Mon. 06/02 – How DoorDash Has Quietly Been Killing It

The European Commission might have just taken the first steps toward separating Google from its cash cow. Reddit’s CEO keeps saying not so soothing things. New Open AI and Meta releases for… AI stuff. Cybersecurity premiums are skyrocketing. Spotify has fully shifted its podcast strategy. And a look at the tech job market as AI takes over. Sponsors: NewtonX.com/techmeme CrashPlan.com Links: EU suggests breaking up Google’s ad business in preliminary antitrust ruling (The Verge) Reddit CEO tells employees that subreddit blackout ‘will pass' (The Verge) Google is getting a lot worse because of the Reddit blackouts (The Verge) OpenAI intros new generative text features while reducing pricing (TechCrunch) Cyber Insurance Premiums Surge by 50% as Ransomware Attacks Increase (Bloomberg) Spotify Takes a Sharp Turn With Its $1 Billion Podcast Division (Bloomberg) Meta AI researchers unveil I-JEPA, a computer vision model that learns more like humans do (SiliconAngle) Layoffs and AI Are Changing Tech’s Once-Invincible Job Market (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

14 Jun 202317min

The FTC has filed an injunction to block the Microsoft/Activision tie-up. Netflix is dipping its toe into live sports. Why Larry Ellison is thankful AI showed up on the scene. The whole Reddit situation came to a head partially cause of AI. And one guess why we’re about to get a new Beatles song. Sponsors: CrashPlan.com notion.com/ride Links: FTC files to block Microsoft-Activision as deadline approaches (CNBC) Netflix to Enter Live-Streamed Sports With Celebrity Golf Event (WSJ) Reddit goes dark (Platformer) Larry Ellison Rides AI Boom to Highest Wealth Ranking Ever (Bloomberg)\ Sir Paul McCartney says artificial intelligence has enabled a 'final' Beatles song (BBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Jun 202315min

Why your favorite subreddit might be going dark. Why a16z opened an office in the UK. Why AI seems to be recycling the same few dozen jokes when you ask it to be funny. A new AI music generation tool. And the first reviews of the 15-inch Macbook Air. Sponsors: CrashPlan.com go.tech/tm Links: Thousands of subreddits pledge to go dark after the Reddit CEO’s recent remarks (The Verge) Andreessen Horowitz believes that crypto's future may be in the U.K. (Axios) Meta's open source AI MusicGen turns text and melody into new songs (The Decoder) Researchers discover that ChatGPT prefers repeating 25 jokes over and over (ArsTechnica) How AI art killed an indie book cover contest (The Verge) Apple MacBook Air 15-inch review: exactly what was asked for (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Jun 202316min

Kevin Scott is the current Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft. We talk about his entire career, how being an academic seemed to be his path before he transformed the ads system at Google. Then he revolutionized the entire advertising industry at AdMob; is credited by some people by saving LinkedIn from technical rot; and now, today, oversees Microsoft's efforts in AI, VR/AR all the future things. Fantastic conversation. Kevin's podcast is: Behind the Tech Originally Aired: May 2019 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Jun 20231h 22min

Lots of juicy nuggets from a recent all hands over at Meta. Binance.US looks like it’s on the road to shutting down. The first trials of AI tutors for kids are happening. The self-driving revolution I’ve been waiting for seems to be happening. And the Weekend Longreads are happening. As always. Links: Here’s what Mark Zuckerberg thinks about Apple’s Vision Pro (The Verge) This is what Instagram’s upcoming Twitter competitor looks like (The Verge) Meta plans to put AI everywhere on its platforms (Axios) Binance.US Set to Be Cut Off From Banking System After SEC Lawsuit (Bloomberg) Spotify says it’s testing an ‘offline mix’ for when your connection’s patchy (The Verge) New A.I. Chatbot Tutors Could Upend Student Learning (NYTimes) Netflix Subscriptions Jump as U.S. Password-Sharing Crackdown Begins (WSJ) Mercedes first to sell vehicles in California with hands-free, eyes-off automated driving (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Binge Purge TV’s streaming model is broken. It’s also not going away. For Hollywood, figuring that out will be a horror show. (Vulture) The Simpsons Is Good Again After 34 seasons, 750 episodes, and a decades-long funk, the show innovated its way back to popularity and relevance. (Vulture) First Impressions of Vision Pro and VisionOS (Daring Fireball) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Jun 202318min

So, the Binance case is already getting testy with some wild accusations flying in both directions. Twitch walks back some ad guidelines after only two days. WhatsApp is adding channels. Prime Video is probably about to add ads. Adobe will protect you from lawsuits if you use their AI tools. And how AI might have just extended Moore’s Law a bit. Sponsors: EarnIn App (type in techmeme under PODCAST when you sign up) Links: Binance lawyers allege SEC Chair Gensler offered to serve as advisor to crypto company in 2019 (CNBC) SEC says Binance and US affiliate redirected billions in customer assets to Zhao's funds (The Block) Twitch walks back controversial ad rules policy (The Verge) WhatsApp’s new Channels feature brings social media to your messaging app (The Verge) Amazon Plans Ad Tier for Prime Video Streaming Service (WSJ) Adobe is so confident its Firefly generative AI won’t breach copyright that it’ll cover your legal bills (Fast Company) Google claims that Bard is improving at math and programming (TechCrunch) Google DeepMind’s game-playing AI just found another way to make code faster (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Jun 202317min

Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Apple does want to get serious about gaming on the Mac after all. Maybe I was right. Sequoia splitting in three IS about China after all. Samsung is holding an event at home for the first time in forever. And Matt Levine answers my questions about what now for Coinbase? Back to just trading bitcoin and ether? Sponsors: NewtonX.com/techmeme Links: macOS Sonoma lets developers port Windows games to the Mac; here’s how it works (9to5Mac) Apple makes iOS 17 developer beta free for registered developers (9to5Mac) Sequoia’s Split Sends Warning to US Companies Doing Business in China (Bloomberg) Samsung officially confirms first Unpacked event in Korea for new foldables (9to5Google) The SEC Comes for Crypto (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Jun 202320min

The SEC has officially sued Coinbase. Sequoia plans to split into 3 separate VC firms. Why did Apple announce a bunch of AI features yesterday but shy away from name dropping AI? And all anyone really cares about right now: two different hands on experiences with the Apple Vision Pro. What is this thing like to actually use? Sponsors: Collective.com Links: US Crypto Crackdown Reaches Fever Pitch as SEC Sues Coinbase (Bloomberg) Sequoia Is Splitting Into Three VC Firms (Forbes) Apple avoids “AI” hype at WWDC keynote by baking ML into products (ArsTechnica) First impressions: Yes, Apple Vision Pro works and yes, it’s good (TechCrunch) I wore the Apple Vision Pro. It’s the best headset demo ever. (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Jun 202320min