Tony Fadell, the renowned entrepreneur and investor behind the iPod and Nest, took the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 to share his unapologetic views on what it takes to build the next generation of deep tech startups. Fadell emphasized the need for "mission-driven a**holes" who are meticulous about details and willing to push boundaries to create world-class technology products.

According to Fadell, there are two types of "a**holes": egocentric ones who prioritize their ego over others, and mission-driven ones who focus on perfecting their work. He believes the latter are essential for driving innovation and success in the tech industry.

Fadell also took aim at Silicon Valley's culture of entitlement, joking that startups shouldn't hire Googlers who are used to luxuries like massages and yogurt. He recalled his days at General Magic in the 90s, where the team deliberately avoided hiring people from the East Coast due to their high demands.

In addition, Fadell expressed skepticism about the limitations of Large Language Models (LLMs), calling them "know-it-alls" that can't be adopted across the board. While he acknowledged their entertainment value, he warned against using them in critical applications where people's lives are at risk, citing the risk of hallucinations and inaccuracies.

Fadell's candid remarks sparked laughter and applause from the packed auditorium, but also served as a wake-up call to the tech community to refocus on what truly drives innovation and success.