Piracy Is Back!

Piracy Is Back!

Feb 6, 2026 22m

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Episode Description

Claude Opus 4.6 arrives to crown Anthropic’s very good week, at least, for them it was good. You thought tech was spending big to build out for AI, but this week we’ve seen how big. Crypto seems to have really hit a sharp bear market. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, tv piracy is back, baby! Anthropic Releases New Model That’s Adept at Financial Research (Bloomberg) Anthropic debuts new model with hopes to corner the market beyond coding (The Verge) Big Tech to Spend $650 Billion This Year as AI Race Intensifies (Bloomberg) Europe Accuses TikTok of ‘Addictive Design’ and Pushes for Change (NYTimes) Bitcoin Falls Below $70,000 as Market Faces a ‘Crisis of Faith’ (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Inside Elon Musk’s $1.25 Trillion AI and Space Megamerger (WSJ) Everyone is stealing TV (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI-Generated Summary

Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 Unveiled

The episode kicks off with a focus on Anthropic, which has had a remarkable week following the launch of their new model, Claude Opus 4.6. This model is designed to perform detailed financial analyses and manage a range of work-related functions like spreadsheet creation and software development. The announcement has impacted the market strongly, with major financial service companies seeing a slump in their shares. The podcast highlights the significant advancements in AI from Anthropic, positioning Claude Opus 4.6 as a notable competitor in the market.

Big Tech's Unprecedented Spending

The discussion shifts to the significant capital expenditures by major tech companies, including Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft, which are projected to spend a combined $650 billion in 2026. This spending reflects the ongoing arms race in AI technology, with analysts drawing historical parallels to past investment booms. The podcast raises concerns about the implications of this narrow group of companies driving up construction spending and dominating economic data, while also noting the nervousness in the stock market over their respective earnings results.

Crypto Market in Crisis

The crypto segment reveals a sharp downturn with Bitcoin hitting lows not seen since late 2024. Analysts discuss the factors contributing to the market's crisis of faith and the impact of broader market stresses. Significant liquidity events have caused billions in liquidations amid uncertain sentiments. The podcast examines the trends in investor attitudes towards Bitcoin as a safe haven asset during turbulent times.

The Return of TV Piracy

The episode concludes with a grim humor noting the resurgence of TV piracy as consumers grow frustrated with the rising costs of streaming services. The rise of devices like Super Box and VC Box highlights a growing informal economy for illicit streaming. The podcast summarizes how these products offer access to a vast array of content while sidestepping legal issues, underlining the fundamental shifts in consumption behavior amid high subscription costs.

EU's TikTok Regulations

In an eye-catching development, the podcast discusses the European Union's preliminary findings that TikTok's design is addictive and poses potential risks to users. With regulation on the horizon, TikTok's response and the greater implications for social media regulations in general are explored. The discussion reflects broader concerns regarding user well-being amid the rapid evolution of digital platforms.