In the first part of this week's two-part episode, Ed Zitron walks you through how impossible it will be for OpenAI to stay alive - and how SoftBank’s attempts to help are materially harming the company.

Vote for Better Offline's "Man Who Killed Google Search" as the best business podcast episode in this year's Webby's! Open until April 17! Vote today!
https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/individual-episode/business 

Vote for Weird Little Guys in this year’s Webby's! https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/individual-episode/crime-justice 

---

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In the first part of this week's two-part episode, Ed Zitron walks you through how impossible it will be for OpenAI to stay alive - and how SoftBank&rsquo;s attempts to help are materially harming the company. Vote for Better Offline's "Man Who Killed Google Search" as the best business podcast episode in this year's Webby's! Open until April 17! Vote today! <a href="https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/individual-episode/business">https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/individual-episode/business </a>
Vote for Weird Little Guys in this year&rsquo;s Webby's! <a href="https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/individual-episode/crime-justice">https://vote.webbyawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/individual-episode/crime-justice&nbsp;</a>
---
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Better Offline is a weekly show exploring the tech industry’s influence and manipulation of society - and interrogating the growth-at-all-costs future that tech’s elite wants to build. 

Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes and scams of everyone from cryptocurrency scumbags to the greediest of the venture capital elite. Tech industry veteran Ed Zitron and a dynamic coterie of guests will help listeners understand the who, how and why of how tech’s most powerful players are changing the world - for better or for worse.

Better Offline is a weekly show exploring the tech industry’s influence and manipulation of society - and interrogating the growth-at-all-costs future that tech’s elite wants to build. 
Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes and scams of everyone from cryptocurrency scumbags to the greediest of the venture capital elite. Tech industry veteran Ed Zitron and a dynamic coterie of guests will help listeners understand the who, how and why of how tech’s most powerful players are changing the world - for better or for worse.

Better Offline

Better Offline is a weekly show exploring the tech industry’s influence and manipulation of society - and interrogating the growth-at-all-costs future that tech’s elite wants to build.



Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes and scams of everyone from cryptocurrency scumbags to the greediest of the venture capital elite. Tech industry veteran Ed Zitron and a dynamic coterie of guests will help listeners understand the who, how and why of how tech’s most powerful players are changing the world - for better or for worse.

Better Offline is a weekly show exploring the tech industry’s influence and manipulation of society - and interrogating the growth-at-all-costs future that tech’s elite wants to build.
 
Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes and scams of everyone from cryptocurrency scumbags to the greediest of the venture capital elite. Tech industry veteran Ed Zitron and a dynamic coterie of guests will help listeners understand the who, how and why of how tech’s most powerful players are changing the world - for better or for worse.

OpenAI Cannot Survive

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c84d9158-e1fc-4705-aca4-b2c0011dbf8c/transcript

In this week's Better Offline monologue, Ed Zitron walks you through the seeming collapse of Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines, and why the AI bubble can’t survive the death of OpenAI.

Save $10 off a year of my premium newsletter: https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/gzqwkv54e1 - I’d be so grateful! 

Kylie Robison’s scoop about Thinking Machines: https://x.com/kyliebytes/status/2011572331798548899

Max Zeff of WIRED’s follow-on story: https://www.wired.com/story/thinking-machines-lab-cofounders-leave-for-openai/

YOU CAN NOW BUY BETTER OFFLINE MERCH! Go to https://cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline and use code FREE99 for free shipping on orders of $99 or more.

---

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Ed's Socials:

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https://www.instagram.com/edzitron

https://bsky.app/profile/edzitron.com

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Email Me: ez@betteroffline.com

In this week's Better Offline monologue, Ed Zitron walks you through the seeming collapse of Mira Murati&rsquo;s Thinking Machines, and why the AI bubble can&rsquo;t survive the death of OpenAI.
Save $10 off a year of my premium newsletter: <a href="https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/gzqwkv54e1">https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/gzqwkv54e1</a> - I&rsquo;d be so grateful!&nbsp;
Kylie Robison&rsquo;s scoop about Thinking Machines: <a href="https://x.com/kyliebytes/status/2011572331798548899">https://x.com/kyliebytes/status/2011572331798548899</a>
Max Zeff of WIRED&rsquo;s follow-on story:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/thinking-machines-lab-cofounders-leave-for-openai/">https://www.wired.com/story/thinking-machines-lab-cofounders-leave-for-openai/</a>
YOU CAN NOW BUY BETTER OFFLINE MERCH! Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline">https://cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline</a> and use code&nbsp;FREE99 for free shipping on orders of $99 or more.
---
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Reddit: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/BetterOffline/">https://www.reddit.com/r/BetterOffline/</a>&nbsp;
Discord: <a href="https://discord.com/invite/QUUQUP9szv">chat.wheresyoured.at</a>
Ed's Socials:
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Email Me: <a href="mailto:ez@betteroffline.com">ez@betteroffline.com</a>

Monologue: The Year Ahead

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/28eddd43-64ec-4360-b434-b3d30133dc32/transcript

In this episode, Ed Zitron is joined by Steve Burke of GamersNexus to talk about AMD, Lenovo, NVIDIA and Intel’s CES keynotes - and how the tech industry has turned its back on consumers in favor of growth.

Save $10 off a year of my premium newsletter: https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/gzqwkv54e1 - I’d be so grateful! 

GamersNexus: 
NVIDIA's AI Bubble: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFG3Ah-zf18 
AMD Failed Us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsCrKGY9F1o 
Intel Pulls An NVIDIA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wNnLtsxNkY 
"AMD & NVIDIA Abandoned This Segment" | Intel Arc GPU Factory Tour with Sparkle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwrUxG26ulk 
Support GamersNexus’ AI Surveillance Dystopia Series: https://store.gamersnexus.net/ai-dystopia 
https://www.youtube.com/gamersnexus

https://gamersnexus.net/

https://bsky.app/profile/gamersnexus.bsky.social

https://x.com/GamersNexus

CES Videos: 
Lenovo: https://youtu.be/vAa8ITmv54I?si=vfYqWhkbqGPa1avV&t=288

NVIDIA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBILspM4c4

AMD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvBNWbFK2lY

Intel: https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/events/ces.html

YOU CAN NOW BUY BETTER OFFLINE MERCH! Go to https://cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline and use code FREE99 for free shipping on orders of $99 or more.

---

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Ed's Socials:

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https://www.instagram.com/edzitron

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https://www.threads.net/@edzitron

Email Me: ez@betteroffline.com

In this episode, Ed Zitron is joined by Steve Burke of GamersNexus to talk about AMD, Lenovo, NVIDIA and Intel&rsquo;s CES keynotes - and how the tech industry has turned its back on consumers in favor of growth. Save $10 off a year of my premium newsletter: <a href="https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/gzqwkv54e1">https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/gzqwkv54e1</a>&nbsp;- I&rsquo;d be so grateful! GamersNexus: NVIDIA's AI Bubble: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFG3Ah-zf18">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFG3Ah-zf18</a>&nbsp; AMD Failed Us: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsCrKGY9F1o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsCrKGY9F1o</a>&nbsp; Intel Pulls An NVIDIA: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wNnLtsxNkY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wNnLtsxNkY</a>&nbsp; "AMD &amp; NVIDIA Abandoned This Segment" | Intel Arc GPU Factory Tour with Sparkle:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwrUxG26ulk">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwrUxG26ulk</a>&nbsp; Support GamersNexus&rsquo; AI Surveillance Dystopia Series: <a href="https://store.gamersnexus.net/ai-dystopia">https://store.gamersnexus.net/ai-dystopia</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/gamersnexus">https://www.youtube.com/gamersnexus</a>
<a href="https://gamersnexus.net/">https://gamersnexus.net/</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/gamersnexus.bsky.social">https://bsky.app/profile/gamersnexus.bsky.social</a>
<a href="https://x.com/GamersNexus">https://x.com/GamersNexus</a>
CES Videos:&nbsp; Lenovo:&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/vAa8ITmv54I?si=vfYqWhkbqGPa1avV&amp;t=288">https://youtu.be/vAa8ITmv54I?si=vfYqWhkbqGPa1avV&amp;t=288</a>
NVIDIA: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBILspM4c4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NBILspM4c4</a>
AMD: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvBNWbFK2lY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvBNWbFK2lY</a>
Intel: <a href="https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/events/ces.html">https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/events/ces.html</a>
YOU CAN NOW BUY BETTER OFFLINE MERCH! Go to&nbsp;<a href="https://cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline">https://cottonbureau.com/people/better-offline</a> and use code&nbsp;FREE99 for free shipping on orders of $99 or more.
---
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Email Me: <a href="mailto:ez@betteroffline.com">ez@betteroffline.com</a>

The Anti-Consumer Electronics Show with Steve Burke

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5bfef10e-e9b5-4044-a0bb-b3d10135e084/transcript

Welcome to Better Offline’s coverage of the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show - a standup radio station in the Palazzo Hotel with an attached open bar where reporters, experts and various other characters bring you the stories from the floor. 

In our CES epilogue, Ed is joined by author, activist and journalist Cory Doctorow, tech bubble newsletter writer Ed Ongweso Jr. and CES bartender Phil Broughton to talk about this year’s coverage, the upcoming venture apocalypse, and what we expect from 2026.

EXCLUSIVE CES SALE! Get a *permanent* $10 off an annual subscription to my newsletter through January 13 2025: 
https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/cue848p5sc

Ed Ongweso Jr.: https://bsky.app/profile/bigblackjacobin.bsky.social

Cory Doctorow: http://pluralistic.net/

https://www.eff.org/ 

Phil Broughton: https://bsky.app/profile/funranium.bsky.social/

The Tech Bubble Newsletter: https://thetechbubble.substack.com/ 

Matt Osowski: https://www.mattosowski.com/ 

Donate in Sean-Paul’s honor: https://www.perc-epilepsy.org/

---

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https://www.instagram.com/edzitron

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Email Me: ez@betteroffline.com

Welcome to Better Offline&rsquo;s coverage of the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show - a standup radio station in the Palazzo Hotel with an attached open bar where reporters, experts and various other characters bring you the stories from the floor. In our CES epilogue, Ed is joined by author, activist and journalist Cory Doctorow, tech bubble newsletter writer Ed Ongweso Jr. and CES bartender Phil Broughton to talk about this year&rsquo;s coverage, the upcoming venture apocalypse, and what we expect from 2026. EXCLUSIVE CES SALE! Get a *permanent* $10 off an annual subscription to my newsletter through January 13 2025: <a href="https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/cue848p5sc">https://edzitronswheresyouredatghostio.outpost.pub/public/promo-subscription/cue848p5sc</a>
Ed Ongweso Jr.: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/bigblackjacobin.bsky.social">https://bsky.app/profile/bigblackjacobin.bsky.social</a>
Cory Doctorow: <a href="http://pluralistic.net/">http://pluralistic.net/</a>
<a href="https://www.eff.org/">https://www.eff.org/</a>&nbsp; Phil Broughton: <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/funranium.bsky.social/">https://bsky.app/profile/funranium.bsky.social/</a>
The Tech Bubble Newsletter:&nbsp;<a href="https://thetechbubble.substack.com/">https://thetechbubble.substack.com/</a>&nbsp; Matt Osowski: <a href="https://www.mattosowski.com/">https://www.mattosowski.com/</a>&nbsp; Donate in Sean-Paul&rsquo;s honor: <a href="https://www.perc-epilepsy.org/">https://www.perc-epilepsy.org/</a>
---
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CES 2026: Part Ten (Epilogue)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b7db2e61-1267-40dd-bcc8-b3ce014bf869/transcript

OpenAI Cannot Survive

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