’s William Mellis on a new fintech research platform. Also- Debit’s demolition derby and the Points Guy feels the heat.
A Digital-First Twin Takes Flight
Glen speaks with Doug Brown, President of Digital Banking for NCR Voyix, about the birth of a new public company, the importance of a 139-year legacy, and the continuation of a digital-first mission. Also- a debit interchange battle breaks out, and Glen gets academic.
Taking Control of the Call Center Queue
John speaks with Respell’s Harpriya Bagri about using her firm’s AI workflow tool to fight through the frustration of lost luggage. Also, Glen shares conference nuggets and ponders the meaning of the word “cashless.”