Not Investment Advice 232: Google Monopoly Ruling, Sam Altman’s WorldCoin & The New iPhones
Sep 10, 2025
Dive into the intriguing world of tech with a deep dive into the recent antitrust ruling against Google, exploring its implications for the market and competition. The conversation shifts to WorldCoin, weighing its revolutionary potential in human verification against ethical concerns in the age of AI. Finally, get the latest scoop on upcoming iPhones, including the expected iPhone Air and Fold models, infused with nostalgia and humor about smartphone innovations. It's a fascinating look at the intersection of tech, identity, and consumer choices.
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Google’s Cross‑Stack Optionality
- Google now combines cloud, chips, ads and consumer products to create enormous optionality across industries.
- That vertical integration is why hosts argue Google could become orders of magnitude larger over the next decade.
Ruling: Monopoly But Not A Breakup
- The 2020 DOJ case found Google Search a monopoly but remedies focused on distribution deals rather than breaking the company up.
- The judge limited exclusivity, allowed continued payments, and required limited data sharing due to market changes from generative AI.
AI Changed The Antitrust Landscape
- The judge explicitly cited generative AI (ChatGPT, OpenAI, Perplexity) as a market changer since 2020.
- That shift made harsher remedies (like spinning off Chrome/Android) less necessary because new competitors emerged.