The Weekend by The Information Staff

Every Saturday

The Weekend

By The Information Staff

Know what happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends and people shaping culture, technology and everything in between.

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Recent Editions

Art by Clark Miller. Gates image via Getty.

Bill Gates is the Smart Resistance

By Abram Brown · May 10, 2025 6:40am PDT · 1 comment

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Tech’s worries about privacy concerns are disappearing • The Top 5: The landscape designers who make Silicon Valley’s gardens bloom • Plus, our Recommendations: Life after “Conclave”; an original manosphere king; and crime up in the canyonsFor the wealthy and powerful who want to... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Tech’s worries about privacy concerns are...

What’s Bad About a Nice Robot?

What’s Bad About a Nice Robot?

By Abram Brown · May 3, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Arena: Why sports leagues learned to love creators and stop fighting them• The Top 5: The startups hoping for a “MAHA” boom• Power and Influence: Tech’s Trumpists have no regrets • Plus, our Recommendations: A sinister snafu; when India changed the world; Amy Sherman-Palladino strikes backWhy... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Arena: Why sports leagues learned to love creators...

Clark Miller

When Quitting is Best

By Abram Brown · Apr 26, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Netflix’s eager new friend? The NFL• The Top 5: Tech’s favorite microconferences and private summits • Plus, our Recommendations: an artworld mystery involving Dali, Basquiat and Haring; real talk about talking better; and a pair of detectives with unusual charmLet’s spend a moment to... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Netflix’s eager new friend? The NFL• The...

Art by Shane Burke

Weekend: OpenAI, Meta and Tech’s Copycat Games

By Abram Brown · Apr 19, 2025 7:00am PDT

Art by Shane Burke

Weekend: OpenAI, Meta and Tech’s Copycat Games

By Abram Brown · Apr 19, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Unity Software hopes for resurrection after a dramatic implosion• The Top 5: Inside tech’s robot bonanza • Plus, our Recommendations: Spotlight and the snitches; an “ER” for our era; and Jensen Huang, thinking machineHi, It’s Abe Brown, editor of The Information’s Weekend... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Unity Software hopes for resurrection...

Art by Clark Miller

A Safe Investment in Turbulent Times

By Sara Germano · Apr 12, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Patrick Collison’s political philosophy could change America • The Top 5: The very best podcasting gear• A look inside the Breakthrough Prize gala • Plus, our Recommendations: An “All-In” alternative; the liberal hoax that fueled deep-state paranoia; and John le Carré meets Agatha... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Patrick Collison’s political philosophy...

Art by Clark Miller

A Clearer Picture of OpenAI’s Next Battle

By Abram Brown · Apr 5, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: The father-son duo who sparked a spy scandal • The Arena: The WNBA and its new tech owners have a merch problem• Plus, our Recommendations: A Birkin bag version of “Succession”; Amy Poehler, podcast goddess; and why America loves a cultWell, look at that: We’ve broken ChatGPT. A... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: The father-son duo who sparked a spy...

Art by ChatGPT (and Clark Miller)

OpenAI Goes Ghibli, Tech’s Secret Chats

By Abram Brown · Mar 29, 2025 7:00am PDT · 3 comments

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How the startup behind Cursor became the hottest, vibiest thing in AI• The Top 5: The lobbyists Silicon Valley loves to hire • Plus, our Recommendations: The indentured servants who excel at scams; an Anxious Generation villain; and the existential link between Mel Brooks and Leonard... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How the startup behind Cursor became the...

Art by Clark Miller

Heroes, Villains and a Startup Spy

By Abram Brown · Mar 22, 2025 7:00am PDT

Art by Clark Miller

Heroes, Villains and a Startup Spy

By Abram Brown · Mar 22, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Inside the Deel-Rippling spy drama• The Arena: Exclusive new database! Meet all the techies who own sports teams• The Top 5: The people who help Silicon Valley hone its taste in art • Politics and Policy: Why Section 230 may finally get changed • Biotech: The woolly mammoth gets... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Inside the Deel-Rippling spy drama• The...

Art by Clark Miller

Vibe Coding Explained

By Abram Brown · Mar 15, 2025 7:00am PDT

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Amazon’s retail chief shifts from Bezos era• Artificial Intelligence: Scale AI’s billionaire CEO eyes a grander stage in politics• Plus, our Recommendations: Death at 28,000 feet; a VC tells all; and an unapologetically twisty apocalypse show“It was like strapping on an Iron Man suit and... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Amazon’s retail chief shifts from Bezos...

Art by Clark Miller (Photos: Getty Images)

Altman’s Opportunism Should Worry Trump

By Abram Brown · Mar 8, 2025 7:00am PST · 1 comment

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: We know how Project Stargate begins• The Top 5: The think tanks that matter to Trump and tech• Plus, our Recommendations: Anne Frank in America; how to make a millennial LOL; and when heart cancer warms the heart In Washington, time is a malleable concept. In some moments, it seems... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: We know how Project Stargate begins• The...

Art by Clark Miller

Anthropic's Secret Trick for Measuring Claude

By Abram Brown · Mar 1, 2025 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Why Runway thinks it can outrun OpenAI and Google• Artificial Intelligence: AI.com is up for sale. Asking price? $100 million• The Top 5: The very best sleep and health tech for kids • Plus, our Recommendations: A father confesses his darkest secrets; how a financial scheme fueled a... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Why Runway thinks it can outrun OpenAI...

Art by Clark Miller

Altman Gets the New York Treatment

By Abram Brown · Feb 22, 2025 7:00am PST

Art by Clark Miller

Altman Gets the New York Treatment

By Abram Brown · Feb 22, 2025 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How Apple and Qualcomm share tech’s rockiest marriage • Policy and Safety: New push for safety laws could lift parents fatigued by tech worries• The Top 5: Silicon Valley’s favorite snow toys • Shopping: Tech’s winter it item? The humble woolen ski sweater• Plus, our... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How Apple and Qualcomm share tech’s...

The NBA Meets Tech on Its Home Turf

The NBA Meets Tech on Its Home Turf

By Sara Germano · Feb 15, 2025 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Nuclear power could help tech solve its AI-driven electricity problem, if new reactors can actually get built.• Venture Bets: There’s a vibe shift in nuclear startup investing.• Clean Energy: Fusion, geothermal, solar. It’s not all about nuclear fission.• Plus, our Recommendations,... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Nuclear power could help tech solve its...

Art by Clark Miller

The AI Scene Awaiting JD Vance

By Abram Brown · Feb 8, 2025 7:00am PST · 1 comment

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: The Thiel protégé set to dispense a dose of abrupt change to the U.S. Health Department• The Top 5: The best high-tech protective gear for skiers and snowboarders• Plus, our Recommendations: A tricky traitor in the Troubles; a deeply researched television set; and Michael... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: The Thiel protégé set to dispense a dose...

Art by Clark Miller

Why Debanking Fears Could Benefit Trump

By Abram Brown · Feb 1, 2025 7:01am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: As Microsoft and Google move in, a battle over hallowed ground erupts• The Arena: The NFL and Netflix likely share a supersize dream• Artificial Intelligence: our new Glossary of AI Jargon • Plus, our Recommendations: Trackers of Gilded Age glam; requiem for the rock stars;... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: As Microsoft and Google move in, a ...

Donald Trump at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville last summer. (Getty Images)

Crypto’s Glory Days Hide An Uncomfortable Reality

By Abram Brown · Jan 25, 2025 7:00am PST · 1 comment

Donald Trump at the Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville last summer. (Getty Images)

Crypto’s Glory Days Hide An Uncomfortable Reality

By Abram Brown · Jan 25, 2025 7:00am PST · 1 comment

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How Poppi hopes to win the battle of the bubbles • Space Inc.: What India’s space odyssey could look like • Plus, our Recommendations: An explanation for our problematic shopping; a master novelist’s slim oeuvre; and a movie podcast for the nerdiest film nerdsThe most powerful and... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: How Poppi hopes to win the battle of the...

Art by Clark Miller

Wildfire Startups Need a SpaceX Moment

By Abram Brown · Jan 18, 2025 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Sports league startups bet on selfies and shape-shifting putting greens* Power and Influence: The tech industrial complex gets ready to party over Trump• Media and Entertainment: Apple’s most intriguing TV show• Plus, our Recommendations—for deep-winter binges: A buffed-up Baldur’s... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Sports league startups bet on selfies and...

Art by Clark Miller

Will Meta's Olive Branch Hurt TikTok?

By Abram Brown · Jan 11, 2025 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: A casual sex website with an underage sex problem• Power and Influence: DOGE goes headhunting • The Top 5: Where to travel after Davos • Plus: When a corporate marvel may be a communist spy ring; piecing together “Severance”; and an uncomfortable masterpieceA couple years ago, ... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: A casual sex website with an underage sex...

Protestors gather on Las Americas Highway in San Juan, Puerto Rico to decry the island's power crisis in 2021. (Getty Images)

An Island That Needs an Elon

By Abram Brown · Jan 4, 2025 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• Predictions: 18 things we think will happen in 2025 • Predictions: What happened with our guesses about 2024 • How to transform your productivity in the year ahead • Plus: Holmes at home; spilling tea on the Town; and Taylor Sheridan strikes againElon Musk already keeps a pretty full... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• Predictions: 18 things we think will happen in...

Art by Clark Miller

Some Educated Guesses about Elon

By Abram Brown · Dec 28, 2024 7:00am PST

Art by Clark Miller

Some Educated Guesses about Elon

By Abram Brown · Dec 28, 2024 7:00am PST

Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• Lists: 20 great books to read over the holidays.• Artificial intelligence: A marketplace for solving AI’s copyright woes? • Plus: The crust czar; a go-to travel shoe; and birds with bullets.Elon Musk really has reached a remarkable place within our lives, a type of ubiquity few other business titans... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• Lists: 20 great books to read over the holidays.• ...