The Silicon Valley Tarpits

Daddy, how did the cofounders fall into these tarpits?

Well, son, it was a long long a time ago—

How long? Millions of years ago?

No, not that long ago. I see ML engineers, so maybe 2023 or early 2024, during the early LLM epoch. Feels like years, doesn't it? I remember—

But why do the cofounders risk it? Can't they see it's dangerous?

They ignore the risks because all the VCs are in there.

Well, why do the VCs go in there?

Great question! It's because the founders are there.

But how did so many of them get stuck? Don't they see the other ones drowning?

Yes, but all of them believe they're smarter than the others.

So which ones end up making it back out?

The survivors — by definition!

Daaaad—

Ha! Sorry. I guess the only ones that make it out are those who can outsmart the tar.

Outsmarting the tar? So does that mean there's really gold at the bottom?

Nobody knows yet! What do you think?

Hmm. I don't know. I think I want to believe. Is that okay?

Yep, totally fine. Just remember that you only get one shot at life, and gold is-

Dad! A gift shop! A gift shop! Can we go in? Pleeeeeaaaase?