Call Summary: Gary's Applied AI Vision and Foundation Collaboration

Overview

Gary called Ian to share a breakthrough realization about his life's purpose: empowering people with practical Applied AI skills rather than building the next AI unicorn. The conversation revealed Gary's renewed energy after months of existential struggle, with both men recognizing divine orchestration in their collaboration. They discussed forming a nonprofit entity to teach underserved youth Applied AI skills, with Gary potentially becoming the third board member alongside Ian and Noah.

Key Topics Discussed

Gary's Applied AI Revelation

Vision Statement:

• Gary: "I don't think God created me to create the next OpenAI... I think what he created me to do is empower people."
• Moving from creating AI products to empowering others with AI capabilities
• Focus on practical applications for existing businesses and civic systems

Applied AI Definition:

• Not just starting YC-funded startups, but helping existing businesses improve
• Teaching people to see AI as "Iron Man suit versus the person that's going to replace them"
• Democratizing AI knowledge for young men whose computer science degrees are becoming obsolete
• Gary: "If all I'm saying, Ian, is applying new technologies to solve real problems and improve real businesses that are providing value."

Male Despair Crisis Context:

• Reference to Nick Fuentes as symptom of young male hopelessness
• Gary: "It's because people don't have hope in the future, right? And so why wouldn't you want to burn it all down?"
• Applied AI as pathway to agency and meaningful contribution

Spiritual Renewal and Purpose

Gary's Existential Journey:

• Gary: "It's hard for me to want to live, even right in my faith... I'm glad that there's a negative incentive to kill yourself."
• Months of existential dread finally breaking with this new vision
• Ian: "There's a spark in your voice right now that was not present in our most recent conversations."

Divine Orchestration:

• Both recognize God's hand in their connection
• Story of meeting at Coinbase event through last-minute text to friend
• Gary: "God has a way of making it all connect over time."

Miracle Moments Exercise:

• Gary's practice of documenting "Kingdom Moments" - events without which rest of life wouldn't have happened
• Recognition that seemingly random connections have divine purpose

Foundation Collaboration Structure

Open Doors Nonprofit:

• New 501(c)(3) being formed by Ian and Noah
• Liability shield for experimental initiatives separate from main foundation
• Ian: "Me and Noah been talking like who's going to be our third board member on this thing? It could be you."

Compensation Model:

• Quarterly stipends or 45-day payment cycles
• Focus on covering basic needs while pursuing mission
• Ian: "I need X amount as kind of a bare minimum to live, and I'll just be as productive as I can be."
• Proposed 90-day trial period

Scope of Work:

• Revitalizing 1970s Peer Tutoring Resource Center for contemporary era
• Creating pilot events/experiments for youth empowerment
• Helping underrepresented groups gain agency through Applied AI
• Gary: "Primarily I would be figuring out pilot events or experiments related to helping youth and or underrepresented groups feel a sense of agency."

Educational Vision

Youth Empowerment Strategy:

• Teaching young people to identify and solve real problems in their communities
• Gary: "How can I help my dad's business? How can I help my school operate more?"
• Creating "improvement-athons" rather than just hackathons
• Building civic merit economy with peer recognition systems

Contemporary Boy Scouts Model:

• Gary: "What is the next Boy Scouts look like? It's probably more like verifiable improvements to your local civic systems."
• Focus on practical, demonstrable improvements
• Integration of NFT kudos and recognition systems

Applied Technology vs Pure AI:

• Flexibility to include broader technology solutions
• Focus on solving real problems regardless of specific tech stack
• Marketing advantage of "Applied AI" buzzword for funding

Network Effects and Connections

Ian's Connection with Ari:

• Hour and half call previous night with Gary's friend Ari
• Ian: "Ridiculous amount of synergy between me with City Farmers and his business partner"
• Already planning further network connections
• Bringing Frankie and Will into vinyl library project

Gary's Network Value:

• Someone at lunch recognized Gary when Ian got call
• Person at lunch: "How the f*** does Gary know literally everyone?"
• Recognition that Gary's connections will benefit foundation initiatives

Small Business Focus:

• Ian: "That was me getting off the school bus to my mom's small business my whole life... She was providing a service to our community, and thank God we were able to pay the mortgage with it."
• Focus on unequivocally good small businesses vs problematic large corporations

Philosophical Alignment

Deathbed Perspective:

• Ian: "My great grandpa lived to be 96. If I lived to be that old and I'm on my deathbed looking back at my life, how could I do something that I'm proud of?"
• Gary: "I will be very happy on my deathbed if my actions led to millions of people having better perspective about how the inevitable advances in technologies could support their livelihoods."

Purpose Over Profit:

• Ian realized "money is not happiness" while delivering pizza
• Both choosing mission-driven work over higher-paying opportunities
• Focus on "God-centered, heart-centered contribution to the world"

Fuel Metaphor:

• Ian: "If I'm but a flame, may I be totally burned up by the end of it... but the only way to do that is to put good fuel into it."
• Recognition that proper motivation creates sustainable impact

Key Quotes

On Applied AI Vision:

• Gary: "I think what [God] created me to do is empower people... while I was doing Civics Unplugged and Dream DAO, that was the way of empowerment."

On Current AI Relationship Crisis:

• Gary: "Noah's gal, [ChatGPT] is telling her, like, yeah, you should be doing ketamine... ChatGPT psychosis."

On Educational Obsolescence:

• Ian: "Your [computer science] job's probably going to an H1B anyways... it's worthless."

On Small Business Value:

• Gary: "If you believe in capitalism, even though... a lot of issues with American system, generally speaking, the small businesses are like unequivocally good."

On Existential Struggle:

• Gary: "I've been kind of in a bit of existential dread feeling... over the past few months."
• Ian: "Same, completely same."

On Divine Providence:

• Ian: "God works in mysterious and funny ways, man."

On Network Power:

• Gary: "Sometimes when I'm in a spiritually low period, I'm just like, what's the point? Why did I attend all these events and meet all these people... But God has a way of making it all connect over time."

Action Items / Takeaways

1. Immediate Actions:

   • Gary to write one-pager on Applied AI youth initiative
   • Include proposed quarterly stipend amount
   • Schedule call with Noah for alignment (possibly same day or weekend)

2. Foundation Structure:

   • Formalize Gary as third board member of Open Doors nonprofit
   • Establish 90-day trial period with quarterly/45-day payment structure
   • Define scope between owned vs supported initiatives

3. Program Development:

   • Revitalize Peer Tutoring Resource Center for AI era
   • Design pilot events for youth Applied AI education
   • Create curriculum for teaching practical problem-solving with AI

4. Strategic Positioning:

   • Frame as helping people see AI as empowerment tool vs replacement threat
   • Target underserved communities and young men facing career uncertainty
   • Leverage both nonprofit and for-profit consulting opportunities

Contextual Insights

Gary's Transformation Arc

From existential despair and questioning purpose to renewed clarity about empowering others with Applied AI. This represents a shift from ego-driven achievement (building next OpenAI) to service-oriented impact (empowering millions).

Ian as Spiritual Mirror

Ian serves as both practical collaborator and spiritual confirmation for Gary's path. His own journey from high-paying opportunities to mission-driven work validates Gary's choices.

Foundation as Vehicle

The Schwartz Foundation and new Open Doors nonprofit provide both financial stability and experimental freedom to pursue innovative educational initiatives without traditional constraints.

Applied AI as Cultural Movement

Beyond technical training, this vision addresses deeper cultural crises: male despair, technological displacement anxiety, and loss of agency in automated world. The initiative aims to restore hope through practical empowerment.