People by WTF

A long conversation with #ElonMusk about work, consciousness, family, money, AI and how the future might unfold. No script, no performance, just two people thinking out loud. A big thank you to Manoj Ladwa - a close friend of many years and a remarkable connector of India to the world and the world to India. Through India Global Forum, he has built one of the most influential platforms showcasing India’s rise. As I’ve said before, this is India’s decade, and leaders like @ManojLadwa and India Global Forum will be the flag bearers in making that a reality.

Timestamp:

00:00 – Settling in & the first few minutes of conversation

02:00 – On X, text vs video, how people communicate

05:00 – Free speech, balance and how platforms shape thought

07:30 – Collective consciousness & translation across languages

10:30 – Meaning of life, Hitchhiker’s Guide & asking the right questions

13:30 – Individuals vs collectives

16:00 – How progress happens and why teams matter

18:30 – What makes a company worth investing in

20:00 – Work Elon is most excited about across Tesla, SpaceX and xAI

22:00 – Self-driving, real-world AI and Optimus

23:30 – Starlink explained simply

27:00 – Cities, rural life and how AI may change where we live

30:00 – “Working will be optional”: what that means

33:00 – UHI, deflation and the next 20 years36:00 – Marshmallow test & delayed gratification

38:00 – On kids, family and time

40:00 – The letter X

42:00 – Money, energy and the far future

47:00 – AI, debt & what productivity unlocks

50:00 – Simulation theory & probabilities

55:00 – Morality, religion & what makes societies stable

59:00 – Family structure & the future of population

1:03:00 – Nature, nurture & potential

1:07:00 – Should kids still go to college?

1:11:00 – Truth, beauty, curiosity in AI

1:18:00 – Podcasts, content, and how stories are changing

1:23:00 – Language, history, and what remains timeless

#NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast

Here’s to delaying gratification. The future belongs to the patient. 

#NikhilKamath Entrepreneur & Investor Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast

What struck me most in this conversation with AR Rahman was not his mastery but his humility. He talks openly about fear, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and why he constantly leaves comfort to evolve.

We got into everything, Bombay Dreams, London, Hollywood, Oscars, classical music’s future, AI composition, spiritual surrender, and why consistency matters more than lifestyle.

If you’ve ever wondered how someone stays grounded while being celebrated globally, you should watch this!

Timestamps:

00:00 – Early Life, Bangalore–Chennai Roots

03:17 – Childhood Trauma, Losing His Father & Growing Up in Studios

08:25 – Mother’s Strength, Family Survival & Entering Music Young

10:30 – Playing for Composers, Jingles & Early Experiments

13:30 – Building Panchathan Studio & Mani Ratnam Discovery

24:00 – The 90s Trend Change & Redefining Indian Music

26:36 – Classical Music, Gurus & The Spiritual Side of Art

31:00 – AI, Contrarian Thinking & Beating Predictive Models

34:29 – Talent, Practice, Singing & Evolving at Any Age

40:00 – Global Work: UN, KM Conservatory & Purpose-Driven Projects

43:18 – Fame, Privacy & The Price of Being Recognised

47:15 – Creativity, Tech & DM Collaborations

53:33 – Live Experiences, Theatre & Reinventing Entertainment

56:15 – Meta Glasses & His Passion Project

1:14:12 –His Personal Headspace, Altruism & Religious Beliefs

1:29:40 – Tu Hi Re: The Making, History & Magic Behind the Song

1:35:40 – The Future of Cinema: Immersive Screens, Haptics & Sound

1:43:54 – Final Thoughts: India, Scale, News & What’s On His Mind

 #nikhilkamath : Co-founder of Zerodha and Gruhas

Host of 'WTF is' & 'People By WTF' Podcast

Building the next Uber in India? Dara shares lessons on competition, EVs, quick commerce, and how he helped build Uber through chaos.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:22 - Dara’s visits to India

01:58 - Uber’s Indian competitors

04:42 - Growing up in Iran

10:47 - Dara on religion & spirituality

16:40 - From Iran to US

19:54 - Key lesson from Barry Diller

28:05 - How AI can reinvent travel

32:12 - Dara’s vision for fixing travel

34:50 - Decoding taste from data

36:48 - What Uber really represents

38:48 - Selling Uber Eats to Zomato

42:10 - Opportunities in mobility, delivery & quick commerce

44:32 - Authenticity & collaboration

49:26 - David vs. Goliath: Uber’s image strategy

53:29 - Team rivalry: strategy or risk?

55:59 - DoorDash vs. Uber

57:24 - Why India matters to Uber

58:31 - Opportunity vs. TAM

1:01:50 - Why quick commerce hasn’t taken off in the US

1:05:15 - Autonomous vehicles vs. drivers

1:10:02 - AVs & Indian roads

1:12:39 - Data challenges

1:13:29 - Cooking automation & the future of dining

1:17:36 - Building brands without ads

1:20:27 - Labour costs & immigration policies

1:21:03 - China’s incredible EVs

1:24:51 - The EV slowdown

1:26:48 - Will Uber become a super app?

1:29:39 - What would Dara build today?

#NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur

I finally sat down with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, to discuss the launch of GPT-5, its differences, whether we’re inching closer to agent-like AI, what it takes to build a future that’s moving at breakneck speed.

00:00 - Intro

01:13 - What’s New in GPT-5?

02:54 - Sam on First Principles, Careers & Future Industries

05:47 - What’s Possible with GPT-5

07:09 - Building on GPT-5: Skills & Science Applications

10:28 - Mastering Today’s AI Tools

11:37 - Sam’s Self-Perception & Edge at 19

13:42 - Is Humility Still an Advantage?

18:51 - Parenthood & Why He Chose It

21:19 - How Marriage, Religion & Kids Will Evolve

22:20 - Capitalism, Democracy & The Odds of Socialism

25:44 - Does AGI Make Capital Obsolete?

28:25 - Marginal Utility & the Fate of Wrappers

34:15 - Is Contrarian Thinking an Edge?

37:33 - AGI vs. Human Intelligence

38:56 - The Future of Robotics

40:55 - Where the Form Factor is Headed

42:54 - Climate Change & AI in India

#NikhilKamath - Investor & Entrepreneur