#36: RIP Apple Car, Google's AI Reality Problem, Long Live Consumer Tech

Explicit content warning

03/02/24 • 62 min

Fresh from an investor conference in Los Angeles, the gang discusses the week's headlines and the behind-the-scenes scuttle from one of tech's elite gatherings.

Articles Discussed

How Apple’s Eight-Year Quest to Build a Self-Driving Car Hit Roadblocks

Consumer Startups Are a Better Bet Than Enterprise Startups

Show Notes

00:00:11 - Intro
00:01:33 - More or Less Business Models
00:03:15 - Upfront Summit Insights
00:04:21 - Event Networking Dynamics
00:04:56 - South by Southwest Comparisons
00:05:54 - Hollywood's Shift to AI for Scenes
00:07:41 - Upfront Summit vs. More or Less Podcast
00:08:02 - Football Docuseries Recommendations
00:09:29 - Vision Pro's Use Cases
00:10:15 - Apple's Electric Vehicle Project Shutdown
00:11:58 - Apple's Growth and Future Direction
00:13:32 - Big Companies and Market Mapping
00:15:16 - Apple's Approach to New Markets
00:17:29 - Apple's Retreat from the Car Business
00:18:08 - Apple's Focus on Personal Technology
00:19:23 - Self-Driving Cars and AI Challenges
00:20:03 - Apple's AI and Chip Future
00:21:29 - Google's PR Crisis with Gemini Chatbot
00:22:12 - The Liability of LLMs and AI Models
00:23:21 - Google's Response to Gemini's Issues
00:24:45 - Google's RoboCity and AI Testing
00:25:22 - Google's Next Moves After Gemini Backlash
00:26:50 - Apple's Next Trillion-Dollar Market
00:27:13 - Apple's Potential AI and Software Focus
00:28:08 - Clarifying Apple's Mission with Personal Tech
00:29:02 - Apple's Strategy and Spatial Computing
00:30:07 - Tech Industry's Business Cuts
00:31:01 - Meta's Oculus and Business Decisions
00:33:47 - Pixel Fold's Popularity
00:34:57 - Pop Culture Corner and Taylor Swift's Influence on Camera Sales
00:37:25 - Suits Spinoff in Los Angeles
00:38:44 - Kate Middleton's Hospital Stay?
00:40:07 - Petty Crime Podcast Idea
00:41:58 - Consumer vs. Enterprise Tech Returns Debate
00:43:10 - AI's Impact on Consumer Tech Revolution
00:44:39 - Wrap Up

Fresh from an investor conference in Los Angeles, the gang discusses the week's headlines and the behind-the-scenes scuttle from one of tech's elite gatherings.

Articles Discussed

How Apple’s Eight-Year Quest to Build a Self-Driving Car Hit Roadblocks

Consumer Startups Are a Better Bet Than Enterprise Startups

Show Notes

Previous Episode

#35: 2024 IPO Dreams, Apple's Sports Game and Reddit's Biz Gamble

Plus, inside Sequoia's Klarna drama and the latest AI demos

Show Notes

00:00 Introductions

03:00 The Potential of Reddit Advertising

09:00 Licensing Data and Monetization Challenges

13:00 The Moderation Challenge of Reddit

18:00 Private Group Moderation and Content Control

22:00 Failed Coup at Klarna

26:00 Tensions and Divisions in Late-Stage Pre-IPO Companies

30:00 The OpenAI Board Situation

31:00 Apple's New Sports App

33:12 Moon Landing and Advertising

33:45 Tech Companies and NBA Streaming Rights

34:27 Betting Odds in Digital Formats

36:15 Frequent Sports Betting

37:03 Tennis and Sports Rights

37:41 Pop Culture Corner: Movies and Oscars

40:00 Beyonce's Country Song and Marketing

43:02 OpenAI's Sora and Marketing Strategies

44:41 The Importance of Marketing in Startups

50:47 Building Trust through Individuals

53:24 Community Building and Brand Ownership

Next Episode

#37: TikTok's Latest Crisis, Elon's Emails, AI Monopolies

A new idea for how to "ban" TikTok is gaining steam in D.C. while Elon (again) makes wakes. Plus, what the AI and ridesharing wars have in common.

Takeaways

The ban on TikTok and the regulation of Chinese apps are ongoing topics of discussion.
Apple could play a significant role in creating controls for parents to limit app usage, including Chinese apps.
Google has already taken steps to limit Chinese app access.
The US-China relationship and co-dependence pose challenges in addressing national security concerns.
More sophisticated and targeted regulatory approaches are needed to effectively address these issues. The ban on TikTok raises concerns about national security risks and the influence of Chinese-owned apps on American youth.
ByteDance's revenue growth highlights the company's success and the potential impact of a TikTok ban on its business.
Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI raises questions about the organization's mission and the transition from nonprofit to for-profit.
The influence of Elon Musk on the tech news cycle and the perception of his companies is a topic of discussion.
The future of electric vehicles faces challenges such as range anxiety and competition from other countries. Charging electric vehicles can be a challenge for some individuals, leading to discussions about alternative solutions.
Roving superchargers are a potential solution to address range anxiety and charging issues for EVs.
The AI venture capital race is compared to the ride-hailing wars, with concerns about market concentration and smaller investors being boxed out.
PCC: Who was the highest paid actor in 2023?