Is GitHub Spark the future of AI software building?

Startups looking to use “vibe coding” often face janky tools and broken promises. Microsoft's latest IDE, however, has serious potential to be the industry breakthrough that addresses the agonizing issues developers face.

In this episode, Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein unpack Microsoft’s latest attempt to win back developer mindshare with the launch of GitHub Spark, a cloud-based, AI-enhanced IDE. They debate whether Spark is an MVP for building micro-apps or a Trojan horse for a more ambitious plan to dominate developer workflows.

Plus, the hosts dive into Trump’s executive order on “woke AI,” Coinbase’s bold relaunch of Base as a social platform, and YouTube’s machine-learning age verification for teens.

In this episode, you will:

• Explore what GitHub Spark is and why it matters for the future of AI-powered software development
• Understand Microsoft’s positioning strategy and why it might be hiding bigger ambitions
• Compare Spark to tools like Cursor, Claude Code, and Windsurf
• Learn how Trump’s executive order frames “neutral AI” and why it’s likely political theater
• Assess whether Coinbase’s “Base App” is crypto’s answer to YouTube and Twitter
• Discover the implications of YouTube’s new AI-based teen detection system
• Debate the real risks and rewards of AI regulation and social media safety

The Pact

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Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

AI is changing how we build startups, but how can founders leverage it without their product becoming slop?

Too many early-stage entrepreneurs believe that faster prototyping automatically leads to better products. In reality, rushing to “ship something” can destroy product-market fit before it’s even tested.

In this Q&A episode, Yaniv Bernstein (ex-Google, ex-Airtasker) and Chris Saad (former Head of Product at Uber) answer your burning questions about startup strategy, from hiring and product design to breaking industry rules. They reveal how to separate real innovation from AI-washing and why “contrarian and right” is the only strategy that works.

In this episode:

• Discover which AI-adjacent startup opportunities are attracting real investor interest (and which ones to avoid)
• Learn how to rethink your MVP strategy in an AI-powered world without falling into the “build fast, fail fast” trap
• Understand when and how to break conventional startup rules to gain a genuine competitive edge
• Avoid the most common hiring mistakes founders make, including the “warm body” trap and hiring the wrong senior execs
• Identify the difference between a great product manager and a glorified project manager (and when to hire one)

The Pact

Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
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Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Is Uber’s gamble on RoboTaxis a brilliant move, or the end of its asset-light magic? And what’s really going on inside OpenAI as it races to dominate AI?

Many founders assume hypergrowth companies are perfectly coordinated machines, but the reality is far messier. From billion-dollar GPU costs to chaotic product launches, there’s a lot for entrepreneurs to learn from how these giants operate.

Chris Saad and Yaniv Bernstein break down Uber’s 20,000-car RoboTaxi deal with Lucid and Nuro, and delve into what it means for the future of ride-hailing. They also discuss OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent, the company’s internal culture, and why GPU costs might be the most important factor shaping the AI race.

In this episode:

• Understand why Uber is moving away from its asset-light model to own RoboTaxis
• Discover how Uber plans to compete with Waymo, Tesla, and other autonomous vehicle players
• Learn the economics of hybrid fleets—and why surge pricing is still critical
• Unpack OpenAI’s confusing product lineup and what it reveals about their culture
• Evaluate why GPU costs dominate OpenAI’s strategic decisions
• Explore the risks of AI agents acting autonomously—and why reliability is still a huge issue
• Take away lessons founders can apply when scaling teams and managing chaotic hypergrowth

The Pact

Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:

• Follow, rate, and review us in your listening app
• Subscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe
• Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/
• Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg
• Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media following

Key links

Get your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A

The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/

Learn more about Chris and Yaniv

Work 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/

Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/

Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/

Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthur

Intro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/