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Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian predicts live theater and sports will become more popular than ever as AI grows

20 December 2024 at 09:57
image of Alex ohanian smiling
Alexis Ohanian discussed the future of AI on the podcast "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" this week.

Elsa/Getty Images

  • Alexis Ohanian predicts AI will drive demand for more raw human experiences.
  • In 10 years, live theater will be more popular than ever, the Reddit cofounder contends.
  • He says no matter what jobs are replaced by AI, humans will always have an advantage in empathy.

Alexis Ohanian predicted that in a future oversaturated with artificial intelligence, people will seek out more raw, emotive human experiences.

And in 10 years, he said, live theater will be more popular than ever.

The 41-year-old, who co-founded social media platform Reddit in 2005, told the "On Purpose with Jay Shetty" podcast this week that AI will soon have an undeniable impact on nearly every aspect of society, including the entertainment sector.

Ohanian, who also founded venture capital firm Seven Seven Six in 2020, said that the industry will see a big shift when AI makes on-screen entertainment better, faster, cheaper, and more dynamic β€” which he said is happening.

Every screen we look at will become so programmed to show us "what we want, when we want it, how we want it," he said, that "a part of our humanity will miss, you know, thousands of years ago when we were sitting around a campfire and that great storyteller was doing the voices and the impressions.'"

"That's ingrained in our species," he said.

And that kind of raw, in-person magic will feel novel, he suggested.

"I actually bet 10 years from now live theater will be more popular than ever," Ohanian said. "Because, again, we'll look at all these screens with all these AI-polished images, and we'll actually want to sit in a room with other humans to be captivated for a couple hours in a dark room to feel the goosebumps of seeing live human performances."

The same is true for sports, he told Shetty. "We need humans doing that. We need to feel their pain and their success and their triumphs," he said. "Those are the areas that get me most hopeful."

AI can't replace genuine human empathy, Ohanian suggested.

No matter what jobs robots take over from us in the future, fields of work where empathy is a core component of the job will have an advantage, he said. And that's why one of the most important, marketable skills he's teaching his kids is empathy, he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider

How sports-tech power couple Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian make and spend their millions

Alexis Ohanian (center), Olympia Ohanian (left), and Serena Williams.
Alexis Ohanian (center), Olympia Ohanian (left), and Serena Williams.

Charles Krupa/AP

  • Serena Williams, one of the greatest athletes ever, is married to Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian.
  • Separately, they've accrued vast amounts of money thanks to their successful careers.
  • Their combined wealth allows them to make fascinating investments and lead a fabulous lifestyle.

Serena Williams is arguably the most dominant tennis player in the history of the sport, earning over $90 million in prize money throughout her career.

Alexis Ohanian founded the popular website Reddit and became a multimillionaire at age 23 when he sold it.Β 

The two met in May 2015, married shortly after, and have two children. Their estimated combined net worth is $330 million, which they spend on beautiful homes and a globe-trotting lifestyle.Β 

Take a look at how the sports-tech power couple make and spend their millions.

Serena Williams has a net worth of more than $260 million.
Serena Williams wears a white tennis dress and pink sleeves in front of a crowd
Serena Williams during the 2016 US Open.

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Her wealth, in large part, comes from earning more than $94 million in career prize money β€” considerably more than any other professional women's tennis player.Β 

Williams has also earned millions from endorsement deals.
A Nike advertisement on a large scale digital billboard on the exterior of the Outernet building featuring tennis champion Serena Williams in London reading "Been there, won that"
A Nike billboard featuring Serena Williams on display in London in July 2024.

Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images

She's partnered with Nike, Beats by Dre, Gatorade, Subway, Gucci, JPMorgan Chase, Tempur-Pedic, Ford, Aston Martin, Audemars Piguet, Intel, and Wilson.

In 2015, she debuted her own clothing line with HSN, the Serena Williams Signature Statement collection.
Serena Williams holds sunglasses on her face in front of a green Balmain Paris backdrop
Serena Williams attends the Balmain Ready To Wear Fall/Winter 2022-2023 fashion collection.

Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP

"I wanted to showcase a lot of fringe," she said, explaining the inspiration for her designs to Women's Wear Daily in 2015.

In May 2017, she began serving on the board of SurveyMonkey.
Serena Williams shown from the shoulders up wearing a sleeveless black dress
Serena Williams at the Taste of Tennis Gala in 2015.

Brad Barket/Getty Images for AYS

That year, she and the company conducted a survey looking at Americans' perceptions of the gender pay gap. On average, women continue to earn less than men, according to Pew Research.

Nike honored their longtime partnership with Williams by naming a building after her in 2022.
Serena Williams building Nike
The Serena Williams Building at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon.

Nike

Nike's headquarters, located in Beaverton, Oregon, includes a 1-million-square-foot building with 140 tennis courts, which Nike named the Serena Williams Building. Williams became a Nike athlete in 2003.

Will Smith played her father in "King Richard," the 2021 film that Williams executive produced along with her sister, Venus.
The cast of King richard
Will Smith played Richard Williams, Serena and Venus' father.

Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The movie dramatized the sisters' childhood, when their father served as their coach and helped them rise to tennis stardom. Williams hoped sequels would follow, focusing on the ways Serena's and Venus' stories diverged, she told Business Insider in 2022.

In the summer of 2015, Williams began dating tech guru Alexis Ohanian.
Alexis Ohanian in a tux next to Serena Williams in a green dress
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams pose together in 2017.

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

The two married in 2017, less than two years after they met and a month after the birth of their first child.Β 

Williams told Vanity Fair she knew he was going to propose when he asked her to fly to Italy. "I was like, 'Serena, you're 35, you're ready. This is what you want,' " she remembered thinking.

Ohanian founded the popular social media platform Reddit in 2005.
Alexis Ohanian in a suit stands in front of many protesters holding signs reading "Stop PIPA"
Alexis Ohanian addresses protesters in 2012.

AP Photo/Richard Drew

A year later, he sold the site to CondΓ© Nast for $10 million. He was 23 years old.

The Reddit deal instantly gave Ohanian more money than his parents had made their entire lives, he said.
alexis ohanian wears a suit and yellow tie on the Webby Awards red carpet
Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian at the Webby Awards in 2014.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Reddit is now worth billions. Ohanian later said the money was enticing because his mother was sick with terminal cancer at the time.Β 

"The deal was months in the making, and I wish I'd had more advisors around the table giving me more perspective on the sale," he wrote on Twitter, now X, in 2020.

After leaving Reddit in 2009, he had stints at various companies like the travel search site Hipmunk, the startup accelerator Y Combinator, and the social enterprise Breadpig.

Ohanian rejoined Reddit as an executive chairman in 2014 then resigned in 2020.
Alexis Ohanian on stage in front of a colorful red and green digital background
Alexis Ohanian speaks at Web Summit 2018.

Seb Daly/Web Summit via Getty Images

His resignation was in response to the site's long reputation as a platform for racist and misogynistic content, as well as for misinformation. He urged the company to fill his seat with a Black candidate instead.

Michael Seibel joined as the company's first Black board member days later.

After leaving Reddit, he focused on investing in new companies.
Alexis Ohanian sits on stage wearing red sneakers and mic
Alexis Ohanian speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2015.

Noam Galai/Getty Images

In 2020, Ohanian also left Initialized Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm he co-founded in 2011.Β 

A year later, he announced a new VC firm called "Seven Seven Six."Β 

The firm has invested in women's track and Colin Kaepernick's AI company. Previously, Ohanian pledged $1 million to Kaepernick's Know Your Rights Camp using his Reddit stock gains.

Ohanian has an estimated net worth of $70 million, giving the power couple a combined value of $330 million.
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams got married in 2017.
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams attend the 2019 Met Gala.

Mike Coppola/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue

In 2019, Forbes estimated Ohanian's net worth was $70 million and put Williams' fortune at $260 million in 2022.Β 

The duo met in the spring of 2015 at the Cavalieri, a luxury hotel that boasts the only restaurant in Rome with three Michelin stars.
Serena Williams in a gray dress with Alexis Ohanian in a tux at the 2018 Brand Genius Awards
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the 2018 Brand Genius Awards.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Ohanian sat down next to Williams outside by the pool, Vanity Fair reported in 2017. After trying to get him to move to a new table, she and her friends invited him to join them.

Ohanian had never watched Williams play β€” and wasn't much of a tennis fan β€” but he agreed to come to her match that night.

Ohanian and Williams went on their first date in Paris the following month.
The Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris
The Jardin des Plantes, a public park in Paris.

John S Lander/LightRocket via Getty Images

The pair walked around the Jardin des Plantes, and Ohanian bought Williams some candy.Β 

Two chaperones accompanied them on their first date, Williams' agent and assistant, Ohanian recently said on TikTok.Β 

Ohanian then went to watch her play in the French Open later that week.

Ohanian proposed at the Cavalieri β€” where they first met β€” on December 10, 2016.
A car and man wearing a suit and mask wait outside the Cavalieri hotel in Rome, Italy in 2022
The Cavalieri Hotel in Rome in 2022.

REUTERS/Remo Casilli

He got down on one knee at the same table where they had sat over a year before.Β 

Her engagement ring is reportedly worth more than $2 million.
Serena Williams holds a microphone in front of a purple background
Serena Williams speaks at the Pennsylvania Conference for Women in 2018.

Matt Rourke/AP

To pay for the 17-carat diamond, Ohanian used part of the $50 million he got from crypto exchange Coinbase and other investments, he told Forbes in 2023.

In 2017, Williams dominated the Australian Open while eight weeks pregnant.
Serena Williams with the with the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup at the 2017 Australian Open
Serena Williams at the 2017 Australian Open.

Scott Barbour/Getty

Ohanian cheered on Williams, who won her 23rd Grand Slam and earned $2.7 million.

Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. was born in September 2017 and goes by Olympia.
Alexis Ohanian holds baby Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. who is wearing a red and white headband with a re bow at at tennis match
Alexis Ohanian holds Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr in 2019.

AP Photo/Chuck Burton

Following in her mother's footsteps, Olympia is a burgeoning fashion icon.

Olympia became the youngest person to grace the cover of Vogue at three months old.

Williams and Ohanian purchased a piece of LA's Angel City soccer team and put a portion in Olympia's name.
Alexis Ohanian holds daughter Olympia Ohanian on his lap while watching a soccer game at at BMO Stadium
Alexis Ohanian and Alexis Olympia Ohanian before an Angel City FC match in 2023.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

At the time, Olympia, who was two, was the youngest owner of a professional sports team.

Nearly a month after Olympia's birth in 2017, Ohanian and Williams tied the knot in an opulent wedding in Louisiana.
Alexis Ohanian in a tux next to Serena Williams in an ombre pink, black, and white feathered wrap over a silver jumpsuit
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams attend the 2021 Met Gala.

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Williams wore an estimated $3.5 million worth of jewelry at the ceremony. For the reception, she changed into a pair of sparkly Nikes covered in Swarovski crystals.

Less than a year later, Williams and Ohanian attended one of the few ceremonies more extravagant than their own: the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle in England.
Serena Williams wears a pink dress next to Alexis Ohanian in a suit and gray tie
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018.

Shaun Botterill/Getty

Williams and Markle have been friends since 2014.Β 

"She quickly became a confidante I would text when I was traveling, the friend I would rally around for her tennis matches, and the down to earth chick I was able to grab lunch with just a couple weeks ago in Toronto," Markle wrote on her blog, The Tig, in 2014.

Williams and Ohanian have a mutual love of football.
Serena Williams and Venus Williams hold Dolphins jerseys with their names on them and the numbers 89 and 11
Serena and Venus Williams hold Dolphins jerseys in 2009.

Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Williams and her sister, Venus, became partial owners of the Miami Dolphins in 2009.

And Ohanian's first purchase after selling Reddit was field-level season tickets to Washington's football franchise for himself and his father.
Alexis Ohanian in the stands at Allegiant Stadium wearing a black baseball cap
Alexis Ohanian attends a game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Football Team in 2021.

Chris Unger/Getty Images

"My dad had two nosebleeds for a number of years, and I upgraded his seats to four seats at the front row around the 50-yard line," he told CNBC in 2018.

At one point, Ohanian, Williams, and Olympia lived in a $6.7 million home in Beverly Hills, California, but they've since listed that property for sale.
Alexis Ohanian and Serena Williams and their daughter Olympia all wear black on a red carpet with AFI film festival written on the black backdrop
Alexis Ohanian, Olympia Ohanian, and Serena Williams at the AFI Fest Gala Premiere of "King Richard" in 2021.

Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

The family purchased the 6,000-square-foot home in 2017. It has a bar, pool, and spacious kitchen but no tennis court.Β 

They spend most of their time in Florida, where they own a stunning property in Palm Beach Gardens. The house includes an art gallery and trophy room.

They also have homes in Paris and Bel Air. One of her houses has an entire closet dedicated to her shoe collection.

Williams also enjoys luxury cars.
Serena Williams carrying a baby carrier next to a light blue SUV
Serena Williams holds a baby carrier in 2017.

Alexander Tamargo/GC Images

When she was Aston Martin's chief sporting officer, she was photographed with a $300,000 Vanquish. In 2018, she became a brand ambassador for Lincoln.Β 

Not all of the couple's purchases are so pricey.
Alexis Ohanian wearing a black t-shirt and jacket against a black-and-white background
Alexis Ohanian attends WIRED25 Summit in 2018

Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for WIRED25

Ohanian also buys comics and video games.

Though they lead a lavish lifestyle, Ohanian and Williams are also very philanthropic.
Serena Williams in a sleveless beige suit against a vibrant pink background
Serena Williams attends the Viva Technology show in 2024.

Chesnot/Getty Images

In 2011, the United Nations Children's Fund appointed Williams as a goodwill ambassador. UNICEF noted her work in Ghana in 2006, handing out anti-malarial nets and promoting vaccinations.Β 

When Colin Kaepernick's 2018 Nike ad sparked controversy, she tweeted that she was "especially proud" to work with the brand. She previously voiced her support for the NFL player's activism as well.Β 

Ohanian is also an outspoken advocate for digital privacy.
Alexis Ohanian smiles in the crowd at the Australian Open
Alexis Ohanian cheers on Serena Williams at the 2019 Australian Open.

REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

In his 2013 book, "Without Their Permission," he imagined a dismal, not-too-distant future β€” in 2025 β€” where the notion of privacy had completely disappeared.Β 

He's also donated money to organizations working to diversify tech companies' talent pools.Β 

At the 2023 Met Gala, Williams announced she was pregnant with their second child.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the 2023 Met Gala.
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian attend the 2023 Met Gala.

Mike Coppola/Getty Images

The tennis player posted pictures of herself and Ohanian on Instagram, writing: "Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala."

Adira River Ohanian was born on August 15, 2023.
Serena Williams wears a red-white-and-navy crop top with Alexis Ohanian who is wearing a white baseball hat and camo jacket
Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian at the Leagues Cup match in July 2023, shortly before she gave birth to their second child.

Nick Tre. Smith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

"Adira is a girl's name of Hebrew origin and means 'mighty,' 'strong,' and 'majestic.' The elegant name is popular in many cultures around the world," Williams wrote on Instagram on her daughter's first birthday. "Adira is the feminine form of the classic name Adir. It is a Biblical name, meaning 'Strong One.' "

The family travels the world together.
Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, and daughter Olympia in the crowd at the Paris Olympic Games
Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, and their daughter Olympia attend the Opening Ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.

Karwai Tang/WireImage via Getty Images

Olympia accompanied her parents to the 2024 Olympics in Paris this summer and on an island-hopping vacation last winter.

In November, Ohanian revealed he'd undergone surgery to remove part of his thyroid.
Alexis Ohanian onstage seated in a white chair in front of a backdrop that reads Sportico Invest
Alexis Ohanian at Sportico's Invest in Sports New York in November 2024.

Bryan Bedder/Sportico via Getty Images

Doctors feared the nodules on his thyroid might be cancerous, so they removed half of the gland.Β 

"The worst part tbh has been not being able to lift for 2 weeks but big fella will be back at it next week and I took my girls to Disney World this week so life is wonderful," he wrote on Instagram.

He urged other men, especially fathers, to go to the doctor for regular checkups. Earlier this year, Ohanian was diagnosed with Lyme disease as well.

As the couple grew their family, Williams found it difficult to make time for her tennis career.
Serena Williams waves to a crowd wearing tennis whites and holding a large white bag
Serena Williams waves at Wimbledon in 2022.

AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali

Β In August 2022, she announced her intention to retire after the US Open.Β 

"If I were a guy, I wouldn't be writing this because I'd be out there playing and winning while my wife was doing the physical labor of expanding our family," she wrote in an essay for Vogue.

At the end of her career, Williams was still the second-highest-paid woman in sports.
Serena Williams wearing a black tennis dress and holding a raquet on a court
Serena Williams competes at the US Open in 2022.

Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

In 2021, she made $45.9 million. Most of that money came from endorsement deals and other ventures.

She said she has never been motivated by money and never thought about checks.
Serena Williams of the United States reacts during the Western & Southern Open.
Serena Williams during the Western & Southern Open in 2022.

Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

"I've actually never played for money β€” I just thought you would go out there and hold a trophy," Williams said on "Kneading Dough," a personal-finance video series, in 2018.

She tried to deposit her first million-dollar check through a bank drive-thru before the teller told her she needed to come inside for such a large transaction.

But there is plenty to come from Williams, who says she's passionate about investing in start-ups.
Serena Williams sits in a white chair on stage wearing a green dress in front of a blue backdrop
Serena Williams speaks during the New York Times DealBook Summit in December 2024.

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Along with Alison Stillman, Williams launched Serena Ventures in 2014. The firm's goal is to fund women and other founders who are underrepresented.Β 

"I've invested in over 85 companies, and I also have about 14 unicorns," Serena said in an April TikTok video. Unicorns are privately owned companies valued at over $1 billion.Β 

Some of her investments include MasterClass, Tonal, Impossible Foods, and Noom, Vogue reported in 2022.

Williams said she became interested in investing when she was shocked to learn that less than 2% of all venture capital money was invested in women.
Serena Williams attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Serena Williams attends the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars party.

Lionel Hahn/Getty Images

Williams told Forbes she had goals beyond just being an endorsement athlete, "I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face."


Β 

She's also still getting endorsement deals. In 2023, Williams appeared in two Super Bowl ads.
Serena Williams wears a red dress and jacket and holds a golf club
Serena Williams attends the Michelob Ultra & Netflix β€œFull Swing” Premiere & Super Bowl After Party in February 2023.

Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for Michelob ULTRA

One was a "Caddyshack" homage for Michelob ULTRA, and the other was a locker room pep talk for RΓ©my Martin.

She also recently started her own beauty line, Wyn Beauty, and signed a deal with Penguin Random House to write two books.

The first is a memoir about her life, and the second is an inspirational book highlighting what she's learned as a philanthropist and an advocate for women and in her career as an investor with Serena Ventures.Β 

This story was originally published on May 2, 2023, and updated on December 17, 2024.

Β 

Read the original article on Business Insider

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian shares the top 3 must-read books from his 2024 reading list

15 December 2024 at 02:27
Alexis Ohanian
The books on this list have helped Alexis Ohanian build brands, negotiate, and innovate.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Random House; Harper Business; Optimism Press; Rebecca Zisser/BI

  • Alexis Ohanian shared three books that shaped his career in 2024.
  • Ohanian cofounded Reddit with Steve Huffman and currently serves as founder of 776 VC firm.
  • He said "Unreasonable Hospitality" is a must-read for anyone trying to build a brand.

Alexis Ohanian has been recognized as an innovator since cofounding Reddit in 2005 and selling it a year later to CondΓ© Nast. That sale was reportedly between $10 to $20 million.

In the 20 years since then, Ohanian has vastly multiplied his wealth and business portfolio with investments in tech, sports, and other innovative ideas.

The tech founder and investor, who launched his venture firm Seven Seven Six in 2020 after officially leaving Reddit's leadership team, shared with Business Insider the top three books that shaped his career in 2024.

Ohanian said these are his must-reads for various reasons. His quotes have been edited for clarity.

"Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration" by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace

Creativity Inc. book cover (expanded edition)

Penguin Random House

My founding partner at 776, Katelin Holloway, helped produce "Creativity Inc." based on her time at Pixar. This book informed a lot of how we turned around Reddit and how I'm building 776.

"Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It" by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz

"Never Split the Difference" book cover.

HarperCollins Publisher

Zachariah Reitano, the founder/CEO of Ro β€” one of my 776 investments β€” recommended the book "Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on it." It's a must-read for anyone, not just CEOs and founders. I re-read it every year to refresh my memory.

"Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect" by Will Guidara

Unreasonable hospitality book cover

Penguin Random House

Maggi from the 776 team recommended "Unreasonable Hospitality," written by Will Guidara who achieved fame as former coowner and leader of Eleven Madison Park. EMP is one of my favorite restaurants. The methods and mindset here are imperative for anyone trying to build an exceptional brand, even outside of food and hospitality.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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