Reid Hoffman encourages deeper engagement with AI technology

Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, believes that artificial intelligence (AI) can be very useful for people who are struggling to find its benefits. He thinks that those who see no value in AI might not be trying hard enough to discover how it can help them. Hoffman discussed this in a recent interview on The Economist podcast. Hoffman shared how he personally uses AI tools, like OpenAI's ChatGPT-4. He often uses it to break down complicated research papers, such as those about quantum mechanics. He asks the AI to explain the concepts in different ways, depending on the audience's age or knowledge level. This method has become a common practice for him. He also praised OpenAI's Deep Research tool, comparing it to a "super-powered undergraduate research assistant." Hoffman acknowledged that while the AI is intelligent, it can sometimes make mistakes. He pointed out the importance of checking its outputs for accuracy. However, he emphasized that using these tools can save a lot of time—often around "tens of hours"—making them a regular part of his life. As a venture capitalist, Hoffman uses AI to improve his work in evaluating new startups. He inputs business plans into AI systems, which quickly generate thorough due diligence plans. He found that this process takes only a couple of minutes, and though some recommendations may be basic, others provide fresh insights that could take much longer to figure out without AI.