Recommended Watch: Marc Andreessen: The US is in a AI Arms Race & It Decides The World's Future
(youtube.com)
Marc Andreessen joins Joe Lonsdale for a live conversation at the inaugural Ronald Reagan Economic Forum.
They explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI and robotics catalyze a new era of American industrial strength—and how do we ensure the entire country, including rural communities, shares in the upside?
Marc walks through the history of U.S. industrialization, the lessons of tariffs and trade from leaders like McKinley, and how America’s shift to a services-based economy helped fuel our current urban-rural divide. The conversation spans immigration policy, housing, education, energy, and the path to a true AI-powered manufacturing revival—touching on what needs to change and how.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of American productivity, growth, and leadership in the age of AI.
Timecodes:
00:00 Episode intro
02:18 Understanding McKinley & Trump on tariffs
07:20 Manufacturing to services; America's economic shift
11:30 The great clash between cities & rural America
15:50 Deindustrializing was a choice
17:40 AI is a fundamental turning point
20:30 Robotics will be biggest industry ever created
23:54 High-skilled immigration + DEI hurts rural kids
29:32 What are bottlenecks to AI boom
Resources:
Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca
Follow Joe on X: https://x.com/jtlonsdale
You can find his writings here: https://blog.joelonsdale.com/
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Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z
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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see a16z.com/disclosures.
They explore one of the most urgent and complex questions of our time: Can AI and robotics catalyze a new era of American industrial strength—and how do we ensure the entire country, including rural communities, shares in the upside?
Marc walks through the history of U.S. industrialization, the lessons of tariffs and trade from leaders like McKinley, and how America’s shift to a services-based economy helped fuel our current urban-rural divide. The conversation spans immigration policy, housing, education, energy, and the path to a true AI-powered manufacturing revival—touching on what needs to change and how.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of American productivity, growth, and leadership in the age of AI.
Timecodes:
00:00 Episode intro
02:18 Understanding McKinley & Trump on tariffs
07:20 Manufacturing to services; America's economic shift
11:30 The great clash between cities & rural America
15:50 Deindustrializing was a choice
17:40 AI is a fundamental turning point
20:30 Robotics will be biggest industry ever created
23:54 High-skilled immigration + DEI hurts rural kids
29:32 What are bottlenecks to AI boom
Resources:
Find Marc on X: https://x.com/pmarca
Follow Joe on X: https://x.com/jtlonsdale
You can find his writings here: https://blog.joelonsdale.com/
Stay Updated:
Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z
Find a16z on Twitter:
/ a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn:
/ a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/
Follow our host:
/ stephsmithio Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see a16z.com/disclosures.