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TechCheck

Where Silicon Valley meets Wall Street, TechCheck dives deep into stocks, trades, trends and opportunities focused on new technologies while highlighting news from mega-cap heavyweights, social media darlings, streaming giants, growth software and red-hot disruptors. Everyday TechCheck delivers investors what they need to know with compelling in-depth reporting and analysis from investors, analysts and leaders in the industry.
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Episodes

Big Tech Pullback Warnings, Plus UBS downgrades Alphabet 6/26/23

Analysts have been warning of increased concentration in mega-cap tech for a while, with little impact on those names. Is it time now for a pullback? Plus, UBS downgraded Alphabet today to neutral from buy, saying the stock has limited upside and that it may not be the best way to capitalize on the AI wave. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jun 26, 20238 min

Chips Act Eligibility Expands, Plus A Read on the Private Markets 6/23/23

Suppliers are now able to apply for funding under the Chips Act after the Biden administration broadened the companies that are eligible, 11 months after it became law. Plus, the CEO of Forge Global, a secondary marketplace where insiders can buy and sell shares of private companies, says AI names are still hard to buy. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jun 23, 20237 min

AWS CEO Discusses New AI Innovation Center, Plus FTC vs. Microsoft/Activision 6/22/23

AWS is investing $100M in a center to help its customers use generative AI, in a push to keep up with rivals Microsoft and Google. Deirdre Bosa sits down with AWS CEO Adam Selipsky. Plus, the first of a five-day hearing between Microsoft and the FTC kicked off today, to determine the fate of a $69 billion deal to buy Activision in the U.S. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 22, 20238 min

Alibaba Announces Surprise Leadership Shakeup 6/20/23

Alibaba announced this morning Chairman and CEO Daniel Zhang will be stepping down from the company, to be replaced with longtime Alibaba veterans Joe Tsai and Eddie Wu respectively. The installment of two Jack Ma insiders might indicate the tech billionaire is still calling the shots, despite disappearing from public eye the past few years after regulatory scrutiny. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for ad...

Jun 20, 20236 min

The Next Seven 6/16/23

By now we've all heard of the Magnificent Seven - the handful of gargantuan tech stocks responsible for the majority of the market's gains. But we dug into the NEXT seven -- filled with legacy tech and AI-related names that are also seeing gains this year. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 16, 20237 min

Adobe Earnings Preview, Plus Lyft Acquisition Rumors Swirl 6/15/23

Will Adobe earnings after the bell prove it's an AI winner or loser? Bears would argue popular models like Dall-E and Midjourney undermine the company, though bulls might say Adobe represents one of the best professional applications of AI. Plus, analysts have pegged Lyft as a potential acquisition target, with possible buyers including big tech companies like Google and Amazon, automakers, and private equity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about ou...

Jun 15, 20235 min

TechCheck+ Dot Com vs. AI Mania: Comparing 1999 and 2023 6/13/23

Tech has come roaring back in 2023. And the biggest narrative this year – artificial intelligence. If it feels like a moment of gigantic hype – you wouldn’t be mistaken. But so was 1999. This week on TechCheck – comparing two moments of hype: the dot com bubble and AI mania. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jun 13, 20238 min

Intel’s New Foothold in the Chip Wars, Plus CalSTRS CIO Cautions Against Tech Rally 6/13/23

Intel is reportedly in talks with Softbank to be a strategic investor to anchor chip designer Arm’s IPO. It could be a way for Intel to work with big names like Apple, Amazon, and Meta and others on the back-end. Plus, the Chief Investment Officer of the nation’s second-largest pension fund cautions against the tech rally and warns that AI is overhyped. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jun 13, 202311 min

Meta Internal Meeting Reveals Jabs at Apple and a Twitter Competitor 6/9/23

In the battle of the titans, Apple and Meta have long been locking horns on products, privacy, and now the new era of headsets. In leaked audio from an internal all-hands meeting, there were reports that Zuckerberg criticized the Vision Pro, particularly its price tag. The meeting also revealed the tech giant is now working on a Twitter competitor, though many apps have tried and failed. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

Jun 09, 20236 min

Tech’s Return to Office Tactics 6/8/23

Three different approaches may be emerging for how tech companies are trying to lure employees back into the office. Google – which had been using carrots like a Lizzo concert, is instead shifting to sticks – with a crackdown on office attendance and tracking badges. Salesforce, on the other hand, is trying out altruism – offering to donate $10 to local charities for each day an employee is in the office or attends a company event. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com fo...

Jun 08, 20238 min

Data is Gold in AI Race, Plus Roblox CEO on Potential Apple Partnerships 6/7/23

If "data is gold" in the shift to AI, big tech companies that have been collecting data for decades might have a huge leg up -- if they can balance increased costs as they work on accommodating a new hardware and infrastructure shift. Plus, Roblox CEO Dave Baszucki says developers are flocking to its spatial computing platform, though Apple had only announced it was using Unity Software to bring apps and games to its headset. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for info...

Jun 07, 20237 min

Sequoia Capital Splits Into Three VC Firms 6/6/23

Sequoia Capital, one of the world’s largest and most successful VC firms, told investors today it will split into three partnerships, separating its China and India units. It’s been a tough first year for U.S. and Europe lead Roelof Botha – the tech market turned, and amid rising geopolitical tensions, he oversaw billions in devalued investments. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jun 06, 20238 min

Apple Unveils Vision Pro Headset 6/5/23

There's a lot at stake for Apple as it hits all-time highs the same day it reveals its new mixed-reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro. Even though it’s eventually aimed at the general public, it’s first up to developers to create apps and games that will level up the product, differentiate it from other headsets, and make it enticing for consumers. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jun 05, 202312 min

MongoDB Bucks Cloud Slowdown, Plus Telecom Stocks Fall on Amazon Prime Mobile Report 6/2/23

Shares of MongoDB are surging almost 30% today after posting an earnings beat and offering strong guidance when its competitors aren’t, bucking the trend of a slowdown that PagerDuty and Salesforce are warning of. Plus, shares of telecom stocks are falling after a report that Amazon is in talks to offer a free mobile service for Prime customers. Amazon said it is not in talks to offer wireless anytime soon while T-Mobile and Verizon have said they’re not in discussions with the tech giant. Hoste...

Jun 02, 20236 min

Tech Carries the Market, Plus Previewing Broadcom Earnings 6/1/23

Big tech has been carrying the market once again; without the 7 megacaps responsible for the market's gains, the S&P would be down for the year, instead of up 10%. Plus, Broadcom posts earnings after the close. The chip company has a high bar to meet after a surge analysts are calling “parabolic.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jun 01, 20237 min

Nvidia Throws Intel a Bone, Plus Amazon Workers Plan Walkout 5/31/23

Nvidia CEO and AI kingmaker Jensen Huang out with a vote of confidence for Intel, saying their test chips “look good.” It could mean advanced chipmaking is coming back home. Plus, Amazon workers are planning a walkout today, citing the company’s return to office policies and recent layoffs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 31, 20237 min

The New FAANG and Predicting the AI Monetization Cycle 5/30/23

We may need a new "FAANG" to describe the tech basket powering market gains this year, and some analysts are suggesting the "Magnificent Seven," which include Nvidia and Tesla. Plus, during the mobile internet platform shift, semis were the first to be recognized by markets, then infrastructure, and finally software. That may point to what the next trillion dollar company is after Nvidia. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use o...

May 30, 20237 min

The Week AI Got Real (For Profits) 5/26/23

AI is in its peak hype cycle stage, but this was the week it also started to matter to companies’ bottom line. Nvidia’s blockbuster quarter and then Marvell showed that AI is creating real revenue right now. But what about the real costs for all those Nvidia customers who are buying silicon to up their server game? We look at the different players and how investors are absorbing the changes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and us...

May 26, 20234 min

TechCheck+ Henry Winkler of HBO's 'Barry' 5/26/23

CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla is joined by Emmy-award winning legend Henry Winkler to break down his final performance as acting teacher Gene Cousineau on HBO’s “Barry” as the series comes to a close. They discuss Henry’s sources of inspiration while playing the role of Gene, why he says writers are the "beating heart" of every project he’s worked on and how he maintains his “cool” nearly 50 years since his debut as The Fonz on “Happy Days.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.co...

May 26, 202317 min

Riding Nvidia’s Wave: Other AI Stock Plays, Plus A Closer Look at its Valuation 5/25/23

Nvidia stock is surging today and nearing a trillion dollar valuation, driven by spiking demand for its AI GPUs. But there may be other ways to play that boom. Taiwan Semi manufactures Nvidia and other big tech companies’ chips, and Softbank-owned Arm helps companies bring AI chip design in-house, cutting out the middleman. The stock is actually cheaper now than it was yesterday, thanks to a “guidance for the ages.” Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information ab...

May 25, 20238 min

Meta’s Newest Round of Layoffs, Plus Netflix Cracks Down on Password Sharing 5/24/23

Meta announced today it would start another round of layoffs, part of the ten thousand roles CEO Mark Zuckerberg said would be cut in March. Plus, Netflix begins to roll out its plan to make users pay extra to share accounts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 24, 20235 min

Yelp Jumps on Activist Investor Letter, Plus Generative AI Use Explodes at Enterprises 5/23/23

The activist investor pushing Yelp to explore a sale told CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa that CEO Jeremy Stoppelman uses the company as his own personal piggy bank while the rest of us lose money, thanks to a “puppet board.” Plus, generative AI use has surged at enterprises, according to a new report from data management startup Databricks. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

May 23, 20236 min

Uber Cuts San Francisco Office Space, Plus China’s Micron Ban 5/22/23

Uber is offloading a third of its office space in an example of a dire vacancy situation in San Francisco and how the city will struggle to bring back workers and its economy. Plus, Micron shares fall after Chinese authorities barred some of its large companies from buying its chips. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 22, 20237 min

Big Tech Props Up The Market 5/19/23

We’re seeing the greatest outperformance of tech versus the S&P 500 ever, with the rally concentrated in just a handful of big tech names including Nvidia, Meta, Google and Amazon. But investors looking for the next big winner in the space might set their sights on Oracle. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 19, 20233 min

Alibaba Announces Cloud Unit Spinoff, Plus An AI-Washing Warning 5/18/23

Alibaba’s stock has gone nowhere since announcing its six-way breakup, and is still down today despite making its cloud spinoff official. Plus - what is AI-washing, and why should investors be on the lookout for it? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 18, 20235 min

Elon Musk Criticizes OpenAI, Plus Stability AI CEO Talks Business Models 5/17/23

In a CNBC Exclusive interview, Elon Musk voiced concerns about how much control Microsoft has over OpenAI. Satya Nadella has rejected that, but it raises the question again of whether big tech will gobble up smaller incumbents in this emerging industry. Plus, Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque explained why his open-source business model is important for transparency. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adver...

May 17, 202313 min

AI Faces Congress 5/16/23

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s debut on Capitol Hill seemed more collaborative than combative, unlike tech hearings we’ve seen over the past. He agreed with lawmakers in calling for more AI oversight, saying that safe development of the technology requires companies to do good, regulatory intervention from the government, and public education. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

May 16, 20234 min

AI’s Threat to Ad Agencies, Plus Apple’s Mega Market Cap 5/15/23

Ad agencies are topping analysts' lists of businesses most at risk of AI automation, but ad titan Sir Martin Sorrell argues the technology will be a net positive for the industry. Plus, Apple is now worth more than the combined market cap of the Russell 2000 – but as the tech giant grows, so does the question of whether it’s overpriced. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

May 15, 20237 min

Under-the-Radar AI Picks 5/12/23

Analysts today have called out a few stocks that could be under-the-radar beneficiaries of AI. CNBC’s Steve Kovach breaks that down – plus one company that has been singled out as an AI loser. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

May 12, 20233 min

Softbank Slumps, Plus Character.ai CEO talks monetization 5/11/23

Softbank posted a record $32 billion loss at its Vision Fund tech investment arm as executives promise the company are going on the offensive on AI. But is it too little too late? Plus, character.ai has become an example for tech investors of an AI bubble – after the company raised a billion dollars without seeing any revenue. CEO Noam Shazeer talked monetization, use cases, and how they landed their partnership with Google Cloud. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for...

May 11, 202311 min
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