10 Rules for Life with Michael Saylor - WBD659

Michael Saylor is the CEO of MicroStrategy. In this
interview, we discuss his 10 rules for lfie, the
opportunities and threats of AI, the importance of
Bitcoin in an automated world, the strength of
ossification compared to accelerating change, and the
criticality of Bitcoin miners to the Bitcoin network. We
also talk about Michael’s navigation of the bear market.


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Chat GPT was released a little over 6 months ago. It is
arguably the most significant tech innovation since the
internet. People are now routinely using chatbots to
interact with technology and access information tailored
to very specific needs. Whilst the impacts of this are
yet to be fully understood, it is widely accepted that we
have entered a new exciting and equally frightening
paradigm.


The issue at hand is that the world is becoming
increasingly automated. As a result, human beings are
being viewed as a constraint on productivity, which AI
technology can mitigate. Where does this leave humans? In
a world predicated on code and efficiency and automation,
what controls are in place to ensure these systems are
secure such that they can not be centralised and
exploited such that the general population suffers rather
than flourishes?


Michael Saylor is of the opinion we need an automated
tool that is secure and outside of any centralised
control. Bitcoin, in this scenario, is the tool that can
compete with new digital advances, but, enable humans to
retain some control of their lives. As such, it is
imperative that we protect the integrity of the
innovation such that its utility remains available for
both existing and future generations.


The question then becomes how do we best protect Bitcoin?
Saylor argues that it is the Bitcoin miners that are
Bitcoin’s “fortresses”: they provide brute force
security, a cryptographic defence, and the means to
marshall the means to advocate effectively for Bitcoin
within the corridors of power. Bitcoin miners, therefore,
need protection to ensure they continue to act as
Bitcoin’s standing army. We do this by ensuring
stability: ossifying Bitcoin’s base layer protocol.