Ben Thompson
FollowThe latest interviews, podcast appearances, and blog posts from Ben Thompson, updated daily.
Apple Updates Mini and Studio, AI Computers, OpenAI Jalapeño
Apple and OpenAI have two completely different hardware announcements; both represent pressure on Nvidia.
Netflix to Sell Streaming Services?, Streamers as Aggregators, Revisiting Roku
Netflix is considering selling other streaming services, and I think it’s a good idea; it’s also a let-down for Netflix’s original goals and potential pivots.
Autonomy and Innovation
Incentives favor offense when it comes to agentic cybersecurity; it’s the same dynamic that will limit incumbents and fuel startups in the long run.
2026.34: App Snore
The best Stratechery content from the week of August 17, 2026, including Apple making compromises in the EU, Truth (Social) and reconciliation, and August fun with the Clippers and Lakers.
Nvidia Backs OpenAI Data Center, Anthropic News, Google Buys Spirit Airlines Data
Nvidia makes another deal, this time with a frontier lab; Anthropic’s revenue continues to amaze; and maybe data finally is oil.
Stripe Acquiring OpenRouter, Aggregating AI?, Flipping the Business Model
Stripe is reportedly acquiring OpenRouter, an implicit bet on a future market of models and the chance at Aggregation.
2026.33: The CapEx Train Keeps Rolling
The best Stratechery content from the week of August 10, 2026, including the capital constraint, AI writing, and a tale of two cities.
Nvidia’s Risky Business
Nvidia is finding new ways for its customers to raise money, and it’s expanding the risk of the AI buildout significantly.
Apple Earnings, More on Amazon’s Earnings
Apple’s earnings (and stock) are limited not by memory but rather chip shortages; then, more on Amazon’s earnings and Andy Jassy’s market analysis.
2026.32: Earnings and Learnings
The best Stratechery content from the week of August 3, 2026, including earnings exposure, OpenAI’s answer to Apple, and all about LeBron in Philly.