In this episode, a16z's Anish Acharya joins Kevin Rose for an in-depth, fast-paced conversation on the rebirth of consumer technology, and how AI is reshaping what it means to build, invest, and create. They talk about why AI has reignited the consumer renaissance, what it means to build “weird and working” products, and how the next wave of apps will blend emotion, utility, and creativity in entirely new ways. From AI companions and “emotional interfaces” to the tools making it possible to build entire startups solo, Kevin and Anish explore what’s emerging at the edge of culture and code. This is a conversation about the future of creation, where consumer tech meets human feeling, and why the next big ideas will come from people bold enough to be weird. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 00:43 Ketones 02:10 Kevin and Anish: From Google to GV 04:35 How One Call Changed a Career 05:58 Life at Google Ventures and Early Consumer Bets 07:50 AI’s Renaissance for Consumer Products 09:56 Big Tech, Models, and True Consumer Innovation 11:48 Companionship Apps and the Future of Human Connection 14:01 The Optimistic and Pessimistic Views on AI Relationships 17:36 Emotional Tech and Extending Human Feelings 19:18 Poke and the Rise of Emotional Interfaces 21:05 Weird and Working: How to Spot Great Founders 25:32 The Power of “Weird” in Consumer Products 27:43 Human Behavior Shifts: From Uber to Airbnb 30:05 Always-On Companions and AI in Relationships 33:38 Building in the AI Era: Vibe Coding and New Tools 40:08 The Modern AI Dev Stack and Building Apps Solo 47:25 AI Music, Creativity, and the Next Cultural Wave 53:50 Curiosity, Risk, and Finding the Next Big Thing 01:05:10 The Future of Work, Creativity, and Technical Education 01:15:00 Always-On Recording and Social Norms in Tech 01:22:20 Closing Thoughts Stay Updated: If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends! Resources: Follow Kevin on X: https://x.com/kevinrose Follow Anish on X: https://x.com/illscience Find a16z on X: https://x.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Listen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYX Listen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711 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.