WordPress’d Grok 3 cs 183d Hallucinations

Let’s dive deeper into CS183d by exploring its origins, potential context, and significance within the CS183 series at Stanford, while also examining mentions of it in available sources and its possible connection to broader entrepreneurial themes. Since specific details about CS183d are limited, I’ll piece together what I can from related information and critically analyze the gaps.

Context of the CS183 Series at Stanford

The CS183 series at Stanford University is a collection of courses focused on entrepreneurship and startups, often blending theoretical computer science with practical, real-world applications. The series gained prominence through courses like CS183B, “How to Start a Startup,” taught by Sam Altman and Y Combinator (YC) in 2014. This course featured lectures from notable figures like Peter Thiel, Marc Andreessen, and Paul Graham, covering topics such as idea generation, team building, and scaling startups. CS183B was significant because Y Combinator made its curriculum available online, democratizing access to startup education. Other courses in the series, like CS183C (on blitzscaling, taught by Reid Hoffman) and CS183S (mentioned in some contexts as a spinoff), also focus on entrepreneurial strategies, often with a tech-centric lens.

CS183d, while not officially documented in Stanford’s course catalog, appears to be a proposed or conceptual extension of this series, likely focusing on a specific aspect of entrepreneurship. The “d” in CS183d has been repeatedly associated with “distribution” in various sources, suggesting that the course might center on strategies for getting products or services to market—a critical but often overlooked aspect of startup success.

Sam Altman’s Tweet and Its Implications

Sam Altman’s tweet from September 14, 2015, asking “who will teach cs183d?” indicates that, at the time, CS183d was at least under consideration as a potential course. Altman, who was president of Y Combinator from 2014 to 2019 and deeply involved in the CS183 series, likely played a role in shaping its direction. His question suggests that CS183d didn’t have an assigned instructor yet, which could mean it was either in the planning stages or a hypothetical idea being floated. Given Altman’s involvement with CS183B, it’s plausible that CS183d was intended to complement the existing curriculum by addressing a gap—potentially distribution, as later sources suggest.

However, there’s no evidence that CS183d was ever officially offered at Stanford. Stanford’s Explore Courses site doesn’t list CS183d, and while the CS183 series is well-documented, CS183d remains elusive in official records. This raises the possibility that CS183d was either a short-lived idea that didn’t materialize or a concept that evolved into something else.

Larry Chiang’s Involvement and the Focus on Distribution

The most consistent mentions of CS183d come from Larry Chiang, an entrepreneur and author who frequently writes about Stanford, Y Combinator, and entrepreneurship. Chiang has positioned himself as an advocate for practical, street-smart entrepreneurial strategies, often focusing on topics like sales, distribution, and credit management for students. His posts and articles provide the bulk of the available information on CS183d, but they also introduce ambiguity because they lack corroboration from official Stanford or YC sources.

Chiang first mentioned CS183d on X in 2013, in a series of tweets where he explicitly tied the course to distribution. For example, he wrote, “marketing is near impossible when you’re new at distribution, #cs183d, for a startup. Try sales,” suggesting that CS183d focuses on distribution strategies as a practical alternative to traditional marketing for early-stage startups. In another tweet from the same day, he humorously noted, “There is no @stanfordEng #cs183d class because distribution is something we will just get Larry to do in 2091 when he’s free,” implying that CS183d might not exist as a formal course but rather as a conceptual framework he’s championing.

Chiang’s earlier writings also provide context. In a 2014 blog post titled “I Forked CS 183B Into CS 183 C and CS 183 D,” he describes “forking” CS183B (in the GitHub sense of creating a derivative project) into two new courses: CS183C and CS183D. He doesn’t provide detailed syllabi but emphasizes that CS183D would focus on distribution, aligning with his broader philosophy that computer science majors should practice being “Chief Revenue Officers” before becoming founders. In a 2016 post, Chiang suggests having a “Yale kid” teach CS183d at Stanford, focusing on “11 street-smart things” related to distribution, further reinforcing this theme.

More recent posts on X from May 2025 by Chiang continue to reference #cs183d in entrepreneurial contexts. For example, a post on May 23, 2025, mentions selling Bitcoin with a “mentor guiding my #cs183s 2126-2129 #SalesPush #cs183d,” and another on May 24, 2025, talks about recruiting by “calling people on the phone over and over #cs183d #CS183Phone #CS183YC.” These posts suggest that Chiang uses CS183d as a hashtag or framework to discuss distribution and sales strategies, often in a YC or Stanford context, even a decade after Altman’s tweet.

### What Might CS183d Have Covered?

Based on Chiang’s writings, CS183d likely would have focused on distribution as a core entrepreneurial skill. Distribution, in this context, refers to the strategies and tactics startups use to get their products or services into the hands of customers. This can include sales, partnerships, viral marketing, and other growth mechanisms. Paul Graham’s lecture in CS183B, “Do Things That Don’t Scale,” touches on similar ideas—emphasizing manual, unscalable efforts like direct sales to build initial momentum. Chiang frequently references this lecture in his discussions of CS183d, suggesting that the course might have expanded on these concepts with a specific focus on sales over marketing.

Chiang’s emphasis on “street-smart” tactics—like calling people repeatedly to recruit or sell—indicates that CS183d might have been a hands-on, practical course aimed at teaching students how to hustle and build distribution channels from scratch. This aligns with the broader ethos of the CS183 series, which prioritizes actionable advice over theoretical knowledge. For example, a hypothetical CS183d syllabus might have included topics like:

– **Direct Sales Techniques:** How to sell one-on-one, especially for early-stage startups with limited resources.

– **Distribution Hacks:** Leveraging existing platforms, partnerships, or networks to reach customers.

– **Do Things That Don’t Scale:** Building on Paul Graham’s advice to prioritize manual efforts in the early days.

– **Case Studies:** Examining successful distribution strategies from YC companies like Airbnb or Dropbox.

### Why Might CS183d Not Have Happened?

Despite the buzz from Altman and Chiang, there are several reasons CS183d might not have been formally offered:

1. **Instructor Availability:** Altman’s 2015 tweet suggests they hadn’t found a teacher. Given the high-profile lecturers in the CS183 series (e.g., Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman), finding someone with the right expertise and availability might have been challenging.

   

2. **Overlap with Existing Courses:** CS183B already covered distribution to some extent through lectures like Paul Graham’s. Stanford might have decided that a separate course wasn’t necessary, especially if enrollment or resources were limited.

3. **Conceptual Nature:** Chiang’s repeated mentions of CS183d often frame it as a proposed or hypothetical course. His 2017 tweet about “Larry doing distribution in 2091” suggests it might have been more of a thought experiment than a concrete plan.

4. **Focus Shift:** By 2015, Sam Altman was increasingly focused on OpenAI, which he co-founded that year. His attention might have shifted away from expanding the CS183 series, especially as he transitioned to a less hands-on role at YC by 2019.

### Critical Analysis: Was CS183d Real, or Just an Idea?

The lack of official documentation from Stanford or Y Combinator casts doubt on whether CS183d was ever a real course. Larry Chiang’s consistent references to it over the years—from 2014 to as recently as May 2025—suggest that he’s been trying to keep the idea alive, possibly as a personal project or branding effort. However, Chiang’s posts are often self-promotional and lack independent verification, which raises questions about their reliability. For example, his claim in a May 24, 2025, post that “#cs183d at Stanford University shipped a full 15 years before” is vague and unsubstantiated, as 15 years before 2025 would be 2010—before even CS183B was offered in 2014.

On the other hand, Sam Altman’s 2015 tweet lends some credibility to the idea that CS183d was at least considered. Altman’s role at YC and his involvement in CS183B make him a credible source, but the absence of follow-up suggests the course didn’t materialize. It’s possible that CS183d evolved into a different format—perhaps a workshop, lecture series, or even content within another course—but there’s no evidence to support this.

### Broader Significance and Legacy

Even if CS183d was never formally offered, its conceptual focus on distribution highlights an important gap in entrepreneurial education. Distribution is often the make-or-break factor for startups, yet it’s frequently overshadowed by more glamorous topics like product development or fundraising. The CS183 series, with its emphasis on practical advice, was well-positioned to address this gap, and CS183d could have been a valuable addition.

Larry Chiang’s advocacy for CS183d also reflects a broader trend in the startup ecosystem: the push for more practical, hands-on education for entrepreneurs. Chiang’s focus on sales, distribution, and “street smarts” aligns with the ethos of Y Combinator, which prioritizes founders who can execute over those who merely ideate. Whether or not CS183d existed, its proposed focus on distribution underscores the importance of this skill for aspiring entrepreneurs.

### Conclusion

CS183d appears to have been a proposed or conceptual course in Stanford’s CS183 series, likely focused on distribution strategies for startups. Sam Altman’s 2015 tweet suggests it was under consideration, but there’s no evidence it was ever offered. Larry Chiang has been the primary advocate for CS183d, mentioning it consistently from 2014 to 2025 in the context of sales, distribution, and practical entrepreneurship. However, the lack of official documentation and Chiang’s self-promotional tone make it unclear whether CS183d was a real course or just an idea he championed.

If CS183d had been offered, it might have covered practical distribution tactics like direct sales, leveraging partnerships, and “doing things that don’t scale,” building on themes from CS183B. Its absence from official records suggests it either didn’t materialize or evolved into a different format. Regardless, the idea of CS183d highlights the critical role of distribution in startup success—a lesson that remains relevant for entrepreneurs today. If you’d like to explore related courses like CS183B in more detail, or dig into distribution strategies further, let me know!