TechCheck

The discussion delves into how losses from private AI startups are ironically fueling a public AI boom. Each dollar burned on compute by these startups translates into revenue for tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon. Key players such as OpenAI and Anthropic are highlighted for driving massive compute spending. The movement of funds between SoftBank and these startups showcases a circular economy in AI. Concerns arise about the potential impact a pullback in private funding could have on the public AI landscape.

Deirdre Bosa, a tech reporter from CNBC, dives into the departure of Meta's chief AI scientist, Yan LeCun, who plans to start his own AI venture. The discussion highlights LeCun's unique focus on world models versus the industry's trend of developing larger models. Deirdre also explores the broader trend of top AI researchers leaving big firms for startups, questioning Meta’s ability to compete without a cloud business and evaluating investor reactions to the company's shifts in focus.

The AI landscape is heating up with news of an $18 billion financing deal tied to Oracle. A striking comparison unfolds as the U.S. invests heavily in large data centers, while China adopts a leaner, cost-effective approach. Notably, Chinese models like Kimmy and Alibaba's Quen are closing the performance gap with U.S. counterparts. With a staggering spending disparity identified, insights reveal China's energy advantages and the power of open-source techniques to lower training costs. The race for cheaper AI continues to intensify!

Google unveils its powerful new AI chip, Ironwood, signaling a shift in the AI race against Nvidia. The hosts delve into how this chip helps secure contracts with big players like OpenAI and Meta. They explore Gemini's integration with Android and potential upgrades for Apple's Siri if they partner with Google. Additionally, they discuss the global chip competition with AMD, Broadcom, and Nvidia, alongside Google's substantial investment plans. Insights into the significance of custom chips and the challenges in the China market round out the conversation.

A new pro-AI Super PAC is creating tensions with the White House by pledging bipartisan support for candidates. The discussion emphasizes the necessity of bipartisan cooperation for effective AI legislation to avoid inconsistent state laws. Meanwhile, a spotlight on OpenAI reveals its enterprise tools could disrupt traditional software across task management and marketing sectors. Companies like HubSpot and Asana may face significant challenges, as analysts predict that upcoming earnings reports will be crucial in assessing their AI readiness.

Google's strategic deal with Anthropic is set to unleash a powerhouse of AI processing, providing up to a million chips to supercharge their cloud capabilities. Meanwhile, Intel faces skepticism from investors despite recording profits, as concerns linger over its supply constraints and competitive position. The discussion also highlights how multi-cloud strategies are proving vital in maintaining resilience, especially during outages. As the landscape shifts, market dynamics are favoring companies like AMD and Microsoft amidst evolving demands in the tech sector.

Google is reportedly eyeing a massive cloud computing deal with Anthropic, involving custom TPU chips. Market reactions reveal a new strategy for investors, indicating a focus on AI leadership beyond traditional search. The shift towards Anthropic’s use of Google’s TPUs could validate the tech giant’s silicon strategy. Additionally, the rise of agentic browsers poses challenges by potentially reducing ad impressions and search queries. As AI demand grows, there's increasing concern over infrastructure reliability and how Google will maintain its competitive edge.

Anthropic is now at the center of a battle over AI regulation and safety, with public clashes on the social platform X between tech titans like White House AI Czar David Sacks, tech investor Reid Hoffman and a16z’s Marc Andreessen.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As viral AI models like Openai’s Sora 2 raise risks around Hollywood and copyright infringement, new tools like the anti-piracy startup SoundPatrol are emerging to protect intellectual property rights. Plus, AWS is still struggling to resolve its major outage after a six hour disruption this morning looked like it had been mitigated.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

New data shows Apple shipments beginning to turn around in China up from a year ago, right as CEO Tim Cook is set to visit the all-important market. We dig into the news and how Apple is diversifying its supply chains amid simmering U.S., China tensions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.