Down Round

Curious about the intersection of politics and technology? Dive into the hot takes on Trump and Elon Musk's influence on Tesla's stock performance. Discover the complexities of the creator economy, particularly the legal and ethical challenges surrounding platforms like OnlyFans. There's a lively discussion about AI's role in data labeling and the implications for content creators. Plus, get insights on the evolving payment processing landscape and the strategies companies are employing to thrive amidst controversies.

Unfortunately due to circumstances within our control we are unable to record an episode this week. We promise we'll record a really really extra good one next week. Thank you for your patience. Enjoy this AI generated James reading a text message from James.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tech stocks have been having a rough time since December. The Magnificent Seven, the undisputed kings of the market, have slipped 10% since then — even before the DeepSeek moment.  But not all are made equal. Meta, for example, is doing basically fine. Apple isn't too terrible. Tesla, on the other hand, has lost 37% of its value since then. In this ep, we discuss the market correction, including a long chat on Tesla and whether its reality distortion field is looking a little shaky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plenty of tech industry nonsense to chat about this week, folks. Elon Musk is fathering his 13th child (and a new Grok model) and trying to destroy OpenAI. Everyone is trying to match OpenAI's Deep Research with similar products of their own. The markets are back. As always, Down Round is here to guide you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The discussion kicks off in a hot jacuzzi, humorously likening social discomfort to today's complacency regarding AI. Insights dive into OpenAI's Deep Research feature, spotlighting its potential to disrupt white-collar jobs. The nuances of AI's role in job duplication emerge, emphasizing human oversight in tasks like legal research. As automation reshapes organizational dynamics, the future of middle management and employee development takes center stage, revealing a balancing act between efficiency and job security.

Apple is worth $3.5 trillion. Trillion with a T. But all is not necessarily well in Tim Cook's kingdom. iPhone sales are slowing and the Apple Intelligence rollout was unimpressive and underwhelming. Now rumours abound that they are abandoning their rescue mission for their VR and AR ambitions. Are Apple floundering? Or just doing things The Apple Way? Who better to discuss than the Down Round boys?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chaos ignited by DeepSeek's powerful AI model sends tech stocks plummeting to historic losses. The conversation dives into the geopolitical implications of China’s rising AI ambitions and its impact on global market dynamics. Training costs for AI are revealed to be much higher than expected, posing challenges for developers. DeepSeek’s advanced reasoning capabilities and the competitive landscape facing American tech giants like Apple and Meta offer a glimpse into the future of the industry. It’s a mix of serious analysis and light-hearted banter as they untangle the madness.

January kicks off with a whirlwind of tech drama. The spotlight is on TikTok and the potential consequences of a ban due to national security fears. Dive into the fascinating rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model reshaping the landscape. The discussions touch on everything from meme coins to the geopolitical tensions surrounding Taiwan’s independence. Plus, catch insights on how political dynamics are influencing TikTok's future strategies and potential buyers. It's a tech lover's paradise!

The number one social media app in the Apple App Store is currently Xiaohongshu, AKA The Little Red Book, the Chinese social shopping app reminiscent of TikTok but with more shopping.  We take a squiz at that, before assessing the latest announcements from Nvidia and what it all means.  Strap in, the boys are back for 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the last couple of weeks, Mark Zuckerberg and Meta have signalled a shift in the way the company is run — eliminating factcheckers, rolling back internal DEI policies and bringing politics content back to company platforms. On the one hand, you can read it as an obvious sop to the incoming Trump administration. But there's definitely a cultural change in the air when it comes to online platforms and politics, and Zuck is right at the coalface. Joining us for this episode is Mike Isaac, tech correspondent and Meta whisperer at The New York Times. He helped us untangle some of the forces driving Meta's change of heart.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.