No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups
No Priors: Artificial Intelligence | Technology | Startups
Conviction
What Chess.com Teaches US About Superhuman Capabilities, with CEO Erik Allebest
46 minutes Posted Aug 13, 2026 at 5:29 pm.
– Cold Open Trailer
– Erik Allebest Introduction
– Chess.com Today
– Buying and Scaling Chess.com 
– Competition and Growth
– Chess and Cultural Relevance
– Private Equity Investment
– Playing Games Amid Evolving Tech
– Tech, Skill Distribution, and Expertise
– Chess and Cheating
– What Makes Chess Special
– Chess.com Future Vision
– Founder Advice
– AGI/ASI Predictions
– AI Investments at Chess.com 
– How AI May Change Product at Chess.com
– Poker Rating Algorithms
– Conclusion
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46:07
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Show notes
In a world of infinite gaming and entertainment possibilities, how does a centuries-old game stay so popular? Chess.com co-founder and CEO Erik Allebest joins Sarah Guo to explain how the evolution of technology has kept people coming back to chess, even when machines can beat us at the game. Erik talks about how the desire to build a MySpace-like community for chess led to the purchase of a domain name from a bankruptcy sale back in 2005, and scaled into a community with 10 million daily active users and 250 million total registered members. He also discusses the growth of the cultural relevance of chess, how investments from private equity firms General Atlantic and CVC helped grow and strengthen their platform, and how Chess.com is leveraging AI both within the business itself and to make a better product for its community.
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