Cheeky Pint Ben Thompson from Stratechery on AI ads, the end of SaaS, and the future of media
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Feb 12, 2026 
Ben Thompson, founder of Stratechery and leading tech analyst, shares big-picture takes on aggregation, ads as a societal good, and why TikTok’s algorithm is the core national-security worry. He explores AI’s role as a new aggregator, looming chip-supply risks around 2029, and how agentic commerce and ad models may evolve.
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Double Down On Strengths And Control Costs
- Double down on your strengths and hire to cover weaknesses to maximize leverage.
- Keep costs low to make niche subscription models sustainable.
Bundles Need Few Powerful Negotiating Counterparties
- Bundles form only when a few gatekeepers negotiate centrally, which limits other industries from bundling.
- Spotify succeeded because it only needed deals with a small number of major labels.
Use AI For Research, Not To Replace Writing
- Use AI for targeted research and background, not to generate final published content.
- Verify AI outputs by deep reading and domain-specific fact-checking before publishing.
