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TechCheck

1,228 episodes — Page 6 of 25

Tech divided over crypto reserve 3/3/25

President Trump announcing a “Strategic Crypto Reserve” over the weekend, drawing quick backlash from some of his biggest supporters in Silicon Valley. We look at how the divide is taking shape and why critics are raising concerns. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mar 3, 20256 min

Megacaps enter the Quantum chip race 2/27/25

Amazon is jumping into the Quantum computing race with their first quantum chip ‘ocelot.’ We look at the latest Megacap staking their claim in quantum, and what it means for the future of the evolving technology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 27, 20255 min

Why AI prices are in a race to the bottom 2/26/25

DeepSeek’s impact being felt as more free AI offerings make their way to consumers, in a battle for users between the biggest AI names. We look at what the trend means as more names enter the crowded chatbot field. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 26, 20256 min

TechCheck Takes: How DeepSeek supercharged AI’s distillation problem 2/25/25

Silicon Valley is reckoning with an AI development technique that could upend the leaderboard. Distillation is the idea that a small team can make an advanced AI model by extracting knowledge from a larger one. DeepSeek didn’t invent the method, but its use roiled the markets and woke the AI world up to its potential. It’s now enabling startups to compete at the cutting edge, and is deadly for the biggest AI players’ competitive edges. This video includes an interview with Glean CEO Arvind Jain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 25, 202533 min

How stricter chip restrictions could backfire to benefit Huawei 2/25/25

The Trump administration is reportedly considering tightening the restrictions on U.S. chip exports to China even further. But that could end up unintentionally benefiting Huawei. The state-backed chipmaker’s products have been getting better, and additional tariffs out of Washington could push Chinese companies to adopt Huawei’s chips faster. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 25, 20255 min

Distillation and the boom in Chinese tech stocks, Plus Masa Son on Stargate 2/21/25

U.S. tech companies facing headwinds post-DeepSeek even as Chinese tech stocks have soared. Raising questions about whether the biggest winers may not be the ones building the largest AI models, but those who scale it the most effectively. Plus, Masayoshi Son talks the future of OpenAI, Softbank partnership. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 21, 20256 min

Microsoft’s Quantum breakthrough, plus OpenAI touts user growth 2/20/25

Shares of Quantum computing stocks are spiking after Microsoft announced a new Quantum breakthrough yesterday, and Microsoft isn’t the only tech giant betting on the technology. Plus, OpenAI telling CNBC the AI company is saw 400 million weekly active users in February in a major jump since December. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 20, 20255 min

Sequoia backs AI health startup 2/19/25

AI startup OpenEvidence is now raising a fresh round of capital from Sequoia at a $1 Billion valuation. We look at the latest big funding round in AI healthcare and why investors are increasingly drawn towards the sector. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 19, 20257 min

Startup Investing for the Masses, Plus xAI Unveils New AI Model 2/18/25

Silicon Valley startups have generally been off-limits to the public, cutting ordinary investors out of peak value creation. But now, those rules are getting a second look under President Trump’s new SEC. Plus, Elon Musk’s startup xAI is now showing off its new model called Grok 3, and said the deep research tool is outperforming comparable offerings from OpenAI and China’s DeepSeek. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 18, 20257 min

Wall Street cools on AI spending spree 2/14/25

Big Tech expecting to spend as much as $320B in capital expenditures in 2025, as much as 40% higher than even last-year’s stratospheric spend. We look at how investor sentiment is cooling towards the soaring AI investments. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 14, 20254 min

Musk OpenAI bid, Plus Apple’s Alibaba teamup 2/13/25

Elon Musk adding a new layer to his escalating legal fight with OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman. Plus, Apple is teaming up with Alibaba to bring Apple Intelligence to China as the iPhone maker faces fierce domestic competition. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 13, 20257 min

High-stakes Paris AI summit sees calls for less regulation 2/11/25

Tech executives and world leaders convening in Paris this week to discuss AI, including OpenAI’s Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, French President Emmanual Macron, and Vice President JD Vance. We look at the key takeaways as calls for looser AI regulation grow. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 11, 20252 min

Why OpenAI has a Microsoft problem 2/10/25

New Reporting reveals that OpenAI is closer than ever to having their own custom AI chips. We look at what the startup’s push for their own chips reveals about its increasingly complex relationship with Microsoft. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 10, 20255 min

Big Tech hunts for AGI at any cost 02/07/25

Sources telling CNBC’s David Faber that Softbank plans to invest $40B in OpenAI in a deal that would place the generative AI startup at a $300B post-money valuation. We look at the latest sign that big tech is not slowing down on their AI investment post-DeepSeek, and their strategy going forward. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 7, 20257 min

Why a stronger dollar could spell trouble for Big Tech 02/06/25

The dollar is up nearly 5% over the past six months, causing headwinds for tech giants who make a substantial portion of their revenue overseas. We look at what the shift means and what we’re hearing about it from the Magnificent 7 as they report earnings. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 6, 20257 min

Perplexity’s case for U.S. TikTok ownership, Plus DeepSeek security concerns 2/5/25

Perplexity CEO and Co-Founder Aravind Srinivas is making the case for why his startup is the best positioned to take over TikTok U.S. operations. Plus, what people get wrong about the difference between DeepSeek the app, and DeepSeek the model as security concerns grow. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 5, 20258 min

Google faces uphill AI battle in 2025 2/4/2025

Google parent company Alphabet hitting a record high ahead of reporting today even as China hits the tech giant with an antitrust probe. We look at what investors will be looking for in Q4 results, including AI plans as the race for the best AI product rapidly changes shape. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 4, 20258 min

Sam Altman’s post-DeepSeek mea culpa, Plus Ontario axes Starlink deal 2/3/25

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman saying in a Reddit AMA Friday that his company has been ‘on the wrong side of history’ on open source AI as DeepSeek continues to roil the race. Plus, Ontario Premier Doug Ford scraps a Starlink deal as Elon Musk’s companies begin to be targeted in retaliation to Trump’s tariffs. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Feb 3, 20256 min

Big Tech rushes to adopt DeepSeek 01/31/25

Chinese startup DeepSeek sparking a sell off this week that sent Nvidia and Microsoft shares slipping downward. We look at how even as the new open-source model poses a threat to big tech, major AI companies are quickly embracing DeepSeek’s reasoning model. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 31, 202510 min

How DeepSeek kicked off a new AI race 1/29/25

Tech stocks mixed today as the AI trade tries to adjust to a new normal post-DeepSeek. We look at why the AI race will never be the same, and why OpenAI is accusing DeepSeek of training off their models. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 29, 20256 min

Aaron Levie on the AI paradigm shift after DeepSeek, plus Kyle Bass sounds off on the China threat 1/28/25

DeepSeek has upended the conventional wisdom about what it takes to make an advanced large language model, but as the market reacts, Box CEO Aaron Levie says there are very few losers from the breakthrough. Plus, we talk to Kyle Bass about DeepSeek changes the state of the AI arms race between the U.S. and China. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 28, 202514 min

How China’s DeepSeek upended the AI landscape 1/27/25

China’s DeepSeek model sent markets reeling Monday as investors digest the impressive performance and reportedly low cost of the advanced large language model. We look at how DeepSeek has skyrocketed to the top of the Apple App store charts, and what consumer adoption of Chinese AI models means for the future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 27, 202518 min

TechCheck Takes: Why China’s DeepSeek is putting America’s AI lead in jeopardy 1/27/25

An AI lab out of China has ignited panic throughout Silicon Valley after releasing AI models that can outperform America’s best despite being built more cheaply and with less-powerful chips. DeepSeek unveiled a free, open-source large-language model in late December that it says took only two months and less than $6 million to build. CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa interviews Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas and explains why the DeepSeek has raised alarms on whether America’s global lead in AI is shrinking. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 27, 202540 min

TechCheck+ Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi 1/23/25

Ali Ghodsi, Databricks CEO, joins Deirdre Bosa to discuss Databricks recent investment from Meta, and much more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 23, 20257 min

Tech CEOs sound alarm on Chinese AI breakthroughs 1/23/25

Chinese internet firm ByteDance unveiling a new top-performing model that escalates the AI competition between China and the U.S. We look at how key American AI leaders at Davos are reacting to the way Chinese AI advances are changing the race. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 23, 20253 min

Trump revokes Biden’s AI safety order as Chinese competition grows 1/21/25

Key guardrails around advanced AI models are now gone after President Trump revoked Biden’s executive order on AI safety. Critics claimed the E-O stifled America’s ability to innovate, and its removal comes at a key inflection point in the AI race between the U.S. and China. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 21, 20257 min

Behind the scenes at a quantum lab, SandboxAQ CEO on outlook, plus the U.S. TikTok alternatives users are flocking to 1/17/25

Behind the scenes at a quantum lab, SandboxAQ CEO on outlook, plus the U.S. TikTok alternatives users are flocking toDescription: Quantum computing stocks have had a volatile few months, with investors asking when companies will begin offering commercially viable solutions. We went behind the scenes at a leading quantum lab in Silicon Valley to find out, and talked to the CEO of the startup Sandbox AQ which is at the forefront of quantum development. Plus, as the fate of TikTok hangs in limbo, Americans are flocking to other, U.S.-based alternative apps that are quickly climbing the charts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 17, 202515 min

OpenAI’s unveils new rival to Siri, Alexa 01/15/25

2025 is expected to be the year of the AI Agent and ChatGPT developer OpenAI making the first move. We look at their new ‘Tasks’ feature that OpenAI’s President and Co-Founder calls “Baby Steps” in the direction of the agentic future. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 15, 20257 min

TikTok “Refugees” stream to Chinese app RedNote 01/14/25

A report out today claims China is exploring a sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations to Elon Musk. With just days to go before the ban is set to take effect, we look at how another Chinese app is already rocketing to the top of the charts as TikTok users look for alternatives. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 14, 20259 min

Critics pan Zuckerberg’s move towards MAGA 1/13/25

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg continuing his MAGA makeover in a recent podcast appearance with Joe Rogan where he slammed Apple for a lack of innovation. We dig into how critics are responding to Zuckerberg’s public shift ahead of Trump’s second term. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 13, 20255 min

Nvidia slams newly reported AI chip export limits 1/10/25

AI chip giant Nvidia coming out hard against newly reported AI chip export limits that the Biden administration is expected to announce. The three-tiered system would put new caps on companies and countries in an effort to maintain U.S. AI dominance. Plus, the fate of the TikTok ban now rests in the hands of the Supreme Court who heard oral arguments today in Washington. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 10, 20256 min

TikTok Shop rival Whatnot raises $265M 1/8/25

Just days before the Supreme Court hears the TikTok ban, TikTok Shop rival Whatnot announcing they’ve hit a nearly $5B valuation as part of its latest funding round. Plus, we talk to one Quantum CEO who is pushing back on Jensen Huang’s comments that the technology is still decades away. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 8, 20259 min

Zuckerberg’s Trump turn pressures Google 1/7/25

Mark Zuckerberg and Meta continuing their Trump charm offensive with an announcement today that the social media giant is ending fact checking. As more Silicon Valley leaders make public overtures to Trump, we look at what it could mean for the Tech Giants who haven’t. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 7, 20256 min

Sam Altman hints AI's next key breakthrough is within reach 1/6/25

This weekend OpenAI CEO Sam Altman saying that Artificial General Intelligence – a metric that would mean AI has caught up to human reasoning – is within reach. Plus, we look at viral videos that are raising questions about trust in self-driving technology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 6, 20258 min

AI results in focus for CES 2025 1/3/25

Next week one of the biggest tech events of 2025 kicks off in Las Vegas. The Consumer Electronics Show – better known as CES – showcases some of the biggest names and advances in tech. We dig into what to expect as the focus turns to progress in AI applications, and signs of returns on the massive investments made in the technology. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 3, 20256 min

Robotaxis pit Tesla against Uber 1/2/25

Tesla’s self-driving robotaxi technology may define the company in 2025, but it also puts them in direct competition against rideshare giant Uber. We take a look at the robotaxi battle lines taking shape in 2025 and who could be poised to come out on top. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jan 2, 20258 min

New Chinese AI Model Threatens American AI Dominance 12/30/24

DeepSeek v3 is a new AI model developed by a Chinese lab, built in just 2 months with less-performant GPUs and for a fraction of what it cost Google, OpenAI and Meta to build theirs. It raises questions of America’s place in the AI race and whether shelling out hundreds of millions or even billions into building frontier AI models is still a worthy investment. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 30, 20247 min

OpenAI unveils plans for for-profit restructure 12/27/24

OpenAI laid out its plan for converting into a for-profit company in a blog post Friday morning. The Generative AI darling says their existing for-profit division will become a public benefit corporation. We dig into what this means for OpenAI’s future and why the move might not be as easy as they hope. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 27, 20248 min

The 2025 chip trade outlook 12/23/24

Increased competition is already impacting the chips trade, and that’s expected to continue into next year. But the biggest risk could be geopolitical, with Taiwan as the standout headwind for semiconductors in 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 23, 20244 min

Next phase of AI takes shape 12/19/24

Micron shares tumbling today on weak guidance, but what the drop doesn’t reflect are signs of strength in the chipmaker’s AI data center business. A sign that AI is moving towards the so-called ‘digestion’ phase. Plus a conversation with Chetan Puttagunta, General partner at VC firm Benchmark about the shifting trend from scaling to innovation in generative AI. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 19, 20249 min

Options boom drives Big Tech volatility 12/18/24

Mega Caps stocks are popping this month, and the trend is being propelled by more than just traditional trading. We dig into how bullish options activity is driving some of the biggest moves in tech and fueling increased volatility as investors search for more upside. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 18, 20245 min

TechCheck+ Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi 12/18/24

CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa sits down with Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi to talk its mega funding round, what it means for AI enthusiasm and more. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 18, 20245 min

Databricks’ mega funding round 12/17/24

Databricks is announcing an eye-popping $10 billion funding round at a $62 billion dollar valuation, one of the largest in Silicon Valley history. Investors include Thrive Capital and Andreessen Horowitz as Databricks looks well positioned in the next phase of AI generative AI adoption. We look at what the ballooning Silicon Valley funding rounds mean amid Wall Street's IPO drought. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 17, 20244 min

Masayoshi Son’s $100B U.S. Investment 12/16/24

Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son joined President Trump at Mar-a-Lago this morning to announce a $100 billion dollar investment in the U.S. over the next four years. The AI-focused investment comes as Washington’s hunger for the emerging technology grows, and Softbank shows signs of refining their own AI strategy. We dig into what sets this apart from Son’s 2016, $50 billion dollar investment after Trump’s first win. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 16, 20247 min

Tech executives ‘Kiss the Ring’ ahead of Trump 2.0 12/13/24

Tech leaders are previewing their playbook for Trump’s second term. Including trips to Mar-a-Lago, and larger donations to the inaugural fund. So will it translate into warmer relations between Trump's new White House and some of the Silicon Valley leaders he's long railed against? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 13, 20247 min

Cisco CEO on Business Outlook, Plus the Future of M&A in Trump 2.0 12/12/24

Deirdre Bosa sits down with Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins to talk the outlook for business under a new Trump Presidency and how AI is creating a boom for new digital infrastructure. Plus, the latest developments from the Barclays Global Tech Conference in San Francisco. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 12, 20248 min

Google’s AI Edge: Consumer Reach 12/11/24

Google is announcing its more powerful Gemini 2.0 model, which will power its AI search tool “Overviews.” It means the company is now getting new capabilities like reasoning into the hands of more than a billion users, in contrast to OpenAI’s 12 days of Ship-Mas, where it released a full version of its model to a far smaller group of users. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 11, 20245 min

TechCheck+ Are AI advancements already slowing down? 12/11/24

Generative AI has developed so quickly in the past two years, massive breakthroughs seemed more a question of “when” rather than “if.” But in recent weeks, Silicon Valley has become increasingly concerned that advancements are slowing. One early indication is the lack of progress between models released by the biggest players in the space. OpenAI is reportedly facing a significantly smaller increase in quality for its next model GPT-5, while Anthropic has delayed the release of its most powerful model Opus, according to wording that was removed from its website. Even at tech giant Google, its upcoming version of Gemini is reportedly not living up to internal expectations. If progress is plateauing, it would call into question a core assumption that Silicon Valley has treated as religion: scaling laws. The idea is that adding more computing power and more data guarantees better models to an infinite degree. But those recent developments suggest they may be more theory than law. The key problem could be that AI companies are running out of data to train models on, hitting what experts call the “data wall.” Instead, they’re turning to synthetic data, or AI-generated data. CNBC’s Deirdre Bosa explores whether AI progress is slowing, and what it means for the industry. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 11, 202413 min

Venture Capitalists Mold Trump 2.0 12/6/24

President-elect Trump has selected venture capitalist David Sacks as his pick for White House AI & Crypto Czar, a role that involves two of the most important emerging technologies. It’s also a signal of the growing influence that Silicon Valley is wielding over the new administration, as the impact of tech elites like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen also expand. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 6, 202413 min

The Race for AI World-Generating Models, Plus OpenAI’s Two Launches 12/5/24

The new frontier emerging in AI is 3D world-generating models, where you input text, an image or a video and generate a modifiable 3D world. Plus, OpenAI launched two new updates today -- a better version of one of its models and a $200 per month pro tier. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dec 5, 20247 min