Not Reid Hoffman do a lot in half measures. He co-founded LinkedIn, of course, and helped companies like Meta and Airbnb fund their startups. He has also molded himself through books, podcasts and other public appearances into something of a public intellectual: a pro-capitalist philosopher who still insists that technology can be a force for good.
Recently, Hoffman has emerged as one of the most prominent advocates of artificial intelligence in Silicon Valley. His latest book, 2025's Super agencyargues that AI will not reduce human capacity but instead enhance it. In our conversation for this week's episode of The Big Interview, Hoffman spoke easily about the usefulness of AI for just about anything, whether you're looking for a research assistant or a second opinion on your blood work. Hoffman even relied on AI to create one of the most unconventional (and perhaps awkward, depending on your view of AI-generated creativity) Christmas gifts I've heard of lately. (And no, he didn't get one for me.)
Whatever you think of Hoffman's utopian views on AI, credit where it's due: He's also a very outspoken critic of President Trump — a rare quality in a tech world that's increasingly quiet or cozy when it comes to the U.S. government's atrocities. Hoffman's open political views have not been without consequences: Trump has twice threatened to investigate him, recently calling on Attorney General Pam Bondi to look into Hoffman's ties to Jeffrey Epstein. (In 2019, Hoffman apologized for his relationship with Epstein in the mid-2010s, which he said was solely related to fundraising for MIT. He has subsequently called on the government to fully release the Epstein files.)
Despite these threats, Hoffman pulls no punches: When we sat down to record this episode in mid-December, he eagerly called out the administration for humiliating the U.S. government, criticized his colleagues for keeping their heads down, and urged Silicon Valley to stop pretending neutrality is a virtue. If more billionaires would say it.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
KATIE DRUMMOND: Reid Hoffman, welcome to The Big Interview. So glad you're here.
REID HOFFMAN: I'm happy to be here.
We like to start these conversations with some very quick questions. Small warm-up. Are you ready?
Great!
Voice memo or text message?
Text message.
Cooperative games or competitive games?
Cooperative games.
The biggest difference between you and Elon Musk?
Mental health.
What's the hardest lesson you've ever had to learn?
Oh god, there are a lot of them. Probably when you should give up.
Who would you like to see running for president in 2028?
Mental health.
Common sense for president.
Yes, exactly. You know, it's funny, I probably can't give a good answer to that question. I mean, the people I would want to run for president probably won't.
Oh, that's a shame.
Yes.
Can't you say their names?
Since I tried to convince them to do that, I think it's probably rude.
I'm fascinated. The next time we talk, I'll make you tell me. What is your one, personal, killer use case for AI?
Well, I just made a holiday Christmas album as a Christmas gift for all my friends.
I guess they all know it's AI generated music?
Yes. And it's on the record. We put it on paper.
So it goes from your heart to the AI…
Yes.
…to their Christmas tree.
I've always had a desire to have Christmas music that contains both irony and affection for the holidays. So there's a song about ugly sweaters and, you know, all that stuff. As opposed to the “holly, Merry Christmas,” you know, something that actually has some humor to it. Almost like 'Weird Al' Yankovic would do if he were making a Christmas album.
