Mega IPOs, AI at Work and Why Everyone's Exhausted - Episode 181

AI is everywhere right now. In IPO markets, in SaaS business models and in your day to day workflow. On this week's episode of The Liquidity Event, Shane and AJ break down why mega IPOs like OpenAI and SpaceX are creating a gravity well in the public markets, what that means for smaller companies waiting to go public and whether the IPO pipeline is actually reopening in 2026. They also dig into the growing tension inside software companies as AI agents begin to threaten seat based pricing models and what recent disclosures are quietly admitting about the competitive risks. Finally, they unpack new research showing that AI may not be lightening workloads at all. Instead, it may be increasing email volume, decision fatigue and what researchers are calling AI brain fry. Is AI making us more productive or just more overwhelmed? Key Timestamps 01:45 – Vibe coding, Claude inside PowerPoint and AI workflow shifts 06:10 – Is the IPO winter actually over? 08:25 – The gravity well effect of mega IPOs like OpenAI and SpaceX 11:40 – Why smaller IPOs are stuck in the pipeline 14:05 – SaaS companies quietly disclosing AI as a material risk 17:20 – Will AI agents break the seat based pricing model? 21:10 – AI is not reducing workload, it is increasing intensity 24:35 – Email volume, messaging overload and deep work decline 27:50 – AI brain fry and the rising intent to quit 31:15 – Mastery, autonomy and purpose in an AI driven workplace 🔔 Subscribe to The Liquidity Event on YouTube: YouTube Channel  🌐 Learn more about Brooklyn FI financial planning: brooklynfi.com ✍️ Leave us a voicemail question for a future episode: memo.fm/theliquidityevent 📱 Follow Brooklyn FI:  LinkedIn:   / brooklyn-fi   Instagram:   / brooklyn_f.i