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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

AI Race Leaderboard Reshuffled 3/18/24

Apple is now reportedly in talks with Alphabet to put Google’s Gemini AI model into iPhones. The partnership could shake up postions in the AI race, potentially acting as a strong rebuke to bears who worried that Google's Gemini large language model is falling short of competitor products. It might also cast doubt on Apple's AI strategy and whether it’s able to catch up to rivals. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of person...

Mar 18, 20246 min

Beijing Doubles Down on TikTok Sale Opposition 3/15/24

Beijing now seems unlikely to let go of TikTok's secret sauce - it's source code - saying overnight that it would oppose a forced sale. That severely limits the options for parent company Bytedance, and poses a big challenge for any U.S. workers who might try and replicate the algorithm. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 15, 20247 min

TechCheck+ Why ‘open’ AI might be more marketing than reality 3/15/24

Among developers, Meta's latest open-source large language model, the Llama 2, is the hottest thing around. Wall Street also seems to be waking up to the proposition, with the stock far outperforming AI rivals like Google and Microsoft. But calling Meta's AI system "open source" is only part of the story. And the same might also apply to buzzy startups like Mistral and open source’s loudest advocates like Elon Musk. This week on Tech Check, we break down the promise of open source AI vs the myth...

Mar 15, 202410 min

The U.S. Money Invested in TikTok, Plus Reddit Readies its IPO 3/14/24

A significant amount of U.S. money is invested in TikTok parent company ByteDance, including Carlyle Group, KKR, GGV, Sequoia, Tiger Global and more. Former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin will likely have to go through them in his plans to put together a group to buy TikTok. Plus, Reddit’s IPO roadshow is underway. We break down what industry experts are now saying it could mean for the IPO pipeline. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collec...

Mar 14, 20247 min

Breaking Down the Nvidia Halo Effect 3/13/24

The Nvidia halo effect is alive and well. TechCheck spoke to the founder and CEO of Together AI, a newly minted unicorn that helps developers access Nvidia server chips to train their AI models, on how amid the scarcity of GPUs, it's all about making the supply of existing ones more efficient. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 13, 20245 min

Arm Shares Face Big Test This Week 3/12/24

Shares of Arm are just fractionally higher today as its lockup period expires. That’s the 6-month period after an IPO during which insiders like early investors and employees are restricted from selling shares to prevent volatility. Will they look to sell and lock in gains? Softbank and its CEO Masayoshi Son own a 90% stake and has often drawn down on winners, including by using ownership in Alibaba to pay off debt and repurchase shares. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz....

Mar 12, 20247 min

The Fate of OpenAI’s Nonprofit Mission, Plus TikTok Ban Gains Momentum 3/11/24

There's a new, uncomfortable dynamic at OpenAI: a non-profit mission with a corporate profit motive. The recent changes at OpenAI's board underscore that - replacing AI researchers and specialists with business execs familiar with building for-profit companies. Plus, a new bipartisan effort to ban TikTok is gaining momentum in Congress. We dig into former President Trump’s flip-flopping stance on the ban. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our col...

Mar 11, 20248 min

One Year After SVB’s Collapse, Silicon Valley Still Searches for a Replacement 3/8/24

One year after the collapse of SVB, the Valley is still searching for a replacement. The bank had tailored services for early-stage companies, partnered with VCs, been a lender for those considered too risky for traditional banks. TechCheck talked to two startup founders on the failure, the changes since then, and the gap still in the market. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Mar 08, 20245 min

OpenAI Fires Back at Elon Musk, Plus Microsoft Engineer Sounds the Alarm 3/6/24

The fight between OpenAI and Elon Musk has entered a new round. After Musk filed suit against the startup accusing it of prioritizing profits, OpenAI has fired back with a trove of new bombshell emails that puts Musk back in the hot seat. Plus, CNBC talked to a Microsoft engineer that is now raising the red flag about its flagship AI profit CoPilot, warning of sexual and violent content. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of...

Mar 06, 20247 min

TechCheck+ Google vs Google: The internal struggle holding back its AI 3/1/24

Instead of a comeback, Google’s Gemini AI chatbot and image generator have gone viral for all the wrong reasons – producing inaccurate and offensive responses. The missteps have put Google back on the defensive in the AI race. But the bigger question around Gemini’s roll out is whether it underscores a painful but new corporate reality for Alphabet and CEO Sundar Pichai. Is Google’s culture sabotaging its AI efforts? We discuss both sides after a week where other mega-caps are making strides in ...

Mar 01, 202413 min

Bull vs. Bear at Google 2/27/24

The fallout for Alphabet – the stock is now negative for the year as more controversies mount around its AI model Gemini rollout. Some are now calling for a change in leadership. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 27, 202422 min

Sam Altman Owns A Piece of Reddit 2/23/24

Of course he does! Reddit filed (finally) for its IPO. What it – and the money behind it – say about the state of tech right now. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 23, 202418 min

TechCheck+ Nvidia, Sam Altman and the trillion-dollar AI dream 2/23/24

Artificial intelligence only entered the mainstream a year ago. But already, two titans of the industry are prophesying trillions of dollars in opportunity. Nvidia chief Jensen Huang is predicting an additional $1 trillion in data centers in the next few years, while OpenAI’s Sam Altman’s chip dream is closer to $7 trillion. This week on Tech Check, we take a deep dive into their trillion-dollar AI visions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our c...

Feb 23, 202414 min

FTX Wants to Sell Its Anthropic Stake 2/22/24

Bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX has filed a legal motion that would allow the company to sell its nearly 8% stake in one of the buzziest and highly-valued AI startups. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 22, 20243 min

Retail Investors Buy The Dip 2/15/24

When tech stocks fell this week, retail investors came in buying. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 15, 20243 min

An AI Love Story 2/14/24

Is AI hype outpacing reality… A few signs that perhaps this story will not be as simple as buying the early AI winners like Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta and Nvidia… especially as it plays out in the stock market. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 14, 202413 min

Bezos, Zuckerberg Sell Stock 2/12/24

Jeff Bezos selling Amazon stock for the first time in more than two years. Mark Zuckerberg selling some Meta shares. Today – what insider sales RIGHT NOW could mean for tech at large. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 12, 202412 min

7 Trillion Reasons 2/9/24

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman -- now turning his attention to chips… Reportedly looking to raise up to seven trillion dollars for a new semiconductor venture or partnership. This is a question we find ourselves asking a lot – how real is that? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 09, 202412 min

Goodbye, Bard! Google’s Gemini Rebrand.

Google's Bard is now Gemini… What a rename and a rebrand mean for Google’s fight for AI. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 08, 202411 min

Alibaba & Chinese Stocks in Freefall 02/07/24

What happened to the Chinese stock market? Alibaba stock price is in a tailspin. The problems are fundamental. The big question – is this an Alibaba problem, or is it a broader proxy for the way China is uninvestable right now? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 07, 202413 min

Neumann, Old Job? 2/6/24

Adam Neumann -- the founder of WeWork ousted from the company in 2019 -- is now trying to buy it back out of bankruptcy. Just how real is that? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 06, 202413 min

Semi-Charmed stocks 2/5/24

Chips… versus the rest of the market. Semiconductors are THE trade of 2024 (Nvidia up 42% YTD btw)… So why aren’t they beating the expectations? Today, truth and fundamentals within tech. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 05, 20248 min

Meta & The Push For Cash in Tech 2/2/24

A big week of tech earnings, and all in all, business remains good. Profitability is increasing. And these giant tech companies – META front and center today, they’re returning a lot of cash to shareholders. Could this be a sign of more to come? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 02, 202413 min

The Ipos You Want Vs. The Ipos You Get 2/1/24

It’s a two-track IPO market. Why the weakest are going public as the strong stay private. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 01, 202416 min

Google Cracks 1/31/24

Cracks in Google’s dominance… that’s been the fear since ChatGPT stole Google’s mainstream AI moment, and last night, the search giant gave investors reason to worry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 31, 20244 min

Tech grows, everything else… slows 01/30/24

The six biggest tech stocks are set to grow earnings 54% when they report numbers – Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Nvidia, Meta, Amazon. The rest of the S&P 500? The other 494 mature, solid U.S. companies? Their blended average growth is looking like NEGATIVE 10.4%. Today – that divide, this week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 30, 202415 min

Google Challengers 1/29/24

Big tech earnings this week – we’ll tackle Alphabet. The big focus for 2024: can it prove itself as an AI leader… or is its golden goose, advertising, at risk of disruption? Today: looking for the next great alternative. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 29, 202412 min

TechCheck+ The headset wars: Why it's Apple's to lose 01/26/24

Two tech titans are now duking it out in the headset wars. Apple's Vision Pro and Meta's Quests offer different price points, different specs, and most importantly, different visions of the future of virtual reality. And both have big hurdles to clear. This week on TechCheck, why the headset battle is Apple's to lose. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising....

Jan 26, 20249 min

Musk, Altman Taylor & Billions of Dollars 1/26/24

Elon Musk. Bret Taylor. Sam Altman… The biggest names in tech, in Silicon Valley, are looking to raise huge sums of money, billions of dollars, to fund the next era of startups. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 26, 202418 min

Tech's 'Mass extinction event' 01/25/24

The brutal year for tech workers continues… More layoffs, this time at Microsoft’s gaming unit. But what about startups? Will they face a mass extinction event this year Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 25, 202417 min
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