Natasha Mascarenhas

Ross Gerber, CEO of Gerber Kawasaki and Tesla investor, shares insights on Elon Musk's controversial $1 trillion pay package and the expectations riding on Musk for Tesla's stock. Rob O'Hare, CFO of Affirm, reveals the company's impressive 42% GMV growth while emphasizing their commitment to direct-to-consumer products and AI in lending. John Mern, CEO of Terra AI, discusses how AI is revolutionizing mineral discovery, faced with industry challenges. Natasha Mascarenhas analyzes the shifting landscape of venture capital and the emerging competition for Series A funding amid increased investor activity.

Natasha Mascarenhas, a technology and AI reporter at The Information, dives into California's groundbreaking AI law mandating safety protocols for AI systems. She contrasts it with the EU's regulations and raises concerns about a fragmented legal landscape for startups. Natasha also discusses YouTube's $25 million settlement with Trump over suspension issues and the backlash surrounding AI-generated actors like Tilly Norwood, highlighting industry concerns about the unauthorized use of artists' work.

Natasha Mascarenhas, a technology and startups reporter at The Information, dives into the latest wave of layoffs, sparking debate on AI's role in this trend. She highlights that layoffs are often complex and not solely due to AI integration. Workers, especially new grads, should embrace AI tools to stay competitive. Natasha also discusses Character.AI's decision to ban minors for safety reasons, and NVIDIA's impressive rise to a $5 trillion valuation, exploring the implications for future technology investments.

Natasha Mascarenhas, a reporter at The Information, joins to discuss the latest in tech. She unpacks the Trump family's new digital token, a controversial move that fuses politics with crypto. The conversation shifts to the impact of artificial intelligence, revealing the anxiety it generates in Silicon Valley and the challenges CEOs face. Also highlighted is Google's recent antitrust ruling, which surprisingly lets them off the hook with just a data-sharing requirement, raising questions about competition in the AI-driven future.

Natasha Mascarenhas, a tech reporter at The Information, dives deep into the AI talent wars. She unpacks Meta's aggressive hiring spree, where researchers are lured with offers exceeding hundreds of thousands of dollars. The fierce competition isn't just limited to Meta; tech giants like Google and OpenAI are also intensifying their strategies with staggering compensation, sometimes reaching up to $100 million. Additionally, Mascarenhas discusses the challenges startups face while vying for talent in this high-stakes environment filled with rapid change.

In this engaging discussion, Natasha Mascarenhas, a Reporter at The Information, delves into significant developments in the tech world. OpenAI's new open-weight models allow for enhanced user customization by running on local machines. She also highlights Apple's monumental $100 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing, signaling commitment to domestic production. Moreover, the conversation uncovers Google's controversial cuts to its diversity funding, raising alarms about tech's dedication to equity. Mascarenhas's insights reveal the evolving dynamics in technology, business, and culture.

In this discussion, Natasha Mascarenhas, a tech and business reporter at The Information, dives into several hot topics. She explores the Trump Organization's newly launched mobile service and smartphone, questioning its practical viability. Natasha also reveals how online data brokers were exploited in a tragic assassination case, emphasizing urgent privacy concerns. Lastly, she sheds light on the tense negotiations between OpenAI and Microsoft, highlighting their differing ambitions and potential fallout.

Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI, reveals how his startup aims to alleviate energy issues in AI data centers with innovative software solutions. Yueqi Yang, a crypto reporter, discusses Kraken's skyrocketing valuation and the renewed excitement in private crypto markets. Natasha Mascarenhas from The Information elaborates on Benchmark's unconventional investment strategies in AI, emphasizing a selective approach. The conversation also touches on emerging trends in AI customer support and Apple's strategic developments.

In this week's discussion, Natasha Mascarenhas, a tech reporter from The Information, dives into the controversial link between AI and the recent wave of corporate layoffs. She emphasizes that the situation is nuanced, partly rooted in marketing strategies. The conversation also touches on the job market anxiety for new graduates and highlights that while AI may shift tasks, it won't completely eliminate high-paying roles. They also explore Character.AI's decision to ban minors from chatbots, raising critical safety issues, and analyze NVIDIA's impressive yet potentially bubble-like valuation.

Natasha Mascarenhas, a tech and startup reporter at The Information, dives into California's groundbreaking AI law. She discusses how this legislation sets new safety standards for AI companies, pushing for greater transparency compared to EU regulations. Natasha also explains the controversies around AI-generated actors, like Tilly Norwood, highlighting industry concerns about rights and representation. With YouTube's settlement with Trump, she touches on platform moderation shifts and the impact of these changes on advertising trends.