$1B Founder on AI, Jobs, and the Future of Work

What happens when computers stop being tools and start behaving like collaborators? In this episode, I sit down with Russ d’Sa, Founder and CEO of LiveKit, to discuss why voice AI may become one of the most important computing platforms of the next decade. Russ explains how LiveKit powers AI experiences for companies including Tesla and xAI, why voice is emerging as the natural interface for AI agents, and what the rise of digital labor means for workers, founders, and society. Highlights: Why voice AI is becoming the next major computing interface The difference between voice-first and multimodal AI experiences How AI agents are already transforming customer service, healthcare, and financial services Why speed and conversational intelligence unlocked the voice AI revolution Russ’s view on whether AI will create or destroy jobs Why creativity may become more valuable as execution gets commoditized The types of careers most resilient to AI disruption Why reputation and relationships remain difficult to automate The importance of agency, adaptability, and learning velocity in an AI-driven world How companies should think about integrating AI across their organizations Why AI-native companies may outperform incumbents over the next decade Russ’s framework for choosing execution risk over market risk when building startups The long-term bet that computers will become increasingly human-like Guest Bio: Russ d’Sa is the Founder and CEO of LiveKit, the leading infrastructure platform powering real-time voice, video, and AI applications. LiveKit has become foundational infrastructure for the emerging voice AI ecosystem, serving companies including Tesla and xAI while helping developers build next-generation AI agents and multimodal experiences. Are you interested in sponsoring the How I Invest Podcast? Please email David Weisburd at [email protected]. We’d like to thank AlphaSense for sponsoring this episode! Sponsor: AlphaSense is the AI-powered market intelligence platform trusted by 85% of the S&P 100, helping investment professionals make faster, more confident, data-driven decisions. Built for hedge funds, asset allocators, private venture capital firms, and investment bankers, AlphaSense uses advanced AI and powerful search across premium proprietary content to surface the insights that matter most—before the market moves. Elevate your research and stay ahead of the competition. Visit https://www.alpha-sense.com/howiinvest/ to learn more. Stay Connected with David Weisburd: X/Twitter: @dweisburd LinkedIn:   / dweisburd   Weisburd Pierce: https://www.weisburdcapital.com/ Stay Connected with Russ d'Sa: LinkedIn:   / russelldsa   Questions or topics you want us to discuss on How I Invest? Email us at [email protected]. Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in this episode should be interpreted as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to participate in any investment strategy. All opinions expressed by the host and guests are their own and do not represent the views of Weisburd Pierce. Participants may hold positions or have financial interests in the companies, funds, or investments discussed. Any references to specific investments are for illustrative purposes only. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of capital. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any third-party data or opinions have not been independently verified. Listeners should conduct their own research and consult their own advisors before making any investment decisions. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Why Voice AI Could Become the Next Computing Platform 4:42 The Multi-Billion Dollar Industry AI Is Replacing First 9:16 The Two Breakthroughs That Made Voice AI Finally Work 14:15 Will AI Create More Jobs or Eliminate Them? 18:55 How to Avoid Getting Replaced by AI Over the Next Decade 23:30 Why Reputation and Relationships Become More Valuable in an AI World 30:12 The Two Traits Russ Looks for in Every New Hire 33:49 When Non-Engineers Will Be Able to Build Software 41:51 Why Most Companies Are Failing to Implement AI 42:24 The One Startup Lesson He Wishes He Learned Much Earlier #privatemarkets #venturecapital #ai #fundraising #privateequity #wealthmanagement ##fundmanagement #podcast #interview #familyoffice #alpha #vc #spacex #openai #anthropic