Down Round

Latest Episodes:

Manus and Meta: Forbidden Lovers Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Meta bought this company called Manus AI which is like some sort of computer thing? It's from China but they moved to Singapore? Anyway the deal was basically done but then the Chinese government was like "actually, nah". Kinda nuts.
Jimmy H and Rapho had a chat about that AND the new Deep Seek drop being a bit of a nothing-burger.

If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Cook Is Out Apr 22, 2026

Show notes

ALERT, ALERT: Timmy Cook is officially stepping down from his CEO position, but it's more like a step to one side as he shifts into chairman mode. His replacement has been announced as John Ternus, Apple's current senior vice president of hardware engineering. So, what legacy is big Cookie leaving behind, and what will change with Ternus at the helm?
ALSO, a quick run down on that Allbirds AI thing from last week.

If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zuckerbot Agrees With Us Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Remember when Zuck chucked a hissy fit and started headhunting a bunch of AI weapons and offered them 9 figure salaries to work at Meta AI? Well, this crack team of computer geeks have gone and announced their first AI model. James and Raph pick through the details and try to discern just where Meta might fit in this whole AI debacle.
Plus, they made an AI clone of Mark Zuckerberg for their staff to interact with. Why? Not too sure.

If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scam Altman Apr 08, 2026

Show notes

So, OpenAI bought a podcast? For possibly hundreds of millions? Most importantly, it wasn't us?
Our spurned hosts come together to question the decision with the jealous contempt of an ex-lover.

Moving through the stages of grief, we also interrogate Sam Altman's character, and whether he even deserved us in the first place, as some have recently called him duplicitous and sociopathic.

Lose our number, Sammy boy, we're going to ask Dario to the dinner dance instead. 💅

If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claude Down Under Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has graced the land of plenty this week, opening an office in Sydney before swinging by Canberra to put the fear of god into our elected officials on big, spooky, scary AI bots coming to take your job and wife. The boys use this as a springboard to examine Australia's relationship with AI and data centres, whether these execs are trying to 'pull the ladder up behind them', and leaks possibly detailing Claude's next model.

Also, a brief chat about what will come of that Meta court case loss.
If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sora? I Hardly Know 'Er! Mar 25, 2026

Show notes

Another week, another episode about OpenAI. The eponymous chatbot company has announced that it's video generation/social media app Sora is shutting up shop as they seem to be chasing Anthropic's enterprise focused success. This is important to discuss because it means the boys were sort of right again?

They also dipped their toes into the sloppy waters of AI Fruit Love Island, and wrapped back around to revisit private equity.
Warning: James' computer decided to switch his mic input from the gorgeous RODE mic he had plugged in to his crusty little airpods, meaning his recording sounded like dog doo-doo for the first 20 minutes of the ep. Please accept our sincerest apologies, and know that he will be severely punished for this malfeasance in due course.
If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State of Play Pt.1 Mar 18, 2026

Show notes

Week two of baby season and we're still out here, still feeding you content-starved little varmints hot and fresh intelligence. This week, we thought it was a good time for a general temperature check on the AI world. Who's leading, who's flailing, and who the hell is curing their dog's cancer with ChatGPT.

Join us for the first part here, then head over to DownRound.net to get Premium access and hear the other half of the chat, plus ad free listening!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

🚨 Down Round Official Breaking News Announcement Alert PSA Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

We come to you with an urgent alert for all Down Round subscribers.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthropic Goes To War Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

For today's free ep, we examine the current spat between Anthropic and Trump's Department of War over use of their AI model Claude.

Should a next-token prediction model be allowed to make decisions in the heat of battle? Should the snuffing out of a human life be prompted by a computer? Is Mark Zuckerberg losing his white boy swag? These are all important questions which WILL be answered in this episode.

If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Far-Flung Future of 2028 Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

When one thinks of impossible futures, they often think of a luxurious, technological wonderland. An unimaginable utopia where humans live in perfect harmony, their every want and need being fulfilled through meteoric advances in artificial intelligence. A prosperous society of abundance and civility.
But what if these same technological strides lead humanity to a different, more sinister outcome. One in which our dependable world economies simply evaporate as organic beings are removed from the equation. One where only next-token prediction engines are granted access to wealth, and those who clairvoyantly bought reasonably-priced Macintosh computers before the uprising rocket skyward into an insurmountable upper crust.
Some researchers have written a piece of speculative fiction which describes one of these two possibilities arriving by in 2028. Listen to the podcast to find out which one they foresaw, and hear two of DM Research's finest alum examine this theory in great depth.

If you like the pod, chuck us a review on your podcast player of choice, or go to downround.net to sign up for PREMIUM to get ad-free listening PLUS an extra episode every week.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected