Tech Brew Ride Home

Netflix ups its bid with all cash. Sony is spinning off its legendary TV business with TCL. One of the biggest seed rounds I’ve ever heard of. Reels continues to win for Zuck. And let me introduce you to the “Assistant Axis” and what it might mean for AI.


Netflix revises its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery. Now, it’s all cash (CNN)


Sony’s TV business is being taken over by TCL (The Verge)


An A.I. Start-Up Says It Wants to Empower Workers, Not Replace Them (NYTimes)


Most of Instagram’s ads ran on Reels in 2025, data shows (CNBC)


Anthropic Uncovers AI Personality Crisis as Models Secretly Switch Identities (eWeek)

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Ads are finally coming to ChatGPT. Why everyone online can’t stop talking about going on Claude benders. Elon’s case against OpenAI moves forward again. The Thinking Machines saga roils on again. And the big movie about AI every is apparently watching.


OpenAI brings advertising to ChatGPT in push for new revenue (FT)


OpenAI's Revenue Soars Past $20 Billion After 233% Jump—But Explosive Growth Comes With Massive Compute Costs And A $17 Billion Burn Rate (Benzinga)


Claude Is Taking the AI World by Storm, and Even Non-Nerds Are Blown Away (WSJ)


‘No Reasons to Own’: Software Stocks Sink on Fear of New AI Tool (Bloomberg)


Musk Seeks Up to $134 Billion Damages From OpenAI, Microsoft (Bloomberg)


Thinking Machines Exodus Tests Investor Appetite for a $50 Billion Valuation (The Information)


There’s a Hit Movie Set Deep Inside an AI Lab—and It Will Give You Goosebumps (WSJ)

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More fallout from the Thinking Machines stuff. I’m officially calling it: I think the Metaverse is over, at least at Meta. Cloudflare continues to make an effort to protect the web and creators from AI strip mining. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
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Apparently their ain’t no drama like AI industry drama, proven once again by some high-profile defections from Thinking Machine Labs. Grok says it’s cleaned up its act. TSMC is winning thanks to AI. More price rises from Spotify. And why is Ireland missing out on the AI datacenter boom?


Two Thinking Machines Lab Cofounders Are Leaving to Rejoin OpenAI (Wired)


Grok was finally updated to stop undressing women and children, X Safety says (ArsTechnica)


TSMC delivers another record quarter as profit jumps 35% fueled by robust AI chip demand (CNBC)


Ireland Is Trying to Get Back on the Data Center Bandwagon (Bloomberg)


Spotify Raises Premium Subscription Prices in US to $13 a Month (Bloomberg)

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Nvidia can officially sell its chips in China, but not if China doesn’t let anyone buy them. Tesla will stop selling FSD beginning next month. Matthew McConaughey says NOT alright alright alright to unauthorized AI use of his voice. And another story about how AI is disrupting the consultancy game.


Exclusive: China's customs agents told Nvidia's H200 chips are not permitted, sources say (Reuters)


Meta is closing down three VR studios as part of its metaverse cuts (The Verge)


Tesla Driver-Assist System FSD Will Switch to Subscription-Only, Musk Says (Bloomberg)


Matthew McConaughey Trademarks Himself to Fight AI Misuse (WSJ)


Microsoft’s Spending on Anthropic AI Is on Pace to Hit $500 Million (The Information)


Apple Struggling With Key Material Shortage as AI Chips Drain Supply (MacRumors)


McKinsey challenges graduates to use AI chatbot in recruitment overhaul (FT)

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