Opening Bid Unfiltered

Few companies have had the same impact on society as tech giant Microsoft (MSFT). Co-founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, the company fundamentally changed how work was done with the invention of Windows. Decades later, the company is back shaking up the world order again amid the AI boom. Microsoft has a lucrative stake in ChatGPT developer OpenAI. It’s powering businesses with the release of Microsoft Co-Pilot. The company has swallowed up a giant acquisition in video publisher Activision Blizzard with relative ease, while also leveraging insights from a LinkedIn business purchased several years ago.While Gates is no longer involved with the company day-to-day, he remains its spiritual adviser, so to speak. He also remains tremendously active in next-generation technology and trying to cure diseases via the Gates Foundation (formerly the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation). But what is the story behind Gates, who is viewed as one of the most transformational leaders of the past fifty years alongside Apple co-founder Steve Jobs? In Gates' new book titled “Source Code," he aims to pull back the curtain on his childhood and rocketship rise to fame during his Microsoft years. Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sits down with Gates to drill into the book, as well as get Gates’ views on the future of AI, quantum computing, and healthcare.Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Bill Gates on Opening Bid00:30-Reflecting on new book "Source Code"06:30-Early days with Intel and Microsoft09:30-Learning to code12:00-Leadership at Microsoft15:30-Drugs with Paul Allen16:00-The beginning of Silicon Valley21:00-Nvidia, AI, and quantum computing26:00-Public health outlookYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Bill Gates needs little introduction; but here's the legend anyway. Bill Gates is a technologist, business leader, and philanthropist. In 1975, he co-founded Microsoft with his childhood friend Paul Allen and today he is chair of the Gates Foundation. Bill is the founder of Breakthrough Energy, an effort to commercialize c lean energy and other climate-related technologies, and TerraPower, a company investing in developing groundbreaking nuclear technologies.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Hochman, the dynamic CEO of Brinker International, shares insights on revitalizing Chili's Grill & Bar. He discusses elevating menu quality and the innovative strategies behind beloved dishes like ribs and fajitas. Hochman emphasizes the importance of adapting to mobile ordering trends and enhancing customer experiences. With a focus on marketing and operational efficiency, he reveals how the company is thriving in a competitive landscape. Get ready to learn about the future of casual dining!

Sridhar Ramaswamy, the CEO of Snowflake Inc., dives into the fast-paced world of AI innovation. He discusses the disruptive arrival of DeepSeek, a China-based competitor shaking up the AI landscape and fostering concerns about the U.S. catching up. Ramaswamy emphasizes how Snowflake's technology is critical for large language models and refutes claims that they're lagging in the race. The conversation touches on the need for transparency in AI advancements and explores how businesses must swiftly adapt to remain competitive.

Markets have had a case of whiplash in January. Rising bond yields weighed on stocks earlier in the month. Then optimism spread in markets as Donald Trump officially returned to the White House. And now, the likes of JP Morgan CEO and billionaire investor Ray Dalio are warning that stock valuations have gotten too inflated. Not to mention DeepSake fears hammering markets and AI darling Nvidia. Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi chats with Carlyle Group head of research Jason Thomas as markets eye February. Thomas has been vocal that the Federal Reserve should be less restrictive in its policy after a series of rate hikes. Whether the Fed gets that message at its closely watched meeting this week is to be determined. Thomas is calling out concentration risk in the markets as Nvidia, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft continue to dominate the weighting in the S&P 500. Is it time to head to the hills on these stocks this earnings season as each look to ramp up spending on AI projects? Thomas reveals his team’s latest thinking. Find Thomas' full Carlyle report here: https://www.carlyle.com/sites/default/files/2025-01/5_questions_for_2025.pdfYahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Jason Thomas on Opening Bid00:30-Stock of the day: Nvidia03:00-What's next in AI?07:00-Toss Nvidia in the trash?12:30-Tariff impact on markets19:30-Global stocks to watch21:00-HOT TAKEYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Jason Thomas is Head of Global Research & Investment Strategy at Carlyle. Mr. Thomas helps to formulate firmwide investment strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ask most stock pickers on Wall Street and they will likely agree that the financials are some of the best bets for 2025. The Trump administration is likely to ease regulations on capital requirements for the banks, freeing up more funds for dividends and buybacks. Deal-making could return in force amid the de-regulation backdrop, lifting the lucrative investment banking industry. And markets may stay solid, allowing banks to cash in on trading activity across bonds and stocks. Morgan Stanley CEO Ted Pick says he sees a host of tailwinds for the banking giant this year, but acknowledges there could be a few bumps along the way. He talks on the Opening Bid podcast with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi at the World Economic Forum.Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Ted Pick on Opening Bid00:50-How AI impacts the business of relationships02:00-Secret sauce for making deals06:30-Deregulation and margers under Trump07:45-Investor insights10:00-Let's talk generational wealthYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Ted Pick is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley. Before becoming CEO in January 2024 and Chairman in January 2025, Mr. Pick served as Morgan Stanley’s Co-President, Co-Head of Firm Strategy and Head of the Institutional Securities Group, overseeing Investment Banking, Equities, Fixed Income, Global Capital Markets and Research. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio has been warning about government debt levels and their implications for years. He is doubling down on his concerns in a new episode of the Opening Bid podcast with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi. Dalio thinks global economic growth is at risk unless leaders such as US President Donald Trump get a handle on bloated debt levels. He chats with Sozzi from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Ray Dalio on Opening Bid00:50-Upcoming book: "How Countries Go Broke"05:50-Trump tax cuts10:30-Insights for investors16:20-Interest rate changes18:45-Crypto and alternative currencies22:40-Leadership lessons from Ray DalioYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Raymond Dalio is an American investor and hedge fund manager who founded Bridgewater Associates in 1975. He has served as the firm's CEO, CIO, and Chairman, and has been credited with shaping the firm's culture and innovative approaches to investing. His new book "How Countries Go Broke: Principles for Navigating the Big Debt Cycle, Where We Are Headed, and What We Should Do" is set to come out in September, 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYU professor and economist Nouriel Roubini is known as “Dr. Doom” for a reason—he has never been tepid in keeping it real on the economy, technology, crypto, and markets. When it comes to AI and humanoid robots, his tune was equally critical as he shares concerns with Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. "I think people here at Davos emphasize the benefits in terms of cost-cutting, more revenue, more profitability, but cost-cutting means what? Eliminating jobs."Roubini goes on to explain the way that these technological innovations are impacting politics under a state of massive wealth inequality. "But AI makes it worse because these technologies are capital intensive, high-skill bias, and labor saving. So if you own the machine or the capital that owns the machine, you're going to do well. You'll be rich," he says. "If you're a low-skilled or medium-skilled, white-collar, blue-collar, increasingly your job and income is going to be threatened by AI and there are not going to be enough jobs in the future."Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Nouriel Roubini on Opening Bid00:50-The threat of AI & robotics on jobs07:00-Tech innovation can also lead to progress09:00-Blue collar to big tech with Trump13:00-Trump economic outlook18:20-Fed and rate hikes21:00-Future of cryptoYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Nouriel Roubini is a senior economic advisor to Hudson Bay Capital and Professor Emeritus at NYU's Stern School of Business. He is also the CEO of Roubini Macro Associates, LLC. From 1998 to 2000, he served as senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers and the senior advisor for international affairs at the U.S. Treasury. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The IPO market was mixed at best in 2024 despite strong showings by Reddit (RDDT), Viking (VIK), and Rubrik (RBRK). IPOs raised about $123 billion last year compared to a peak of $594 billion in 2021, according to Dealogic data. A total of 150 companies went public last year, per a Renaissance Capital study. With optimism on the regulatory front from the Trump administration, dealmakers expect the IPO market to kick back into high gear this year.Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman explained the outlook for IPOs in 2025 is all about growth opportunities, she told Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi on the Opening Bid podcast from the World Economic Forum. Specifically, with expectant changes to regulation: "I think regulation is another thing that just keeps companies from wanting to tap the public markets because they know that being a public company is a very different existence. Our hope is that in the new administration, they're going to focus on the challenges and what I'll call the tax of being a public company."Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Adena Friedman on Opening Bid00:46-How the new administration will impact IPOs 01:40-Reflecting on 202405:30-Sectors to watch08:00-President Trump's meme coin10:58-Future of tech and AI15:30-Market guidance16:10-DEI in financeYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Adena Friedman has been the Chief Executive Officer of Nasdaq since Jan. 1, 2017, and was appointed Chair of the Board of Directors on Jan. 1, 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skybridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci famously spent a short stint as President Trump’s communication director in his first term. He has since gone on to become a fierce critic of the returning president, which was apparent in a new episode of the Opening Bid podcast with Yahoo Finance executive editor Brian Sozzi. Scaramucci thinks markets are too optimistic on a Trump presidency given the many inevitable twists and turns. From crypto to mass deportation to TikTok he covers is all with Sozzi from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Anthony Scaramucci on Opening Bid00:45-Trump meme coin? WTF02:40-"I'm moving up the enemies list"05:20-Crypto outlook09:15-Billionaires front row at inauguration15:40-Just big talk? What's next for TikTok & China18:30-Wall Street outlook on Trump21:00-HOT TAKEYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Anthony Scaramucci is the founder and managing partner of SkyBridge, a global alternative investment firm, and founder and chairman of SALT. He is best known for his short tenure as the White House Communications Director under President Trump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The venture capital industry has no shortage of ideas right now in the AI space. Companies specializing in everything from mobility to software to chip design are trying to cash in on the AI boom, and VCs are aiming to be there to grow entrepreneurs and drive returns for their investors. Yahoo Finance Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi chats with one of the more fascinating people in the VC industry Jon McNeill of DVx Ventures. For one, while McNeill is putting to work in AI upstarts, he also has toes in the public company world by sitting on the boards of General Motors (GM) and Lululemon (LULU). What’s more, he has spent the past decade trying to change how people get from point A to point B. He is the former COO of Lyft (LYFT) and also worked very closely with Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk as president in charge of revenue. What did McNeill learn from the billionaire Musk? How will the future of mobility shake out? And what AI upstarts have caught McNeill's attention? This episode of Opening Bid has a little bit of everything!Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid, brings you a high-octane take on the freshest analyst calls, wildest stock moves and shrewdest commentary in the business world. Executive Editor Brian Sozzi puts Wall Street's finest through their paces in this essential conversation for every investor - before the stock market opens.Find this episode's transcripts and more episodes of Opening Bid at http://finance.yahoo.com/videos/series/opening-bid/.Thoughts? Questions? Fan mail? Email us at yfpodcasts@yahooinc.com.00:00-Jon McNeill on Opening Bid00:48-The state of raising funds in 202504:40-Future of climate investment07:30-Looking at Tesla, as Musk heads to Washington15:20-Insights from the board of Lululemon19:02-Technology out of China21:00-HOT TAKEYahoo Finance's Opening Bid is hosted by Brian Sozzi, and produced by Rachael Lewis-Krisky.Jon McNeill currently serves as the CEO and Co-Founder of DVx Ventures. Previously, Jon served as President at Tesla, where revenue grew from $2B to $20B in just 30 months. Following Tesla, Jon joined Lyft as COO, where he played a pivotal role in doubling revenues and helping to take the company public. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices