Corry Wang
@corrywang.bsky.social
Compute @ Anthropic | Formerly AI strategy @ Google and tech equity research @ Bernstein Research
4/ The one difference - all of the checks now have an extra zero (or two)
“Even young PhDs could pull a half million dollars a year”
Ilya was offered “nearly $2 million for the first year” in 2016
Some things do change!
“Even young PhDs could pull a half million dollars a year”
Ilya was offered “nearly $2 million for the first year” in 2016
Some things do change!
November 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
4/ The one difference - all of the checks now have an extra zero (or two)
“Even young PhDs could pull a half million dollars a year”
Ilya was offered “nearly $2 million for the first year” in 2016
Some things do change!
“Even young PhDs could pull a half million dollars a year”
Ilya was offered “nearly $2 million for the first year” in 2016
Some things do change!
3/ Another thing that remains unchanged after a decade and a half - Mark Zuckerberg is extremely uninterested in AI safety, ie why DeepMind refused to sell out to Facebook
November 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
3/ Another thing that remains unchanged after a decade and a half - Mark Zuckerberg is extremely uninterested in AI safety, ie why DeepMind refused to sell out to Facebook
2/ It is uncanny how much Meta’s efforts in the last year have just been a rerun of Mark’s original effort to build FAIR by hiring Yann Lecun back in 2013
- Invitations to 1-on-1 dinners with Mark
- A desk next to Mark at the office
- “Intelligent agents” booking airline tickets
- “Open source”
- Invitations to 1-on-1 dinners with Mark
- A desk next to Mark at the office
- “Intelligent agents” booking airline tickets
- “Open source”
November 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
2/ It is uncanny how much Meta’s efforts in the last year have just been a rerun of Mark’s original effort to build FAIR by hiring Yann Lecun back in 2013
- Invitations to 1-on-1 dinners with Mark
- A desk next to Mark at the office
- “Intelligent agents” booking airline tickets
- “Open source”
- Invitations to 1-on-1 dinners with Mark
- A desk next to Mark at the office
- “Intelligent agents” booking airline tickets
- “Open source”
1/4 If I had a nickel for every time Mark Zuckerberg blew a few billion dollars trying to hire a team of star researchers to build a second place frontier AI research lab, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice
November 11, 2025 at 4:43 PM
1/4 If I had a nickel for every time Mark Zuckerberg blew a few billion dollars trying to hire a team of star researchers to build a second place frontier AI research lab, I’d have two nickels. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice
10/ Page 72 literally mentions Andrew Ng showing a literal line graph to Larry Page in 2010 charting how multimodal ML performance would consistently improve with the application of more training data
But the book never *quite* brings it all together
But the book never *quite* brings it all together
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
10/ Page 72 literally mentions Andrew Ng showing a literal line graph to Larry Page in 2010 charting how multimodal ML performance would consistently improve with the application of more training data
But the book never *quite* brings it all together
But the book never *quite* brings it all together
9/ Page 70 mentions an eyebrow-raising anecdote about how one of Geoff Hinton's grad students discovered at Google in 2011 that training a speech model with 2000 hours of data instead of 12 hours would miraculously improve error rates
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
9/ Page 70 mentions an eyebrow-raising anecdote about how one of Geoff Hinton's grad students discovered at Google in 2011 that training a speech model with 2000 hours of data instead of 12 hours would miraculously improve error rates
8/ The result is that the most uncanny part of reading Genius Makers is when you see the ghost of scaling laws looming on the edges
On Page 50, the book mentions Terry Sejnowski's 1987 NETtalk paper, which arguably plotted out the world's first log-linear AI scaling law
On Page 50, the book mentions Terry Sejnowski's 1987 NETtalk paper, which arguably plotted out the world's first log-linear AI scaling law
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
8/ The result is that the most uncanny part of reading Genius Makers is when you see the ghost of scaling laws looming on the edges
On Page 50, the book mentions Terry Sejnowski's 1987 NETtalk paper, which arguably plotted out the world's first log-linear AI scaling law
On Page 50, the book mentions Terry Sejnowski's 1987 NETtalk paper, which arguably plotted out the world's first log-linear AI scaling law
6/ Today, I think it's probably fair to say frontier AI research is on the cusp of becoming a "normal science" for the first time, as the field has coalesced around the scaling laws paradigm that ML performance can improve predictably with the application of more compute
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
6/ Today, I think it's probably fair to say frontier AI research is on the cusp of becoming a "normal science" for the first time, as the field has coalesced around the scaling laws paradigm that ML performance can improve predictably with the application of more compute
3/ The result? The book spends hundreds of pages talking about: AlphaGo, GANs, LSTMs, RL agents playing DOTA...
Zero mentions of: GPT-2
In fact, there's only a *single* mention of the word "transformer" in the entire 300 page body of the book (a one-off reference to BERT)
Zero mentions of: GPT-2
In fact, there's only a *single* mention of the word "transformer" in the entire 300 page body of the book (a one-off reference to BERT)
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
3/ The result? The book spends hundreds of pages talking about: AlphaGo, GANs, LSTMs, RL agents playing DOTA...
Zero mentions of: GPT-2
In fact, there's only a *single* mention of the word "transformer" in the entire 300 page body of the book (a one-off reference to BERT)
Zero mentions of: GPT-2
In fact, there's only a *single* mention of the word "transformer" in the entire 300 page body of the book (a one-off reference to BERT)
1/ Last week I finally got around to reading Genius Makers - this was Cade Metz's 2021 book on the history of ML
It was really fascinating, but in the same way you'd be fascinated reading a history of Newtonian physics published 3 months before Einstein invented relativity
It was really fascinating, but in the same way you'd be fascinated reading a history of Newtonian physics published 3 months before Einstein invented relativity
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
1/ Last week I finally got around to reading Genius Makers - this was Cade Metz's 2021 book on the history of ML
It was really fascinating, but in the same way you'd be fascinated reading a history of Newtonian physics published 3 months before Einstein invented relativity
It was really fascinating, but in the same way you'd be fascinated reading a history of Newtonian physics published 3 months before Einstein invented relativity
From 1840 to 1850, private Britons cumulatively invested 40% of British GDP into the country’s first rail network. For reference, the equivalent today would be the tech industry spending like, $10 trillion dollars on a single thing
Anyways it’s confirmed, guess we’re all doing this again guys
Anyways it’s confirmed, guess we’re all doing this again guys
October 8, 2025 at 10:07 PM
From 1840 to 1850, private Britons cumulatively invested 40% of British GDP into the country’s first rail network. For reference, the equivalent today would be the tech industry spending like, $10 trillion dollars on a single thing
Anyways it’s confirmed, guess we’re all doing this again guys
Anyways it’s confirmed, guess we’re all doing this again guys
I don't think Americans realize that outside the US, you can now just buy Ozempic online for $150/month. This will ultimately fall to <$50/month
This actually might've ended up as the important thing in global society in the 2020s, it weren't for the whole, yknow, AI thing
This actually might've ended up as the important thing in global society in the 2020s, it weren't for the whole, yknow, AI thing
August 3, 2025 at 2:49 PM
I don't think Americans realize that outside the US, you can now just buy Ozempic online for $150/month. This will ultimately fall to <$50/month
This actually might've ended up as the important thing in global society in the 2020s, it weren't for the whole, yknow, AI thing
This actually might've ended up as the important thing in global society in the 2020s, it weren't for the whole, yknow, AI thing
There's a famous anecdote about the invention of the cellphone: in 1981 McKinsey estimated it'd have a TAM of <1M people, so AT&T exited the market
Turns out this anecdote is made up. AT&T's marketing team did claim this, but the engineers just ignored them and launched anyways
Turns out this anecdote is made up. AT&T's marketing team did claim this, but the engineers just ignored them and launched anyways
July 13, 2025 at 3:22 AM
There's a famous anecdote about the invention of the cellphone: in 1981 McKinsey estimated it'd have a TAM of <1M people, so AT&T exited the market
Turns out this anecdote is made up. AT&T's marketing team did claim this, but the engineers just ignored them and launched anyways
Turns out this anecdote is made up. AT&T's marketing team did claim this, but the engineers just ignored them and launched anyways
I sometimes wonder these days what % of equity research is just written by ChatGPT. But then I see UBS publish a paragraph like this and realize I'm still getting 100% authentic human content
July 6, 2025 at 11:50 PM
I sometimes wonder these days what % of equity research is just written by ChatGPT. But then I see UBS publish a paragraph like this and realize I'm still getting 100% authentic human content
It's quite striking that despite everything that's happened in AI over the last 3 years, the world is still spending *less* capex building semiconductor foundries today than in 2022
All of AI is still small enough to be washed away by consumers buying -10% fewer Android phones
All of AI is still small enough to be washed away by consumers buying -10% fewer Android phones
June 21, 2025 at 3:20 PM
It's quite striking that despite everything that's happened in AI over the last 3 years, the world is still spending *less* capex building semiconductor foundries today than in 2022
All of AI is still small enough to be washed away by consumers buying -10% fewer Android phones
All of AI is still small enough to be washed away by consumers buying -10% fewer Android phones
Of course, the big thesis for NVIDIA in 2016 was that "virtual reality is finally going to take off"
Meanwhile, AI accelerator revenues were forecasted to hit a whole... $1B in 2018. (Today, that business is runrating at $160B annualized)
Meanwhile, AI accelerator revenues were forecasted to hit a whole... $1B in 2018. (Today, that business is runrating at $160B annualized)
June 3, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Of course, the big thesis for NVIDIA in 2016 was that "virtual reality is finally going to take off"
Meanwhile, AI accelerator revenues were forecasted to hit a whole... $1B in 2018. (Today, that business is runrating at $160B annualized)
Meanwhile, AI accelerator revenues were forecasted to hit a whole... $1B in 2018. (Today, that business is runrating at $160B annualized)
When Goldman Sachs initiated on NVIDIA in 2016, there was general amazement that any semiconductor company could actually grow revenues sustainably
June 3, 2025 at 2:03 PM
When Goldman Sachs initiated on NVIDIA in 2016, there was general amazement that any semiconductor company could actually grow revenues sustainably
The top 2 Korean battery makers (LG and Samsung) have now burned nearly $10B of cash since mid-2022, just as CATL has flipped to $8B+ in annualized profits
Another 5 years of this, and the ex-Chinese battery industry is going to cease to exist
Another 5 years of this, and the ex-Chinese battery industry is going to cease to exist
April 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
The top 2 Korean battery makers (LG and Samsung) have now burned nearly $10B of cash since mid-2022, just as CATL has flipped to $8B+ in annualized profits
Another 5 years of this, and the ex-Chinese battery industry is going to cease to exist
Another 5 years of this, and the ex-Chinese battery industry is going to cease to exist
I used to cover electric vehicle stocks until I joined Google in 2020
When I left, China, Korea, and the US (via Tesla’s Panasonic JV) were all roughly equal-sized in the battery market
Fast forward to last quarter, China just crossed 50% global market share
When I left, China, Korea, and the US (via Tesla’s Panasonic JV) were all roughly equal-sized in the battery market
Fast forward to last quarter, China just crossed 50% global market share
April 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
I used to cover electric vehicle stocks until I joined Google in 2020
When I left, China, Korea, and the US (via Tesla’s Panasonic JV) were all roughly equal-sized in the battery market
Fast forward to last quarter, China just crossed 50% global market share
When I left, China, Korea, and the US (via Tesla’s Panasonic JV) were all roughly equal-sized in the battery market
Fast forward to last quarter, China just crossed 50% global market share
It’s kind of wild how much China has run away with the electric vehicle battery market in the last 5 years
The largest Chinese battery maker CATL now controls 37% of global industry sales, and 90%+ of industry profits (ex-BYD)
The largest Chinese battery maker CATL now controls 37% of global industry sales, and 90%+ of industry profits (ex-BYD)
April 24, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It’s kind of wild how much China has run away with the electric vehicle battery market in the last 5 years
The largest Chinese battery maker CATL now controls 37% of global industry sales, and 90%+ of industry profits (ex-BYD)
The largest Chinese battery maker CATL now controls 37% of global industry sales, and 90%+ of industry profits (ex-BYD)
6/ But what’s equally interesting is what happened next
Pfizer pulled the plug in 1991, and Novo Nordisk (the future makers of Ozempic) immediately bought out the Habener patents in 1992
Pfizer pulled the plug in 1991, and Novo Nordisk (the future makers of Ozempic) immediately bought out the Habener patents in 1992
April 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
6/ But what’s equally interesting is what happened next
Pfizer pulled the plug in 1991, and Novo Nordisk (the future makers of Ozempic) immediately bought out the Habener patents in 1992
Pfizer pulled the plug in 1991, and Novo Nordisk (the future makers of Ozempic) immediately bought out the Habener patents in 1992
4/ 1988, Pfizer agrees to fund MetaBio’s GLP-1 research program for $30M, in exchange for being its sole licensee
In 1990, MetaBio demonstrates GLP-1 efficacy in human trials for the first time
In 1991, Pfizer abruptly terminates the project!
In 1990, MetaBio demonstrates GLP-1 efficacy in human trials for the first time
In 1991, Pfizer abruptly terminates the project!
April 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
4/ 1988, Pfizer agrees to fund MetaBio’s GLP-1 research program for $30M, in exchange for being its sole licensee
In 1990, MetaBio demonstrates GLP-1 efficacy in human trials for the first time
In 1991, Pfizer abruptly terminates the project!
In 1990, MetaBio demonstrates GLP-1 efficacy in human trials for the first time
In 1991, Pfizer abruptly terminates the project!
3/ MetaBio was founded in 1987. That was the year Joel Habener first reported GLP-1’s ability to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion - in retrospect, the moment of “discovery” for GLP-1s
MetaBio became the first company in the world to license Habener’s GLP-1 patents
MetaBio became the first company in the world to license Habener’s GLP-1 patents
April 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
3/ MetaBio was founded in 1987. That was the year Joel Habener first reported GLP-1’s ability to stimulate glucose-dependent insulin secretion - in retrospect, the moment of “discovery” for GLP-1s
MetaBio became the first company in the world to license Habener’s GLP-1 patents
MetaBio became the first company in the world to license Habener’s GLP-1 patents
1/ Was this the biggest miss in the history of pharma? Apparently in 1990, Pfizer preemptively abandoned development of the first GLP1 drugs
Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc. were doing $60B+ in runrate revenues at the end of last year. None are made by Pfizer
Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc. were doing $60B+ in runrate revenues at the end of last year. None are made by Pfizer
April 23, 2025 at 3:49 PM
1/ Was this the biggest miss in the history of pharma? Apparently in 1990, Pfizer preemptively abandoned development of the first GLP1 drugs
Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc. were doing $60B+ in runrate revenues at the end of last year. None are made by Pfizer
Ozempic, Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, etc. were doing $60B+ in runrate revenues at the end of last year. None are made by Pfizer
I did not know this - the failed first attempt to build the Panama Canal in the 1880s cost 10% of France’s GDP
For reference, that would be equivalent to a single startup raising about $300B today
For reference, that would be equivalent to a single startup raising about $300B today
April 22, 2025 at 7:54 PM
I did not know this - the failed first attempt to build the Panama Canal in the 1880s cost 10% of France’s GDP
For reference, that would be equivalent to a single startup raising about $300B today
For reference, that would be equivalent to a single startup raising about $300B today