Tech Brew Ride Home Ain’t No Drama Like AI Industry Drama
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Jan 15, 2026 The AI industry is buzzing with drama as cofounders from Thinking Machines Lab head back to OpenAI. Grok has been updated to improve safety measures, while TSMC reports staggering profits thanks to soaring AI chip demand. On the flip side, Ireland struggles to attract data center investments due to grid issues and regulatory hurdles. Meanwhile, Spotify raises its premium subscription prices again, impacting subscriber dynamics. Tune in for these hot topics and the implications they hold for the tech landscape!
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Founders Flee And Then Return To OpenAI
- Two high-profile Thinking Machines Lab cofounders left and then returned to OpenAI amid claims of "unethical conduct."
- Brian McCullough recounts the personnel drama and the rapid rehiring by OpenAI as a major industry twist.
Talent Moves Are Extremely High-Stakes
- The defections highlight investor appetite for talent and the high stakes of equity at fast-growing AI startups.
- Brian explains how early equity and rumored valuations make personnel moves hugely consequential.
Grok Restricts Image Edits After Backlash
- X updated Grok to restrict editing images of real people in revealing clothing and geo-block features where illegal.
- Brian notes this change followed a serious backlash and an investigation by California's attorney general.