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The episode dives deep into OpenAI's new invitation-only Sora app and the Sora 2 AI video model, highlighting its realistic deepfake capabilities and potential to transform social media. It also covers Satya Nadella's restructuring at Microsoft, appointing Judson Althoff to lead commercial business. Further updates include Oura Ring 4's new colorful ceramic models and health panels with Quest Diagnostics, plus Peloton's strategic move to integrate AI coaching (Peloton IQ) into its hardware for a redemption arc.
Amazon's fall hardware event unveiled a full refresh of Echo, Fire TV, Kindle Scribe, Ring, and Blink devices, all deeply integrated with Alexa Plus and new on-device AI. Other major tech news includes Daniel Ek stepping back from Spotify, Anthropic's release of Claude Sonnet 4.5 for advanced coding, and OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT Instant Checkout. Additionally, OpenAI is reportedly developing a TikTok-like AI video app, while Microsoft introduces 'vibe working' and Agent Mode powered by GPT-5 in Office apps.
The episode details Electronic Arts' $55 billion acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's PIF, marking the largest leveraged buyout on record and reflecting a challenging period for the gaming industry with slowing growth and shifting consumer habits. Discussions also cover DeepSeek's new AI model, which uses a "sparse attention" method to halve prices, potentially igniting an AI price war. Additionally, OpenAI launches new parental safety controls for ChatGPT users aged 13-18, including alerts for self-harm related chats, and the increasing role of debt financing in the AI boom, drawing comparisons to the dot-com era.
One of the very first VCs of the Internet Era, and especially the NYC tech ecosystem, Jerry Colonna reflects on his journey from growing up in New York to becoming a successful journalist and venture capitalist. Jerry discusses his transition to venture capital, the founding of Flatiron with Fred Wilson, and the challenges faced during the dot-com bubble and 9/11. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and the human experience in his coaching practice, aiming to alleviate suffering and transf...
Maybe… the TikTok thing has finally reached a resolution. Again. Maybe Amazon owes us all some money. Maybe that Neon app from yesterday was a bad idea. OpenAI and Meta make some super interesting strategic AI moves. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Trump signs executive order supporting proposed deal to put TikTok under US ownership (AP) TikTok Being Sold for a Song (Spyglass) Amazon agrees largest ever civil penalty in $2.5bn settlement with US regulators (Financial Times) Vi...
This episode covers XAI's lawsuits against OpenAI for trade secret theft and Apple for alleged conspiracy, alongside Intel's bid for investment from Apple. It also discusses Spotify's updated AI music policies, Circle's exploration of reversible stablecoin transactions, and Microsoft's integration of Anthropic's AI models into Copilot. Additionally, the podcast delves into open-source drama concerning Ruby projects and the privacy concerns surrounding the Neon app, which pays users to record phone calls for AI training.
The podcast explores the underlying incentives driving major AI developments, focusing on OpenAI's Stargate initiative with Oracle and SoftBank to build massive data centers. It also examines a new business model where OpenAI might lease NVIDIA's AI chips, easing financial burdens but raising questions about market dynamics. The discussion extends to the "fear of falling behind" driving massive investments from companies like Alibaba and the frothy venture capital landscape for AI startups, where VCs are aggressively pursuing deals. Finally, the episode highlights AI's potential to make translation as common as spellcheck, exemplified by WhatsApp's new built-in feature.
Nvidia is investing $100B in OpenAI, and there are a billion angles to that fact, so get ready to dive into it. Why were there giant sim farms popping up around NYC? The new AI to help you with Candy Crush, I guess. And new buzzword alert: say hello to “workslop.” Nvidia is partnering up with OpenAI to offer compute and cash (The Verge) Altman, Huang and the last-minute negotiations that sealed the $100 billion OpenAI-Nvidia deal (CNBC) Secret Service Thwarts Plot to Take Out Cell Service Near U...
Brian McCullough covers the latest on the TikTok deal, including Oracle's role and investor interest. He then explores the new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, highlighting concerns from tech leaders about its potential to drive talent out of the U.S. The episode also examines the European Commission's push to simplify annoying cookie consent laws and Oura Ring's impressive financial growth and market position. Finally, discussions include Coinbase's strategic move to become a comprehensive financial "super app," the reasons behind Scandinavia's emerging data center hub status, and the host's personal experiment with AI-generated bespoke content.
Today I’m joined by Olivier Pomel, cofounder/CEO of Datadog. We trace his path from French open-source tinkerer to NYC founder, the dev-vs-ops friction that sparked Datadog, finding product-market fit through integrations, and the choice to stay independent en route to a 2019 IPO and S&P 500. Olivier shares scaling war stories, culture and GTM lessons, and what observability means in an AI era. If you build software—or companies—this one’s packed with playbooks, from hiring to pricing to pla...
(Sorry about the editing error earlier) Nvidia is investing in self-driving AI tech. Google has given up the ghost and is making Chrome a full AI tool. Would you tolerate advertisements on the screen of your smart refrigerator? And why Apple executives are growing worried about OpenAI’s hardware plans. Nvidia in talks for $500mn investment in UK self-driving start-up Wayve (FT) Google Injects Gemini Into Chrome as AI Browsers Go Mainstream (Wired) Software update shoves ads onto Samsu...
Has Intel found the big customer for its Foundry that it needs to survive? The big tie up with Nvidia announced this morning. All the announces from Meta’s event last night. Smartglasses and maybe the Metaverse is still a thing. And AI pattern matching might work as well for health prediction as it has proven to do with weather forecasting. Nvidia and Intel announce jointly developed 'Intel x86 RTX SOCs' for PCs with Nvidia graphics, also custom Nvidia data center x86 processors — Nvidia buys $5...
The framework of a TikTok deal is finally coming together. Nvidia suffers another major setback in China. Bunch of new AI stuff from YouTube. A coming MacBook with a touchscreen. And a roundup of the reviews of the iPhone Air. U.S. Investors, Trump Close In on TikTok Deal With China (WSJ) China bans tech companies from buying Nvidia’s AI chips (FT) YouTube to use AI to help podcasters promote themselves with clips and Shorts (TechCrunch) YouTube announces new generative AI tools for Shorts creat...
The podcast delves into a leak revealing new Meta Ray-Ban smartglasses featuring a heads-up display and an SEMG wristband, alongside rumored Oakley Meta Sfera glasses with a centered camera. It also explores OpenAI's new GPT-5 Codex, an AI optimized for agentic coding with dynamic thinking capabilities. The episode further discusses the evolving TikTok algorithm licensing deal between the US and China, new features for Spotify's free users including "Pick and Play," and a review of iOS 26's "liquid glass" design and practical upgrades like call screening.
The episode kicks off with Google Gemini's unexpected climb to the top of the app store, driven by the viral Nano Banana image model, alongside fresh data revealing evolving AI usage trends from OpenAI and Anthropic. Discussions also cover China's regulatory actions against tech giants like Nvidia, the launch of PayPal's new peer-to-peer payment feature, and OpenAI's new mentorship program. A concluding segment offers a critical perspective on AI's economic impact, questioning whether its value will flow to new ventures or consolidate with incumbents.
John Borthwick on Betaworks shares his journey from a tech-savvy youth to a prominent figure in the New York City tech scene. He discusses his early experiences with computers, the transformative impact of the World Wide Web, and the vibrant tech culture of the 90s. Borthwick reflects on his role in creating Total New York, the lessons learned from the AOL acquisition, and the challenges faced during the dot-com bubble burst. He also highlights the rise of social media platforms like Photolog an...
OpenAI and Microsoft say they have ironed out their differences… tentatively. Not officially. I’ll explain why that is interesting. With new FDA clearance for the Apple watch are millions of people about to discover they have hypertension? What if AI is less corrupt than humans? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. OpenAI and Microsoft reach tentative deal to revise partnership (Axios) OpenAI Takes Big Steps Toward Its Long-Planned Reorganization (NYTimes) OpenAI & Microsoft Ag...
Well we now know one of the big contracts that sent Oracle shares flying. OpenAI of course. We have another IPO pop. YouTube videos now have multilanguage dubbing. Is it risky to bet on just one version of AI? And a deep dive analysis of how Oracle got AI religion. Oracle, OpenAI Sign $300 Billion Cloud Deal (WSJ) Klarna Climbs 15% in Trading Debut After $1.37 Billion IPO (Bloomberg) Microsoft's first preview of Visual Studio 2026: Deeper AI and a design refresh (The Register) YouTube’s multi-la...
The tech world is buzzing with Oracle's remarkable stock surge, propelled by a half-trillion-dollar AI data center backlog that positions it as the 'new Nvidia.' Spotify is finally rolling out lossless audio to premium users at no extra cost, while Apple enhances iPhone 17 security with new memory safety features. Meanwhile, Robinhood is embracing social trading, quantum computing sees a billion-dollar funding round, and a startup is rapidly scaling AI-generated podcasts, producing thousands weekly.
Today's tech news highlights Apple's latest product event, introducing the ultra-slim iPhone Air, significant upgrades across the iPhone 17 lineup, and enhanced AirPods Pro 3 with health and translation features. The Apple Watch Series 11, SE3, and Ultra 3 also received notable connectivity and health improvements. Beyond Apple, the podcast discusses the postponement of Anthropic's $1.5 billion copyright settlement, Microsoft and LG's partnership bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming to cars, OpenAI's potential relocation amid California scrutiny, and Google's controversial court argument that the open web is in rapid decline.
Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5 billion dollars to authors of books that might have trained their AI. Would my book qualify for some of that money? Also, why this is interesting in general. OpenAI is making a movie. Tokenizing the stock market. Three interesting raises, and at the end of the show, let me tell you about my weekend experiment with AI. Links: Anthropic Reaches $1.5 Billion Author Copyright Settlement (Bloomberg) OpenAI Backs AI-Made Animated Feature Film (WSJ) Nasdaq makes push to...
Julie Samuels shares her journey from a journalism major to a prominent figure in the tech advocacy space, detailing her experiences at NCSA, her work with EFF, and her role in founding Tech NYC. She discusses the evolution of the internet, the cultural differences between Silicon Valley and New York City, and the importance of community engagement in shaping the future of technology. Julie emphasizes the need for tech companies to be involved in civic issues and how Tech NYC aims to support and...
From the, this wasn’t on my bingo card file, OpenAI has launched a sort of job board? Why Broadcom might become Nvidia’s big rival. Is AI image generation about to have its Napster moment? And in the Longread Suggestions, a deep-dive state of the job market in tech. 00:00 Intro 00:33 OpenAI Job Search 04:22 Broadcom Competes With Nvidia? 07:41 AI Image Napster Moment? 11:30 Nividia's "Self Dealing"? 15:35 Longreads Links: OpenAI Plans Jobs Platform, Certification Program for AI Roles (Bloomberg)...
Morning Brew discusses Apple's significant move into AI-powered web search for Siri, including a potential partnership with Google and a focus on user privacy. The episode also highlights Honeywell's growing influence in quantum computing and Atlassian's acquisition of The Browser Company to integrate AI into browsing. Additionally, hear about Roblox's expanded age verification, Tencent's innovative AI for 3D video, and Instagram's belated but Reels-focused launch on the iPad.
Google whistles past the graveyard with the remedy ruling on its antitrust case. OpenAI makes a big acquisition. Anthropic has a big new raise and a huge new valuation to boot. And why are AI companies finding it so hard to engineer safe interactions with Chatbots? Links: Google stock jumps 8% after search giant avoids worst-case penalties in antitrust case (CNBC) Google, Apple, and Mozilla Win in the Antitrust Case Google Lost (Spyglass) Google’s Big Win Is Even Bigger for Apple (WSJ) OpenAI st...
The Trump family’s big new crypto coin makes its debut. OpenAI outlines new safety guardrails. Dolby announces its biggest new TV tech in years. Say hello to Dolby Vision 2. Fintech seems to be back. And as the price per token for AI models has fallen, why are costs for developers rising? Links: Trump family’s World Liberty Financial token falls in trading debut (FT) Parental controls are coming to ChatGPT ‘within the next month,’ OpenAI says (CNNBusiness) Dolby Vision 2 goes beyond HDR with mor...
In this conversation, Bradley Tusk discusses his unique career at the intersection of politics and technology. He shares insights from his early experiences in New York City politics, his time working with Senator Schumer, and his role as Deputy Governor of Illinois. Tusk reflects on the Bloomberg campaign during the financial crisis and how he merged political strategies with business through Tusk Strategies. He highlights the regulatory challenges faced by Uber and the importance of understand...
China continues to show signs that it might not need American AI chips much longer. A weird story about that big recent Tesla trial ruling. Look, AI being too much of a sycophant is clearly becoming a big problem. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Alibaba Creates AI Chip to Help China Fill Nvidia Void (WSJ) Tesla said it didn’t have key data in a fatal crash. Then a hacker found it. (Washington Post) Intel gets $5.7 billion from Trump deal as White House says details are ...
This episode delves into NVIDIA's Q2 earnings, which, despite beating estimates, hinted at a potential slowdown in AI spending and market normalization. It then covers Microsoft's expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming to more subscribers and the integration of its Copilot AI into Samsung TVs. Google's new Universal Ledger blockchain for finance is discussed alongside its viral "Nano Banana" AI image model (Gemini 2.5 Flash). Finally, the episode examines the Nothing Phone 3's misleading marketing tactics and reviews of the Google Pixel 10 Pro, highlighting its AI features and incremental upgrades.
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI. The continuing saga of what the heck is going on over at Meta AI? Is “vibe hacking” the big new threat we need to be worried about? Anthropic had to settle because it was afraid it would be sued out of existence. And when the iPhone event is gonna happen. Links: OpenAI Plans to Update ChatGPT After Parents Sue Over Teen’s Suicide (Bloomberg) A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In. (NYTimes) Researchers Are Already Leavin...
