Inverse Zitron: An Investment Strategy

In a widely circulated critique dated November 1, 2026, an author identified as Mr. Luu reviewed 27 public predictions by Ed Zitron—PR firm owner, author of "This Is How You Pitch," and host of the "Better Offline" podcast—and found 25 wrong, one possibly right, and one unverifiable. The piece challenges Zitron's standing as an AI-skeptic commentator, noting his influence on prominent figures such as Cory Doctorow, who quotes Zitron's "dogshit unit economics" line about AI in his new book "The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI," and Mr. Ludic, who hosted Zitron on his podcast. The analysis matters because Zitron's claims about OpenAI's finances—specifically that the company lacks the money it claims to have—are being repeated by respected voices without independent verification. Zitron, who cannot code but plans to learn "so that I can argue with software engineers," reportedly keeps "detailed notes" on writers and their "dumbest quotes." The author proposes an "Inverse Zitron" strategy of betting opposite Zitron's predictions, and observers should watch whether Zitron follows through on his pledge to explain "at length" and "in detail" any of his misses, and whether mainstream citations of his OpenAI financial claims decline.