Diet TBPN: October 17th, 2025
Diet TBPN: October 17th, 2025
Podcast12 min 32 sec
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a top "picks and shovels" play for the AI boom, as its critical hardware is in extreme demand by leading companies like OpenAI. A bearish signal for Amazon (AMZN) has emerged, with reports that its profitable AWS division is losing the next generation of startups to specialized AI competitors. Consider Apple's (AAPL) new Formula One broadcast deal a bullish indicator of the company's aggressive and successful strategy to grow its high-margin services revenue. The DoorDash (DASH) partnership with Alphabet's (GOOGL) Waymo for autonomous delivery is a key long-term catalyst, pointing to higher future profits for DASH and the monetization of Waymo. Finally, view Bitcoin (BTC) as a long-term savings technology, as its core development continues to receive significant financial backing from influential tech leaders.

Detailed Analysis

Palantir (PLTR)

  • The company was mentioned in the context of a negative Reuters news report about a government system prototype (NGC2).
  • A speaker, seemingly with inside knowledge, strongly defended Palantir, stating the report was intentionally misleading.
  • The defense claims the journalist refused to include on-the-record statements from both Palantir and the U.S. Army that would have invalidated the story.
  • The core criticism in the report was a technical one (a prototype "didn't have OAuth set up yet"), which the speaker dismissed as a normal part of the early-stage software development process common in Silicon Valley. The philosophy is to build a working solution to a problem first, and then optimize and secure it later.

Takeaways

  • Investors should be aware that Palantir may be the subject of negative press that the company views as biased or part of an attack by competitors.
  • The discussion suggests that evaluating Palantir's progress requires understanding the difference between a finished product and an early-stage prototype. Negative headlines about prototypes may not reflect the true capabilities of the company.

Amazon (AMZN)

  • The podcast highlights a significant potential weakness for Amazon's most profitable division, Amazon Web Services (AWS).
  • Internal AWS documents reportedly show a "fundamental shift" in how tech startups are spending their money.
  • Startups are increasingly delaying spending on traditional cloud services like AWS and are instead directing their budgets toward specialized AI models, inference, and AI developer tools from other companies.
  • The speakers conclude that Amazon is currently "not capitalizing" on this major shift in the tech ecosystem.

Takeaways

  • This is a bearish signal for Amazon. AWS is the company's profit engine, and losing the next generation of startups to competitors in the AI space could pose a long-term risk.
  • Investors should monitor Amazon's strategy and product offerings in the AI space to see if they can successfully compete and retain their market leadership in cloud computing.

Bitcoin (BTC)

  • The discussion presented a dual view of Bitcoin.
  • On one hand, it was highlighted as a poor medium of exchange for everyday goods. A speaker shared a personal anecdote of spending one Bitcoin on a TV in 2013 (when it was worth ~$1,000), calling it the "worst financial decision of my life" because the TV is now worthless while the Bitcoin would be worth tens of thousands.
  • On the other hand, its role as a store of value and the strength of its ecosystem were noted. Jack Dorsey (founder of Block/Square) was mentioned for donating over $21 million to OpenSats, an organization that supports Bitcoin development.

Takeaways

  • The key insight is to view Bitcoin as a long-term savings technology or digital asset, not as a replacement for cash for buying depreciating consumer goods.
  • The continued financial support from influential tech figures like Jack Dorsey indicates a strong, ongoing belief in Bitcoin's long-term potential among its core supporters.

NVIDIA (NVDA)

  • NVIDIA was mentioned in the context of its critical role in the AI industry.
  • Greg Brockman (a founder of OpenAI) was quoted thanking NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang for a personal hand-delivery of a new AI computer (DGX Spark).
  • The quote, "amazing to see so much compute," reinforces the immense demand and importance of NVIDIA's hardware for leading AI companies.

Takeaways

  • This anecdote serves as a strong bullish signal for NVIDIA. It illustrates that the company is not just a supplier but a crucial partner to the biggest players in AI.
  • NVIDIA continues to represent a "picks and shovels" investment strategy for the AI boom; as long as companies are building AI, they will likely need NVIDIA's chips.

Apple (AAPL)

  • Apple has reportedly signed a five-year deal to broadcast Formula One (F1) in the United States.
  • This move was described as a "barnacle economy" strategy: Apple identifies a rapidly growing cultural phenomenon (like F1, popularized by Netflix's "Drive to Survive") and attaches its own service to it.
  • The speaker noted that while Apple may start as the "barnacle," its goal is to leverage its massive ecosystem and capital to "become the whale" in that space.

Takeaways

  • This is a bullish insight into Apple's services growth strategy. The company is actively and aggressively acquiring premium content rights to draw more subscribers into its ecosystem.
  • Investors should see this as a sign of Apple's commitment to growing its services revenue, which is a key driver for the company's future valuation.

Investment Theme: Autonomous Vehicles & Delivery

  • A partnership was announced where DoorDash (DASH) will use Waymo's (a subsidiary of Alphabet/Google - GOOGL) robotaxis for food delivery in Phoenix.
  • This is a real-world commercial application of autonomous driving technology.
  • While customers will still have to come to the curb to get their food, it's a significant step towards fully automated delivery.

Takeaways

  • For DoorDash (DASH): This partnership points to a future with significantly lower operating costs (by removing the cost of a human driver), which could lead to much higher profit margins.
  • For Alphabet (GOOGL): This is a crucial step in monetizing its long-term investment in Waymo. Successful commercial partnerships are key to proving the business model for its "Other Bets" segment.
  • This is a long-term trend to watch, as it has the potential to disrupt the entire logistics and delivery industry.

Investment Theme: Gold

  • The podcast gave a shout-out to long-term gold investors, specifically "boomers who have been holding gold for years."
  • The hosts noted that these investors are "now seeing it finally moon," implying a recent and significant increase in the price of gold.

Takeaways

  • This serves as a reminder of gold's traditional role in a portfolio as a long-term store of value.
  • The patience of investors who held gold through periods of underperformance is now being rewarded, highlighting its potential benefits during certain economic cycles.
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About TBPN
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TBPN

By John Coogan & Jordi Hays

Technology's daily show (formerly the Technology Brothers Podcast). Streaming live on X and YouTube from 11 - 2 PM PST Monday - Friday. Available on X, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.