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AI Ramblings: Episode 39

Keywords

AI, OpenAI, Google, Apple, SpaceX, revenue growth, advertising, AI data centers, leadership changes, technology trends

Summary

In this episode of AI Ramblings, hosts Michael Parekh and Neil McQuinney discuss the latest trends in AI, including OpenAI’s revenue growth and infrastructure needs, Elon Musk’s vision for SpaceX and AI data centers, Google’s competitive edge with its Gemini platform, and Apple’s leadership changes in relation to AI strategy. They also explore the implications of advertising in AI, the ability of AI to generate new ideas, and the recent developments surrounding TikTok’s ownership. The conversation highlights the dynamic landscape of AI technology and its impact on various industries.

Takeaways

OpenAI is pushing for significant investment in AI infrastructure.

Elon Musk envisions AI data centers in space as a future opportunity.

Google’s Gemini is gaining traction among developers and enterprises.

Apple’s leadership changes signal a renewed focus on AI.

Advertising is becoming a key revenue stream for AI companies.

AI’s ability to generate new ideas is still under debate.

The competition among AI companies is intensifying.

TikTok’s transition to a US company may not change user experience significantly.

AI compute capacity is a current pain point for many companies.

The future of AI will involve collaboration between humans and AI.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of AI Trends

02:55 OpenAI’s Revenue Growth and Infrastructure Needs

05:52 Elon Musk’s SpaceX and AI Data Centers

09:01 Google’s Competitive Edge with Gemini

11:47 Apple’s Leadership Changes and AI Strategy

18:57 Advertising in AI and Monetization Strategies

25:59 AI’s Ability to Generate New Ideas

34:08 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions

NEWS OF THE WEEK:

  1. OpenAI’s case for AI Compute hyper-growth:

    1. AI-RTZ #972:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: OpenAI shows Growth Scaling with AI Compute. RTZ #972 (OpenAI’s ‘AOL Moment’, part 2)
In the iconic words from ‘Jaws’ (1975), ‘You’re gonna need a bigger boat…
Read more

  1. Elon’s SpaceX IPO Ambitions hinge on AI Space Data Centers

    1. The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/elon-musk-suddenly-talking-space-data-centers?rc=fzcdtg

    2. AI-RTZ #974:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: Elon’s SpaceX prepping for 2026 mega-IPO. RTZ #974
Most things Elon Musk of course lead to space…
Read more

    1. AI-RTZ #936:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: Race for AI Data Centers in Space. RTZ #936
All this year we’ve discussed the AI Data Center and Power Gold Rush in these early days of the AI Tech Wave. In the beginning of the year we were discussing it in terms of tens of billions of spending per big tech company…
Read more

  1. Google Gemini’s Developer Momentum

    1. AI-RTZ #973:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: Google Gemini seeing Developer Momentum too. RTZ #973
Google continues to build on its Gemini 3 tailwind vs OpenAI, Anthropic et al LLM AI companies, now with Developers in the Enterprise AI market…
Read more

MAIN TOPICS: Apple New Design Head in AI Age

  1. Bloomberg on John Ternus: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-22/apple-hardware-chief-john-ternus-now-overseeing-design-tim-cook-ceo-succession?sref=E6afWE5p

  2. The Information on new AI head, Craig Federighi: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/google-deal-apples-craig-federighi-plots-cautious-course-ai

  3. AI-RTZ #975:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: Apple goes with Google Gemini for AI revamped Siri. RTZ #965
After months of speculation on Apple and Google working together on an AI revamped Siri this year, it’s now official…
Read more

WATCH/READS OF THE WEEK:

  1. Neal: OpenAI Starts Testing Ads in ChatGPT

    1. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/technology/chatgpt-ads-openai.html

  2. Michael: Margin Challenges of LLM AI Hyperscalers, Google vs Anthropic & OpenAI: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropic-lowers-profit-margin-projection-revenue-skyrockets

    1. AI-RTZ #803 Blended Margins (part 1):

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: Mag 7 AI Infrastructure Spend bending Business Models. (part 1) RTZ #803
It’s now sunk in that Big Tech companies are spending billions to build AI infrastructure things at Scale. A trend that has no end point for a while. And that’s different vs previous tech waves…
Read more

    1. AI-RTZ #804 Blended Margins (part 2):

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: How AI Capex is morphing Big Tech Business Models (part 2). RTZ #804
This us part II of yesterday’s piece on how the AI Tech Wave is for now, changing the business models of big tech Mag 7 companies, as they ramp up AI capex on infrastructure into the hundreds of billions a year…
Read more

    1. AI-RTZ OpenAI vs Anthropic #928:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: OpenAI & Anthropic different birds of a feather. RTZ #928
The Bigger Picture, Sunday, December 7, 2025…
Read more

    1. AI-RTZ Antropic vs OpenAI #887:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: How Anthropic Zags while OpenAI Zigs. RTZ #887
Looks like ‘Coke vs Pepsi’ at first glance. But less so at closer look…
Read more

    1. AI-RTZ Google TPU vertical stack integration Margin advantage #766:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: Google TPU sees notable OpenAI win vs Nvidia. RTZ #766
The Bigger Picture, Sunday, June 29, 2025…
Read more

OBSESSION OF THE WEEK:

  1. Neal: Can AI Generate New Ideas?

    1. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/14/technology/ai-ideas-chat-gpt-openai.html

  2. Michael:

    1. Long trip for US TikTok: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/technology/tiktok-deal-oracle-bytedance-china-us.html?unlocked_article_code=1.GlA.k_AA.rNjpdy5oNvN9&smid=url-share

      1. CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/tiktok-forms-us-joint-venture-names-a-ceo.html

      2. FT: https://www.ft.com/content/59b91fc8-03a1-48df-9821-e2fdff24bd33

      3. Axios: https://www.axios.com/2026/01/23/tiktok-deal-trump-app-ban

      4. AI-RTZ #605:

AI: Reset to Zero
AI: ‘Schrodinger’s Cat’ Day for US TikTok. RTZ #605
The Bigger Picture, January 19, 2025…
Read more

      1. Implications for other Chinese tech companies: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/business/tiktok-china-technology.html

Burning Questions:

  1. Michael to Neal: Biggest AI pain point in 2026

  2. Neal to Michael: What is your threshold for “real AI voice”?





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