Tick Tock, TikTok | The Vergecast

Gadget Industry Trends - The gadget industry is seeing a convergence of devices, with everything becoming more similar [1] - Rumors and speculations are circulating about gadgets that have been rumored for a decade or more, including a foldable iPhone and touchscreen Macs [10][11] - Google is reportedly working on combining Android and Chrome OS, aiming for a common technical foundation for PCs and smartphones [14] - The industry is grappling with the question of what the competitive purpose of Android as a laptop would be, given the existing market for Chrome OS [17] - Touchscreen MacBooks seem increasingly likely, driven by user expectations and the desire for more collaborative device experiences [21][22] - OpenAI and Johnny Ive are exploring various AI hardware concepts, including smart speakers, AI glasses, and voice recorders, but their direction remains unclear [24] Social Media and Political Landscape - A potential Tik Tok deal involves a consortium of investors, including Oracle and Andreessen Horowitz, raising concerns about political influence [27] - The deal highlights the influence of tech moguls who cozy up to political figures, potentially leading to a media environment that favors certain interests [27] - The fate of the Tik Tok algorithm is uncertain, raising questions about whether the app will remain the same after the deal [27] - There are concerns that a Tik Tok controlled by Oracle could be meaningfully different from one controlled by ByteDance, potentially impacting content and user experience [29] Business and Finance - American Express is offering a "premium theme" (dark mode) in its app as a perk for its Platinum card, which costs $895 per year [40] - Nvidia's investment in OpenAI and CoreWeave raises concerns about circular investments and the fragility of the AI ecosystem [39] - Nvidia's investment in OpenAI is characterized as Nvidia giving OpenAI a $100 billion gift card [40]