Hello everyone. The market is convinced that we have bottomed from the recent draw down in stocks and Bitcoin. The fourth company in history crossed a $4 trillion threshold yesterday. Amazon is launching a Starling competitor. And I join Maria Barto Romo to explain why tech is undervalued right now. We're live today from the desk of Anthony Pompiano. Before we get into today's episode, I need your help. We currently have 39,934 subscribers, but my goal is to get to 1 million of them. So, go ahead and hit th ...

Core Viewpoint - Amazon has announced a significant layoff plan, cutting approximately 14,000 employees, which represents about 4% of its total workforce of 350,000. This move is part of a broader strategy to enhance efficiency through AI and automation, despite the company's strong financial performance [10][21][28]. Group 1: Layoff Details - On October 28, Amazon communicated to 14,000 employees about the layoffs, with the majority being from the retail sector, including online shopping and logistics [10][18]. - The layoffs are primarily affecting mid to senior-level management, with over 78% of the first 7,500 notified employees being at levels L5 to L7 [17]. - Amazon will provide a 90-day "revival period" for affected employees, during which internal candidates will be prioritized for new roles [13][14]. Group 2: Financial Context - Despite the layoffs, Amazon's second-quarter revenue grew by 13% year-over-year, reaching $167.7 billion, exceeding Wall Street expectations [28]. - The company's leadership has emphasized the need to streamline operations to allocate resources towards AI and automation technologies, which are seen as critical for future competitiveness [22][32]. Group 3: Automation and AI Strategy - Amazon is investing heavily in automation, with plans to implement advanced robotic systems in its warehouses, aiming for a fully automated operation by 2027 [39][41]. - The company has acquired technology to develop intelligent robotic systems capable of adapting to various tasks, indicating a shift towards a more automated workforce [34][36]. - Analysts predict that the ongoing automation efforts could potentially replace over 500,000 blue-collar jobs in the coming years [42]. Group 4: Management Perspective - Amazon's management has framed the layoffs as a necessary step to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape, particularly the rise of AI [29][30]. - The strategy appears to be a resource reallocation rather than a short-term cost-cutting measure, focusing on long-term growth and efficiency [32][46]. - There are concerns about the sustainability of this approach, especially if the anticipated AI advancements do not materialize as expected [48].

Core Points - Amazon has announced a significant layoff plan, cutting approximately 14,000 employees, which represents about 4% of its total workforce of 350,000 [3][5][10] - The layoffs are primarily affecting the retail sector, with over 80% of the cuts coming from core departments such as online shopping, logistics, and grocery [7][10] - The company is shifting its focus towards AI and automation, indicating that the layoffs are part of a broader strategy to reduce costs and improve efficiency [10][12][20] Layoff Details - The layoffs were communicated through a letter from Senior Vice President Beth Galetti, who expressed regret over the decision [3][5] - The 14,000 figure represents net layoffs, excluding employees who successfully transitioned to other roles within the company [5] - A 90-day "revival period" will be offered to affected employees, during which the recruitment team will prioritize internal candidates for new positions [5][10] Financial Context - Despite the layoffs, Amazon's overall performance remains strong, with a reported 13% year-over-year sales growth, reaching $167.7 billion [17][18] - The company's CEO, Andy Jassy, emphasized the need to regain profitability and adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape [11][12] Automation and Future Strategy - Amazon is investing heavily in AI and robotics, with plans to automate its warehouses significantly by 2027 [21][22] - The company has already acquired technology from startups to enhance its robotic capabilities, aiming to improve operational efficiency [20][21] - Analysts predict that the ongoing automation efforts could potentially replace over 500,000 blue-collar jobs in the coming years [24][25] Management Perspective - The management's rationale for the layoffs is to streamline operations and reallocate resources towards new growth engines, rather than merely cutting costs [20][22] - There is a concern about the long-term implications of such aggressive automation strategies, especially if the anticipated AI advancements do not materialize as expected [27][28]

Core Viewpoint - Amazon has announced a significant layoff plan, cutting approximately 14,000 employees, which represents about 4% of its total workforce of 350,000. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and invest in AI and robotics to enhance efficiency [10][12][21]. Group 1: Layoff Details - On October 28, Amazon communicated to 14,000 employees about the layoffs through a letter from Senior Vice President Beth Galetti [10]. - The layoffs primarily affect mid to senior-level management, with over 78% of the first 7,500 notified employees being at levels L5 to L7 [17]. - The majority of the layoffs, over 80%, are from Amazon's retail business, including core departments like online shopping and logistics [18]. Group 2: Company Strategy - Amazon's leadership has indicated that the layoffs are part of a cost-cutting initiative aimed at reallocating resources towards upgrading its delivery network and investing in AI technologies [19][22]. - CEO Andy Jassy emphasized the need to reduce headcount in certain areas while increasing staffing in others to adapt to changing market conditions [23][30]. - The company is focusing on automation and AI to improve operational efficiency, with plans to implement highly automated warehouses by 2027 [40]. Group 3: Financial Implications - Despite the layoffs, Amazon's financial performance remains strong, with a reported sales increase of 13% year-over-year, reaching $167.7 billion [28]. - The stock price of Amazon rose by 1% on the day the layoff news was announced, indicating investor confidence in the company's restructuring efforts [5][6]. Group 4: Future Outlook - Analysts predict that Amazon's ongoing automation efforts could potentially replace over 500,000 blue-collar jobs in the coming years [42]. - The company is investing heavily in robotics, having acquired a startup focused on developing intelligent robotic systems, which will enhance its operational capabilities [34][36]. - There are concerns about the long-term implications of such aggressive automation strategies, particularly if the anticipated AI advancements do not materialize as expected [48].

Core Insights - Quantum computing has the potential to solve problems that are currently impossible for traditional supercomputers due to the unique properties of quantum qubits [1] - Current quantum computers are not yet capable of solving real-world problems faster than traditional computers, with notable benchmarks lacking practical applications [2] - Error correction remains a significant challenge in quantum computing, as qubits are fragile and prone to errors during computations [4] Company Developments - IBM aims to achieve full-scale quantum error correction by 2029 and true quantum advantage by the end of 2026, supported by a clear roadmap [6] - IBM's Nighthawk quantum processor, set to release this year, will feature 120 qubits and 5,000 quantum gates, with plans for future iterations to enhance capabilities [7] - The development of Starling, a fault-tolerant quantum computer, is planned for 2028, with a roadmap that includes three iterations of quantum chips leading up to its release [8][9] Market Potential - The economic value generated by quantum computing is estimated to reach $850 billion by 2040, with the market for quantum hardware and software potentially worth $170 billion [11] - IBM's current stock valuation appears reasonable given the potential of quantum computing, trading at approximately 19 times free cash flow based on the company's outlook for 2025 [12] - The company's hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence businesses are currently driving growth, while quantum computing is expected to contribute significantly in the 2030s and beyond [12]

Core Insights - IBM scientists claim to have solved the major bottleneck in quantum computing and plan to launch the world's first large-scale quantum computer by 2029, which will be 20,000 times more powerful than any existing quantum computer [1][2]. Quantum Error Correction - The primary technical barrier to the widespread adoption of quantum computers is "quantum error correction," as quantum bits (qubits) are highly sensitive to environmental interactions, leading to errors due to a phenomenon known as "decoherence" [1]. - IBM's new quantum computer, named "Starling," will utilize 200 logical qubits composed of approximately 10,000 physical qubits, while a subsequent model, "Blue Jay," is planned for 2033 with 2,000 logical qubits [2]. - IBM has developed a novel quantum error correction method that allows quantum hardware to surpass previous limitations, using more efficient LDPC error correction codes to reduce the number of physical qubits required for reliable logical qubits [2]. Future of Quantum Computing - Currently, quantum computers can only utilize a few hundred qubits, limiting their application to custom problems that test their potential against traditional binary computers [3]. - IBM envisions future quantum computers capable of using hundreds of millions of qubits to ensure widespread adoption, necessitating the development of new algorithms and programs to fully leverage their high performance [3].

Group 1: Core Announcement - IBM has announced the development of Starling, the world's first large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer, set for release in 2029, which will operate 20,000 times more operations than current quantum machines [1][2] Group 2: Importance of Fault Tolerance - Starling's fault tolerance enables practical applications in various industries, including drug discovery, semiconductor design, supply chain optimization, and financial risk modeling [2] Group 3: Market Performance - Following the announcement, IBM's stock reached an all-time high of $273.27 on June 9, with a 60% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 12% gain during the same period [3] Group 4: Technical Innovation - IBM's new quantum error correction code, qLDPC, is more efficient and scalable than Google's surface code, requiring fewer qubits and less physical space [4][5] Group 5: Industry Outlook - The quantum computing industry is projected to expand to $8.6 billion by 2028, indicating a significant shift towards fully integrated, large-scale quantum systems [6] Group 6: Quantum Computing ETFs - Quantum Computing ETFs include a mix of Big Tech leaders, quantum startups, and semiconductor firms, such as Defiance Quantum ETF (QTUM), Global X Future Analytics Tech ETF (AIQ), and ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK) [8]