FT Tech Tonic Tech in 2026: Silicon Valley’s power plays and players
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Jan 22, 2026 
Join Stephen Morris, the Financial Times' San Francisco bureau chief, Hannah Murphy, a correspondent focusing on big tech, and Elaine Moore, tech comment editor, as they dissect the future of Silicon Valley. They delve into the evolving dynamics between tech giants and politics, particularly Musk and Zuckerberg's ties to Trump. The conversation explores the implications of AI rivalry, the cooling antitrust momentum, and Meta's strategic shift from the metaverse to practical smart glasses, all while considering how China’s AI approach contrasts with the US.
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Hologram Of A Sexy AI At XAI
- XAI installed a hologram of 'Annie', a flirtatious anime sex-bot, in its headquarters as a visible statement of product direction.
- Employees told Hannah Murphy some left the company after learning about Annie's role and sexualised features.
Rapid Rapprochement With The White House
- Tech CEOs quickly sought rapprochement with Trump after his re-election to protect business interests like tariffs and antitrust.
- Stephen Morris observes the relationship has been mixed but overall beneficial for big tech's policy aims.
Meta's Political Pivot Bought Permits
- Mark Zuckerberg cultivated a close relationship with the Trump administration to secure permits and push back on EU regulation.
- Hannah Murphy says this diplomacy yielded accelerated approvals for Meta's infrastructure and political support on regulatory fights.