Techmeme Ride Home: Episode Summary – Wed. 02/19 – The iPhone 16e

Released on February 19, 2025 by Ride Home Media

1. Apple's Launch of the iPhone 16e

Host: Brian McCullough

Timestamp: [00:04]

Apple has unveiled its latest offering, the iPhone 16e, marking a significant entry into the lower-end smartphone market. Priced starting at $599, the iPhone 16e is equipped with the A18 chip, a 48-megapixel camera, Apple Intelligence, and Apple's inaugural 5G cellular modem, the C1.

Design and Display:

• Features a 6.1-inch OLED display with a notch housing Face ID technology.
• USB-C port replaces the traditional Lightning port for charging and data transfer.
• Introduction of the action button, replacing the classic mute switch.
• No home button, a nod to Apple's continued design evolution.

Performance:

• Powered by the A18 chip, boasting a six-core CPU that is up to 80% faster than the A13 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 11.
• Includes a four-core GPU and a 16-core Neural Engine optimized for large generative models, enabling machine learning tasks to run up to six times faster than its predecessor.

Camera Capabilities:

• A single 48-megapixel fusion camera on the back with an integrated 2x telephoto option.
• High-resolution 24-megapixel default photos, customizable to 48 megapixels.
• Enhanced features like HDR portrait mode and night mode for superior image quality.

Battery Life:

• Apple touts the best battery life ever on a 6.1-inch iPhone, lasting up to 6 hours longer than the iPhone 11 and up to 12 hours longer than all previous generations of the iPhone SE.
• The C1 modem contributes to improved battery efficiency, supporting up to 26 hours of video playback.

Industry Impact:

• The introduction of the C1 modem signifies Apple's move to end reliance on Qualcomm's 5G modems. As The Verge reports, "Only a handful of companies around the world, including Samsung, MediaTek, and Huawei, have successfully created one."
• Analysts note that the $599 price point positions the iPhone 16e as the most affordable gateway to Apple's sleek design and advanced features, though some skepticism remains regarding the performance of the new modem chip. Reuters highlights, "Modem chips are hard to make because they must be compatible with hundreds of carriers in scores of countries."

Availability:

• Pre-orders commence on Friday, with shipping starting on February 28th.

2. The Demise of Humane AI Pin and Acquisition by HP

Host: Brian McCullough

Timestamp: [Various]

Humane, the AI hardware startup known for its ambitious AI Pin, has officially ceased operations. The company announced that all AI Pin features would stop functioning on February 28, with a complete deletion of customer data and refunds for eligible users.

Shutdown Details:

• Humane provided only 10 days' notice, allowing devices to operate normally until 12 PM Pacific Time on February 28.
• Post-shutdown, users will lose access to critical features such as calling, messaging, AI queries, and cloud access. However, battery life checks remain available.
• The company urges users to download stored data before the shutdown, with refunds offered to those within the 90-day return window by submitting requests by February 27.

Acquisition by HP:

• HP has acquired Humane's assets for $116 million, aiming to integrate the startup's talent into a new AI-focused division.
• According to Bloomberg, HP plans to utilize Humane's technology to enhance its personal computers, printers, and connected conference rooms.
• Tan Tran, head of HP's AI initiatives, stated, "Humane's team, including founders Imran Chaudhry and Bethany Buongiorno, will form a new division at HP to help integrate artificial intelligence into our products."

Founder Background:

• Chaudhry and Buongiorno previously worked at Apple as design and software engineers before founding Humane in April 2024.
• Humane initially aimed to revolutionize personal tech with the AI Pin, intended as a smartphone replacement through voice and gesture controls. However, the product faced negative reviews, glitches, and a fire hazard issue, leading to its downfall.

Community Reaction:

• Gurgly Oros on Twitter commented, "This is a very good save by Humane's leadership. ... most employees keep their jobs."
• Seth Miller on Bluesky expressed skepticism, "Call it an aqua hire, I suppose, but still, why would you pay that much to get those founders on board?"
• Casey Newton added a humorous take, "I look forward to HP's forthcoming line of wearable printers that require a monthly data plan subscription and can't understand what you're saying."

3. Niantic’s Potential Sale of Games Unit to Scopely

Host: Brian McCullough

Timestamp: [Various]

Niantic, renowned for the global hit Pokémon Go, is reportedly in discussions to sell its games division to Scopely, a mobile game developer controlled by Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group, for approximately $3.5 billion.

Deal Specifics:

• The potential sale includes Pokémon Go and other mobile titles.
• No official confirmation from Niantic or Scopely as both companies declined to comment.

Background:

• Pokémon Go has been a massive success with 170 million US users and 5 billion downloads worldwide, making it a cornerstone asset.
• Despite its success, Niantic has struggled to replicate its initial triumph, leading to staff cuts and the cancellation of titles like Harry Potter Wizards Unite, which shut down in 2022.
• Bloomberg sources indicate that including Pokémon in the sale would secure the deal, though the future remains uncertain.

Industry Impact:

• John Hanke, Niantic's CEO, has a background in satellite mapping and led Google's geoproduct division before founding Niantic in 2015.
• Scopely, acquired by Savvy Games for $4.9 billion two years ago, aims to bolster its portfolio with a genre-leading title through this acquisition.

4. Formation of Thinking Machines Lab by Mira Murati

Host: Brian McCullough

Timestamp: [Various]

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati has launched a new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, alongside Barrett Zoff as CTO and John Shulman as Chief Scientist. The lab focuses on creating a framework for human-AI interaction, emphasizing multimodal systems that collaborate with humans rather than striving for fully autonomous AI.

Mission and Vision:

• Thinking Machines Lab aims to build AI that adapts to the full spectrum of human expertise, enabling a wider range of applications beyond programming and mathematics.
• The startup addresses the gap in the scientific community's understanding of advanced AI systems and seeks to make AI more customizable to individual needs and values.

Team and Expertise:

• The team comprises approximately 30 employees, including former colleagues from OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind.
• Barrett Zoff, previously with OpenAI, left in September, while John Shulman departed from Anthropic to join the new venture.
• Murati, who briefly served as OpenAI's interim CEO, has an extensive background, including roles at Tesla and Leap Motion.

Industry Reaction:

• TechCrunch highlighted the strategic move, noting the ambitious nature of merging AI with human-centric applications.
• Thinking Machines Lab remains confident in securing necessary funding, with hinted discussions of raising over $100 million from unnamed venture capital firms.

Community Feedback:

• @Gurgly Oros on Twitter lauded the acquisition, despite skepticism about the high price point, stating, "This might be unpopular to say, but this is a very good save by Humane's leadership."
• Casey Newton humorously criticized potential future HP products, "I can't understand what you're saying."

5. ByteDance Investors’ Stance on TikTok US Separation

Host: Brian McCullough

Timestamp: [Various]

Investors in ByteDance appear unphased by the potential separation of TikTok US from the parent company. Emphasizing that 80% of ByteDance's revenue originates from the Chinese market, particularly through products like Douyin, these investors believe that the company's success does not hinge solely on TikTok's performance in the United States.

Key Insights:

• Despite TikTok US boasting 170 million users and 5 billion global downloads, investors argue that the core revenue drivers remain robust within China.
• The separation or restrictions in the US market receive a minor impact relative to the overall valuation, as the majority of income is derived from Chinese operations.
• Greg Martin, Managing Director at Rainmaker Securities, stated, "The value of ByteDance could go up immeasurably once this is sorted out, even if it means TikTok going away."

Strategic Implications:

• A resolution regarding TikTok's status in the US would clear a major roadblock for ByteDance's long-discussed IPO plans.
• The company's global presence ensures that even with potential bans in the US, sustained operations in numerous other markets maintain its valuation.

Market Perspective:

• ByteDance is currently trading at a significant discount to its intrinsic value, primarily due to uncertainties surrounding TikTok's US operations.
• The anticipation of an eventual IPO remains strong, with investors confident in ByteDance's diversified revenue streams outside of the US.

6. Crunchbase Introduces AI Tools for Predicting Startup Trajectories

Host: Brian McCullough

Timestamp: [Various]

In response to the surge of generative AI tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Crunchbase has launched new AI-driven predictive tools aimed at forecasting startups' funding rounds, acquisitions, and IPOs based on 17 years of proprietary data.

Product Features:

• Utilizes non-public data from 80 million users, including edit histories, investor interest spikes, and employee activities to generate predictive insights.
• The AI models can analyze thousands of potential signals per startup to predict events with up to 95% accuracy in funding rounds.
• Notable successes include predicting Anthropic's $2 billion raise and Coda's acquisition by Grammarly with high probability scores.

Strategic Shift:

• Journal highlights that Crunchbase pivoted out of necessity, aiming to remain relevant in the era of AI by leveraging its unique data assets rather than competing with AI chatbots on historical data.
• McConnell, a Crunchbase representative, emphasized the value of their proprietary data, stating, "Those are the kinds of signals Crunchbase's AI uses to indicate the startup is about to raise funding."

Challenges:

• Predicting startup shutdowns remains challenging, with accuracy rates below 50%, as companies can sustain operations despite slowed growth.

Industry Impact:

• Crunchbase's move underscores the increasing importance of proprietary data in the age of AI, allowing platforms to offer specialized insights that generic AI tools cannot replicate.
• The introduction of predictive analytics positions Crunchbase as a valuable tool for investors and stakeholders seeking data-driven foresight in the volatile startup ecosystem.

Conclusion

The episode of Techmeme Ride Home on February 19, 2025, provided a comprehensive overview of significant developments in the tech industry. From Apple's strategic launch of the iPhone 16e and HP's acquisition of Humane's assets to ByteDance's investor confidence amidst TikTok uncertainties and Crunchbase's innovative AI tools, the episode covered a broad spectrum of impactful news. Additionally, the formation of Thinking Machines Lab by ex-OpenAI leaders signals ongoing advancements in AI-human collaboration. These discussions offer listeners valuable insights into the evolving landscape of technology and business.

Note: Advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections from the transcript have been omitted as per instructional guidelines.