Ben and Andrew react to reports that in addition to adding Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang, Meta’s now in advanced talks to hire prominent AI investors and frequent Stratechery guests, Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross, for an offer that could exceed $1 billion. Then: Follow-ups on Perplexity and Apple, the calculus for both sides amid reports of between OpenAI and Microsoft, a question about ‘Apple in China’ and culpability for the last 20 years of decision-making, and thoughts on the competition between the US and China, in general.

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Meta in Talks to Hire AI Investors Friedman and Gross, Partially Buy Out Their Venture Fund — The Information

Stratechery Interview Series: Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross — Stratechery

Microsoft-OpenAI Drama Continues, WhatsApp Ads, Channel Subscriptions and the Creator Perspective — Stratechery Update

An Interview with “Apple in China” Author Patrick McGee — Stratechery Interview

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#247 - „Here Comes the Sun – Wie die Solarenergie-Revolution die Welt neu ordnet” mit Bill McKibben