Marketplace Tech

Anita Ramaswamy, columnist at The Information who covers tech industry shifts, breaks down Google’s UI tweak to spotlight source links in AI summaries. She unpacks whether that change could steer traffic back to publishers. She also covers Palantir’s surprising move to Miami and the controversy around Ring’s Search Party and its law-enforcement ambitions.

Mike Isaac, New York Times tech reporter who covers big tech and product strategy, breaks down Meta's massive capex shift toward AI. He walks through Superintelligence Labs funding and how AI is being folded into ads and products like Ray-Ban glasses. He also discusses the idea of personal superintelligence, Meta’s data edge, and the pivot away from VR toward AI-driven experiences.

Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group and technology analyst, breaks down how AI-driven code generation is reshaping software. He explores which software functions are most vulnerable, the rise of 'vibe coding' and gaps like security and data access. He also discusses shifting pricing models and strategies for companies to adapt and partner with AI builders.

Kari George, Senior Research Associate at the Computing Research Association, provides data-driven analysis of computing enrollment trends. She explores which subfields are rising and falling. She discusses shifts toward applied AI, data science and computer engineering. She covers the role of AI headlines, international student declines, and how curricular changes respond to labor market signals.

Dan Ackerman, Marketplace technology reporter, explains how Caterpillar generators are being pressed into service powering AI data centers. He covers why companies bypass the grid, how generators shift from backup to primary power, and the rush that has maxed out Caterpillar’s production. Rapid deployment and long backlogs shape the unfolding infrastructure story.

Jewel Burks Solomon, managing partner at Collab Capital and startup investor, breaks down big tech financing and AI bets. She discusses Alphabet raising long-term debt to fund AI infrastructure. She explores a bot-only social network called Moltbook and its security risks. She also talks about Spotify’s standout user growth and the social power of music sharing.

Conversation covers the rapid expansion of cryptocurrency alongside a surge in illicit use, including $158 billion linked to illegal activity. Discussion highlights how stablecoins and nation-state actors enable sanctions evasion. Scams get spotlighted, from romance-based "pig butchering" to fake gig schemes. The role of AI in making fraud more sophisticated and scalable is also explored.

Saadia Pekkanen, a University of Washington professor of space law and policy, explains the rush to the moon and why countries eye its resources. She breaks down legal limits on sovereignty and how extraction might work. She compares lunar rules to high-seas fishing and discusses the need for transparency, energy plans, and diplomatic frameworks for living side-by-side on the moon.

Christopher Miller, historian and author of Chip War, explains the geopolitical and technological stakes of chip development. He discusses why Google built TPUs tailored for AI, how TPUs differ from flexible GPUs in speed and efficiency, and when each chip is used for training versus inference. He also covers specialized neural processors in devices and whether TPUs can challenge NVIDIA's dominance.

Carly Urban, an economics professor at Montana State University who co-authored a study on surveys and smartphones, discusses how device choice changes responses. She explains the ‘‘smartphone penalty’’ and how phone use, low effort, question position, and rising mobile participation can distort measured financial knowledge. The conversation also flags risks from future tools like AI helpers.