Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Reid Hoffman doesn’t do that Do more with half measures. Co-founded LinkedInOf course, and helped finance companies including dead and Airbnb In their starting days. He has also portrayed himself, through books, podcasts and other public appearances, as a public intellectual — a pro-capitalist philosopher who still insists that technology can be a force for good.
More recently, Hoffman has emerged as one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent advocates artificial intelligence. His latest book, 2025 Super agencydemonstrates that AI will not diminish human ability but will instead amplify it. In our conversation for this week’s episode of The big interviewHoffman spoke readily about the usefulness of AI for almost everything, whether you’re looking for a research assistant or a second opinion on your blood tests. Hoffman even relied on AI to make one of the most unconventional — and perhaps uncomfortable, depending on your point of view on AI-driven creativity — Christmas gifts I’ve heard recently. (And no, he didn’t get me one).
Whatever you think of Hoffman’s utopian views on artificial intelligence, credit to him: He is also a very vocal critic of President Trump — a rare trait in a technology world that has become increasingly quiet, or relaxed, when it comes to the cruelty of the US administration. Hoffman’s public political views have not been without consequences: Trump has twice threatened to investigate him, most recently calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into Hoffman’s ties to… Jeffrey Epstein. (In 2019, Hoffman I apologize for His relationship with Epstein in mid-2010, which he says was solely related to fundraising for MIT. He then called on the government to release him Epstein Files in full.)
Despite those threats, Hoffman does not criticize: When we sat down to record this incident in mid-December, he immediately criticized the administration for insulting the US government, criticized his peers for keeping their heads down, and urged Silicon Valley to stop pretending that neutrality is a virtue. If only more billionaires said that.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Katie Drummond: Reid Hoffman, welcome to the big interview. Very happy to have you here.
Reid Hoffman: I’m happy to be here.
We like to start these conversations off with some very quick questions. A little warm-up. Are you ready?
great!
Voice memo or text message?
Text message.
Cooperative games or competitive games?
Cooperative games.
The biggest difference between you and Elon Musk?
Mind.
What is the hardest lesson you have had to learn?
Oh my God, there are so many. Maybe when do you give up?
Who do you hope will run for president in 2028?
Mind.
President’s safety.
Yes exactly. You know, it’s funny, I probably can’t give a good answer to this question. I mean, the people I want to nominate for president probably won’t.
Oh, this is too bad.
Yes.
Can’t say their names?
Since I tried to convince them to do this, I think that’s probably rude.
I’m fascinated. Next time we talk, I’ll force you to tell me. What’s the killer personal use case for AI?
Well, I just created a Christmas album as a Christmas gift to all my friends.
I assume they all know it’s AI generated music?
Yes. It is registered. We put it in the records.
So it’s from your heart to the AI…
Yes.
…to their Christmas tree.
I’ve always had this desire for Christmas music that contained sarcasm as well as affection for the holiday. So, there’s a song about ugly sweaters and, you know, all that stuff. As opposed to “Merry and Merry Christmas,” you know, it’s something that actually has some humor in it. Almost like what “Weird Al” Yankovic would do if he were making a Christmas album.