The Next Wave - AI and The Future of Technology

Why Sam Altman Is Panicking + 9 New AI Tools

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Dec 9, 2025

The show dives into OpenAI's unprecedented 'Code Red' as Google launches Gemini 3, raising concerns for Sam Altman. They compare future AI models like Claude Opus 4.5, Gemini 3, and GPT-5.1, discussing their strengths and hallucination issues. The hosts explore the rise of AI-generated content, including video and the implications of Google's ecosystem for tech dominance. Innovations like Alibaba's AI glasses and the challenges of integrating advanced visual models are also highlighted, making for a captivating discussion on the shifting AI landscape.

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INSIGHT

Code Red: Focus On Model Quality

OpenAI entered a literal "code red" to focus exclusively on model quality after Google's Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro gains.
Matt Wolfe frames this as a strategic pivot to prioritize smarter models over product experiments and ads.

ADVICE

Deprioritize Nonessential Features

Pause secondary initiatives and double down on core model improvements when a competitor leaps ahead.
OpenAI's move was to deprioritize ads, agents, and non-model features to chase pure model performance.

INSIGHT

Google's Full-Stack Advantage

Google’s full-stack ownership (TPUs, cloud, apps) gives it a structural advantage in AI deployment and integration.
Matt Wolfe argues this ecosystem lets Google subsidize AI features and embed Gemini across products at scale.

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Episode 88: What happens inside OpenAI when Google drops a game-changing AI model? Matt Wolfe ((https://x.com/mreflow) and Maria Gharib (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/maria-gharib-091779b9) break it down.

This episode unpacks OpenAI’s unprecedented “Code Red,” the real reason Sam Altman hit the panic button, and how Google’s Gemini 3 and Nano Banana Pro could threaten OpenAI’s dominance. The hosts debate which next-gen AI models are actually smarter (Claude Opus 4.5, Gemini 3, GPT-5.1, and more), why some tools are getting dumber, and how Google’s full-stack advantage is shifting the AI power balance. Plus: a rapid-fire review of explosive new AI tools for video, the rise of creative AI (and AI “slop”), surprising advances in wearable tech, and a bit of fun at Sam Altman’s expense.

Check out The Next Wave YouTube Channel if you want to see Matt and Nathan on screen: https://lnk.to/thenextwavepd

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Show Notes:

(00:00) AI Wars: Models, Tools, Power
(05:59) AI Innovation Race
(08:43) OpenAI's Google Challenge
(12:15) Claude's Context Window Explained
(14:12) Claude vs. ChatGPT: AI Preferences
(17:13) Anthropic vs. OpenAI Philosophy
(21:51) AI and Content Slop Concerns
(24:46) AI Generative Audio's Uncanny Gap
(28:07) Runway Gen 4.5 Dominates Preferences
(30:41) AI Model Announcement Rivalry
(35:00 Alibaba's AI Evolution
(37:19) Heavy Glasses and Social Concerns
(40:03) AI Advancements: December Launches
(42:27) "Like, Subscribe, See You Soon

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Mentions:

Sam Altman: https://blog.samaltman.com/
Google Gemini 3: https://aistudio.google.com/models/gemini-3
Nano Banana Pro: https://gemini.google/overview/image-generation/
Claude Opus 4.5: https://www.anthropic.com/claude/opus
ChatGPT: https://chatgpt.com/
NotebookLM: https://notebooklm.google/
Runway Gen 4.5: https://runwayml.com/research/introducing-runway-gen-4.5
Kling: https://klingai.com/global/
Midjourney: https://www.midjourney.com/home

Get the guide to build your own Custom GPT: https://clickhubspot.com/tnw

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Check Out Matt’s Stuff:

• Future Tools - https://futuretools.beehiiv.com/

• Blog - https://www.mattwolfe.com/

• YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/@mreflow

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Check Out Nathan's Stuff:

Newsletter: https://news.lore.com/
Blog - https://lore.com/

The Next Wave is a HubSpot Original Podcast // Brought to you by Hubspot Media // Production by Darren Clarke // Editing by Ezra Bakker Trupiano