Ben Thompson
Tech strategy & analysis
Founder of Stratechery. Writes on technology strategy, business models, and industry analysis.
Recent activity
-
Ben Thompson interviewed Joanna Stern about the iPhone Duo and AI for normal people, discussing the implications of Apple's AI-driven products on the market and consumer behavior. Stern highlighted the potential limitations of Apple's AI approach, citing concerns about data security and the risk of AI-powered products becoming too complex for normal users. AI summary
Read more → -
Salesforce is abandoning UI as a competitive differentiator, recognizing it's becoming increasingly commoditized, and instead focusing on building headless, AI-powered agents to provide a more personalized user experience. This move aligns with the broader trend of companies reevaluating their UI strategies in response to the rise of AI-driven interfaces. AI summary
Read more → -
ChatGPT ads are working, and solve Amazon's biggest problem with chatbots. Then, Walmart finally gives in to Apple Pay, because fighting the status quo is hard.
Read more → -
Dario Amodei proposes pacing the frontier of AI, which is seen as an unrealistic proposal aimed at exerting control over AI development, potentially hindering progress in areas like natural language processing, computer vision, and reinforcement learning. This approach may limit the exploration of new AI capabilities and hinder the development of more advanced AI systems. AI summary
Read more → -
The best Stratechery content from the week of September 7, 2026, including the arrival of the Duo, AI that benefits humanity, and closing the book on a catastrophe.
Read more → -
Apple once again demonstrated the power of integrating hardware and software, but it's biggest AI blindspot might be its belief in the primacy of apps.
Read more → -
OpenAI solving one of the most famous math problems is extremely impressive, and of little impact to most people's lives; Meta's Muse agent launch has the potential to be the exact opposite.
Read more → -
The article emphasizes the importance of writing things down as a means of achieving productivity and scalability, drawing parallels between humans and artificial intelligence (AI) in this regard. By writing down tasks, ideas, and goals, individuals can free up mental capacity, reduce distractions, and focus on making progress. This concept is reflected in the Getting Things Done (GTD) methodology, which advocates for capturing and organizing information in a structured way. AI summary
Read more → -
Anthropic's Fable 5.1 release highlights the tension between model capabilities and data retention policies, with the company walking back its previous data retention policies to avoid regulatory backlash. Apple's live event production, including the recent immersive broadcast of Friday Night Baseball, showcases a more effective approach to immersive video. Meta's settlement with 29 states to restrict Instagram and Meta use among teens underscores the challenges of regulating tech that removes friction. AI summary
Read more → -
An interview with OpenAI President and Co-Founder Greg Brockman about the history of OpenAI, Astra and alignment, and the weight of building the future.
Read more → -
Fable 5.1 is out, and the hated Fable data retention policy is not just being altered, but entirely removed in the meantime. Plus, why increased caching is a win-win.
Read more → -
Nvidia's Q2 2026 earnings report revealed a revenue growth of 17% year-over-year, with $7.9 billion in revenue, and $2.9 billion in net income, driven by the company's high-end GPU sales. The company's average selling price per unit (ASP) per GPU increased by 17% year-over-year, driven by higher prices for its high-end products. AI summary
Read more → -
Meta has settled on a framework for regulating content, which likely sets a precedent for other major tech companies, including Apple and Google, to follow in order to avoid similar regulatory scrutiny. This development highlights the increasing need for a unified approach to regulating content across the tech industry. AI summary
Read more → -
The best Stratechery content from the week of August 24, 2026 including the breaker's advantage, the new battle for HDMI1, and how data center discourse ends.
Read more → -
Apple has released updated versions of its Mini and Studio AI computers, marking a shift in the company's focus towards AI-driven hardware. OpenAI has also announced the Jalapeño, a new AI computer designed to compete with Nvidia's offerings. Both announcements represent pressure on Nvidia, a leading provider of AI computing hardware. AI summary
Read more → -
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.
Read more → -
The article highlights the importance of distinguishing between capability and intent in AI, particularly in cybersecurity. It argues that the best way to defend against AI-powered attacks is to also use AI-powered automation for defense, as both require the same skillset. However, companies are hesitant to fully automate their defenses due to concerns about negative expected value, where unsuccessful patches can make the situation worse. Startups, on the other hand, are more willing to take risks and fully automate their defenses, which will lead to a shift in the industry towards AI-native companies. AI summary
Read more → -
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.
Read more → -
Apple has settled with the European Union and the US over its App Store fees, with the EU reportedly satisfied with the terms. The settlement likely reduces the fees charged by Apple, which had faced antitrust scrutiny over its App Store commission structure. The decision follows a similar ruling in Germany, where the German Federal Cartel Office (FCCO) has also ruled that Apple's App Store fees are excessive. AI summary
Read more → -
Nvidia has partnered with OpenAI to support its data center, while Anthropic reported revenue growth, and Google acquired Spirit Airlines' data. AI summary
Read more →