This Week in Startups

Using GPUs as leverage, MSFT beats the case, FTC fails under Khan | E1775

Jul 11, 2023

52:02

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Quick takeaways

The FTC's antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition was denied, highlighting the failure to demonstrate harm.

The judge dismissed the FTC's case against Microsoft over bundling Teams into the Office suite, with both Nadella and Spencer debunking exclusivity claims.

Lena Khan's approach at the FTC is criticized for prioritizing broad attacks on big tech over clear antitrust violations and consumer protection.

Deep dives

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard approved despite FTC lawsuit

Despite the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filing a lawsuit to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a federal judge denied the FTC's attempt to delay the deal and approved the acquisition. The judge ruled that the FTC failed to adequately show that the deal would result in harm. Microsoft can now proceed with the $70 billion acquisition as early as this month.

Nvidia Co-investors Offering GPU Cluster to Startups

01:31

Introduction

2min

Microsoft's Activision Case: A Big Deal?

2min

Nvidia's GPU Investment in Inflection AI Raises $1.3 Billion at $4 Billion Valuation

4min

Microsoft's $1.3 Billion Investment in Uber Competitors

3min

Core Weave: A Great Pivot to AI

4min

The Psychological Impact of Remote Work

2min

The Unproductive Parts of Working in an Office

2min

Open Phone: The Future of Business Phones

2min

Core Weave and Nvidia's 2,500 GPU Cluster

4min

10.

The Future of AI Venture Capital

2min

11.

How to Make Videos Faster and Easier

2min

12.

The EU Antitrust Prose: Microsoft Bundling Teams for Free Into the Greater Microsoft Office Suite

4min

13.

The Importance of Pricing and Predatory Pricing

2min

14.

The Importance of Interoperability in iOS

3min

15.

Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

3min

16.

The Future of the FTC

2min

17.

The FTC's Decision to Not Make Call of Duty an Xbox Exclusive

2min

18.

The FTC's Argument for Disrupting Cryptocurrency

3min

19.

The Biden Administration's Anti-Tech, Pro-Union Nonsense

2min

20.

The Power of Interoperability

2min

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Today’s show:

Jason breaks down investors and companies using the GPU shortage as leverage to invest in AI startups (1:33) before discussing Microsoft’s run-in with EU regulators over bundling Teams into its Office suite (28:53). They wrap on the FTC's loss in its quest to stop Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition, and Lina Khan’s track record as FTC chair (37:58).

Time stamps:

(0:00) Nick joins Jason

(1:33) Nvidia’s GPU leverage

(9:48) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist

(11:07) CoreWeave’s pivot & the pros and cons of WFH

(19:28) OpenPhone - Get 20% off your first six months at https://openphone.com/twist

(20:54) Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman’s GPU play

(27:24) Veed - Sign up and engage your audience on any platform at https://www.veed.io/avatars?utm_campaign=TWIS&utm_medium=YT&utm_source=MKT

(28:53) Microsoft’s run-in with EU regulators over bundling

(37:58) FTC loses cases against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger

(46:37) Lina Khan’s track record as the head of the FTC

Follow Nick: https://twitter.com/nickcalacanis