NewsBusiness NewsTech NewsTechnology

The Tech Download

CNBC

Skip the noise. Get the download.

CNBC’s “The Tech Download,” hosted by Senior Technology Correspondent Arjun Kharpal, cuts through the noise to unpack the technology stories that matter most, exploring what they mean for your portfolio, your business and the global economy. With access to industry leaders and years of experience covering technology around the world, the series delivers sharp analysis and compelling narratives on the trends, risks and innovations shaping the future of tech.

Play

Open in

27 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 36 min
English

Episodes 27

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

#15
Tuesday · 35 min
Can AI turn your idea into a business?
AI is making it easier for people to turn an idea into an app, website or even a business — without needing the same level of technical expertise as before. Lovable CEO Anton Osika joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to explain how AI-powered software development is changing entrepreneurship, product development and the role of developers. He discusses how Lovable has evolved from a platform for building apps and websites with plain-English prompts into a broader tool for helping entrepreneurs build, run and grow their businesses. They also discuss AI agents, the future of work, competition from the biggest AI labs, regulation and whether Europe can produce the next generation of global AI companies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#14
October 20 · 29 min
When AI becomes the shopper, who gets the ads?
AI is changing advertising — from how brands understand audiences and create campaigns to how they reach customers online. WPP Chief AI Officer Daniel Hulme joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to explain why the next shift could come as AI agents start making recommendations and purchases on people’s behalf. If AI becomes the intermediary between a brand and a consumer, who is the real customer — the person or their personal AI? Hulme also discusses AI-generated creative work, synthetic audiences, the future of advertising in chatbots and why he believes the industry should focus less on “AI ethics” and more on testing, safety and responsibility. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#13
October 5 · 53 min
Why AI could change mobile networks forever
Nokia CEO Justin Hotard joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to explain why the company sees itself at the centre of the AI infrastructure buildout: providing the optical and IP networking technology linking AI data centres, as well as the mobile-network equipment that could support the next generation of robotics, autonomous vehicles and other physical AI. Hotard argues demand for AI infrastructure remains in its early stages, with customers constrained by power, silicon and supply rather than a lack of appetite to build. He also lays out his view of 6G: less a conventional upgrade in mobile speeds, and more a shift toward intelligent networks that can sense, plan and act. The conversation also covers Europe’s AI challenge, the debate over data-centre expansion and Nokia’s ambitions in space communications and orbital data centres. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#12
September 24 · 41 min
AI, agents and quantum: The biggest cyber threats ahead
Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora joins Arjun Kharpal to discuss how AI is reshaping cybersecurity. They explore the risks posed by autonomous AI agents, increasingly convincing scams and AI-powered attacks, as well as the debate over slowing advanced AI development. Arora also explains why quantum computers could threaten today’s encryption — and why hackers may already be collecting data to decrypt later. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#11
September 10 · 46 min
The U.S. leads AI. Why other countries want a backup plan
Cohere co-founder and CEO Aidan Gomez speaks to Arjun Kharpal about the growing battle over who controls the world’s AI. Gomez explains why companies and governments are increasingly worried about where their data goes, who controls the infrastructure behind AI systems and whether access could one day be cut off. He also discusses China’s rapid progress in AI, the soaring cost of frontier models and why the technology is creating new cybersecurity risks as it becomes more autonomous. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#10
August 24 · 36 min
How BlackBerry found a second life inside cars and robots
BlackBerry may be best known for its QWERTY-keyboard smartphones, but the company today is building its next chapter around software for cars, robots and secure communications. BlackBerry CEO John Giamatteo joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to explain how the company has reinvented itself around QNX, BlackBerry’s operating system used in software-defined vehicles. He discusses why BlackBerry sees physical AI as a major growth opportunity, from autonomous vehicles and warehouse robots to surgical systems and industrial automation. As more machines become connected, Giamatteo argues that safety-certified software will become increasingly important. The conversation also covers how AI is changing the cybersecurity threat landscape, why Giamatteo sees governments’ use of consumer messaging apps as a security risk, and how BlackBerry is adapting its encryption technology as threats from AI and quantum computing evolve. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#9
August 10 · 40 min
Europe has startups. Why not more tech giants?
Europe has no shortage of technology ideas or startups. Its challenge is turning them into global companies — and keeping more of its most successful businesses in Europe. Arm co-founder Hermann Hauser, who also co-founded Amadeus Capital, joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to explain why Europe struggles to scale its technology companies. He discusses the need for growth capital and experienced management to help European companies scale, as well as access to critical technologies if Europe is to avoid becoming what he calls a U.S. “technology colony.” The conversation also covers AI and quantum computing. Hauser explains why some AI valuations have moved ahead of the fundamentals, where AI’s long-term value could be created and why quantum’s encryption-breaking “Q Day” could arrive as early as 2029. Hauser also examines new chip architectures designed to reduce AI’s energy demands and recounts Arm’s early history and its relationship with Apple. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#8
July 28 · 39 min
How Silicon Valley is changing warfare
Anduril has become one of the fastest-growing defense technology companies. CEO Brian Schimpf joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to discuss how AI is transforming modern warfare, why autonomous weapons still require human oversight, and how Anduril is scaling defense manufacturing. They also examine U.S.-China competition, supply chains, and the future of defense technology. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#7
July 14 · 44 min
AI agents face the ROI test
AI agents are designed to do more than answer questions. They are meant to complete tasks. Sierra co-founder Clay Bavor joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to discuss how AI agents are moving from demos into real business workflows, especially in customer service, sales and support. Bavor explains how Sierra builds and tests customer-facing AI agents before they go live, why companies want clearer ways to measure AI’s return on investment and how outcome-based pricing could challenge the way software companies get paid. The conversation also covers coding agents, rising AI token costs and why the hardest part of enterprise AI may be the “last mile” of deployment. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#6
July 2 · 45 min
Amazon’s AI plan goes beyond Alexa
CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal speaks to Amazon devices chief Panos Panay about the future of AI hardware, from Alexa Plus and smart home devices to wearables, driverless cars and satellites. Panay discusses how AI assistants could become more personal and ambient, why the next device race may not be won by a single gadget, and how Amazon is thinking about the future beyond screens and apps. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#5
June 16 · 49 min
AI agents are coming to your devices
Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon says artificial intelligence is set to change the way people use smartphones, even if the devices themselves are not going away. Speaking to CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal on “The Tech Download,” Amon said phones will increasingly be operated by AI agents that can carry out tasks on behalf of users, from managing apps to interacting with services across the internet. He described agents as a major shift for the mobile industry, comparing their emergence to the rise of apps in the smartphone era. Amon also said new categories of personal AI devices are beginning to take shape, including smart glasses, pins, pendants and other wearables. He said glasses are a natural fit for AI because they sit close to a user’s eyes, ears and mouth, allowing models to process what people see and hear in real time. The Qualcomm chief also discussed what the shift means for the semiconductor industry, including the need for more powerful and efficient chips in phones, PCs, glasses, cars and other connected devices. He said AI is forcing a rethink of chip architecture as devices increasingly rely on a mix of CPUs, GPUs and neural processing units to run models across both the device and the cloud. Amon also pointed to memory shortages and wider supply-chain constraints as key challenges for the industry, while arguing that the rise of AI devices could bring new players into consumer electronics. Subscribe to “The Tech Download” wherever you get your podcasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
#4
June 3 · 45 min
Europe wants an AI champion. Can Mistral deliver?
Mistral CEO Arthur Mensch joins CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal to discuss AI infrastructure, the race for computing power, and why access to AI “tokens” is becoming a strategic priority. He also shares his views on AI sovereignty, enterprise adoption, custom chips and the future of AGI. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2 · E3
January 29 · 44 min
How AI gets stress-tested before release
Two of Google DeepMind’s leaders—Dawn Bloxwich (Responsible Development & Innovation) and Tom Lue (VP, Frontier AI Global Affairs)—open the playbook on frontier safety and policy. Bloxwich explains how DeepMind blends structured evaluations with red‑teaming by experts and jailbreakers, and how its Frontier Safety Framework addresses severe risks (from CBRN and cyber to loss of control and socio‑affective concerns). Lue maps the regulatory landscape across the EU, US and Asia, arguing for harmonized standards that safeguard without stifling innovation. Together, they show what responsible development looks like before and after deployment—model cards, third‑party testing and the industry forums trying to align best practices. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2 · E2
January 22 · 32 min
Should AI be allowed in schools?
DeepMind COO Lila Ibrahim shares what’s working right now when AI meets the classroom. She explains how LearnLM has been infused into Gemini and why Guided Learning is designed to teach step‑by‑step rather than just “give the answer.” We discuss an early pilot in Northern Ireland where teachers reported saving ~10 hours per week, and why DeepMind is pushing a teacher‑led, responsibleapproach so students learn to use AI openly and well. Ibrahim also addresses risks (cheating, accuracy) and how modeling responsible usecan build confidence and equity for different learning needs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2 · E1
January 15 · 52 min
The man behind Google’s AI machine
DeepMind’s co‑founder and CEO Demis Hassabis lays out a pragmatic path to AGI—why he still sees a 5–10 year window, what current models are missing (reasoning, planning, continual learning), and why world models will likely converge with today’s LLMs. He explains how DeepMind became Google’s “engine room” for AI, shipping Gemini advances across products, and why AI for science (from AlphaFold to materials and energy research) is the most exciting frontier. We also touch on compute, energy constraints, and how to scale without cutting corners on safety. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2 · E1
January 14 · 1 min
The Tech Download: Inside Google DeepMind - Trailer
Hosted by Arjun Kharpal in London and Steve Kovach in New York, The Tech Download cuts through the noise to unpack the technology stories that matter most — and what they mean for your money. In Season One, we take you inside Google DeepMind, the brains behind the tech giant's artificial intelligence push. Hear from the people shaping the future of AI, including a one-on-one with co-founder and CEO Demis Hassabis. From breakthroughs in science to the societal impact of AI, we dive deep into the opportunities and risks behind what is likely to be the most transformative technology of our time. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1 · E112
Nov 7, 2025 · 16 min
Why cross-border payments are Asia’s next big tech frontier — Insights from an Indonesian unicorn
Indonesian fintech unicorn Xendit is helping reshape Southeast Asia’s payment landscape by offering Stripe-like infrastructure tailored to the region’s unique challenges. In this episode of CNBC's "Beyond the Valley," Xendit co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Tessa Wijaya joins Arjun Kharpal at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) to discuss unifying a fragmented payments system landscape, learning from her first startup in the food business and the challenge of moving the Asian payment market away from QR codes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1 · E111
Nov 4, 2025 · 39 min
VC founder: AI isn't a bubble — but its founders need to think globally
In 2018, venture capital firm Antler set up its headquarters in Singapore and has since invested in more than 1,300 startups. In this episode of CNBC's "Beyond the Valley," Antler founder and CEO Magnus Grimeland joins Arjun Kharpal at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) to discuss why he backs great teams over trends, Asia's key role in AI development and why the AI hype is different from the dotcom bubble. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1 · E110
Nov 1, 2025 · 27 min
Razer changed gaming with its hardware. Now it’s hoping to do the same with AI
American-Singaporean gaming giant Razer transformed the industry with its next generation hardware. Now, it wants to repeat that feat, but with artificial intelligence. In this episode, Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan joins Beyond the Valley's Arjun Kharpal at the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology (SWITCH) to discuss the nation's rising influence in Asia’s tech industry, the future of esports and how AI will continue to play a bigger role in gaming. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S1 · E109
Sep 26, 2025 · 27 min
A top VC’s guide to Asia’s fastest-growing tech hubs
Silicon Valley once dismissed Asia’s tech scene as a land of copycats. Today, those same hubs are driving real innovation—and global investors are taking notice. One of them is B Capital, a venture capital firm managing over $9 billion across nine offices in the U.S. and Asia. In this episode, B Capital co-founder and co-CEO Raj Ganguly joins "Beyond the Valley" from Singapore to share which Asian markets excite them most and the three ways AI is reshaping the startup landscape. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Showing 1–20 of 27 episodes