Techmeme Ride Home: Mon. 06/02 – How DoorDash Has Quietly Been Killing It

Host: Brian McCullough
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Description: The day's tech news every day at 5 PM. From Techmeme.com, Silicon Valley's most-read news source. In just 15 minutes, you're up to date.

1. Apple's WWDC 2025: A Subdued but Strategic Rollout

Overview: Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is anticipated to be less dazzling than previous years, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence (AI). Expectations are tempered due to internal doubts about the event's potential impact on showcasing Apple as an AI innovator.

Key Points:

• Underwhelming AI Announcements:
  "People within the company believe that the conference may be a letdown from an AI standpoint." (00:25)

• Smaller Scale Event:
  The event is expected to be more modest compared to the grand unveilings of the Vision Pro in 2023 and Apple Intelligence in 2024.

• Future Plans:
  Apple aims to ramp up its AI narrative at WWDC 2026, recognizing the risks of a "gap year" as competitors accelerate their AI advancements.

• Significant AI Developments:

  • Foundation Models for Developers:
    Opening Apple's foundation models to third-party developers allows app creators to utilize on-device AI technology for custom features. However, these models are smaller (approx. 3 billion parameters) compared to cloud-based counterparts.

  • New Features and Integrations:
    Introduction of a new power management mode, a rebooted Translate app integrated with AirPods and Siri, and the rebranding of existing app features like Safari and Photos as AI-powered.

• Long-Term AI Projects:
  Projects such as "LLM Siri" and a revamped Shortcuts app are in development, with expected releases possibly delayed to 2026. The AI doctor service, codenamed Mulberry, and a redesigned health app are also underway.

Notable Quote:

"The company desires to make up for that next year at WWDC 2026, when it hopes it can try to convince consumers that it's an AI innovator." – Brian McCullough (00:28)

2. Samsung's Strategic Move into AI with Perplexity Acquisition

Overview: Samsung is reportedly on the verge of investing in AI startup Perplexity, aiming to integrate its technologies into Samsung’s ecosystem, thereby reducing reliance on competitors like Alphabet’s Google.

Key Points:

• Investment and Integration Plans:
  Samsung may preload Perplexity's app on its devices, integrate Perplexity Search into its browser, and enhance its Bixby assistant with Perplexity’s technology.

• Funding Details:
  The startup is in advanced discussions to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation, positioning Samsung as a major investor.

• AI-Infused Operating Systems:
  Discussions include building an AI-infused OS and AI agent apps leveraging multiple AI assistants for enhanced functionality.

• Potential Collaboration with Apple:
  Although Apple has shown interest in Perplexity as an alternative to Google Search and for Siri integration, the partnership with rival Samsung introduces uncertainties.

Notable Quote:

"Samsung is planning to announce the Perplexity integrations as early as this year... aiming to include the service as a default assistant option in the Galaxy S26 phone line." – Brian McCullough (12:45)

3. Google Launches AI Edge Gallery for Local AI Model Deployment

Overview: Google has introduced the Google AI Edge Gallery, an Android app available on GitHub, allowing users to download and run AI models locally on their devices without needing an internet connection.

Key Points:

• Functionality:
  Users can access various AI models for tasks like image generation, question answering, code writing, and more. Features include a prompt lab with templates and configurable settings.

• Performance Considerations:
  The app's performance varies based on device hardware and model size, with larger models requiring more processing time.

• Future Expansion:
  Initially available for Android, an iOS version is expected soon.

Notable Quote:

"The models run offline without needing an Internet connection... users might prefer this for privacy or accessibility reasons." – Brian McCullough (18:30)

4. Meta's Ambitious AI-Powered Advertising Tools

Overview: Meta is advancing its AI capabilities to enable brands to fully create and target advertisements autonomously by 2026, streamlining the ad creation process from concept to deployment.

Key Points:

• AI-Driven Ad Creation:
  Brands will input product images and budgetary goals, and AI will generate complete ads, including imagery and text.

• Personalized Ad Variants:
  Advertisers can customize ads in real-time based on factors like geolocation, ensuring relevance for different audiences.

• Impact on Small Businesses:
  This innovation is particularly beneficial for small and mid-sized businesses, allowing them to create effective ads without substantial budgets or resources.

Notable Quote:

"In the not too distant future, we want to get to a world where any business will be able to just tell us what objective they're trying to achieve... and then we just do the rest for them." – Mark Zuckerberg (25:50)

5. Elad Gill's Investment in Enam Co.: Reinventing Businesses through AI

Overview: Investor Elad Gill has backed Enam Co., a startup focused on using AI to transform mature professional services firms through private equity roll-ups, enhancing operational efficiency and scalability.

Key Points:

• Business Model:
  Enam Co. identifies and acquires traditional businesses, implementing AI-driven solutions to optimize processes and improve profit margins.

• Strategic Advantages:
  AI enables the transformation of repetitive tasks, increasing gross margins from 10% to 40%, thereby allowing for more aggressive acquisition strategies.

• Current Investments:
  In addition to Enam Co., Gill has supported other companies pursuing similar AI-enhanced roll-up strategies.

Notable Quote:

"If you can effectively transform some of those repetitive tasks into software... you can increase the margins dramatically and create very different types of businesses." – Elad Gill (35:15)

6. DoorDash's Dominance Through Strategic Acquisitions

Overview: DoorDash CEO Tony Zhu has steered the company into becoming a $90 billion industry consolidator through a series of strategic acquisitions, solidifying its dominance in the competitive food delivery market.

Key Points:

• Acquisition Strategy:

  • Recent Deals:
    • Deliveroo: Acquired for approximately $3.9 billion.
    • 7Rooms: Acquired for about $1.2 billion.
  • Past Acquisitions:
    • Caviar: Purchased for $410 million in 2019.
    • Wolt: Acquired for $8.1 billion two years later.

• Market Position:
  DoorDash holds an estimated 67% market share as of 2021, making it the leading player in the U.S. food delivery sector.

• Financials:
  Despite slim net profits post-IPO, DoorDash's stock has surged by 23% this year, outperforming the broader Nasdaq due to tariff concerns.

• Operational Excellence:
  Zhu is lauded for his operational leadership, with colleagues comparing him favorably to Jeff Bezos.

• Challenges:

  • High Commissions:
    DoorDash charges restaurants up to 30% in commissions, which has been a point of contention despite the company's market dominance.
  • Profit Margins:
    The company's contribution profit stands below 5% of total marketplace volume, necessitating high fees to maintain financial health.

Notable Quotes:

"What we've delivered for a customer yesterday probably isn't good enough for what we will deliver for them today." – Tony Zhu (45:00)

"If you own the asset, you can transform it much more rapidly than if you're just selling software as a vendor." – Elad Gill (35:20)

Conclusion

In this episode of Techmeme Ride Home, host Brian McCullough delves into significant developments within the tech industry, highlighting Apple's cautious approach to AI at WWDC 2025, Samsung's strategic investment in Perplexity to bolster its AI ecosystem, Google's innovative release of the AI Edge Gallery for local model deployment, Meta's ambitious plans to automate ad creation through AI, Elad Gill's investment in AI-driven business reinvention with Enam Co., and DoorDash's impressive acquisition-driven growth strategy solidifying its market dominance. These discussions underscore the rapidly evolving landscape of technology and AI, showcasing how leading companies are positioning themselves for future competitiveness and innovation.