When AI Breaks Things

Feb 20, 2026 19m

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Episode Description

When your AI bot breaks your operations, even when you’re AWS. More on OpenAI’s hardware plans. Hey, remember Perplexity? What’s up with them? Is Uber roadkill in the self-driving car horserace? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Amazon service was taken down by AI coding bot (FT) Ex-Googlers Charged With Stealing Phone Processor Secrets (Bloomberg) OpenAI Plans to Price Smart Speaker at $200 to $300, as AI Device Team Takes Shape (The Information) Microsoft has a new plan to prove what’s real and what’s AI online (MIT Technology Review) Perplexity’s Retreat From Ads Signals a Bigger Strategic Shift (Wired) Uber, Latest Victim of Disruption Panic, Still Has Role in Robotaxis (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestion: Who needs a laptop when you have a folding phone? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI-Generated Summary

AI and AWS Outages

In recent events, Amazon's AI tools have been implicated in at least two AWS outages, including a significant 13-hour disruption in December due to the Kiro AI coding tool's autonomous actions. AWS relies heavily on AI tools for service improvements but the incidents raise concerns about the reliability of these tools, particularly those capable of self-operation without human oversight.

Legal Troubles for Ex-Google Engineers

Two former Google engineers and one of their family members have been charged with stealing trade secrets relating to Google's tensor chip. The indictment claims that they transferred proprietary files to a foreign communications app. This case underscores the continuing challenges tech companies face in safeguarding their intellectual property.

OpenAI's Ambitious Hardware Plans

OpenAI is ramping up its hardware developments with more than 200 personnel working on a range of AI devices including a smart speaker priced between $200 and $300. This speaker may feature advanced capabilities such as a camera for user interaction and purchasing items via facial recognition. However, mass production of additional devices like smart glasses isn’t expected until 2028.

Microsoft's Approach to AI Content Verification

Microsoft's AI Safety Team has proposed stringent standards for verifying AI-generated content, inspired by legislation focused on transparency. While the company is still deliberating on implementing these standards across its platforms, it acknowledges the challenges of ensuring reliability amid rapid technological advancements.

Perplexity's Strategic Shift Away from Advertising

In a notable strategic pivot, Perplexity has decided to abandon its plans to incorporate ads into its AI search service, focusing instead on subscription models and partnerships. Executives expressed concerns that advertising could undermine user trust, especially in light of slower-than-anticipated growth.

Uber's Place in the Self-Driving Car Race

The self-driving taxi market appears to be a competitive landscape primarily dominated by Waymo and Tesla, with Uber's involvement increasingly in question. As Waymo expands its operation independently, Uber is compelled to reassure investors of its viability amidst growing perceptions that it may not be a central player.

Weekend Longreads Suggestion

The suggested read for the weekend delves into whether foldable phones can replace laptops for on-the-go computing, reflecting on the practicality of such devices in various scenarios.