Software Defined Talk Episode 545: No one cares about Chickens
Nov 7, 2025
This week, the hosts dive into the ethics of pet cloning, sparked by Tom Brady's dog clone. They explore the booming cloud revenue driven by AI, with big players like Alphabet and Microsoft seeing huge gains. Discussions also touch on the practical impacts of AI capacity shortages and how celebrity influence shapes public perceptions of technology. Plus, they critique marketing metrics, question GitHub's lofty developer claims, and reflect on Amazon's recent layoffs and cultural shifts. A mix of tech insights and lighthearted banter keeps it engaging!
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Episode notes
Altman's Defensive Moment On Revenue Targets
- Sam Altman reacts defensively when asked about ambitious revenue targets versus current earnings.
- Brandon notes that such responses reveal the pressure OpenAI faces over business viability questions.
Culture Talk Signals Amazon's Growing Pains
- Amazon's large layoffs reflect cultural and organizational issues despite strong business scale.
- Brandon argues culture talk often signals internal problems and incentives likely encouraged excess managers.
Fix Incentives To Reduce Unnecessary Managers
- Change incentives if you want fewer managers and more individual contributors.
- Reward impact regardless of direct reports to stop promoting people solely for managing teams.