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AI Brews Drugs & Enters Trials, What's Creative Success and more

OpenAI blows $500B in the AI Infrastructure of the US.

Author

Charbel Zeaiter
January 23, 2025

Good morning, and apologies for the silence! I’ve had to step out for a few days as a generous, lovely, warm Aunt left this mortal coil this week. Death is always a reminder for me to go all in on life and remember what matters: our wellness, our loved ones and our communities.

Today’s newsletter is packed. DT has taken centre stage (as if that’s news) and has signed a trillion executive orders. There’s a $500B AI project “Moonshot” coming up and a lovely perspective on skeptics not being great customers. Having come from a hospitality background way back when, I’ve always held the belief that not every customer is always right.

As you head towards the weekend, I pray that you can find some space to turn to a loved one and remind them that you’re here for them.

This is a prayer post I published at the start of the year, hope there’s something in there for you.

With Love and Wonder,
Charbel
Founder of Velvet Onion, Faster Zebra and more to come …

Today’s Highlights

  • AI: OpenAI's Stargate Project: A $500B Moonshot to the US AI Infrastructure

  • Design: Recognition Doesn’t Imply Creative Success

  • Science & Tech: AI-Designed Drugs Could Enter Trials This Year

  • Founding: Filter Your Buyer Base: Skeptics Don’t Make Good Customers

  • Product: 1 Timeless Technique to Validate Your Startup Idea

  • Today’s AI image: $500B!

  • Quote for the day: This Shall Be Our Motto

AI

OpenAI's Stargate Project: A $500B Moonshot to the US AI Infrastructure

OpenAI has joined forces with SoftBank, Oracle, and other tech behemoths to launch “The Stargate Project,” a $500 billion initiative aimed at bolstering U.S. AI infrastructure.

This massive investment coincides with President Trump’s swift repeal of a Biden-era executive order that mandated AI safety oversight and established the AI Safety Institute.

The Plan

  • Kickstarting with $100 Billion: The project will commence with a hefty $100B investment, funnelling funds into colossal data centres in Texas before scaling operations across the country.

  • Job Bonanza: The initiative promises to generate “hundreds of thousands” of jobs, solidifying America’s position as a global leader in AI innovation.

  • Big Names, Bigger Tech: Key players like Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm are teaming up to push boundaries in AI chips and cloud infrastructure.

Why is this a big deal?

The Stargate Project’s jaw-dropping $500B scope, paired with unprecedented collaboration among industry giants, could completely transform the AI landscape.

This bold move underscores America’s prioritisation of rapid progress in the global AI race—possibly at the expense of rigorous safety measures.

While the initiative aims to cement U.S. dominance in AI and AGI development, the timing signals a clear pivot towards speed over caution—a gamble that could either secure unparalleled innovation or leave a trail of unchecked risks.

Also in AI

Design

Recognition Doesn’t Imply Creative Success

Success in the creative industries has long been linked to awards, high-profile clients, and public acclaim.

However, as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of 2025, creatives are beginning to question these traditional markers.

Is success really about trophies and titles, or is it something more personal and fulfilling?

  • External recognition, like awards and client shout-outs, is fleeting.

  • Many creatives report feeling hollow after achieving traditional milestones.

  • Instead, fulfilment often arises unexpectedly in quieter, more personal moments.

  • Designers and artists frequently find success in the act of creation itself—refining a skill, completing a project, or inspiring others.

  • While money isn’t the ultimate goal, it’s essential for sustaining a creative career.

  • For many, success means earning enough to live comfortably while pursuing their passions.

  • Increasingly, creatives are focusing on the impact of their work, whether it’s addressing social issues, connecting with audiences, or simply bringing joy.

Why It Matters

The shift away from traditional success metrics reflects a broader cultural change.

Creatives are rejecting the rat race of accolades and external validation, prioritising personal fulfilment, balance, and meaningful work instead.

This redefinition empowers individuals to carve their own globes and find joy in the journey.

Also in Design

Science & Tech

AI-Designed Drugs Could Enter Trials This Year

AI is poised to transform the pharmaceutical industry, with Isomorphic Labs, a spinoff from Google DeepMind, heading to fast-track drug development.

Its AI-designed drugs could enter clinical trials by the end of the year, potentially reshaping how treatments are discovered and delivered.

  • Isomorphic Labs wants to shrink drug discovery timelines from years to weeks, thanks to AI's knack for crunching mountains of data.

  • CEO Demis Hassabis and scientist John Jumper snagged a Nobel Prize for cracking protein structure predictions.

  • Team-ups with pharma heavyweights like Eli Lilly and Novartis show how AI and medicine are becoming best mates.

  • The third-gen AlphaFold tool deciphers DNA, RNA, and molecular interactions faster than you can say "breakthrough."

  • Hassabis says true AI supremacy is still a few years (and a couple of big eureka moments) away.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

The integration of AI in drug development could revolutionise healthcare, slashing costs, saving time, and potentially addressing previously untreatable conditions.

By shortening discovery timelines, life-saving treatments could reach patients faster, with fewer resources wasted on trial-and-error research.

Founding

Filter Your Customer Base: Skeptics Don’t Make Good Customers

In startups, we often spend too much time theorising about who might need our product.

We aim to make our value proposition irresistible and then try to convince people. But, much like an exorcist, by the time someone reaches you, they’re already convinced.

The key is to find customers who are so desperate for a solution that they don’t need any convincing.

Reverse-Engineering from the Right Audience

  • Instead of guessing who might benefit from your product, focus on the ones who’ve already said, “thank goodness you’re here!”

  • Look for those who are so in need that your solution feels like a lifeline.

  • Identify these “n of 1” customers who bought quickly and passionately, then design your case study and go-to-market strategy around them.

  • Trying to persuade the unpersuadable is a waste of time. Find your early adopters who are desperate for a fix, and let your future self figure out how to expand from there.

  • The goal is to survive long enough to grow fast, not to make things harder than they need to be.

Also in Founding

Product

1 Timeless Technique to Validate Your Startup Idea

No matter how flashy the features, how sleek the user experience, or how advanced the AI, if people aren’t interested or willing to pay, your startup is doomed.

The hard truth? You need to find the right people who care, and that starts with customer interviews.

But how do you track down these potential customers when you have no product or brand? And once you find them, what do you ask? Here’s how to get started.

Customer Interviews

  • Focus on your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). At first, you might not know exactly who they are, but you’ll have a general sense.

  • Don’t stress over the ideal interview. Even a partial conversation is better than nothing.

  • People love sharing their opinions, but hate feeling like they’re being surveyed.

  • Frame the conversation as seeking their expert advice, and make it easy for them to book time with you.

  • Cold outreach is tough, so don’t take it personally. A 10% response rate is excellent—just keep pushing.

Effective Techniques for Finding Customers

  • Leverage Your Network: Ask everyone you know to introduce you to potential customers.

    Be clear about your ICP and ask for referrals after each interview. This can create a never-ending supply of conversations.

  • Use LinkedIn: It’s perfect for finding the right people. Research your targets, personalise your outreach, and offer to pay for their time.

    Reciprocity works wonders, and with the right approach, you’ll get high engagement.

  • Network at Events: Conferences and networking events are goldmines for meeting your ICP.

    Have a few key questions ready, and if you can, grab a speaking slot for instant credibility.

  • Engage in Online Communities: Reddit, Discord, Slack, and Facebook Groups are great for discovering where your ICP hangs out.

    Participate in discussions, ask questions, and build relationships. Avoid selling, but learn from the community.

Today’s AI Image

$500B!

Quote of the Day

This Shall Be Our Motto

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

Henry David Thoreau

What we’re working on

Velvet Onion & Friends

The new Velvet Onion & Friends will be launched soon. It’s our latest evolution, helping companies build products. It’s more than services.

Faster Zebra

February 2025 - the product and venture school journey begins. Whitepaper launching in January.

🧞Your wish is my command

Charbel

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