Rethinking Tech

By Rethinking Tech

The news often gives us a narrow, surface-level view of what’s happening in the tech world. We help you go deeper by connecting today’s events to the past, helping you zoom out to see the bigger pictu... more

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FAQs about Rethinking Tech:

How many episodes does Rethinking Tech have?

The podcast currently has 163 episodes available.

Rethinking Tech episodes:

February 25, 2026The Epstein Files & The Digital Blackmail State | Surveillance, Power & Data Sovereignty
The Epstein files aren’t just exposing elites. They’re exposing an architecture.

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack why the Epstein scandal isn’t only about criminal networks — it’s about a model of power built on compromising information. And in a digitized world, that model may now be scalable.

From data brokers and ad tech to AI surveillance and geopolitical coercion, we explore how modern infrastructure mirrors the very mechanisms that made Epstein powerful.
The “architecture” behind the Epstein network
How digital data replaces physical blackmail
Data brokers and the legalized marketplace of personal information
Adult platforms, behavioral data, and coercion risks
PsyOps, election interference, and geopolitical leverage
Why China framed the scandal as Western elite collapse
Data asymmetry as the new form of power
The sovereignty dilemma: who owns your citizens’ data?
Whether democracy can survive in a permanently compromisable world

This isn’t just about one predator.
It’s about what happens when surveillance becomes infrastructure and privacy becomes optional. When ad tech evolves into behavioral manipulation. When governments, corporations, and foreign actors all compete for the same leverage: your data.

The real question isn’t who’s in the files.
It’s who controls the architecture now.
What this episode covers is Why this matters.

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
35min
February 25, 2026Russia’s Global PsyOps Playbook: Inside the 1,430-Page Disinformation Leak
How “The Company” Engineered Influence — And Why No Country Is Innocent

Disinformation isn’t accidental anymore. It’s structured, funded, and operationalized.

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack a 1,430-page leak detailing a Russia-linked influence network known as “The Company” — a coordinated operation of PR experts, political strategists, and social media operators running covert campaigns across the globe.

But this isn’t just about Russia.

This episode goes deeper into how modern psychological operations (PsyOps) actually work — and why every major power plays the same game.
What this episode covers
The structure behind “The Company” and how coordinated influence networks operate
How fake documents, paid media, and viral narratives shape public opinion
Why protests, political pressure, and policy shifts may not be organic
The role of trusted media outlets in amplifying engineered narratives
How older, wealthy demographics become high-value influence targets
Why Western governments also invest billions in strategic influence operations
How social media platforms have become geopolitical assets
Why this matters
Most people believe they can spot propaganda.
The real danger isn’t obvious lies — it’s subtle framing, emotional triggers, and narratives repeated often enough to feel true.
As media becomes a strategic weapon and platforms become national security assets, the line between reality and engineered perception continues to blur.
The question isn’t whether PsyOps exist.
It’s whether we’re equipped to recognize them.

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
6min
February 24, 2026Meta, TikTok & Snap Agree to Teen Safety Ratings – Real Reform or Clever PR?
Meta, TikTok, Snap, Pinterest, Roblox — and several other major platforms — have agreed to be rated on teen safety.

After years of scrutiny around mental health, harmful content, and data privacy, social media companies are now signing onto a framework that will score them on how well they protect minors.

But is this a real shift toward accountability — or just clever optics?

In 2026, tech companies are facing increasing pressure from governments and parents alike. Yet instead of structural reform, we’re getting ratings.
What this episode covers:
What the teen safety rating framework actually evaluates
Whether low scores will carry real consequences
Why ratings may shift responsibility to parents
The “nutrition label” comparison for social media
What platforms may have negotiated behind the scenes
Why this matters:
If these ratings don’t come with enforcement, they may simply protect tech companies from deeper regulation — while leaving the core issues untouched.
Is this progress — or a strategic compromise to avoid real change?

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
5min
February 23, 2026Google Employees Revolt Over ICE Contracts – Does Worker Activism Still Matter in Big Tech?
Big Tech employees are pushing back — again.

Over 1,000 Google employees have signed an open letter demanding the company sever ties with ICE and CBP, arguing that Google’s cloud and AI tools may be supporting immigration enforcement in ways that contradict its stated values.

But here’s the harder question:
Do employees actually get to shape corporate strategy — or is quitting the only real leverage they have?
In 2026, tech companies aren’t just building products. They’re building infrastructure for governments, defense, and surveillance. And that reality is forcing uncomfortable conversations inside Silicon Valley.
What this episode covers:
The open letter demanding transparency around DHS contracts
Google’s history with Project Maven and employee activism
Whether worker pressure has real strategic influence
The tension between ethics, defense contracts, and shareholder duty
Why this debate keeps resurfacing across Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Google
Why this matters:
As tech becomes embedded in national security, immigration enforcement, and data systems, the line between private company and public power continues to blur.

If employees can’t influence direction from within — and companies won’t self-regulate — who actually holds the power?

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
6min
February 22, 2026Dubai’s Global SWAT Games: When Elite Military Forces Become Reality TV
SWAT teams aren’t just operating behind closed doors anymore.

Dubai is hosting the world’s largest elite tactical competition, bringing together over 100 teams from 48 countries in a televised showdown of military-grade skill, prize money, and global bragging rights.

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack what happens when national security meets entertainment — and when elite forces become athletes on a global stage.
Why Dubai is positioning itself as a global security hub
The commercialization of military and tactical forces
Government-sanctioned participation and soft power strategy
Whether this is benchmarking… or global bragging rights
The risks of exposing elite tactics in public
How commerce offsets national security concerns
This isn’t just a competition.
It’s a shift in how we perceive military power.
When elite forces are televised, monetized, and turned into global sport, the line between defense, diplomacy, and entertainment begins to blur.
The real question:
Is this harmless spectacle — or the normalization of military power as global commerce?

What this episode covers is Why this matters.

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
6min
February 21, 2026Meta’s Smart Glasses Can Identify You Instantly — Is Wearable Facial Recognition the End of Privacy?
Facial recognition isn’t just on your phone anymore — it’s going wearable.

Meta is pushing AI-powered identification into stylish smart glasses, raising urgent questions about privacy, surveillance, and consent in public spaces. After Harvard students went viral for hacking smart glasses to instantly identify strangers on campus, similar capabilities are now moving toward mainstream deployment.

In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack what Meta’s facial recognition glasses really mean — not just for convenience, but for society.
How hacked smart glasses exposed the future of real-time facial recognition
Why Meta’s Ray-Ban collaboration makes wearable AI mainstream
The privacy risks: doxing, scams, stalking, and social engineering
How this tech could integrate with law enforcement systems
Why regulators may be too slow to respond
Whether GDPR and global privacy laws can actually stop this
This isn’t just about smart glasses.
It’s about whether anonymity in public still exists.
When AI can identify you on sight, pull your social data, and whisper it into someone’s ear, privacy doesn’t disappear overnight — it erodes quietly.
The real question isn’t whether this technology will work.
It’s whether governments — and society — will draw a line before wearable surveillance becomes normal.
What this episode covers is Why this matters.

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
8min
February 19, 2026OpenClaw’s Founder Joins OpenAI: Is This the Future of AI Agents — or the End of Open Source?
Peter Steinberger, creator of OpenClaw — one of the fastest-growing consumer AI agent platforms — is joining OpenAI.

This isn’t just another talent acquisition. It’s a strategic shift in the AI agents race.

OpenClaw exploded because it let users deploy powerful AI agents locally and plug into models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. It lowered the barrier to entry. It made agents usable. And it quietly reshaped how non-technical users interact with AI.

Now, Sam Altman has won the recruiting battle.
The question is: what happens next?
Why OpenClaw disrupted the B2C AI agent market
Why OpenAI — not Meta — secured the deal
Whether OpenClaw stays open source or becomes a funnel
The credit and compute war between Claude and OpenAI
How agents could become the next monetization battleground
What this means for Gemini, Meta, and the broader AI ecosystem
AI agents are likely the next dominant interface layer. Whoever controls the agent layer controls the workflow. And whoever controls the workflow controls the revenue.
Is this a nonprofit-backed open ecosystem — or the beginning of platform consolidation?

Let’s rethink tech.
What this episode covers is Why this matters.

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
6min
February 18, 2026MrBeast Bought a Bank? The Influencer Play for Gen Z Finance
MrBeast just bought a fintech app.
Yes — that MrBeast.

Jimmy Donaldson, one of the largest creators in the world, has acquired Step, a Gen Z-focused banking app. And he’s not stopping there. His company is reportedly exploring a mobile virtual network as well.
This isn’t just another influencer brand deal.
This is attention moving into finance.

In this episode, we examine what happens when one of the most trusted digital creators in the world enters banking — an industry historically built on institutional authority, not personality.
Is this genuine financial empowerment for Gen Z?
Or simply the next evolution of influencer capitalism?
Why MrBeast acquired Step, a Gen Z fintech app
His stated mission around financial literacy
Why Feastables — not YouTube — is his cash cow
The power of trust in moving from content to banking
Whether influencer-led finance is innovation or marketing
Why traditional banking may be vulnerable to disruption
The risks of mixing attention, trust, and financial services
For over a decade, MrBeast mastered attention.
Now he’s monetizing trust.

Banking has long struggled with credibility among younger generations. If Gen Z chooses a creator-led financial ecosystem over legacy institutions, it could reshape who controls financial relationships in the next decade.
The question isn’t whether MrBeast can sell chocolate.
It’s whether he can sell trust — at scale — in finance.
What this episode covers is Why this matters
🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
5min
February 17, 2026Super Bowl 2026: AI Propaganda, Claude vs ChatGPT, and the Politics of the Benito Bowl
The Super Bowl didn’t just sell products this year.
It sold narratives.
From AI ads dominating the broadcast to Bad Bunny’s halftime performance igniting a geopolitical debate, Super Bowl 2026 became less about football — and more about identity, monetization, and cultural power.
This wasn’t just a sporting event.
It was a live experiment in how tech companies shape public trust, how platforms amplify division, and how artists challenge national narratives.
In this episode, we unpack how the Super Bowl became a battlefield for AI branding, political symbolism, and the future of digital infrastructure.
Why AI companies flooded the Super Bowl with ads
The Claude vs ChatGPT feud and the battle over monetization models
Are AI Super Bowl ads education — or propaganda?
Amazon Ring, surveillance concerns, and public backlash
Kalshi’s prediction market surge and regulatory scrutiny
Tech infrastructure failures during peak cultural moments
Bad Bunny’s halftime show and the debate over American identity
The geopolitics of Puerto Rico, Latin America, and cultural belonging
Should artists use their platform politically — or stay neutral?
Why TikTok stayed out of the Super Bowl spotlight
The Super Bowl remains one of the last true monoculture moments — with over 125 million Americans tuning in simultaneously.
When tech companies choose that stage, they’re not just advertising products.
They’re attempting to reprogram society’s relationship with AI.
At the same time, a halftime show sparked debates about sovereignty, representation, censorship, and the global image of America.
This episode explores what happens when sports, tech, politics, and capitalism collide — and what it reveals about where society is heading next.
What this episode covers is Why this matters:

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
40min
February 17, 2026AI Just Shook India’s $250B IT Industry — Is Outsourcing Dead?
AI is “coming for your job.”
We’ve heard that before.
But this time, markets reacted.

India’s benchmark IT index dropped roughly 6% following the release of Anthropic’s Claude coworker plugin — a tool designed to automate the exact kind of repetitive, high-volume knowledge work that built India’s outsourcing model.
Is this hype?
Or is this the beginning of a structural shift?
In this episode, we examine what happens when AI threatens a $250B industry that accounts for nearly 10% of India’s GDP and employs millions.
This isn’t just about automation.
It’s about cost arbitrage, economic evolution, and whether entire growth models can survive intelligent software.
Why India’s IT stocks fell after Claude’s release
The man-hours billing model behind Indian outsourcing
How AI pressures traditional cost arbitrage
Whether markets are pricing future capability too early
Predictions that up to 50% of outsourcing work could be impacted
Why innovation — not pricing — may determine survival
Lessons from global outsourcing shifts, including China’s manufacturing evolution
AI doesn’t just replace tasks.
It reshapes incentives.
For decades, outsourcing thrived because labor was cheaper elsewhere. Now, the “lower-cost alternative” isn’t another country — it’s software.
The question isn’t whether AI will disrupt outsourcing.
It’s whether economies built on it can adapt fast enough.
What this episode covers:Why this matters

🔗 Connect with Us
📺 YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🎧 Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🍏 Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠
...more
5min

FAQs about Rethinking Tech:

How many episodes does Rethinking Tech have?

The podcast currently has 163 episodes available.