Big Tech
Big Tech on Beyond Market Intelligence: a running collection of 5 stories we have gathered and hand-picked because they are worth your time. Every post here touches on big tech in some way — the news, the analysis, the deep dives, and the occasional surprise find. Acme AI is the next-generation, AI-powered spreadsheet platform built to replace Excel and redefine how analysts, data scientists, and enterprise teams work with data. New stories are added to this page as we find them, so check back if you want to keep up with what is happening around big tech, or subscribe to the RSS feed to get them as soon as they are published. Browse the collection below, or head back to the homepage to see everything Beyond Market Intelligence is covering right now.
Nvidia’s $3.5B MediaTek bet reveals its plan for tackling Big Tech’s AI chip buildout
Nvidia's $3.5 billion investment in Taiwanese chipmaker MediaTek signals a strategic move to maintain its pivotal role in the burgeoning AI infrastructure landscape. As Big Tech increasingly explores in-house AI chip development, Nvidia is securing its position by fostering partnerships across the supply chain. This substantial investment underscores Nvidia’s commitment to remaining essential, even as the industry evolves. For further insights into the broader impact of AI, explore our article on "How AI could make it harder for governments to use hacking tools."
PhD Internship in smaller lab [D]
A PhD internship at a smaller, relevant lab presents a nuanced consideration for robotics/ML career paths. While internships at frontier labs like Nvidia or Google carry prestige, a strong, focused experience at a smaller institution can still be a significant asset, particularly given your PhD from a top UK university. The key is demonstrating the internship's impact and relevance to your desired role. Consider that "How important is having an internship to get a good job for ML PhD in USA?" explores similar concerns.
Silicon Valley loves young founders. Until it doesn’t.
Silicon Valley’s fascination with young founders is evolving. Historically, proximity to established tech giants was a prerequisite, but AI tools are democratizing the entrepreneurial landscape. Now, ambitious individuals can build and scale successful companies—often without ever entering a Big Tech office. This shift dramatically shortens timelines and empowers a new generation of innovators. Explore how this transformation is reshaping the future of startups; for deeper insights into AI agent behavior, see our related article, "OpenAI reportedly finds evidence that more of its agents ran amok."
‘No one’s making a phone like this’: Light’s co-founders on building for the anti-smartphone generation
Kaiwei Tang and Joe Hollier's Light Phone represents a deliberate shift away from the complexities of modern smartphones, offering a compelling alternative for an emerging "anti-smartphone" generation. After a decade of focused development—supported by figures like Andrew Yang—Light prioritizes simplicity and mindful technology use. This new flip phone arrives amidst a growing movement questioning Big Tech’s influence, and highlights a broader trend toward reclaiming attention. Further exploring AI-driven tools reshaping digital interaction, consider our recent article on Polar, an AI-first browser for knowledge workers.
Librarians are hosting viral ‘Avoiding AI’ workshops for people who are fed up with Big Tech
Demand for practical digital literacy is surging as individuals seek to navigate the evolving AI landscape. Across the nation, libraries are responding with unprecedentedly popular “Avoiding AI” workshops, empowering users to critically assess and manage their interaction with technology. These sessions address growing concerns about Big Tech's influence and offer actionable strategies for reclaiming control. For a broader perspective on the evolving AI ecosystem, explore “AI Root Cause Analysis Shifts from Model Reasoning to Context Engineering,” available on our site.