Podcast Summary: My First Million

Episode: The App That’ll Be Bigger Than TikTok
Date: October 3, 2025
Hosts: Sam Parr and Shaan Puri (HubSpot Media)

Overview

In this episode, Sam and Shaan explore the profound impact of the new AI app Sora, speculate on the future of content creation, discuss the blurring boundaries between single-player and multiplayer AI, examine the rise of “super apps,” and brainstorm startup opportunities around AI, addiction recovery, and personal data archives. Their excitement is matched by healthy skepticism and existential questions about the coming AI-driven transformation of everyday life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Launch of Sora: An AI Video App That Could Surpass TikTok

• Sean’s First Reactions:
  • Sora, from OpenAI (the creators of ChatGPT), lets users generate hyper-realistic AI videos using minimal prompts and a short onboarding scan of their voice and face.
  • The app is described as “weird in a way that hasn’t settled yet” ([00:00]).
  • Initial skepticism dismissed “AI slop” criticisms: “I think you’re going to be on the wrong side of history if you try to resist this.” ([00:30])
• User Experience:
  • Unique onboarding requires the user to say three numbers and look sideways, enabling Sora to capture voice and facial “essence” for instant, personalized video creation ([01:05]).
  • The app creates fully AI-generated videos, including deepfakes of oneself or, with permission, friends/celebrities.
• Notable Quotes:
  • “It just inferred my entire body from my face, which is disappointing in its own way.” – Sean ([03:04])
  • “This is 100%… I think better than TikTok. Actually. I think it’s better than TikTok. And this is V1. It’s so good.” – Co-host ([03:42])
• Bold Predictions:
  • Sora will become the fastest app to 100 million downloads once invite codes are removed due to its viral, multiplayer nature ([03:59]).
  • The app enables “multiplayer AI” — people interacting and creating with AI together — echoing social media’s viral growth loops (e.g., Facebook’s photo tagging) ([05:01]).

2. AI Tools, “Super Apps,” and Digital Transformation

• Comparison to Chinese “Super Apps”:
  • WeChat in China is cited as a model—an app that combines messaging, payments, news, and commerce.
• OpenAI’s “Pulse” for ChatGPT Pro
  • Pulse acts as a personalized, AI-written daily newsfeed generated from user interests and prior chats ([07:06]).
  • The personalized nature is described as life-changing and compared to having a hyper-attentive, helpful friend.
  • “Now Ben [Levy] has to compete with AI because AI is doing that.” – Sean ([08:16])
• Concerns About Consolidation and Power:
  • The app’s “everything” functions evoke unease over a single entity knowing more than ever before.
  • “I think [OpenAI is] potentially going to be significantly larger than every company ever and will know more about me.” – Co-host ([09:07])
  • Discusses concerns about a new kind of tech monopoly versus previous giants (Google, Facebook).

3. The Emotional Whiplash of AI Change

• Anxiety and Exhaustion:
  • Sam’s sister expresses fatigue at the relentless pace of AI innovation (“Can you just let me sit on the couch for a minute?”) ([09:34]).
  • Hosts echo the feeling of being “exhausted by the rate of change.”
  • Notable Quote:
    “Am I now super powerful or am I irrelevant? I don’t know which one.” – Co-host ([10:45])
• Dystopian and Optimistic Reactions:
  • Dystopian worry over being easily deepfaked and AI “capturing” humanity ([12:00]).
  • “Just be curious, go have fun, go play… What an amazing time to be alive.” – Sean ([12:45])

4. Betting, Addiction, and AI: Industry Disruption & Opportunity

• Exploring Sports Betting Trends:
  • “Every guy I know in a room now bets micro-bets during games using AI-powered apps.” ([16:53])
  • The normalization and ease of betting (including “prediction markets”) is discussed, with concern for addiction and the psychological toll on athletes ([17:54]).
  • Regulatory loophole: Companies can add sports-betting-like “prediction markets” in non-regulated ways ([20:05]).
• Rise of Addictions – and Solutions:
  • Birches Health is spotlighted for digital therapy addressing gambling addiction, especially in young men ([22:24]).
  • Sam discusses his own AA experience and how the sponsor system inspired tech solutions.
  • Sunflower Sober, an AI-based sponsor/chatbot, is highlighted for rapid growth and positive patient feedback ([25:25]).
  • Notable Quotes:
    • “You’re supposed to call [your sponsor] and say ‘I’m at this party and… I feel like I’m being tempted’… and you’re supposed to go above and beyond for this person.” – Sam ([25:56])
    • “In the last six months, [Sunflower Sober] went from zero to a hundred thousand users… $50,000+ in monthly recurring revenue.” – Sean ([28:37])
    • Discusses massive potential for cheap, always-available, non-judgmental AI therapy: “The AI might, you know, in some cases might be better because… always available, infinitely patient.” – Sean ([28:38])

5. Changing Youth Behaviors & Addictions

• Alcohol Use Declines, New Addictions Rise:
  • College drinking is “way less” than a generation ago, replaced with other digital distractions and addictions ([30:15]).

6. Personal Data, AI, and Memories

• Toby Lütke’s Digital Archive:
  • CEO of Shopify, Toby Lütke, logs “every letter I’ve ever typed” and screenshots every 10 minutes — creating a personal, comprehensive digital archive ([35:25]).
  • Sean and Sam are blown away by the implications (“What a one of one type of unique event… now in the world of AI, it’s all about data. This guy might have the best dataset…” – Sean ([37:14]))
  • Parallels drawn to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations as an intimate, revealing log of a leader’s mind ([37:41]).
• Nostalgia and “Home Video” Memory Projects:
  • Sam records long-form, candid home videos to document family life, inspired by “one second a day” apps ([39:22]).
  • Discussion splits between those who want to “track everything” for memories vs. those who only track data for self-improvement ([41:17]).

7. Wearables and AI Tools for Memory & Life-Logging

• Meta Glasses:
  • Recommended for capturing life “from your point of view” while staying “in the moment” ([43:09]).
  • “Perfect for parents who want to capture the moment and still be in it.” – Sean ([44:33])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Sora’s onboarding:
  “Say these three numbers out loud. …Stole your voice. Got it. …Look to the right… Got your face. …Now we could recreate your face.” – Sean ([01:05])
• On shifting from skepticism to belief:
  “It’s not AI slop… I think you’re going to be on the wrong side of history if you try to resist this.” – Sean ([00:30])
• Prediction of Sora’s impact:
  “This is going to be the most downloaded app in the history of the world in a short period of time.” – Sean ([03:59])
• On being overwhelmed by AI change:
  “Even when you talked about Pulse, it’s like, oh, another game changing thing I need to go learn. Do I try? Oh my god, am I irrelevant now? Am I super powerful or irrelevant? I can’t tell.” – Sean ([10:10])
• On the best prompt for Sora:
  “Use body cam footage to show me doing X. And it’s a cop body cam that’s following you. It’s so good.” – Sean ([16:43])
• On the value of personal data archives:
  “If he wants to create AI that thinks like him, well, guess what? He logged every keystroke and took a screenshot… He might have the best dataset that you would want to create.” – Sean ([37:14])
• On transformative access to therapy through AI:
  “You’re going to suddenly be able to pay $9 a month and have unlimited access to that expertise.” – Sean ([28:38])

Important Timestamps

• [00:00]–[03:42] – First experiences, onboarding, and Sora’s core features
• [03:59]–[06:31] – Sora’s viral growth potential and the evolution of “multiplayer AI”
• [07:06]–[09:34] – Pulse and concerns about the rise of “super app” AIs
• [09:34]–[12:45] – Exhaustion, anxiety, and how to respond to rapid AI change
• [16:53]–[21:04] – Micro-betting, sports prediction markets, and regulatory arbitrage
• [22:24]–[28:37] – Birches Health, Sunflower Sober, and the AI sponsor revolution in addiction recovery
• [35:25]–[37:41] – Toby Lütke’s “total digital archive” and parallels to Meditations
• [43:09]–[44:44] – The emerging use of Meta Glasses for lifelogging
• [44:49]–[45:15] – Teaser for the next episode: yet another transformative AI tool

Flow & Tone

The episode is enthusiastic, occasionally awestruck, and frequently self-reflective—balancing excitement about AI’s potential with real concerns about privacy, power, and the pace of change. Sam and Shaan gently riff off each other, alternating between anecdotes, business opportunities, and cultural commentary, while keeping the dialogue fast, funny, and informal.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the front lines of consumer AI, social media disruption, and the opportunities (and concerns) emerging from this tidal shift. Whether you’re a builder, investor, parent, or just a curious techie, “The App That’ll Be Bigger Than TikTok” captures the thrilling and overwhelming sense of standing at the beginning of a new era.

Tune into the next episode for follow-up on the “empowering” AI tool tease promised by Sean at the end! ([45:15])