Tech Brew Ride Home – March 19, 2026

Episode Title: The AI Race Is Now A Land Grab For Dev And Design Work
Host: Brian McCullough
Length: ~15 minutes
Main Theme:
A brisk, insightful roundup of how Q1 2026 has turned the AI race into an all-out land grab for software development and design work. Brian breaks down the latest moves by tech giants and startups, the implications for designers and coders, the ripple effects across other industries (like sports and ride-hailing), and where the money is really flowing.

Episode Overview

Brian McCullough surveys a momentous quarter in tech, arguing that the emphasis in AI has shifted from breakthrough demos to capturing territory in the developer and design space. He analyzes new tools from Google and OpenAI, layoffs and industry pivots in crypto, prediction markets in MLB, and business-model winners like Apple and Uber. Memorable quotes and some flashes of nostalgia round out this packed episode.

1. The AI Land Grab: Devs & Designers in the Crosshairs

[00:34 – 06:50]

Google Stitch: Design By Prompt

Google has launched “Stitch”, a new design tool.
Stitch lets users create UI designs from natural language prompts — described as an “AI native software design canvas.”
Anyone can quickly move from rough wireframes to functional UI elements, aided by AI and with options to incorporate images, code, and custom elements.

"To me, it feels closer to downloading a Figma UI kit or starting from a hyper custom template… very useful when you are in a rush, very useful for a first draft, but not a substitute for knowing what to do with it."
— Lucas Crespo, designer at The Deep View ([01:40])
Impact on industry:
- Figma’s stock tumbled nearly 8% after the announcement and is down about 80% since its 2025 IPO.
  Brian jokes: “I think they got out the door just in time before the buzzsaw of Vibe AI headed their way.” ([02:21])

OpenAI, Astral & The Coding Tool Boom

OpenAI’s latest acquisition:
OpenAI acquired Astral (tools for Python development), aiming to supercharge its Codex offering.
Codex now has over 2 million users — triple from the start of the year.
Astral's founder, Charlie Marsh, explains their mission:

"Astral has always focused on building tools that transform how developers work with Python, helping them ship better software faster.” ([03:00])
AI coding tools are reshaping engineering:
- Tools like Claude code, Codex, and Cursor have “shifted the tide so much that practically anyone can code, from complete novices to hardcore engineers.”
- Kerry Briske (VP, Nvidia GenAI Software) observes:
  
  “You're more of an architect now rather than just a typer.” ([04:50])
Even a tech exec’s "12-year-old daughter is using Replit to build a sports app.”

Stakes: Corporate Spend & Workforce Transformation

Competition is fierce:
Anthropic, Microsoft, OpenAI, and upstarts like Cursor. Cursor is fundraising at a $50 billion valuation.
Anthropic is nearing a $20 billion annual revenue run rate.
Enterprises vote with their budgets:
Newcomer spending data: Anthropic already holds 73% of enterprise GenAI spend among first-time buyers.

2. AI’s Impact on Tech Jobs: Layoffs & Restructuring

[06:50 – 08:45]

Layoffs as AI Integration Accelerates

Crypto.com:
~12% reduction (180 roles), targeting jobs “that do not adapt as it integrates AI.”

“Companies that do not make this pivot immediately will fail. Companies that move immediately and pair the best AI tools with top performers will achieve a level of scale and precision that was previously impossible.”
— Chris Marzilek, CEO, Crypto.com ([07:35])
Industry-wide cuts:
- Gemini: up to 200 roles (25% of workforce), “to accelerate our path to profitability.”
- Block (led by Jack Dorsey): 40% cut for a "smaller and flatter AI-focused operating model."
- Messari: C-suite shakeup and layoffs to become “an AI-first company.”

3. Sports & Prediction Markets: Major League Baseball Embraces Web3

[08:45 – 11:00]

MLB & Polymarket: Big Data Meets Betting

MLB signs a licensing deal with Polymarket (prediction markets platform), granting exclusive access to MLB data and branding.
- Polymarket will restrict "event contracts that pose integrity risk… where outcomes triggered by the actions of, say, pitchers, managers or umpires could be subject to manipulation.”
Historic move:
- MLB and CFTC sign a memorandum of understanding for information-sharing on game integrity.
- This lays groundwork for more league-government partnerships around prediction markets, with the CFTC as a key player.
Brian’s highlight:

“In today's world, it is really important not to be chasing developments, but try to be involved and in front of those developments.”
— MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred ([10:09])
- Focus on staying ahead as prediction markets rapidly evolve.

4. Apple Cashes In on GenAI Apps

[13:00 – 14:00]

Apple’s Quiet AI Dominance

Apple’s AI app revenue is booming:
Grew from $35M (Jan. 2025) to $101M (Aug. 2025); on pace to clear $1B in 2026.
“App store tax” remains lucrative:
75% of Apple’s GenAI app revenue comes from ChatGPT; only 5% from Xai’s Grok.
Big takeaway:

“Apple is on pace to surpass $1 billion in artificial intelligence revenue this year, a tidy sum that demonstrates the company's AI advantage, even as it struggles to deliver an AI strategy of its own.”
— Brian citing App Magic/Wall Street Journal ([13:10])
Even without a “killer” internal AI story, Apple's position as device and platform gatekeeper is paying off.

5. Uber & Rivian: Betting On Autonomous Expansion

[14:00 – 15:30]

Robotaxis Get Real(er)

Uber commits $1.25B to Rivian (if autonomy milestones met):
- Initial $300M at signing to deploy 10,000 Level 4 robotaxis in San Francisco and Miami by 2028.
- Scales to 25 cities by 2031 with eventual option for up to 50,000 vehicles.
- Partnership mirrors last summer’s deal with Lucid.
Rivian’s autonomous features mostly theoretical for now:
- Just launched “Universal Hands Free” and eyes LIDAR for next-gen vehicles.
Strategic context:
- The investment is crucial for Rivian’s R2 production.
- Uber juggles many robo-taxi partners to maintain relevance in a market threatening millions of human drivers’ jobs.

6. Sign-off & Nostalgic Moment

[15:30 – End]

Brian reminisces about his days at Blockbuster Video after hearing about a new Steam game (“Retro Rewind, the video store simulator”):

“Hope you live long enough that all of your childhood nostalgia gets gamified.” ([15:55])

Notable Quotes

Lucas Crespo (on Google Stitch):
“Very useful when you are in a rush. Very useful for a first draft, but not a substitute for knowing what to do with it.” ([01:40])
Kerry Briske, Nvidia:
“You're more of an architect now rather than just a typer.” ([04:50])
Chris Marzilek, Crypto.com:
“Companies that do not make this pivot immediately will fail… those that pair the best AI tools with top performers will achieve a level of scale and precision that was previously impossible.” ([07:35])
Rob Manfred, MLB Commissioner:
“It is really important not to be chasing developments, but try to be involved and in front of those developments.” ([10:09])
Brian McCullough:
“Apple is on pace to surpass $1 billion in artificial intelligence revenue this year, a tidy sum that demonstrates the company's AI advantage, even as it struggles to deliver an AI strategy of its own.” ([13:10])
Brian McCullough on nostalgia:
“Hope you live long enough that all of your childhood nostalgia gets gamified.” ([15:55])

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Section/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:34 | Show starts; AI land grab thesis introduced | | 00:50 | Google launches Stitch (design tool) | | 02:21 | Figma’s stock hit after Stitch; context | | 03:00 | OpenAI acquires Astral; Codex strategy | | 04:50 | AI’s effect on developer roles and skills | | 06:50 | Layoffs at Crypto.com and other crypto companies | | 08:45 | MLB partners with Polymarket; CFTC agreement | | 10:09 | Rob Manfred on proactive governance | | 13:00 | Apple's AI revenue surge via App Store | | 14:00 | Uber’s $1.25B bet on Rivian robotaxis | | 15:55 | Brian’s Blockbuster Video nostalgia; show close |

Summary:
The episode reveals a new stage in AI’s integration: companies are racing not just to wow with raw tech, but to capture and redefine the mechanics of creative and development workflows. This is rapidly shifting who has leverage, who gets cut, who profits, and whose jobs are next to evolve.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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B (0:34)

Welcome to the Tech Brew Ride Home for Thursday, March 19, 2026 I'm Brian McCullough. Today, in three parts, I'll make the case that Q1 of this year the AI race has basically become a land grab for design and development tasks. Major League Baseball fully embraces our new prediction market overlords even if they're behind in AI. Apple is still making big money from AI and Uber is still placing bets in the self driving race. Here's what you missed today in the world of tech, Everybody is moving fast to landgraab on the AI developer and even the designer space. Here's example number one Google has updated Stitch to let users turn natural language prompts into UI designs, introducing an AI native software design canvas and a reasoning design agent quoting the Deep View. If you can use natural language prompts to build complex websites and apps, doing the same for design should be no different. And that's exactly what Google Stitch sets out to do. The redesign tool, launched in beta on Tuesday, lets users of all experience levels collaborate with AI to create and iterate on software designs. The Stytch tool is intended to let users skip the initial tedious steps of creating wireframes or rough outlines that map out the layout and jump straight into building websites and apps with UIs focused on users goals and inspirations. While Stytch can do a lot for users of all experience levels, the Deep View's designer, Lucas Crespo does not think it is a tool that sets out to replace designers, but rather helps them to get things done sooner. To me, it feels closer to downloading a Figma UI kit or starting from a hyper custom template, says Crespo. Very useful when you are in a rush. Very useful for a first draft, but not a substitute for knowing what to do with it. If you have a high bar as a designer and want to do differentiated stuff with the platform, users can also integrate their own images, text or code into the project Then they can stitch screen screens together and click Play to view the app workflow and the platform can even generate the next logical screens so users can see the entire journey mapped out. Lastly, through the Stytch McP server and SDK, Stytch can also be implemented into other tools and skills. Stytch is available to all users for free via Google Labs. It is an intuitive process that I tried for myself as someone with barely any background in website or app design, and I had a lot of fun just noting this. On top of that, Figma's stock closed down 7.98% on March 18 after this was announced. Figma is down around 80% since the company's IPO in August of 2025. I think they got out the door just in time before the buzzsaw of Vibe AI headed their way. Example number two OpenAI has agreed to acquire Astral, which makes Python tools, for Quoting Bloomberg. The deal, which hasn't yet closed, will bring Astral's team into OpenAI's Codex effort, OpenAI said Thursday. Codex has more than 2 million users, the company said, a number that's tripled since the start of this year. Astral's suite of tools will push codecs, which can write software features, fix bugs and run tests, into a broader suite of developer services. Astral has always focused on building tools that transform how developers work with Python, helping them ship better software faster, the startup's founder, Charlie Marsh, said in a statement, adding that the company will continue evolving its open source tools within OpenAI. OpenAI is currently in a race with competitors, including Anthropic, Microsoft and startups like Cursor to woo corporate customers using AI as coding assistants. Cursor is currently in talks with investors to raise money at a valuation of $50 billion, Bloomberg reported. Meanwhile, Anthropic is nearing an annual revenue run rate of $20 billion. I'm going to underline that point here by quoting from a different the Deep View piece. It's clear that AI coding tools have largely shifted the jobs of software engineers. The capabilities of tools like Claude code, OpenAI's codecs, cursor and more have alleviated the burden of writing code by hand. As such, developers are becoming product engineers rather than software engineers, kerry Briske, VP of generative AI Software at Nvidia, told the Deep View. You're more of an architect now rather than just a typer. These tools have shifted the tide so much that practically anyone can code, from complete novices to hardcore engineers. One tech executive told us how her 12 year old daughter is using Replit to build an app to track her sports performance and provide tips to improve her technique. The fight to come out on top in AI coding is about more than just speeding up the developer workflow, though. If AI coding tools are a gateway to a larger transformation of knowledge work, then whoever wins over software engineers may win over white collar industries broadly. According to RAMP data from March, Anthropic already has a massive lead among enterprises, capturing more than 73% of enterprise spending among first time AI buyers. And with its existing popularity among developers, the company may have an edge in what could be a major metamorphosis of the way we work in the months and years ahead. End quote. And I'm going to make the case that this is example number three, because if everybody wants companies to pay them to have AI take over coding and design duties, what happens to the designers and the coders from the Is AI gobbling up jobs in the tech industry? File Crypto.com CEO Chris Marzilek says the company cut around 12% of its workforce, or around 180 roles, saying the layoffs target roles that do not adapt as it integrates AI. Quoting the Block, Marzilek said in an X post that the cuts target roles that do not adapt as the company implements what he described as enterprise wide AI. Affected team members have been notified and are receiving transition resources, he said. We are joining the list of companies integrating enterprise wide AI. Companies that do not make this pivot immediately will fail. Companies that move slowly will be left behind. Companies that move immediately and pair the best AI tools with top performers will achieve a level of scale and precision that was previously impossible, marzilek said in the post. The job cuts come as multiple crypto firms have announced layoffs in recent weeks, with some citing AI integration strategies alongside market conditions. Crypto exchange Gemini said in February it plans to cut up to 200 positions, representing about a quarter of its workforce. Its founders, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, said the move would help reduce our total expenses in line with our headcount reduction and meaningfully accelerate our path to profitability. Payments firm Block also cut roughly 40% of its workforce last month as CEO Jack Dorsey pushed a smaller and flatter AI focused operating model. A small number of employees were later rehired, including at least one case described as a clerical error, according to LinkedIn posts from affected workers. Messari, a crypto data platform, announced a leadership transition and layoffs earlier this month. CEO Eric Turner stepped down, with Chief Technology Officer Derek and Lee assuming the role Lee said in an X post that the company parted ways with many teammates as part of a restructuring to become an AI first company. The exact number of affected employees was not disclosed. End quote. Major League Baseball has made polymarket its official prediction markets platform, giving it exclusive data access. Polymarket will restrict contracts that pose integrity risks to the game. Apparently quoting the Journal, MLB signed a licensing deal with polymarket, which as the league's official prediction markets platform, will have exclusive access to its data and iconography. Polymarket also agreed to work with MLB to restrict event contracts that pose integrity risk, where outcomes triggered by the actions of, say, pitchers, managers or umpires could be subject to manipulation. The agreement arrives with the baseball season's opening day just a week away and with MLB dealing with the fallout from two of its players facing federal charges for allegedly manipulating their on field performance. Many pro sports leagues, including mlb, have aligned with traditional sports books in recent years. But the sudden rise of the prediction markets, fueled by millions of traders eager to place yes or no wagers on sports and other real world events, has opened a new front that a number of leagues have opted to no longer ignore. The advent of prediction contracts hasn't been embraced by all. Several US States have taken legal action to block event wagers from being accessed by their residents, and polymarket only recently won approval to offer platform to Americans. In a related move, MLB signed a memorandum of understanding with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the government agency that regulates prediction markets. The document, which MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred and CFTC Chairman Michael Selig signed Wednesday, stipulates that the two sides will exchange information related to the competitive integrity of baseball games. In today's world, it is really important not to be chasing developments, but try to be involved and in front of those developments, said Manfred, speaking alongside Selig at a Miami hotel the morning after Venezuela beat Team USA to win the World Baseball Classic. Professional sports leagues in America have at this point all embraced sports gambling, which is now legal in most states. They have to this point been more wary of prediction markets, which allow users to bet on yes or no wagers on everything from the outcome of sporting events to election victories. Their primary concern has revolved around their ability to identify suspicious activity that could threaten games. In October, the National Hockey League became the first league to line up with polymarket and its biggest rival Kalshi, in an official capacity, believing that working directly with the platforms will give it the ability to help shape what sort of markets are offered. The agreement with the CFTC is a new concept and could lay the groundwork for other leagues to follow suit. It effectively serves to open lines of communication between MLB and the cftc, similar to relationships sports leagues currently have with state gambling regulators. Perhaps most important, it is a sign that MLB is prepared to work with the federal government as it attempts to maintain its control over prediction markets. The Trump administration has continued to argue in favor of regulations at the federal level. We need to understand and work together with the league to know what could potentially be easily manipulated on the field, selig said. We don't necessarily have all that information from our background as derivatives regulators. End quote.