Tomer Diari’s Post

Zuck is into combat sports. Musk is reportedly taking a "concerning" volume of drugs. OpenAI's Sam Altman allegedly has a pattern of deceptive behavior. Why is that the very people that Silicon Valley has come to think of as indispensable just can’t seem to stop taking risks? I’m not talking about the potential liabilities that come with taking big business bets — say, opening a new market or launching a new product. Rather, this is unnecessary and dangerous personal behavior, more in keeping with tech’s reputation of frat boy culture than that befitting CEOs running companies with valuations reaching as high as the trillions. One would think that if these founder-CEOs were truly indispensable, they and their boards would do whatever necessary to protect themselves and, in turn, the companies they run — that the more they have, the more they have to lose. But it seems instead that the more powerful they get, the riskier the behavior they take on. I dig into why in my latest column for Bloomberg Opinion.

In the past 5 years, mainstream Silicon Valley tech culture went from pacifist to hawkish. In 2018, Google staged walkouts in protest of supporting DoD AI efforts. Selling to the U.S. government was so controversial back then that many startups (that I know closely) did so in secret for fear of employee backlash. Many VC firms refused to take meetings with defense focused companies for fear of reputation risk in the media or amongst the broader tech community.  What’s changed? Why is defense tech now one of the "hot" sectors in Silicon Valley? I can’t fully answer this…. The primary premise for not selling to the DoD back then was based on ethical grounds--not because gov/defense market was challenging to understand or navigate. Why has the culture shifted so quickly? Is it as simple as companies like Anduril Industries, Shield AI, and others paving the way? Maybe, but again, the primary concern I saw 5+ years ago was ethical concerns, not go to market or opportunity concerns. Is it the Ukraine/Russia or Israel/Hamas conflict that reminded people that the world is scary and worthy of military/defense systems? Is it the fact that we have a new administration in the White House that is more acceptable to the tech establishment? Is it something more psychological in nature, like group think and heard mentality? Were people just too scared to voice their actual opinions then, and now they feel comfortable doing so? Or are people truly challenging their opinions? These are all things I'm trying to think about and understand. I have some opinions that anchor on the heard mentality/group think, but I'd like to make them better informed. What do you all think has changed? Comments welcome! 🇺🇸🫡

🔥 Exciting times at #SFTechWeek! 🔥 I had the privilege of attending the AWS Startups and Lightspeed Venture Partners CXO Panel today. Huge thanks to the panelists—Joshua Geist Guru Chahal Snehal Antani Vern Paxson Nikhil Gupta and Sanjay Jeyakumar —for sharing incredible insights on the future of AI and cybersecurity. We’re all excited about the upside of AI—its ability to automate tasks, scale businesses, and unlock new growth. But at the same time, we can’t ignore the rising importance of cybersecurity in this conversation. As Generative AI becomes more advanced, we’re also seeing how it can be used to carry out more sophisticated cyberattacks. AI is like nuclear energy—an incredibly powerful tool for good, but if misused, it has the potential to be dangerous. As a community, we need to strike a balance between innovation and security, making sure we push AI forward while protecting against the risks. At MyWorker AI, we’re deeply committed to harnessing AI’s potential to help businesses scale smarter and more efficiently, but we’re also mindful of the security implications as AI becomes more integrated into everyday operations. 🚀 What’s next? Looking forward to connecting with fellow founders and investors who are passionate about building the future of AI—safely and responsibly. Let’s chat—I’d love to learn more about your thoughts on AI, cybersecurity, and everything in between. Big thanks to AWS Startups and Lightspeed for hosting such a fantastic event! #AI #Cybersecurity #Innovation #CustomerAcquisition #Community #AWSStartups #SalesAutomation #MyWorkerAI #TechForGood #GenerativeAI

AI is driving a ton of data.. Cyera just raised $300M at a $1.4B valuation. Why? As AI adoption accelerates, data becomes the lifeblood and a critical asset in the enterprise. Because of this, #data has (and will) become the largest and fastest-growing attack surface for bad actors to compromise. https://lnkd.in/dTKFX6Fj

Did You Know? 🌍💻 Did you know that the United States is currently the world’s most powerful country in the IT sector? 🇺🇸 With tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and countless innovative startups leading the way, the U.S. dominates in cutting-edge technology, cybersecurity, and AI development. Its tech influence continues to shape industries worldwide, driving digital transformation across every sector. 🌐✨ #DidYouKnow #ITPowerhouse #TechIndustry #USATech #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #TechLeadership #GlobalIT #AI #TechTrends

For those affected, Windows running on AWS can follow the steps outlined here: https://lnkd.in/gM-q9x6Q

Silicon Valley prides itself on disruption: Start-ups develop new technologies, upend existing markets and overtake incumbents. This cycle of creative destruction brought us the personal computer, the internet and the smartphone. But in recent years, a handful of incumbent tech companies have sustained their dominance. Why? We believe they have learned how to co-opt potentially disruptive start-ups before they can become competitive threats.

Silicon Valley prides itself on disruption: Start-ups develop new technologies, upend existing markets and overtake incumbents. This cycle of creative destruction brought us the personal computer, the internet and the smartphone. But in recent years, a handful of incumbent tech companies have sustained their dominance. Why? We believe they have learned how to co-opt potentially disruptive start-ups before they can become competitive threats.

🌟 Let's talk about technology! 🌟 - Technology: the ultimate double-edged sword. It's transforming industries, enhancing our lives, and sometimes making us wonder if we're all just living in a sci-fi movie. - The pace at which technology is evolving is mind-boggling. Just when you think you've got the latest gadget, a newer, shinier version hits the market. - It's fascinating how a simple line of code can revolutionize the way we work, connect, and perceive the world. Technology truly is the magic of our modern age. - While technology has opened up a world of possibilities, it also raises important questions about privacy, security, and ethics. - Are we becoming too dependent on technology? Or are we simply adapting to a rapidly changing world? - Let's not forget the human element in all this tech talk. It's the creativity, innovation, and passion of individuals that drive technology forward. - Embrace the digital age, but never lose sight of the human touch that makes all the zeros and ones meaningful. - So, let's keep pushing the boundaries of technology, but always remember that it's the people behind the screens who are the true game-changers. #TechTalk #DigitalAge #Innovation #HumanTouch

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