Down Round

Latest Episodes:

WWDC 2024: AI For The Rest Of Us Chumps Jun 11, 2024

Show notes

This week, Apple held the keynote at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), where it traditionally announces its upcoming software updates.

As predicted, the company announced its moves into generative AI – which it is bundling under the name Apple Intelligence – alongside a partnership with OpenAI. In this ep, we dive into the announcements, and what they mean for Apple going forward.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Down Round Featuring Microsoft Copilot + PC (PREVIEW) Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a premium episode. To subscribe to Down Round Premium and get access, head here.

A few weeks ago, Microsoft announced its new Surface Laptop with Copilot + PC, which it intends to be a direct competitor with the MacBook Air. On the one hand, it's an interesting attempt to get Windows PCs back into competition. ON the other hand, it's also an attempt by Microsoft to wind LLMs an AI into its operating system.

In this ep, we talk about the Apple/Microsoft rivalry, and whether these attempts to cram AI in at the operating system level will appease investors who are looking for revenue.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tech-Military Complex Jun 04, 2024

Show notes

For a long time, it wasn't a great look for startups and big tech – outside of companies like Microsoft – to openly work with the military-industrial complex. That was for contractors like Raytheon and General Dynamics. Tech generally maintained the sunny disposition that it was better to enable world peace through well targeted digital ads.

That has changed, and startups like Anduril are now positioning themselves as a new generation of military supplier, marrying Silicon Valley innovation with surveillance tools and military weaponry. In this ep, we look at the history of Silicon Valley and the military, and this new crop of weapons makers.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google & OpenAI's Rough Couple Of Weeks (Pt. 1) May 29, 2024

Show notes

In the first part of a two-part episode on Google and OpenAI's tough PR challenges of the past couple of weeks, we dive into Google's launch of AI summaries on the web, which led the venerable search engine to recommend pregnant women blast cigs and amateur chefs to mix glue into their pizza sauce.

We chat about the rocky launch, what it means for Google, and how it might affect the web going forward. Later this week, premium subscribers can hear us talk about OpenAI's fight with Scarlett Johanssen and its own employees over NDAs. (Sign up here and you won't miss out!)

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Down Round Q&A: Your Boneheaded Questions, Answered May 21, 2024

Show notes

It's time for another edition of DOWN ROUND Q&A. We solicited questions from both or premium members in Discord and our followers on X, and today we're answering them for you. We cover everything from macOS to LLMs to Boeing and smart homes.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AAA Gaming Apocalypse (PREVIEW) May 16, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a premium episode. To subscribe to Down Round Premium and get access, head here.

The pain for the gaming industry doesn't seem over, with Xbox closing studios, more layoffs, Sony fighting with its fanbase and growth looking sluggish. It raises one big question: has blockbuster game development outrun its ability to actually make money?

In this episode, we return to the world of gaming to discuss Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, the increasingly fraught big budget gaming financial model, and a few fun digressions along the way.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They're Putting AI In The Bloody Phones Now May 14, 2024

Show notes

Apple and Google are both on the precipice of announcing deeper integration of generative AI into their respective operating systems. Google's IO conference is this week, and reporting abounds that Apple has inked a deal with OpenAI to integrate GPT with iOS. There's a big question as to whether they're doing this because users actually want it, or because investors and the market thinks they should.

In this episode, we talk about Google and Apple, what their AI implementations might look like, and just where this is all going. Also, a sad mea culpa for the Rabbit R1.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Into The Quantum Realm (PREVIEW) May 09, 2024

Show notes

This is a free preview of a premium episode. To subscribe to Down Round Premium and get access, head here.

Quantum computing has been a research and academic pursuit for decades, but it has been picking up buzz over the last few years as both big tech companies and smaller startups get into the space. The Australian government recently announced a $1 billion investment into quantum startup PsiQuantum, which gives us an excuse to talk about it.

What is quantum computing? Is it actually useful? Can I buy one? All will be answered, and more. WARNING: The words 'qubit' and 'entanglement' will be used.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OK Fine, We'll Talk About Hubbl May 07, 2024

Show notes

Anyone who lives in Australia would be aware of Foxtel's new streaming box Hubbl, thanks to an absolutely overwhelming ad campaign pitching it. We talk about the Hubbl, and use it as an excuse to dive into streaming more generally, and what's been going on since the last time we talked about it.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TikTok Ban Watch 2024: The Final Chapter (?) Apr 30, 2024

Show notes

Well, it happened: the US passed legislation to force ByteDance to divest TikTok in the country. Now, the company technically has 12 months to make it happen. But is that the end of the story? In this episode, we discuss how we arrived at this point, what avenues TikTok has left, and who or what might acquire TikTok if it comes down to that.

Links

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.