Rick Rubin on AI, Creativity, and The Way of Code

The a16z Show

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Science, Entrepreneurship, Culture, Business, Innovation, Technology, Disruption, Software Eating The World

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2026

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Rick Rubin joins Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Anjney Midha, and Erik Torenberg to discuss creativity, artificial intelligence, and his book The Way of Code, which reimagines the Tao Te Ching for the age of AI. The conversation explores vibe coding, remix culture, artistic process, entrepreneurship, and what AI changes, and doesn't change, about creativity. Rubin argues that AI is best understood not as a replacement for artists, but as another creative tool, one that expands what's possible while making taste, curiosity, and individual perspective even more valuable. Along the way, they discuss music, philosophy, startup building, collective intelligence, and why the most enduring creative work begins with staying true to yourself rather than trying to satisfy an audience.

Transcript

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0:00.0	So many people I know who use AI ask it questions and think that the results that they get back is the answer.
0:06.4	And it seems like people are more interested in getting an answer that can allow them to stop thinking about the question than really finding out what the real answer is.
0:15.9	I'm so interested in what AI really can know based on what is and not what we tell it we think it is.
0:24.6	For our summer replay series, we're bringing back one of our favorite conversations from the past year.
0:31.6	As AI becomes part of more creative work, one question keeps resurfacing.
0:36.6	What still belongs uniquely to humans?
0:40.1	Few people have spent more time thinking about creativity
0:42.6	than legendary music producer Rick Rubin.
0:45.4	In this conversation, Rick joins Mark Andreessen, Ben Horowitz,
0:49.6	Anjni Midha, and me to discuss the way of code.
0:53.1	AI as a creative tool, vibe coding, and why technology may change how we create without
0:58.9	changing where great ideas come from.
1:01.4	The discussion ranges from music and entrepreneurship to philosophy, consciousness, and the
1:06.8	importance of staying true to your own creative instincts.
1:20.2	The content here is for informational purposes only,
1:23.7	should not be taken as legal business, tax, or investment advice,
1:26.9	or be used to evaluate any investment or security,
1:29.0	and is not directed at any investor or potential investors in any A16Z fund.
1:32.6	Please note that A16Z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed
1:37.2	in this podcast.
1:38.5	For more details, including a link to our investments, please see A16Z.com slash disclosures.
1:46.0	We are here today to discuss Rick's new album, The Way of Code.
	...

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