This is part two of our annual Xmas spectacular, and we continue to answer your questions.

To hear the rest, sign up to premium: downround.net

This is part two of our annual Xmas spectacular, and we continue to answer your questions.
To hear the rest, sign up to premium: <a href="https://downround.net">downround.net</a>

The number one podcast about tech business and culture, from James "JR" Hennessy and Raph Dixon.

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Xmas Spectacular Pt 2: Q&A Continued (PREVIEW)

For a few weeks, we've been talking about Meta's revenge tour in Silicon Valley, throwing massive bonuses at AI talent at rival companies in order to tempt them over to Zuck's domain. Well, it seems to have paid off now — and the company has announced its Superintelligence team, packed with talent they managed to poach.

Then, we go into a Bloomberg story which suggests that Apple could be ready to throw in the towel on AI and work with OpenAI and/or Anthropic to power their next-generation Siri. Which would be big!

For a few weeks, we've been talking about Meta's revenge tour in Silicon Valley, throwing massive bonuses at AI talent at rival companies in order to tempt them over to Zuck's domain. Well, it seems to have paid off now &mdash; and the company has <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/30/mark-zuckerberg-creating-meta-superintelligence-labs-read-the-memo.html">announced its Superintelligence team</a>, packed with talent they managed to poach.
Then, we go into <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-30/apple-weighs-replacing-siri-s-ai-llms-with-anthropic-claude-or-openai-chatgpt">a Bloomberg story</a> which suggests that Apple could be ready to throw in the towel on AI and work with OpenAI and/or Anthropic to power their next-generation Siri. Which would be big!

Meta's Highway Robbery

After the fanfare of the OpenAI/Jony Ive multibillion-dollar device partnership, io, all references were scrubbed from the internet as if it never happened. After rampant speculation, it was revealed that it was over a claim the whole thing was stolen. From some guy named Jason, no less.

Seems like OpenAI is a real drama magnet. We discuss the case, including some screenshots of emails that Sam Altman posted.

Additionally, Kiwi accounting software powerhouse Xero is making some moves. We talk about that too.

After the fanfare of the OpenAI/Jony Ive multibillion-dollar device partnership, io, all references were scrubbed from the internet as if it never happened. After rampant speculation, it was revealed that it was over a claim the whole thing was stolen. From some guy named Jason, no less.
Seems like OpenAI is a real drama magnet. We discuss the case, including some screenshots of emails that Sam Altman posted.
Additionally, Kiwi accounting software powerhouse Xero is making some moves. We talk about that too.

Reading Out Confidential Emails Live On The Air

Canva has made another acquisition: MagicBrief, the advertising command centre founded by a dear friend of the pod. In this ep, we talk about the acquisition, where it fits in Canva's strategy, and wind off into a bigger chat about the ad market.

Then, for some reason, we talk about Apple Music and Spotify. Real smorgasbord here folks.

Canva has <a href="https://www.capitalbrief.com/article/how-a-text-from-cliff-obrecht-sealed-canvas-purchase-of-sydneys-magic-brief-722f3630-8fde-41c8-ace6-f535659e4a3b/preview/">made another acquisition</a>: MagicBrief, the advertising command centre founded by a dear friend of the pod. In this ep, we talk about the acquisition, where it fits in Canva's strategy, and wind off into a bigger chat about the ad market.
Then, for some reason, we talk about Apple Music and Spotify. Real smorgasbord here folks.

Xmas Spectacular Pt 2: Q&A Continued (PREVIEW)

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