Dan Shipper, the CEO of Every, a company specializing in AI-driven media, software, and consulting, reveals that he rarely composes his own emails. Instead, he relies on OpenAI's Codex to navigate his inbox, manage his calendar, suggest meeting times, and formulate responses. While Codex isn’t permitted to send emails without his consent, Shipper notes that a significant portion of the communication related to his interview with Business Insider was penned by AI. He is contemplating modifying the "From:" field in his emails to disclose when AI has assisted in drafting messages.
Founded in 2020 in New York City with backing from investors such as Starting Line and Reid Hoffman, Every revolves around AI technology. The company produces its own technology newsletter, offers AI consulting and training services, and develops applications, including Sparkle, which automates computer file handling.
Shipper has access to the latest models and tools from top AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, allowing him to stay ahead of trends in the industry. This insight instills in him a sense of optimism about the future of work, reflecting a belief that Every is structured for success in a tech-driven tomorrow.
However, this positive outlook comes with significant expenses. Shipper disclosed to Business Insider that he incurred around $13,000 in personal Codex overages last month, marking one of the highest expenses he can remember. He noted that his COO, Brandon Gell, had raised an eyebrow at the figure. When asked how this amount compared to the previous year, he quipped that it was "way more."
At Every, the cost of AI is simply part of operating expenses, akin to health benefits or company-issued laptops. Every one of the 27 full-time team members receives a basic subscription for $20 a month, while technical staff enjoy a more advanced $200-per-month plan, with the company covering any overages. Shipper reassured that no one has faced scrutiny over token usage, saying, "We’re figuring out how to handle overages... as long as expenses don’t lead us to bankruptcy, we’re good."
The way Every functions illustrates how integral AI has become to its operations. Although the company previously considered assigning each employee an individual AI agent, they opted for a more streamlined approach with fewer agents designated for specific teams or the whole organization. One such agent, Claudie, aids the consulting team by creating initial slide decks, formulating sales proposals, and monitoring client-related tasks through transcript analysis.
Shipper emphasizes that AI isn’t meant to wholly replace employees. Rather, it opens avenues for individuals to step into managerial roles sooner in their careers. "Managing humans is costly and carries risks," he explains. "Many more people can handle that responsibility than we realize."
Nevertheless, Shipper recognizes that AI has limitations. As a writer, he finds the technology beneficial for researching, drafting, and editing, but it struggles to discern what truly captures interest. He believes human insight remains essential, not in executing every task but in identifying what tasks are worth pursuing.
Looking ahead, Shipper sees potential in OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. While Anthropic is currently making waves with its new model and is gaining traction toward an IPO, Shipper remains optimistic about Codex’s prospects. He believes the positive narrative about OpenAI's capabilities may soon return. "What they’re doing with Codex is incredibly impressive," he remarked.
In a light-hearted moment, Shipper also mentioned that he maintains polite behavior toward AI, just in case they decide to exert any future dominance over humanity. "I’m usually very nice, because you never know when they’re going to take over the world," he joked.
