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In this conversation, Bradley Tusk discusses his unique career at the intersection of politics and technology. He shares insights from his early experiences in New York City politics, his time working with Senator Schumer, and his role as Deputy Governor of Illinois. Tusk reflects on the Bloomberg campaign during the financial crisis and how he merged political strategies with business through Tusk Strategies. He highlights the regulatory challenges faced by Uber and the importance of understanding the political landscape for startups. Tusk also addresses the future of AI and the necessity of regulation to protect society while fostering innovation. 00:00 The Intersection of Tech and Politics 05:58 The Rise of Tech in New York City 12:08 Governance and the Role of a Deputy Governor 18:03 Tusk Strategies: Merging Politics with Tech 23:55 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Startups 33:52 The Need for AI Regulation 40:06 Addressing the Challenges of Gambling Regulations Bradley Tusk identifies as a political junkie rather than a tech junkie. His early career choices were influenced by his experiences in politics and writing. Working under Henry Stern provided Tusk with a deep understanding of municipal politics. Tusk learned the importance of media and messaging while working for Senator Schumer. His role as Deputy Governor of Illinois involved managing a significant budget deficit. The Bloomberg campaign was marked by innovative use of technology and media. Tusk's strategies for Uber involved mobilizing customers to advocate for the service. He emphasizes the need for startups to recognize regulatory challenges early on. Tusk believes in the necessity of regulating AI to prevent societal harm. He advocates for a taxation structure to redistribute wealth generated by AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China continues to show signs that it might not need American AI chips much longer. A weird story about that big recent Tesla trial ruling. Look, AI being too much of a sycophant is clearly becoming a big problem. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Alibaba Creates AI Chip to Help China Fill Nvidia Void (WSJ) Tesla said it didn’t have key data in a fatal crash. Then a hacker found it. (Washington Post) Intel gets $5.7 billion from Trump deal as White House says details are ‘being ironed out’ (CNBC) Zuckerberg’s AI hires disrupt Meta with swift exits and threats to leave (Financial Times) A Troubled Man, His Chatbot and a Murder-Suicide in Old Greenwich (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions AI Is Eliminating Jobs for Younger Workers (Wired) This Visiting Interstellar Comet Just Keeps Getting Weirder (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nvidia’s earnings are ok, but maybe showing signs of normalizing. Copilot for your TV. A blockchain for your cloud. I catch you up on that whole Nano Banana image AI craze sweeping the internet. And a summary of the Pixel phone reviews. Links: Nvidia beats on top and bottom lines as company expects breakneck AI spend to continue (CNBC) Microsoft expands Xbox Cloud Gaming to Game Pass Core and Standard subscribers (The Verge) Microsoft’s Copilot AI is now inside Samsung TVs and monitors (The Verge) Google Cloud is developing its own blockchain for payments, currently in private testnet (The Block) Google Gemini’s AI image model gets a ‘bananas’ upgrade (TechCrunch) Nothing busted using professional photos as Phone 3 samples (The Verge) Google Pixel 10 Pro review: the best AI phone on the market (The Shortcut) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI. The continuing saga of what the heck is going on over at Meta AI? Is “vibe hacking” the big new threat we need to be worried about? Anthropic had to settle because it was afraid it would be sued out of existence. And when the iPhone event is gonna happen. Links: OpenAI Plans to Update ChatGPT After Parents Sue Over Teen’s Suicide (Bloomberg) A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In. (NYTimes) Researchers Are Already Leaving Meta’s New Superintelligence Lab (Wired) ‘Vibe-hacking’ is now a top AI threat (The Verge) Anthropic Settles Major AI Copyright Suit Brought by Authors (3) (Bloomberg Law) Apple Makes Music Push in Radio After Losing Ground to Spotify (WSJ) Apple Event Announced for September 9: 'Awe Dropping' (MacRumors) Fantasy League Link: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/poyeg1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon Musk is taking his beef with Sam Altman AND Tim Apple to court. The Trump administration could sanction EU officials over the Digital Services Act. Spotify has added DMs. And Ben Thompson’s deep analysis of the whole Intel situation. Links: Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple and OpenAI over AI competition, App Store rankings (Reuters) Exclusive: Trump administration weighs sanctions on officials implementing EU tech law, sources say (Reuters) Spotify is adding DMs (The Verge) Attorneys General To AI Chatbot Companies: You Will ‘Answer For It’ If You Harm Children (404Media) Intel says Trump deal has risks for shareholders, international sales (CNBC) U.S. Intel (Stratechery) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government has indeed taken a stake in Intel. Apple might turn to Google to save Siri. Meta turns to Midjourney. Perplexity wants to cut publishers in on the action. And how DHL is using AI to shore up a workforce that is aging out. Links: Trump, Intel Agree to 10% U.S. Stake as President Promises More Deals (NYTimes) Apple Explores Using Google Gemini AI to Power Revamped Siri (Bloomberg) Meta partners with Midjourney on AI image and video models (TechCrunch) Perplexity to Let Publishers Share in Revenue from AI Searches (Bloomberg) Netflix Sets Opening Dates for Permanent Entertainment and Shopping Venues in Philadelphia, Dallas (Variety) Inside DHL’s AI upgrade: ‘Love it or hate it, you have to work with it’ (FT) 8 Women, 4 Bedrooms and 1 Cause: Breaking A.I.’s Glass Ceiling (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talked recently about how Nvidia wasn’t home free in China just yet, and low and behold, they’re stopping H20 chip production over Chinese concerns. Did Elon Musk talk to Mark Zuckerberg about buying OpenAI together? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Nvidia Orders Halt to H20 Production After China Directive Against Purchases (The Information) Meta Signs $10 Billion-Plus Cloud Deal With Google (The Information) Elon Musk tried to enlist Mark Zuckerberg in $100bn bid for OpenAI (Financial Times) OpenAI Is Challenging Google—While Using Its Search Data (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: He Sold His Likeness. Now His Avatar Is Shilling Supplements on TikTok. (NYTimes) Bill Gates meets Willy Wonka: How Epic’s 82-year-old billionaire CEO, Judy Faulkner, built her software factory (CNBC) Mutant Podcast Army Fantasy Football League Link poyeg1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is going on at Meta AI story number 77. A deeper look at that new chip that Google unveiled with the Pixel phones yesterday and what that could suggest for Google’s hardware strategy. And an interesting startup that is making AI smartglasses happen now. Links: Meta Freezes AI Hiring After Blockbuster Spending Spree (WSJ) Suddenly, Silicon Valley Is Lowering AI Expectations (NYMag) Google did more than just switch to TSMC for Tensor G5 — This is what’s new (9to5Google) DeepSeek Touts Model That Outdoes Flagship in Agentic AI Step (Bloomberg) Sony is raising PS5 prices, starting tomorrow (The Verge) Harvard dropouts to launch ‘always on’ AI smart glasses that listen and record every conversation (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All the headlines from the Made By Google event where we saw the new Pixel 10 lineup and the 4th gen Pixel Watch. We have a release date for those new Xbox handhelds. More seeming chaos at Meta’s AI headquarters. And a report back from the first ever AI film festival. Links: The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first fully dust-resistant foldable (The Verge) Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL are all about upgrades you can’t see, still starting at $999 [Hands-on] (9to5Google) Google debuts Pixel Watch 4 with domed display, emergency Satellite Communication (TechCrunch) Microsoft and Asus’ new Xbox Ally handhelds launch on October 16th (The Verge) Mark Zuckerberg Shakes Up Meta’s A.I. Efforts, Again (NYTimes) US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom (FT) I Saw the Future of AI Film and It Was Empty (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Masa Son is investing $2B into Intel, and the Uncle Sam might join in as well. Small AI models continue to have a moment. Chamath is reentering the arena with a new SPAC. The Texas AG is investigating AI chatbots. And does GPT-5 prove that we’ve hit an AI ceiling, even if only temporarily? Links: ⁠Intel is getting a $2 billion investment from SoftBank⁠ (CNBC) ⁠Nvidia releases a new small, open model Nemotron-Nano-9B-v2 with toggle on/off reasoning⁠ (VentureBeat) ⁠‘SPAC King’ Chamath Palihapitiya is back with a new one⁠ (Pitchbook) ⁠Texas attorney general accuses Meta, Character.AI of misleading kids with mental health claims⁠ (TechCrunch) ⁠Is AI hitting a wall?⁠ (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta is readying smartglasses with a display, but also, a look at their theoretical and prototype roadmap for the future of headware hardware generally. Is all the money in the world not actually going to get Zuck what he wants in AI? And is the acquihire in all but name trend of recent months breaking Silicon Valley’s fundamental business model? Links: Apple’s Vision Pro Is Suffering From a Lack of Immersive Video (Bloomberg) Meta Tiramisu "Hyperrealistic VR" Hands-On: A Stunning Window Into Another World (UploadVR) Meta Boba 3 Prototype Hands-On: Ultra-Wide Field Of View Without Compromise (UploadVR) Startup down rounds are at a 10 year high, according to PitchBook data (Fortune) Meta Plans Fourth Restructuring of AI Efforts in Six Months (The Information) Zuckerberg Squandered His AI Talent. Now He’s Spending Billions To Replace It. (Forbes) Big Tech Is Eating Itself in Talent War (WSJ) Enough is enough—I dumped Google’s worsening search for Kagi (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will the US government take a stake in Intel? Why was Meta letting spicy conversation happen with their AI bots? What does it mean if Foxconn’s AI business is now bigger than its gadget assembly business? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Trump Administration Said to Discuss Taking Stake in Intel (Bloomberg) Meta’s AI rules have let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info (Reuters) Forget Foxconn the iPhone factory. AI’s made it a server-slinger first and foremost (The Register) Apple returns blood oxygen monitoring to the latest Apple Watches (The Verge) Whoop Refuses to Pull Blood Pressure Tool After FDA Warning (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Big Tech’s A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up Electricity Bills for Everyone (NYTimes) Behind Wall Street’s Abrupt Flip on Crypto (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New York is suing Zelle. Another IPO pop has me raising my eyebrows. Maybe Perplexity really was serious, at least about getting a browser. Does Apple want to make basically that Pixar lamp? And AI has so broken the hiring process that some companies are resorting again to in-person interviews. Links: New York sues Zelle, says security lapses led to $1 billion consumer fraud losses (Reuters) Crypto Firm Bullish Soars 84% in Debut After $1.1 Billion IPO (Bloomberg) Before Wild Chrome Bid, Perplexity Had Been Hunting for Browsers (The Information) Apple Plots Expansion Into AI Robots, Home Security and Smart Displays (Bloomberg) AI Is Forcing the Return of the In-Person Job Interview (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Perplexity offers to acquire Chrome, but how serious are they? Fine, says OpenAI, have your GPT-4o back. Are AI companions the next breakout AI business beyond coding help? And is GM getting back in the self-driving car business for real this time? Links: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome (WSJ) OpenAI brings GPT-4o back as a default for all paying ChatGPT users, Altman promises ‘plenty of notice’ if it leaves again (VentureBeat) OpenAI rolls out Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts integration in ChatGPT (BleepingComputer) UK porn site traffic plunges as age verification rules take effect (Financial Times) AI companion apps on track to pull in $120M in 2025 (TechCrunch) GM Plans Renewed Driverless-Car Push After Cruise Debacle (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elon says he might take legal action against Apple, but it’s probably his beef with Sam Altman rearing its head once again. A long piece looking at how Jenson won in China, though also, HAS he won WITH China… yet? And is the race to the bottom in AI pricing happening already? Links: Musk says xAI to take legal action against Apple over App Store rankings (Reuters) Tech giants Apple and Google lose landmark court case as federal judge rules they engaged in anti-competitive conduct (ABC) China Urges Firms to Avoid Nvidia H20 Chips After Trump Resumes Sales (Bloomberg) With Billions at Risk, Nvidia CEO Buys His Way Out of the Trade Battle (WSJ) Anthropic offers Claude chatbot to US lawmakers for $1 (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nvidia and AMD are paying the US government 15% of revenue to sell AI chips to China. Remember how with GPT-5, they took away the old models? Well, the old models are back. Some critical analysis of the whole GPT-5 moment. And you know what is finally never coming back? AOL dialup internet. Links: Nvidia and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sale revenues to US government (FT) Trump Bid for Cut of Chip Revenue Risks ‘Dangerous World’ (Bloomberg) Intel CEO Singled Out by Trump to Visit White House on Monday (WSJ) OpenAI Faces Backlash for Retiring Older Models With GPT-5 Launch (PCMag) GPT-5: Overdue, overhyped and underwhelming. And that’s not the worst of it. (Gary Marcus) A BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR AI? (David Sacks) AOL discontinues its dial-up internet, and we're just surprised they even offered it in 2025 (PCGamer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spoke with the great Paul Kedrosky to discuss the significant impact of AI capital expenditure (CapEx) on the economy, exploring how it contributes to GDP growth and the implications of this spending. Qw delve into the rapid growth of AI-related investments, the short lifespan of data centers, and the potential risks associated with this economic phenomenon. 00:00 The Impact of AI Capital Expenditure on the Economy 09:34 The Dynamics of Data Center Investments 19:39 Debt Financing and Its Implications 30:09 Potential Risks and Future Outlook for AI Investments Articles mentioned on this episode: Paul Kedrosky: Honey AI Capex Ate The Economy Chris Mims in the WSJ Noah Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tracking the fallout and implications from GPT-5’s rollout yesterday. Why is Google’s AI chatbot filled with self-loathing and recrimination? Are President Trump’s comments just the latest worry for the CEO of Intel? Are those AI coding companies actually making any money? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: GPT-5: Key characteristics, pricing and model card (Simon Willison) GPT-5 Hands-On: Welcome to the Stone Age (Latent Space) Google says it's working on a fix for Gemini's self-loathing 'I am a failure' comments (Business Insider) Intel’s Chief Holds Firm After Trump Demands His Resignation (NYTimes) High costs and thin margins threatening AI coding startups (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, ‘This Is Existential.’ (WSJ) SEO Is Dead. Say Hello to GEO. (NYMag) Is Perrier as pure as it claims? The bottled water scandal gripping France (BBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All the news around the big unveiling of GPT-5. President Trump calls on the CEO of Intel to “resign immediately.” Also, the threat of 100% tariffs on chips and semiconductors. But Apple gets a pass because they’re committing to building more in the US. Links: GPT-5 is being released to all ChatGPT users (The Verge) OpenAI Unveils GPT-5, Its Latest and Most Powerful Model, After Two-Year Wait (WSJ) OpenAI’s GPT-5 is here (TechCrunch) Trump Urges ‘Conflicted’ Intel CEO Tan to Resign Immediately (Bloomberg) Trump Eyes 100% Chips Tariff, Exempting Firms That Invest in US (Bloomberg) Apple Announces $100 Billion US Investment Ahead of Trump Event (Bloomberg) Could AI Datacenter Spending Blow Up The Economy? With Paul Kedrosky (YouTube) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Disney is making big streaming moves with the new ESPN app and a revamp to Hulu. Then, it’s all basically AI announces. OpenAI’s new open-weight models. Grok’s new spiciness is already generating nudity. A new AI model to identify malicious software autonomously. And Nvidia wants you to know: no back-doors! Links: ESPN flagship streaming service to launch Aug. 21 (CNBC) Hulu App to Be Phased Out as Disney Is ‘Fully Integrating’ Service Into Disney+ (Variety) OpenAI Just Released Its First Open-Weight Models Since GPT-2 (Wired) Anthropic's powerful Opus 4.1 model is here - how to access it (and why you'll want to) (ZDNet) Qwen-Image is a powerful, open source new AI image generator with support for embedded text in English & Chinese (VentureBeat) Grok’s ‘spicy’ video setting instantly made me Taylor Swift nude deepfakes (The Verge) Microsoft’s new AI reverse-engineers malware autonomously, marking a shift in cybersecurity (GeekWire) Nvidia defiant over backdoors and kill switches in GPUs as U.S. mulls tracking requirements — calls them 'permanent flaws' that are 'a gift to hackers' (Tom's Hardware) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices