US vs. China: Why Trust Will Win the AI Race | GPT-5.2 & Anthropic IPO w/ Emad Mostaque, Salim Ismail, Dave Blundin & Alexander Wissner-Gross | EP #214
US vs. China: Why Trust Will Win the AI Race | GPT-5.2 & Anthropic IPO w/ Emad Mostaque, Salim Ismail, Dave Blundin & Alexander Wissner-Gross | EP #214
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Monitor for potential landmark IPOs from Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX as early as 2026, which would offer public access to foundational AI and space companies. Amazon (AMZN) presents a long-term opportunity as it aims to dominate last-mile delivery by leveraging robotics and potentially absorbing the role of the USPS. Consider exposure to the emerging Humanoid Robotics theme through companies like Tesla (TSLA), as a potential 2026 US executive order could accelerate sector growth. Beyond chip designers like NVIDIA (NVDA), look for opportunities in the broader AI supply chain, including companies involved with HBM memory and copper, due to significant supply shortages.

Detailed Analysis

Anthropic (Potential IPO)

  • Anthropic is reportedly negotiating a new funding round that could value the company at $300 billion and is considering an IPO as early as 2026.
  • Revenue is projected to reach $26 billion next year. This would place the potential valuation at approximately 10 times projected revenues.
  • This valuation was described as "cheap" and "perfectly reasonable" when compared to other tech companies like Palantir (PLTR), which trades at 111 times revenues.
  • The need to access massive amounts of capital from public markets to fund growth and compete in the AI "rat race" is a primary driver for the potential IPO.

Takeaways

  • An Anthropic IPO would be a major event, offering the public a chance to invest directly in one of the leading frontier AI labs.
  • The potential valuation of 10x revenues is considered attractive relative to peers, suggesting there could be significant upside for investors if the company goes public and continues its high-growth trajectory. Keep an eye out for official IPO announcements.

OpenAI (Potential IPO)

  • Like Anthropic, OpenAI is also exploring a future IPO to raise the immense capital needed for its ambitious projects, such as the Stargate data center.
  • The company is in a "code red" situation, engaged in a fierce "rat race" with competitors like Google to release more powerful models, with GPT 5.2 rumored to be coming soon.
  • To secure its computational needs, OpenAI has reportedly reserved 40% of the world's supply of HBM memory, a critical component for AI chips. This highlights the scale of their operations and the intense demand for AI hardware.
  • An IPO is seen as a strategic move to increase trust and provide currency for acquisitions, in addition to raising capital.

Takeaways

  • An OpenAI IPO would be another landmark opportunity for public investors to gain exposure to a foundational AI company.
  • The company's aggressive strategy to secure the supply chain (like HBM memory) and stay ahead in model development indicates a high-stakes, high-growth environment.
  • Investors interested in the AI space should watch for news on OpenAI's public offering, as it would be one of the purest plays on the advancement of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

SpaceX (Potential IPO)

  • SpaceX is reportedly considering a 2026 IPO, a shift from Elon Musk's previous resistance to taking the company public.
  • The conventional wisdom was that SpaceX might spin off its Starlink satellite internet service for an IPO, but the discussion suggests the entire company, including launch capabilities, might go public.
  • A key driver for this potential shift is the emerging concept of orbital data centers, which would require massive launch capacity and capital, pulling the entire company's value proposition together.
  • An IPO would also likely cause Elon Musk's personal net worth to "leap over the trillion dollar mark."

Takeaways

  • A SpaceX IPO would allow public investors to invest in the world's dominant launch provider and a key player in the future of space infrastructure.
  • The integration of launch, Starlink, and future orbital data centers makes SpaceX a comprehensive play on the space economy.
  • This is a highly anticipated event. Investors interested in the commercialization of space should monitor for official announcements.

NVIDIA (NVDA) & The AI Chip Market

  • NVIDIA remains the benchmark for AI accelerators, with its A100 and H100 chips being the standard against which competitors are measured.
  • However, US policy restricting sales to China has spurred the development of local competitors. Cambricon, a Chinese company, is planning to triple its output to 500,000 accelerators in 2026.
  • Cambricon's chips are reported to be about half the cost of NVIDIA's equivalents and more power-efficient, though they are currently a generation behind (e.g., Cambricon's 6090 is equivalent to an H100).
  • The demand for AI chips is causing a supply chain crunch, with the cost of HBM memory (a key component) having "skyrocketed."

Takeaways

  • NVIDIA is the current king, but the geopolitical landscape is creating long-term competition. While Chinese competitors like Cambricon will initially serve their domestic market, they could become global competitors in a few years, potentially impacting NVIDIA's market share.
  • The entire AI hardware sector is experiencing a massive boom. The shortages and rising costs of components like HBM memory and even copper (for data center wiring) indicate that investing in the broader AI supply chain, not just the chip designers, could be a profitable strategy.

Amazon (AMZN)

  • Amazon is expanding its own delivery network as its relationship with the US Postal Service (USPS), a major last-mile delivery partner, is reportedly breaking down. The USPS contract is worth about $6 billion per year.
  • The podcast predicts that the financially struggling USPS (losing $7-10 billion annually) will eventually be "put out of its misery," and Amazon could potentially win a government contract to take over services.
  • Amazon is actively collecting data to train future autonomous delivery systems. They are equipping human drivers with AR glasses to gather crucial "last 100 meter" data for training delivery robots and drones.

Takeaways

  • Amazon is positioning itself to dominate last-mile logistics even further, potentially absorbing the role of the USPS. This represents a significant long-term growth opportunity.
  • The company's investment in data collection for robotics shows a clear strategy to automate its delivery network, which could lead to massive efficiency gains and cost savings in the future.

Investment Theme: Humanoid Robotics

  • Humanoid robotics was identified as "the next big thing" in AI after software agents.
  • There is a "robotics bubble" in China, with over 150 companies in the space, and the government is heavily investing in crowning national champions.
  • The US is also looking to accelerate its domestic robotics industry, with a potential 2026 executive order that could provide tax credits and subsidies, similar to the CHIPS Act for semiconductors.
  • Companies like Tesla (Optimus) and Figure are making rapid progress, with their robots now capable of jogging and running naturally.
  • While there is a short-term (5-10 year) boom for skilled trade workers (welders, electricians) in data center construction, the long-term expectation is that humanoid robots will automate these jobs.

Takeaways

  • The humanoid robotics sector is on the cusp of major growth, driven by both commercial demand and government support in the US and China.
  • Investing in leading robotics companies (Tesla, Figure, and others that may emerge) could be a way to capture the value of automating physical labor across industries, from construction to logistics and beyond.

Investment Theme: Orbital Data Centers

  • A new and rapidly emerging investment theme is the concept of placing massive AI data centers in space.
  • The core thesis is that by 2030, energy for compute could be cheaper in orbit ($6-9 per watt) than on Earth ($12 per watt) due to constant, unfiltered solar power and the potential for future space-based fusion reactors.
  • This is seen as the primary economic driver that could justify the massive investment in next-generation space infrastructure.
  • This is not just a Western idea; a Chinese company named Cosmospace is also planning to build a supercomputing cluster in space.
  • This theme directly links the AI and Space sectors, creating a powerful narrative for companies involved in both, such as SpaceX and Blue Origin.

Takeaways

  • This is a long-term, high-risk, high-reward theme. It provides a concrete economic rationale for humanity's expansion into space beyond exploration.
  • Investors with a long time horizon could look at companies that are foundational to this vision:
    • Launch providers like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
    • Companies involved in satellite technology and space-based energy.
    • The hyperscalers (Google, Amazon, Microsoft) who will ultimately be the customers for this orbital compute.
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Episode Description
Get access to metatrends 10+ years before anyone else - https://qr.diamandis.com/metatrends   Emad Mostaque is the founder of Intelligent Internet ( https://www.ii.inc )  Read Emad’s Book: https://thelasteconomy.com   Salim Ismail is the founder of OpenExO Dave Blundin is the founder & GP of Link Ventures Dr. Alexander Wissner-Gross is a computer scientist and founder of Reified – My companies: Apply to Dave's and my new fund:https://qr.diamandis.com/linkventureslanding      Go to Blitzy to book a free demo and start building today: https://qr.diamandis.com/blitzy   Grab dinner with MOONSHOT listeners: https://moonshots.dnnr.io/ _ Connect with Peter: X Instagram Connect with Emad:  Read Emad’s Book  X Learn about Intelligent Internet Connect with Dave: X LinkedIn Connect with Salim: X Join Salim's Workshop to build your ExO  Connect with Alex Website LinkedIn X Email Listen to MOONSHOTS: Apple YouTube – *Recorded on December 6th, 2025 *The views expressed by me and all guests are personal opinions and do not constitute Financial, Medical, or Legal advice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
About Moonshots with Peter Diamandis
Moonshots with Peter Diamandis

Moonshots with Peter Diamandis

By PHD Ventures

Tracking the future of technology and how it impacts humanity. Named by Fortune as one of the “World’s 50 Greatest Leaders,” Peter H. Diamandis, MD, is a founder, investor, advisor, and best-selling author. Join Peter on his mission to uplift humanity through technology. Follow Peter on X - https://x.com/PeterDiamandis