What Nike's recent struggles can teach us about maintaining culture and competing in e-commerce, plus questions on Amazon and Temu, Meta's threat to AI incumbents, and the pricing strategy of AI cloud providers. At the end: The implication of recent Netflix news, NBC's pricing strategy for Peacock, Google's new Gemini commercial, and more. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Nike: An Epic Saga of Value Destruction — Massimo Giu...
Aug 01, 2024•11 min
Meta debuts a powerful new LLM, Mark Zuckerberg makes the case for an open approach to AI, and Ben explains the Crowdstrike mess and why this episode highlights fundamental tensions between security and competition. At the end: Updated thinking on Netflix and what it wants from the ad business, and marveling at Apple's spending spree in Hollywood. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Open Source AI Is the Path Forward — Mark Zuc...
Jul 25, 2024•13 min
Projecting antitrust policy in a second Trump administration and explaining the splintered interests among little tech and big tech, checking in with the state of X under Elon Musk, and two ChatGPT testimonials help explain the status quo. At the end: Both hosts choose new jobs and new favorite teams. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube JD Vance and Tech, Big Tech Versus Little Tech, JD Vance’s Remarks About Antitrust at the Re...
Jul 18, 2024•21 min
Ben and Andrew return with thoughts on Apple's calculus in the EU, why better App Store policies may not have mattered, perspectives from US and EU citizens, and follow-up to Ben's article on various EU regulatory ambitions. Then: The news that neither Apple nor Microsoft will take observer seats on the OpenAI board, Paramount's merger and an endorsement of irrational Hollywood, Apple unveils its F1 movie, bubble tea takes, and President Mr. Beast. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTec...
Jul 11, 2024•16 min
Perplexity and the choices facing publishers in the AI era, revisiting the decisions and structural forces that led to media struggles in the online economy, and an emailer from the EU who wonders about the costs of the expansive language in the digital markets act. At the end: Ice cream, and a few interview recs for the break. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Perplexity and Robots.txt, Perplexity’s Defense, Google and Compe...
Jun 27, 2024•18 min
Lessons from the FTC's lawsuit alleging that Adobe has violated consumer protection laws in its cloud services business, a question about the vibes at WWDC and other tentpole keynotes across big tech, and a few more notes on Apple, including Facebook's data calculus, the DRI model, and stress-testing the developer concerns with respect to the Vision Pro. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube FTC Sues Adobe, The Legal Question, Th...
Jun 20, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Answering listener questions in the wake of WWDC, including thoughts on AI for Outlook, whether Apple competitors will allow data access to Apple Intelligence, cloud questions, chip questions, and more. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Apple Intelligence is Right On Time — Stratechery WWDC, Apple Intelligence, Apple Aggregates AI — Stratechery Update How Apple Intelligence Works, Apple’s AI Bear Case, The Talk Show Live — St...
Jun 18, 2024•12 min
Reviewing all things WWDC in 2024, including the introduction of Apple Intelligence, why Apple's vision for mainstream AI was compelling, the Apple partnership with OpenAI, questions about Private Cloud Compute, and lots more. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Apple Intelligence AI, iOS 18 and the biggest announcements at WWDC 2024 — Engadget Apple Intelligence is Right On Time — Stratechery WWDC, Apple Intelligence, Apple Ag...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 7 min
A look at Microsoft Recall and the implications of the security changes that were announced this weekend, follow-up questions on what Netflix may build in its advertising business, and a few countervailing notes on the possibility of a dark GPU sequel to the dark fiber story after the dot com bubble. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Apple Intelligence is Right On Time — Stratechery Stealing everything you’ve ever typed or vi...
Jun 10, 2024•13 min
A look at Walmart’s challenges and opportunities as it builds an ad business, how Walmart became a differentiated competitor to Amazon, and a question about AI skepticism spawns extended discussion of life in the middle of a bubble. At the end: Picks for the NBA Finals. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube An Interview with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon About Omnichannel Retail — Stratechery Interview Walmart Earnings, Walmart Conne...
Jun 06, 2024•13 min
A question about generative AI and the hardware powering voice assistants, projecting the GPU future with the dot com bubble as context, and thoughts on Amazon’s capital expenditures and the state of AWS and Amazon Supply Chain. At the end: An Elon hater reviews the Cybertruck. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Apple Plans AI-Based Siri Overhaul to Control Individual App Functions — Bloomberg An Interview with Craig Moffett A...
Jun 03, 2024•1 hr 10 min
A question about the spectrum between LLMs and AGI spawns a conversation about where and how AI might introduce upheaval in the workplace, what TSMC can teach us about probabilistic LLMs, whether AI will be a feature for all big companies or a differentiating product for one winner, and frustrations at the barriers to entry that have thus far allowed big tech to retain control of AI's mainstream applications. Also: An important note about Scarlett Johannson. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm...
May 30, 2024•13 min
The Microsoft Build conference and the introduction of Copilot+ PCs, the potential for Windows as an AI platform that gives developers more certainty, and reactions to Scarlett Johansson's statement about her negotiations with Sam Altman and the launch of GPT-4o. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Windows Returns — Stratechery Microsoft Build, Copilot Platforms, A Note on Recall — Stratechery Update Interviews with Microsoft C...
May 23, 2024•12 min
A variety of notable Netflix developments over the past few weeks, Hollywood's continued move to a (kinda) rebundled future, and what sports leagues are learning as internet realities take hold across entertainment. At the end: Andrew finally watches "Her" and shares his review. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Netflix and the NFL, Netflix Internalizes Ads, Comcast’s Bundle — Stratechery Update Netflix to Show NFL’s Two Chri...
May 20, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Reactions to two hours of Google on stage this week, thoughts on what an AI makeover for search will mean for businesses that rely on Google for customer acquisition, and answers to mailbag questions on Google Cloud, Apple's rumored partnership with OpenAI, Amazon, and the continued ascent of SpaceX and Starlink. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Google I/O, Google’s Strengths and Weaknesses, AI Search — Stratechery Update DJ...
May 17, 2024•18 min
Reactions to the GPT-4o demo, a reminder that OpenAI looks more and more like a consumer tech company, and questions about a potential partnership with Apple. At the end: A follow-up on Apple’s ads, and an emailer defends the Bumble CEO. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Introducing GPT-4o — OpenAI OpenAI’s Spring Event, GPT-4o, OpenAI and Apple — Stratechery Update The Accidental Consumer Tech Company; ChatGPT, Meta, and Pro...
May 14, 2024•11 min
The iPad commercial that made the Internet angry this week, a question about Google search spawns thoughts on the various futures of Google's business, and a few observations on the Tom Brady roast as a reflection of Netflix strategy. Plus: A final word on the iPad and its utility. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Meet the New iPad Pro — X: @tim_cook The iPad Commercial in Reverse — X: @rob_keyes Apple’s iPad Event, The Peac...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 8 min
A question about Apple sentiment in China spawns memories of Apple's entrance to Japan, the utility of the iPad as a Mac replacement (and why the Vision Pro would be the better option for that job), plus Apple acquisitions, Apple's growth premium, and where, exactly, Meta is spending all that money in the Metaverse. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Apple’s New iPad Pro Should Turn Device Into True Laptop Replacement — Bloomb...
May 07, 2024•13 min
Parsing the latest reports on the battle for the NBA's next round of broadcast rights, a question about the NBA schedule and how the league should think about competing with the NFL, and the implications of an increasingly bleak outlook for regional sports networks. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube The NBA and Warner Bros. Discovery, Amazon and Microsoft Earnings — Stratechery Update NBC Prepares $2.5-Billion-a-Year Bid to P...
May 02, 2024•15 min
Ben proposes a potential update to Clayton Christensen's theory of disruption, why the latest round of Meta market skepticism is not as crazy as the last few episodes, questions about Facebook and Apple, and an emailer wonders whether Uber is the future aggregator for transportation and beyond. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Meta and Open — Stratechery Does VR Matter?, Modular Products and Defining New Markets, TikTok Acqu...
Apr 29, 2024•11 min
Why TikTok makes more sense for Wal-Mart and Amazon than Oracle and Microsoft, and the FTC's ban on noncompete agreements prompts reflections noncompetes in Silicon Valley and the decline of trust across society. At the end: A question about Bluey and purchasing power for streamers, and an update on Drake's AI freestyle. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube The Inside Story Of How Glen Taylor Sabotaged The Timberwolves Sale — Hu...
Apr 25, 2024•11 min
A closer look at Netflix after news that the streamer will stop reporting subscription numbers in 2025, a question about Meta’s AI ambitions, and the case for Google making a play to compete with the iPhone. At the end: Drake’s use of AI Tupac in a rap battle. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Netflix Earnings, Netflix’s Reporting Change, Netflix’s Waiting Game — Stratechery Update Google and the Limits of Strategy — Stratech...
Apr 22, 2024•13 min
Celebrating 10 years of Stratechery as a subscription business with 10 questions about analysis, creating on the Internet, what's coming with AI, and what it was like on day 1. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube MKBHDs For Everything — Stratechery Meta Myths — Stratechery Why Microsoft’s Reorganization Is a Bad Idea — Stratechery Popping the Publishing Bubble — Stratechery Peak Google — Stratechery The Vision Pro and the Newto...
Apr 18, 2024•1 hr 10 min
The advertising possibilities that AI can unlock for Meta, Google and Amazon, why TikTok is interested in AI to create digital influencers, and looking to past technologies to predict the impact that AI will make on the economy. At the end: Two questions about chips, a story about EVs and British mechanics, and Scrabble. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Actors Are Making Thousands of Dollars Through Fake Video Podcast Ads — ...
Apr 15, 2024•11 min
Andrew and Ben turn to the emailers and answer questions on Jony Ive's post-Apple adventures, structural parallels between tech and the rise of journalists Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski, Instagram's strategy for Reels, the information environment surrounding Neuralink, and the best approach to solving age verification for teenagers. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Jony Ive and Sam Altman’s AI Device Startup in Fundi...
Apr 11, 2024•16 min
Updated thoughts on Amazon rolling back “just walk out” in grocery stores, context for a viral Meta tweet and a year of pessimism surrounding TSMC in Arizona, and Ben walks through what happened with the XZ backdoor and the changes that should come next. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube The Status of Just Walk Out, TSMC Gets CHIPS Act Grant — Stratechery Update The XZ Backdoor, What Happened, Open Source Safety — Stratechery...
Apr 08, 2024•1 hr 6 min
To email the show: email@sharptech.fm Scheduling Note: There will be only one episode of Sharp Tech this week @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube MLS on Vision Pro, The Vision Pro’s Missing Content, The Vision Pro’s DRI — Stratechery Update An Interview with Hugo Barra About a Career in Tech and the Future of VR — Stratechery Interview Exclusive: Microsoft to separate Teams and Office globally amid antitrust scrutiny — Reuters Get Sharp Tech Premium, Sharp China, S...
Apr 02, 2024•17 min
Follow-up on Apple and the DOJ, including new antitrust laws Ben would like to see, distinctions between platforms and aggregators in a regulatory context, and both sides of the Apple API argument. At the end: Attempts to bridge antitrust confusion and a rant on Boeing’s CEO search. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm Scheduling Note: There will be only one episode of Sharp Tech next week @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube United States v. Apple — Stratechery Ap...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 15 min
A closer look at the US v. Apple complaint, including the good and bad of the introductory rhetoric, debate over the notion that consumers have co-signed Apple's control of the app store, text messaging technology, smartwatches, what Apple has always offered consumers, and the strategic decisions that made the company an attractive antitrust target. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube United States v. Apple — Stratechery The Su...
Mar 25, 2024•11 min
An AI day for Sharp Tech. Topics include: Nvidia’s GTC and the Blackwell B200 GPU, Nvidia’s strategic calculus after achieving product market fit, whether Google missed a chance to market TPUs to a wider audience, the logic underlying Microsoft’s bizarre arrangement with Inflection AI, and Apple’s rumored talks about a partnership with Google Gemini. To email the show: email@sharptech.fm @SharpTechPodcast Channel — YouTube @Stratechery Channel — YouTube Nvidia Unveils Latest Chips at ‘AI Woodsto...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 4 min
