Andreessen Horowitz is investing billions into a bleak future
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A report finds Andreessen Horowitz invests in startups that exploit regulatory gaps, from AI bot farms to gambling apps.
The article surveys 18 investments by a16z, including Doublespeed (a bot farm using thousands of phones to post AI-generated ads, targeting older people and violating platform policies) and Cluely AI (a tool for cheating on interviews and dates). A16z also funds gambling platforms like Coverd, which lets users bet on credit card bills. The firm spent tens of millions on a super PAC and policy lobbying to shape AI rules while backing these companies. The report argues that a16z profits from a lax regulatory environment it actively works to maintain.
What commenters are saying
Commenters are uniformly critical, seeing the investments as evidence of Silicon Valley optimizing for harm. One camp highlights parallels with past regulatory arbitrage (Uber, Airbnb) but argues these cases are worse due to targeting vulnerable populations. A specific correction surfaces: the article omits a16z's investment in surveillance tech Flock and Toka, which alters security footage. Multiple commenters note the irony of a16z funding dystopian tools while shaping policy. A few question the long-term viability of these business models, citing the tragedy of the commons.