Tech Brew Ride Home – "Uncle Sam’s Intel Stake"

Date: August 25, 2025
Host: Brian McCullough
Podcast: Tech Brew Ride Home by Morning Brew
Episode Theme:
A whirlwind summary of major tech news – government’s stake in Intel, Apple’s secret AI talks, Meta’s new Midjourney partnership, Perplexity’s revenue-sharing model for publishers, Netflix’s debut of physical “House” locations, DHL’s approach to AI in logistics, and a San Francisco hacker house making waves in AI – all in 15 minutes.

Main Stories & Key Discussion Points

1. U.S. Government Acquires 10% Stake in Intel

Timestamps: 01:30 – 04:35

• Deal Structure:

  • U.S. government to make an $8.9 billion investment, buying 433.3 million primary shares at $20.47/share (Intel closed at $24.80 on Aug. 22).
  • Becomes Intel’s largest shareholder, with no board seat or direct governance role.
  • If Intel’s foundry ownership falls below 51%, U.S. can buy another 5% at $20/share.

• Context & Motivation:

  • Just weeks prior, President Trump criticized Intel CEO Lippbu Tan over China ties but reversed course after a meeting (“After meeting Tan and talking business last week, Trump became a fan and saw an opportunity to deepen their partnership..." – 03:00).
  • “I said I think you should pay us 10% of the company and they said yes,” Trump stated in the Oval Office (03:14).

• Comparative Analysis:

  • U.S. is paying less per share than SoftBank’s recent $23/share agreement.
  • Analysts call the move “unprecedented.”
    • "This is the government bigfooting its way in," says Gauntam Makunda (04:10).

• Broader Pattern:

  • Since his reelection, Trump has stepped up commercial sector interventions (e.g., cut of Nvidia/AMD AI chip sales to China; “golden share” in Nippon STE post U.S. Steel takeover).

2. Apple’s AI Search: Siri May Go Google

Timestamps: 04:36 – 06:55

• Apple’s AI Challenge:

  • Internal models have lagged behind competitors in generative AI.
  • Apple in exploratory talks with Google to license Gemini models for Siri.
  • Google is already training a model for Apple’s servers; Anthropic and OpenAI also in consideration.

• Quote:

  • “Apple is still several weeks away from making a decision on whether to continue using internal models for Siri or move to a partner...” (05:41)
  • “Executives had long viewed Anthropic as the leading candidate... but the financial terms demanded by that company led Apple to broaden the search.” (06:24)

• Rivalry & Partnerships:

  • No formal deal yet – bake-off underway between in-house (Linwood) and external (Glenwood) model.
  • Talks are separate from other chatbot integrations into Apple Intelligence.
  • Gemini powers AI on Samsung phones, so such partnerships aren't new for Google.

3. Meta’s Partnership with Midjourney

Timestamps: 06:55 – 08:40

• Deal Summary:

  • Meta licenses Midjourney's “esthetic technology” for future AI models and products.
  • Quoting Meta’s Alexander Wang:
    • “To ensure Meta is able to deliver the best possible products for people, it will require taking an all of the above approach...” (07:18)
  • Previous attempts were made by Meta to acquire Midjourney; the startup remains independent with no outside investors.

• Midjourney’s Clout:

  • Founded in 2022, hit $200M annual revenue pace by 2023.
  • Subscriptions range from $10–120/month.
  • Released first AI video model, V1, in June 2025.

• Legal Headwinds:

  • Disney and Universal have sued Midjourney over AI training data on copyrighted works.
  • “Recent court cases... have sided with tech companies.” (08:32)

4. Perplexity’s New Subscription Revenue Model for Publishers

Timestamps: 08:40 – 10:25

• New Product:

  • Launch of Comet Plus: $5/month subscription for curated content in the Comet browser.
  • $42.5M set aside; publishers get 80% of the revenue.

• Quote:

  • Arvind Srinivas, CEO: “AI is helping to create a better Internet, but publishers still need to get paid... this is actually the right solution…” (09:08)
  • Jessica Chan, Head of Publisher Partnerships: “The traditional model where media outlets rely on Web traffic and clicks is a quote old model. We just want to create a new standard for compensation,” (09:24)

• Industry Context:

  • Perplexity differs from OpenAI and Google by giving share based on actual content appearances/usage, not bespoke licensing deals.
  • Has partnered previously with TIME, LA Times, Fortune.
  • Faces ongoing copyright lawsuits (e.g., News Corp, Dow Jones, NY Post) but remains confident:
    • “We are confident AI companies will win all of these lawsuits...” (10:17)

5. Netflix House: Physical Venues for Streaming Superfans

Timestamps: 10:25 – 12:25

• What’s Happening:

  • Netflix House venues opening in Philadelphia (Nov 12) and Dallas (Dec 11), 100,000 sq ft each.
  • Free entry; paid themed activities and merchandise tied to Netflix IP (e.g., Squid Game, Stranger Things, K-Pop).

• Experiences Include:

  • Mini golf (with live leaderboard, themed holes).
  • Immersive VR games and arcade-style events.
  • Large-scale feature experiences (e.g., “Escape the Dark,” “Survive the Trials” from Squid Game).

• Quote:

  • “There’s truly something for everyone and opportunities for a different adventure each time you visit a Netflix House.” (11:09)

6. DHL’s AI-Powered Workforce Transformation

Timestamps: 13:25 – 15:02

• AI in Action:

  • DHL uses automation and AI to counteract an aging workforce in Germany.
  • AI voice bot streamlines a million calls monthly, handling routine inquiries and freeing agents for complex work or retraining.

• Quote:

  • Bernd Gaiman, CIO: “Everyone in Germany understands that if you don’t automate, you won’t manage the shrinking workforce.” (14:24)
  • Works councils and regulators required privacy and labor-sensitive AI deployment.

• Perspective:

  • AI framed as a “supportive colleague”—translates, generates training materials, unlocks institutional knowledge.
  • “Whether you love it or hate it, you have to work with it, so make the best of it.” – Work council leader (14:57)

7. Foundher House: All-Female AI Hacker House Disrupts San Francisco

Timestamps: 15:02 – 16:38 (end)

• Story Summary:

  • Foundher House: eight young women, 18–21, create a summer hacker house supporting female startup builders in AI.
  • Founded by Miki Safranov Yamamoto and Anitika Manby, funded by donations, became a venue for VC events and hackathons.

• Startups & Impact:

  • Residents worked on projects in AI payments, medical tech, clean energy, and more.
  • Six startups launched, two received funding.

• Quote:

  • “The house fostered collaboration with six startups launching products and two securing funding.” (16:12)
  • Praised by Eileen Lee, Cowboy Ventures: “exceptional” (16:22)

• Closure:

  • House closes as founders return to college; some drop out to pursue ventures full time.

Notable Quotes

• President Trump on Intel Deal:

  • “I said I think you should pay us 10% of the company and they said yes.” (03:14)

• Gauntam Makunda on Unprecedented Intervention:

  • “This is the government bigfooting its way in.” (04:10)

• Arvind Srinivas on AI & Publishers:

  • “AI is helping to create a better Internet, but publishers still need to get paid... this is actually the right solution…” (09:08)

• Bernd Gaiman, DHL CIO:

  • “Everyone in Germany understands that if you don’t automate, you won’t manage the shrinking workforce.” (14:24)

• DHL Work Council Leader:

  • “Whether you love it or hate it, you have to work with it, so make the best of it.” (14:57)

Key Takeaways

• The U.S. government’s equity stake in Intel marks a massive, unprecedented shift in state involvement in tech.
• Apple, still behind in generative AI, could dramatically switch up Siri by licensing Google’s Gemini or another outside model, with internal/external models currently in a “bake-off.”
• Meta’s licensing of Midjourney shows the company’s “all-of-the-above” approach to AI, despite ongoing copyright challenges.
• Perplexity’s new revenue model for publishers could reshape how news is monetized in an AI-driven internet.
• Netflix expands its brand into real-world experiences with “Netflix House,” offering immersive, IP-themed activities.
• DHL tackles demographic challenges via AI/automation, emphasizing transformation over job displacement.
• The women of Foundher House are a rising force in AI, proving grassroots support and collaboration can launch startups and break the gender gap.

This episode provides a brisk, authoritative look at tech’s new frontier—where policy, AI, and next-gen business models are blurring old boundaries and creating new playbooks for giants and upstarts alike.