Adam D’Angelo, CEO of Quora, is focused on the company’s new platform, Poe, which allows users to chat with multiple AI models. While Quora, the Q&A forum D’Angelo founded, has been around for almost 15 years, he believes Poe needs more attention in the rapidly changing AI landscape. Poe is a subscription service that provides access to various AI models and allows for comparison between them. Developers can create bots on top of these models for specific tasks, creating additional revenue streams.
Poe was born out of Quora’s experiments with using AI to generate answers for niche questions that had not been answered by humans. D’Angelo sees Poe as a web browser for AI, making the technology more accessible to users. Despite the success of Quora, it has not evolved compared to competitors like Reddit, leading to questions about the platform’s relevance. While Quora claims to have 400 million users a month, its future remains uncertain. Additionally, D’Angelo’s role at OpenAI has given him insight into the explosion of generative AI in recent years.
Quora has faced criticism for its AI-generated content, with some users expressing concerns about the quality of answers. D’Angelo acknowledges that there is room for improvement but believes that AI answers have been a net positive for the platform. Despite the distinct identity of Poe, D’Angelo chose to integrate it into Quora rather than starting a new company. Leveraging the talent and structure already in place at Quora, D’Angelo sees Poe as a way to keep up with the fast-moving AI environment and expand the company’s offerings.
The funding announcement of $75 million from Andreessen Horowitz for Poe indicates Quora’s commitment to AI. D’Angelo’s involvement in the AI community, including as a board member at OpenAI, has given him valuable insights into the industry. While Poe may seem disconnected from Quora on the surface, D’Angelo envisions it as a key player in the company’s future. With plans for expansion and the potential for new products, D’Angelo aims to continue pushing the boundaries of AI technology within the company.
Despite challenges and controversies surrounding AI-generated content, D’Angelo remains optimistic about Quora and Poe’s future. He sees Poe as a natural progression for the company, leveraging existing resources and expertise to create innovative AI solutions. As the company navigates organizational changes and adapts to the evolving AI landscape, D’Angelo’s focus on building new products and pushing the boundaries of technology remains steadfast. With Poe as a key component of Quora’s future, the company is poised to continue its evolution in the AI space.
