18: No, Anthropic Isn't Writing Zero Code - Let's Talk AI Myths

This week I sit down with Will to cut through the noise and talk honestly about what's really happening in AI right now. We dig into the viral claim that Anthropic's team has stopped writing code entirely — and why we think it's classic AI hype. We also talk about Claude Mythos, the model Anthropic is reportedly too scared to release, and why that language sounds eerily familiar to what OpenAI said about GPT-2 back in 2019. We get into vibe coding, scope creep, and why building fast doesn't mean building well. We discuss whether selling your data to AI companies is worth it, what the future of UGC and influencers looks like, and why distribution — not content volume — is the only real moat left. Whether you're a developer, founder, or just someone trying to make sense of the AI moment we're in, this episode is a grounded, honest take on where things actually stand.

Disclaimer:

Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. It would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend. Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/

--- CONNECT ---

Web3 with Sam Kamani: https://www.web3pod.xyz/

Build My MVP: https://www.buildmymvp.io/

Orchid Agency: https://www.orchid.agency/

Owen Patel (X/Twitter): https://twitter.com/owenpatel

Acquired Podcast: https://www.acquired.fm/

--- KEY POINTS WITH TIMESTAMPS ---

• [00:00] Introduction to the week ending April 12 and current state of the tech market

• [00:22] Will shares how project work has slowed and the economic conditions affecting clients

• [01:27] Sam talks about vibe coding a full website in under an hour and where it breaks down

• [02:20] Why scope creep is just as dangerous in AI-assisted development as traditional dev

• [03:30] The viral claim that Anthropic's team writes zero code — and why we're skeptical

• [05:11] AI hype then vs now: GPT-2 was 'too dangerous to release' in 2019, same language today

• [05:57] Claude Mythos — the new Anthropic model estimated at $10B to train

• [08:25] Should creators sell their data to AI companies? Sam reflects on 500 podcast episodes

• [09:25] Will's take on open source and why keeping data proprietary may not pay off

• [13:51] The UGC and influencer economy under threat from AI-generated personas

• [15:56] Will's practical use case: building a Node.js SEO research tool using API integrations

• [17:42] Automating SEO research with agents — where it works and where it still falls short

• [18:55] Why publishing 20,000 AI blog articles doesn't give you a lasting edge

• [20:40] The Acquired Podcast made $12M in 2025 doing just a few episodes a year — quality wins

• [22:08] Fake engagement in crypto Twitter and why most follower counts are meaningless

• [24:02] Closing thoughts: find the utility in AI, ignore the hype, and keep building