In this episode of Intersection Unplugged, we chat with Anirudh Gopal, Lead Strategy and Special Projects at TikTok, about the massive growth and future potential of TikTok's e-commerce platform. Anirudh shares his career journey, key industry insights, and the unique strategies that make TikTok Shopping stand out from traditional e-commerce giants like Amazon and Walmart. We also delve into challenges such as user retention, content creator dynamics, and navigating U.S. regulations. Tune in to discover emerging trends in social commerce and the transformative power of TikTok's recommendation algorithm.

This week we cover Tesla's WeRobot event, showcasing the futuristic RoboVan, RoboTaxi, the Optimist humanoid robots, and the market’s reaction to these innovations. We also highlight SpaceX's latest achievements, including the historic booster catch of the Starship and advancements in reusable rocket technology. Tune in for a deep dive into how Tesla and SpaceX are leading the way in tech innovation and shaping the future.

In this special episode of The Intersection Unplugged, we delve into the ever-evolving mobility industry with guest Sarthak Vaish from McKinsey. We explore the history and technological advancements of electric and autonomous vehicles, including the critical challenges they face. Additionally, we discuss the rise of software-defined vehicles and the potential impact of AI and ML on the future of mobility. Join us for an in-depth conversation on the trends, challenges, and future prospects in the mobility industry.

This week on Intersection Unplugged, we dive into Meta's latest AI model, Llama 3.1, which boasts 405 billion parameters, making it the largest open-weight AI model available. We analyze Meta's strategic choice of open weights versus closed-source models and explore the implications for AI democratization, advertising, and developer freedom. Additionally, we discuss the broader AI market dynamics and the potential bubble concerns, comparing the current AI landscape to historical tech adoption curves.

In this episode, we dive into the latest in tech and current affairs, starting with a massive global tech outage caused by a CrowdStrike software update, affecting airlines, banks, and healthcare systems worldwide. We then examine the chaotic aftermath of an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump and the spread of misinformation on social media platforms. Finally, we cover the financial success of Amazon Prime Day along with the critical worker safety issues that surfaced during this period. Tune in for detailed analyses and discussions!

This week we bring the spotlight on Apple. We explore Apple' decision not to partner with Meta on Llama. We discuss the challenges Apple faces in China, especially with ChatGPT being banned, and how Apple seeks local partnerships for AI compliance. Additionally, we cover the EU's Digital Markets Act and its impact on Apple's operations, app store policies, and potential regulatory fines. Join us for a deep dive into Apple's strategic maneuvers and regulatory headwinds.

This week we explore recent tech updates, including the launch of Ilya Sutskever's new AI startup 'Safe Superintelligence' focused on AI safety, the Bitcoin market's recent fluctuations, and key developments in the autonomous and electric vehicle sectors. We cover challenges and predictions for AI privacy, Bitcoin’s asset status, Fisker's bankruptcy, Rivian's new partnership with Volkswagen, and the latest in autonomous vehicle advancements from Waymo and GM's Cruise.

In this episode of The Intersection Unplugged, we delve into the fascinating world of data and discuss its historical evolution and current storage methods, from early machines to modern cloud providers. Special guest Teo Gonzalez, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Airbyte, joins to share his insights on data challenges, the growth of open-source platforms, and Airbyte's unique solutions for data movement. The conversation also touches on the integration of AI in data handling and the crucial aspects of privacy and security. Join us for this informative session on data's past, present, and future.

This week we bring you a flash update covering a few announcements across the tech industry including the Apple Intelligence announcement at WWDC, enterprise SaaS company earnings, and the Tesla shareholder vote on Elon Musk's pay package.

Welcome to The Intersection Unplugged! We bring you a unique ground up perspective on what is happening in technology by analyzing recent tech events and trends from the intersection of numerous perspectives, namely engineering, product, finance, business, and more. In this introductory episode we share our stories and start by dissecting one of the hottest trends in tech: Generative AI.