YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
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Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#2This is completely allowed under the apache open source license. I'm not sure why people are so upset about it.
If you don't want this to happen, release software under a different licensing model.
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#3Ongoing discussion:
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#4People look at the top 5 YC success stories and think every company they fund is of that standard. In reality they "graduate" 500-1000 startups every year. They aren't all winners. In fact I'd wager Pear AI is a lot closer to the norm in terms of quality and competency than, say, Stripe or Airbnb. If you look at their recent batches there is an endless parade of thin ChatGPT wrappers.
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#5This is completely allowed under the apache open source license. I'm not sure why people are so upset about it. If you don't want this to happen, release software under a different licensing model.
> I'm not sure why people are so upset about it.
1. It reflects poorly on YC.
2. Something can be legal without being moral or ethical.
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#6This is completely allowed under the apache open source license. I'm not sure why people are so upset about it. If you don't want this to happen, release software under a different licensing model.
There are a few confounding factors here:
1. It may be legally permissible, but it is impolite, to change the license away from the well-known Apache software license towards something which has not been legally vetted, and is in fact generated entirely by AI with minimal oversight.
2. There is an open question of what the supposed value add is here from the Pear team, that could not have been achieved by the people whose work they are co-opting.
3. Without a clear value proposition, the oversight given to projects by YC is called into question. I think this is the point most people are concerned by.
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#7Everything is getting en-shittified, even YC itself.
This has been a trend for my cohort of college graduates. Graduated right in time for a housing crisis, inflation, layoffs, etc. Can't help but feel at least a little bitter about folks who pulled the ladder up behind them.
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#8People look at the top 5 YC success stories and think every company they fund is of that standard. In reality they "graduate" 500-1000 startups every year . They aren't all winners. In fact I'd wager Pear AI is a lot closer to the norm in terms of quality and competency than, say, Stripe or Airbnb. If you look at their recent batches there is an endless parade of thin ChatGPT wrappers.
This is true for every VC no? And the whole idea behind VCs? They aren't exactly only aiming to fund the startups they think 100% will be successful, as then they wouldn't fund anyone, so instead they spread out the risk to catch any surprise winners.
Does anyone really look at the line-up of funded startups from a VC and think they're all winners?
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
#9People look at the top 5 YC success stories and think every company they fund is of that standard. In reality they "graduate" 500-1000 startups every year . They aren't all winners. In fact I'd wager Pear AI is a lot closer to the norm in terms of quality and competency than, say, Stripe or Airbnb. If you look at their recent batches there is an endless parade of thin ChatGPT wrappers.
It's meant to be a "smart gamble", not "throw money everywhere and see what does well".
Also the funding should come with a clause to cover this sort of behaviour, if they don't correct it now it will happen again.
Re: YC criticized for backing AI startup that simply cloned another AI startup
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