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May 13 · 6 min
Musk mulled handing OpenAI to his children; plus, Google and SpaceX in talks to put data centers into orbit
OpenAI's CEO recalls a "particularly hair-raising" conversation with the SpaceX founder. Also, Google and SpaceX are in talks to build data centers in orbit, pitching space as the future home for AI compute, even as costs today remain far higher than on the ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 12 · 7 min
TikTok now wants to be the place you book the trip you just saw on TikTok; plus, AI is turning connected cars into pothole-finding machines
TikTok is systematically converting its discovery engine into a transaction layer, which both deepens user retention and opens entirely new revenue streams for its new owners. Also, fleet management company Samsara has developed an AI model to detect different kinds of potholes and gauge how fast they're deteriorating. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 11 · 6 min
Cloudflare says AI made 1,100 jobs obsolete, even as revenue hit a record high; plus, Anthropic says ‘evil’ portrayals of AI can have real effect
CloudFlare announced its first large-scale layoff. CEO Matthew Prince says because of AI efficiency gains, the company doesn't need as many support roles. Also, fictional portrayals of artificial intelligence can have a real effect on AI models, according to Anthropic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 8 · 6 min
Microsoft’s AI data center push is colliding with its clean power goals; plus, China’s Moonshot AI raises $2B as demand for open-source AI skyrockets
The push for new data centers at Microsoft is putting one of the its key clean power goals at risk. Also, Moonshot's annualized recurring revenue topped $200 million in April, driven by rapid growth in paid subscriptions and API usage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 7 · 7 min
Tinder owner Match Group is slowing hiring to pay for its increased use of AI tools; plus, Apple will pay $250M to settle lawsuit
Match Group said that it's slowing its hiring plans for the rest of the year because AI tools "cost a lot of money." Also, Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class-action lawsuit for overpromising the arrival of Siri's AI features. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 6 · 7 min
As workers worry about AI, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says AI is ‘creating an enormous number of jobs’
As workers worry about AI, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang says AI is ‘creating an enormous number of jobs’ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 5 · 7 min
Ouster’s new color lidar is coming to replace cameras; plus, US healthcare marketplaces shared citizenship and race data with ad tech giants
A sensor that can simultaneously capture depth and image data has long been a "holy grail," Ouster CEO Angus Pacala told TechCrunch. Also, Virginia and Washington D.C. paused the data collection and sharing, after Bloomberg's investigation found their health insurance marketplaces were sharing users' information with advertisers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 4 · 7 min
Pentagon inks deals with Nvidia, Microsoft, and AWS to deploy AI on classified networks
The deals come as the DoD has doubled down on diversifying its exposure to AI vendors in the wake of its controversial dispute with Anthropic over usage terms of its AI models. Also, Coatue, one of the biggest names in venture capital, has a new venture that is reportedly buying land near large power sources. And, an ad c from Artisan, the AI startup behind billboards urging businesses to "stop hiring humans" stole art from cartoonist KC Green. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
May 1 · 7 min
Apple was surprised by AI-driven demand for Macs; plus, Hackers are actively exploiting a bug in cPanel
Apple said it will be supply-constrained on Mac Mini, Studio, and Neo in the next quarter, too. Plus, web hosts are scrambling to fix the bug under active attack by hackers. One company said hackers have been abusing the bug for months. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 30 · 8 min
Jack Dorsey-backed Vine reboot Divine launches to the public; plus, Roku’s $3 streaming service, Howdy, reaches 1M subs
Divine, a Vine reboot backed by Jack Dorsey’s nonprofit, revives six-second looping videos. Also, Roku’s $2.99 streaming service Howdy has topped 1M subscribers, showing demand for cheaper, low-commitment alternatives to pricier streamers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 29 · 4 min
Google expands Pentagon’s access to its AI after Anthropic’s refusal; plus, Lovable launches its vibe-coding app
After Anthropic refused to allow the DoD to use its AI for domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons, Google has signed a new contract with the department. Also, the app allows developers to vibe code web apps and websites on the go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 28 · 7 min
Investors back Skye’s AI home screen app for iPhone ahead of launch; Data center demand drives 66% surge in natural gas power plant costs
Skye's new AI app attracted investors before it even launched — a sign of interest in a more AI-aware iPhone. Also, natural gas power plant costs have nearly doubled in two years and take 23% longer to build as data center electricity demand skyrockets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 27 · 7 min
Steve Ballmer blasts founder he backed who pleaded guilty to fraud, Palantir reportedly helping the IRS, and Anthropic created a test marketplace
Steve Ballmer wrote a fiery letter in the sentencing of disgraced founder Joseph Sanberg documenting all the harm that's befalling him as an investor. Also, the IRS has used Palantir's software since at least 2018, The Intercept reports. Plus, in a letter to the residents of Tumbler Ridge, Canada, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he is “deeply sorry” that his company failed to alert law enforcement about the suspect in a recent mass shooting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 24 · 6 min
Surveillance vendors caught abusing access to telcos to track people’s phone locations
The Citizen Lab found two separate surveillance vendors abusing the backbone of cellular networks to spy on several victims across the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 23 · 9 min
How SpaceX preempted a $2B fundraise with a $60B buyout offer; plus, Google turns Chrome into an AI co-worker
Cursor was on track to close a $2 billion funding round this week but chose to halt discussions after SpaceX offered a $10 billion "collaboration fee" and a path to a $60 billion acquisition. Also, Google brings Gemini-powered 'auto browse' capabilities to Chrome for enterprise users, letting workers automate tasks like research, data entry, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 22 · 8 min
FAA orders investigation into Blue Origin’s New Glenn mishap; 44% of songs uploaded to Deezer are AI-generated; and the NSA is using Anthropic’s Mythos
-The New Glenn rocket will have to stay grounded while the company investigates what caused the apparent failure of its upper stage. -Deezer says consumption of AI-generated music on the platform is still very low, between 1-3% of the total streams, and that 85% of these streams are detected as fraudulent and are demonetized. -The NSA is said to be using Anthropic's restricted Mythos AI model. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 21 · 7 min
Who is John Ternus, the incoming Apple CEO?
After 15 years, Tim Cook will hand off his role as Apple CEO to John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering. Also, Amazon has made another circular AI deal: It's investing another $5 billion in Anthropic. Anthropic has agreed to spend $100 billion on AWS in return. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 20 · 7 min
Robots beat human records at Beijing half-marathon; Cracks are starting to form on fusion energy’s funding boom
The winning time is a massive improvement over last year’s race, when the fastest robot finished in two hours and 40 minutes. Also, fusion startups and investors risk deepening fissures if some key disagreements aren't settled amicably. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 17 · 9 min
What is a hybrid cement plant? Plus, Runway's CEO says AI could help Hollywood make 50 films
Why choose fossil fuels or electricity when you can have both? NOC Energy has figured out how to hybridize heavy industry. Also, Runway’s CEO says AI could help studios make dozens of films for the cost of one, betting volume will boost hit-making odds. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
April 16 · 7 min
LinkedIn data shows AI isn’t to blame for hiring decline… yet; plus, Allbirds pivots to AI
LinkedIn says hiring is down 20% since 2022, but blames higher interest rates — not AI — for the slowdown. Also, Allbirds is ditching wool sneakers for AI servers, rebranding as NewBird AI after locking in a $50M convertible financing facility. Plus, Gizmo, an AI-powered learning platform, has attracted more than 13 million users and just secured $22 million in Series A funding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices