Modern Wisdom

by Chris Williamson

8 Episodes Tracked

10 Ideas Found

98 Reach Score

Latest Business Ideas

Social Norms & Opinion Exchange Platform

This concept involves creating an online platform for individuals to express and debate their opinions within various social groups or communities. The platform would focus on fostering constructive dialogue while testing group loyalty and social norms. Users can join different 'tribes' based on shared interests or beliefs and participate in discussions or debates around specific topics. The platform could utilize features like anonymity for sensitive topics and gamification elements to reward users for engaging in healthy debate and for challenges that encourage understanding differing viewpoints. This could appeal to educators, activists, and brands looking to engage with their communities in meaningful conversations. The platform would aim to create a safe space for diverse opinions while driving engagement through social interactions and loyalty testing.

Community High Score: 7.4/10

From: #980 - David Pinsof - This is Your Brain on Bullsh*t

Incentive-Based Behavior Tracking App

The idea is to create an app that helps users track their behaviors based on various incentive structures. Users can input their goals—such as fitness, productivity, or learning—and the app will provide a tailored incentive system to motivate them. For example, if a user wants to exercise more, the app could incorporate social incentives by allowing friends to post encouraging messages, or it could offer monetary rewards for reaching certain milestones. The app would also include analytics to help users understand which incentives work best for them and adapt over time. The target audience would be individuals looking to improve their habits through structured motivation, particularly in areas like health and productivity. This app could leverage gamification techniques and social sharing features to enhance user engagement and deliver tangible results.

SaaS Medium Score: 7.8/10

From: #980 - David Pinsof - This is Your Brain on Bullsh*t

Debate Coaching & Argument Analysis Service

This service would provide personalized coaching for individuals looking to improve their debate skills and argumentation strategies. It would focus on identifying the weaknesses in common arguments, helping clients understand the differences between genuine arguments and pseudo-arguments, and teaching them to construct effective arguments that can withstand scrutiny. The service could include one-on-one coaching sessions, workshops, and online resources such as videos and articles that cover effective communication techniques. Target audiences could include students, professionals in negotiation roles, and individuals interested in improving their public speaking skills. The service could also leverage technology to analyze arguments and provide feedback based on user input, making it a dynamic tool for skill development.

Service Medium Score: 7.2/10

From: #980 - David Pinsof - This is Your Brain on Bullsh*t

Data-Driven Content Creation Agency

Establish a content creation agency that specializes in harnessing data analytics to produce creative materials, such as articles, videos, or marketing content tailored to specific audiences based on their preferences and engagement metrics. This agency could utilize AI models to analyze viewer data and identify trending topics, ensuring the output is not only engaging but also timely and relevant. The target audience would be businesses looking to enhance their marketing strategies with high-quality content that drives engagement. This idea capitalizes on the rising demand for data-driven decision-making in media and marketing, providing a scalable service model.

Service Medium Score: 7.0/10

From: #979 - Dwarkesh Patel - AI Safety, The China Problem, LLMs & Job Displacement

AI Research and Educational Content Hub

Create a digital hub that focuses on providing cutting-edge educational content and resources related to artificial intelligence. This could include courses, webinars, whitepapers, and podcast episodes featuring experts discussing current trends and future implications of AI technologies. The platform could serve as a marketplace for knowledge-sharing, connecting learners with educators specializing in AI and its applications across various industries. By targeting entrepreneurs, businesses, and tech enthusiasts eager to understand AI's impact on their work, this hub could capitalize on the increasing interest in AI literacy and ethical considerations in technology.

Content Medium Score: 7.4/10

From: #979 - Dwarkesh Patel - AI Safety, The China Problem, LLMs & Job Displacement

AI-Powered Personal Tutoring Software

Create a software application that uses AI to provide personalized tutoring through Socratic questioning techniques. This software would interact with users like a tutor, progressively guiding them through complex topics by asking questions that build on their existing knowledge. Instead of simply providing answers, the AI would adapt its teaching style based on the user's response patterns and learning pace. This idea targets students, lifelong learners, and professionals seeking to learn new skills, particularly in a digital economy. Implementation could leverage existing AI models like LLMs to facilitate interactive dialogue while ensuring that users have a customized learning experience.

SaaS Medium Score: 7.6/10

From: #979 - Dwarkesh Patel - AI Safety, The China Problem, LLMs & Job Displacement

Replication-as-a-Service / Transparent Replications

Spencer describes an existing program that systematically re‑runs published studies and publishes reproducibility reports. That same process can be productized into a paid service and platform: a research‑replication offering that institutions, funders, journals, grant programs, and edtech companies can commission to validate claims, test interventions, or audit published findings. Implementation: build an operations team (research designers, statisticians, crowd participant pipelines), a reproducibility dashboard that documents preregistration, code, data and final report, and a client portal for commissioning replications. Revenue streams can include per‑study fees (research-as-a-service), subscription access to ongoing monitoring (journal/department packages), white‑label reports for publishers, and sponsored meta‑analyses. Problem solved: the replication crisis creates risk for journals, policy makers, product teams (edtech, wellness apps) who rely on weak findings. Target customers: academic journals, research labs, university departments, foundations, corporate R&D and product teams that want independent validation before scaling interventions. Specific tactics mentioned on the show that map to the product: randomized selection of papers, preregistered replication protocols, public release of code and data, and accessible summary reports and videos to communicate results.

Service High Score: 6.8/10

From: #978 - Spencer Greenberg - How Much Does IQ Matter?

Online Cognitive Assessment Battery for Hiring/Education

Spencer describes a concrete, multi‑task cognitive battery (62 tasks) used to measure general intelligence (G) and idiosyncratic aptitudes. Entrepreneurs can productize a validated online assessment suite tailored for recruiters, L&D managers, and edtech platforms: deliver a short (20–40 minute) battery that measures G and domain aptitudes, produces a strengths/weaknesses report, and maps results to job complexity profiles or learning paths. Implementation steps: adapt a subset of validated tasks (Raven‑style matrices, working memory, reaction time, verbal and numerical items) into an accessible web app, run pilot norming with several hundred participants, build psychometric scoring and reporting, and offer employer dashboards + API for ATS integrations. Problems solved: make hiring or training decisions more evidence‑based (particularly for analytical roles) and give learners targeted recommendations for upskilling. Target users: hiring teams for technical/analytical roles, universities assessing applicants, edtech companies offering personalized curriculum. Episode tactics to incorporate: short computerized tasks, normative reporting, breakdown of G vs idiosyncratic aptitudes, and caveats about interpretation (use in combination with skills and personality measures).

SaaS High Score: 7.2/10

From: #978 - Spencer Greenberg - How Much Does IQ Matter?

Imposter‑Syndrome Assessment + Guided Program

The episode describes a concrete, production-ready product: an online imposter‑syndrome assessment paired with evidence‑based guided interventions (self‑compassion exercises, CBT-style cognitive reframing, replacement‑thought practice, and checklists to reduce perfectionism/procrastination). The business idea is to build a digital product (web + mobile) that combines a validated screening questionnaire, personalized feedback reports, short interactive training modules, a practice/skill tracker, and optional coaching or peer‑support tiers. Implementation can start with the assessment + 4–6 short modules (text/audio/video) and automated email or in‑app practice reminders; later add progress tracking, community groups, live workshops, or paid coaching. The product solves a common pain point (persistent self-doubt, perfectionism, procrastination) for professionals, founders, students and high‑achievers who already invest in self‑improvement. The target audience includes knowledge‑workers, creators, managers, and students who report imposter feelings and want tactical, evidence‑backed routines. Tactics mentioned in the episode that should be included: self‑compassion exercises, cognitive therapy style written thought‑review + replacement‑thought practice, and behavioral habit systems to reduce perfectionism and procrastination. The MVP can be launched using no‑code/web frameworks, repurposed content from public‑domain research summaries, and lightweight assessments; premium revenue can come from subscriptions, paid guided courses, employer/licensing for L&D use, or 1:many coaching cohorts.

SaaS Medium Score: 7.6/10

From: #978 - Spencer Greenberg - How Much Does IQ Matter?

Orgasm Analytics App

This idea envisions a digital application that uses audio signal analysis to assess the physiological and emotional markers of female orgasm. The concept is based on research suggesting that orgasm sounds have both voiced and unvoiced components that can be quantified similarly to techniques used in analyzing laughter. The app would employ machine learning algorithms to capture, process, and analyze audio recordings during intimate encounters, providing insights and feedback regarding sexual satisfaction and authenticity. Advanced features could include comparing user data over time and offering personalized advice based on recognized patterns of sound signals and physiological cues. By combining digital health technology with sexual wellness, this tool aims to demystify aspects of female orgasm and offer couples and individuals a new dimension of understanding their sexual experiences. The solution could be implemented as a mobile app with integrated audio processing capabilities and hosted on a secure cloud platform. It addresses the common problem that many individuals are uncertain about their sexual responses and could benefit from a data-driven perspective. The target audience includes tech-savvy individuals interested in sexual wellness, researchers, and couples looking to enhance intimacy. It leverages advancements in audio analytics and machine learning to provide actionable insights in an otherwise opaque area of sexual science.

SaaS Medium Score: 7.4/10

From: #977 - Dr Robert King - Why Does The Female Orgasm Exist?

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