The Tech Download
CNBC
Skip the noise. Get the download. Hosted by Arjun Kharpal and Steve Kovach, CNBC's “The Tech Download” podcast cuts through the noise to unpack the technology stories that matter most. Each season dives into a different topic — and uncovers what it means for your portfolio, your business and the global economy. With access to industry leaders and years of experience covering technology around the world, Arjun and Steve deliver sharp analysis and compelling narratives on the trends, risks and innovations shaping tech.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Aug 30, 2021 • 35min
Why China's cracking down on tech—and what's next
Beijing's regulatory blitz has shocked outsiders and befuddled investors. Here's why it's happening, and what it could mean for China and beyond.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 26, 2021 • 18min
El Salvador made bitcoin a legal currency. Now what?
El Salvador is the first country to declare bitcoin legal tender. But the experiment raises big questions about what will happen next — for bitcoin and the country itself.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jun 2, 2021 • 31min
The EV boom is real — but the road won’t be easy
Electric car sales may start spiking in 2024 as more models compete with the likes of Tesla. But big challenges — from tech to infrastructure — remain.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Feb 17, 2021 • 31min
Why bitcoin is back, and what its future holds
After a record high in 2017 and subsequent crash, bitcoin has seen a resurgence. Bigger investors have helped drive the price higher with comparisons being made between bitcoin and gold. But what lies ahead for the cryptocurrency?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jan 11, 2021 • 28min
Big Tech gets smacked by big governments
China, the United States and the European Union all want to rein in Big Tech to one degree or another, each for its own reasons.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Nov 20, 2020 • 27min
What's next for the $45 billion games console industry
Nearly 50 years after the debut of the first games console, the industry has changed dramatically. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo are battling it out for supremacy, with all 3 making forays into subscription models and cloud gaming.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Oct 20, 2020 • 30min
The 'splinternet': Is the internet fracturing?
Beijing has blocked a lot of foreign content within Chinese cyberspace for years. But tensions between the U.S. and China now threaten to split the internet into separate technological systems — one Chinese, and one Western. The ramifications could shape the future of politics around the world.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Sep 14, 2020 • 19min
China wants to rival the US in semiconductors
The U.S.-China tech war has made Beijing realize it needs a strong chip industry. But catching the United States will be a stiff challenge. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Aug 20, 2020 • 32min
Central bank cryptocurrencies may remake money
Raghuram Rajan, former India central banker and ex-IMF chief economist, explains to "Beyond the Valley" what central bank digital currencies could look like — and what they would mean for commerce.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Jul 17, 2020 • 24min
Sorry, China and America — Europe wants to take back its data
Caught between the tech giants of the United States and China, an initiative from Germany and France hopes to keep European data under European control. Enter Gaia X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
