Rei and Tara explore how digital interfaces are fundamentally rewiring our brains, from teenagers who can't organize files to MIT research showing AI's impact on cognitive activity. Through parenting experiences and historical parallels, they examine whether these tools are making us lazy, different, or potentially more capable in unexpected ways.Key TakeawaysYour Brain on ChatGPT: The MIT StudyAI-assisted writing shows significantly less brain activity than manual writingAI-powered essays: more polished but homogeneousHuman writing: messier but more originalThe emergence of "cognitive debt"—what happens when we outsource thinkingThe Google Effect 2.0How search engines rewired our neural pathways over 20 yearsMemory vs. reference: we've traded memorization for associationThe coming neurological changes from LLM usageThe Speed of ChangeNew AI releases are becoming the "new normal"Information velocity is exponentially increasingHumans at an "evolutionary moment" requiring adaptationCuration becoming more critical than consumptionWatch us on YouTube-----About the HostsRei Inamoto: Creative entrepreneur and founding partner of I&CO, a global innovation firm with offices in New York, Tokyo, and Singapore. Follow Rei here: Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Tara Tan: Managing partner of Strange Ventures, an early-stage firm investing in the future of computing. Follow Tara here:Tara's LinkedInNewsletter: The Strange ReviewConnect & SubscribeCulture and Code is a podcast about the biggest shifts in tech, business, and culture—before they go mainstream. New episodes on every Tuesday.
--------
26:22
--------
26:22
Intelligence As The Next OS
In this thought-provoking episode, Rei and Tara explore how artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping the operating system landscape. Sparked by Google's recent Pixel updates featuring Magic Queue and Gemini integration, they discuss whether we're witnessing the emergence of "intelligence as OS: where AI becomes the primary interface layer, making traditional app ecosystems potentially obsolete.Watch us on YouTube------About the HostsRei Inamoto Creative entrepreneur and founding partner of I&CO, a global innovation firm with offices in New York, Tokyo, and Singapore. Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Rei's global innovation firm I&COTara TanManaging partner of Strange Ventures, an early-stage firm investing in the future of computing. Tara's LinkedInNewsletter "The Strange Review"Tara's VC firm Strange VenturesConnect & SubscribeCulture and Code is a podcast about the biggest shifts in tech, business, and culture—before they go mainstream. New episodes on every Tuesday.
--------
35:06
--------
35:06
What We Can Learn about Relatability from Kpop Demon Hunters and Labubu
In this episode of Culture and Code, Rei and Tara discuss the recent popularity of fictional characters like K-Pop Demon Hunters and Labubu and what we can learn about relatability and escapism.They explore the concept of escapism and its appeal through multidimensionality and contradiction, making these characters relatable. The conversation delves into the unexpected success of K-Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix, the strategic missteps by Sony, and how modern brands could leverage multidimensionality in their narratives. Key TakeawaysSony’s misstep and Netflix’s luckSony’s $100M misstep and Netflix’s $20M investmentKpop Demon Hunters to become the No.1 hit of all time for NetflixNetflix wins with experimentation, not betsMultidimensionality of CharactersContradictions make characters relatableEmotional depth appeals across agesEscapism vs. RelatabilityFantasy works best when grounded in truthAudiences crave layered, imperfect personasTension drives authenticity and interestAI will reshape how stories are tested and scaledResources MentionedKpop Demon Hunters (Netflix)Labubu (Pop Mart)Why escapism is the new marketing currency (Vogue Business)Watch us on YouTube-----About the HostsRei Inamoto Creative entrepreneur and founding partner of I&CO, a global innovation firm with offices in New York, Tokyo, and Singapore. Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Rei's global innovation firm I&COTara TanManaging partner of Strange Ventures, an early-stage firm investing in the future of computing. Tara's LinkedInNewsletter "The Strange Review"Tara's VC firm Strange VenturesConnect & SubscribeCulture and Code is a podcast about the biggest shifts in tech, business, and culture—before they go mainstream. New episodes on every Tuesday.
--------
25:34
--------
25:34
Culture & Code: Why Quality Might Win Over Hype in Tech
In the inaugural episode of Culture & Code, hosts Rei Inamoto and Tara Tan dive deep into a fascinating contrast in the tech world: the billion-dollar data labeling company you've never heard of versus the AI giants dominating headlines. Through the lens of Surge AI's remarkable bootstrap success story, they explore whether obsessive craftsmanship can triumph over venture-backed hype machines in Silicon Valley and beyond.Key TakeawaysThe Billion-Dollar Bootstrap Nobody KnowsSurge AI: $1B+ annual revenue, zero venture funding, completely bootstrappedOutperforming Scale AI despite Scale's massive funding roundsSecret sauce: treating data labeling as craft, not commodityQuality vs. Hype in the AI RaceOpenAI's GPT-5 launch: productization over breakthroughThe power of narrative in tech (why your dad knows ChatGPT but not Claude)"Hype as infrastructure" - why some companies need buzz to compete with infinite capitalCraftsmanship in CodeProgramming as poetry, not just problem-solvingThe Japanese coffee shop principle: first principles thinking in everythingWhy a clean kitchen makes better sushi (and better software)Resources MentionedThe Information (tech publication that broke the Surge AI story)Surge AIJiro Dreams of Sushi (Netflix documentary)Jacques Marie Mage (luxury sunglass brand exemplifying quality over hype)About the HostsRei Inamoto: Creative entrepreneur and founding partner of I&CO, a global innovation firm with offices in New York, Tokyo, and Singapore. Follow Rei here: Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Tara Tan: Managing partner of Strange Ventures, an early-stage firm investing in the future of computing. Follow Tara here:Tara's LinkedInNewsletter: The Strange ReviewConnect & SubscribeThis is the official first episode of Culture & Code, a podcast about patterns in tech, business, and culture. New episodes weekly.
--------
29:58
--------
29:58
It's a wrap!
In the final episode of Season 1 of Hitmakers, Rei and Ana look back at the core themes that their discussions revolved around: how great products build great brands, why creativity is a mindset not an output, and why the most important thing of all is to care about the work that you are doing.IKEA April FoolsNike Trolls New Balance and Cooper Flagg with 4 WordsMayoHaters by NotCoWatch us on YouTubeFollow Ana here:Newsletter "The Sociology of Business"New book "Hitmakers: How Brands Influence Culture"Follow Rei here:Rei's LinkedInNewsletter "The Intersection"Rei's global innovation firm I&CO
Culture & Code is an exploration of where technology meets culture, and how they shape our future.
Every week, Tara Tan, general partner of Strange Ventures, and Rei Inamoto, a creative entrepreneur and founding partner of I&CO, decode the patterns in tech, business, and culture—before they go mainstream.
Österreich