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

The AI Fun Vanishes
The Weekend

The AI Fun Vanishes

By Abram Brown · Aug 3, 2024 7:00am PDT · 2 comments
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Will BlackSky be a space race standout—or another cautionary tale?• The Top 5: Techies love at-home blood tests.Plus: A digital mood board; mom versus Big Brother; and Terry Gilliam’s time arrives again.We live in an age in which artificial intelligence has already altered our lives and... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: Will BlackSky be a space race standout—or...
Will Zuck’s Embrace of ‘Badass’ Trump Haunt Him?
The Weekend

Will Zuck’s Embrace of ‘Badass’ Trump Haunt Him?

By Abram Brown · Jul 27, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: A lawyer who thinks social media and asbestos have a lot in common • The Top 5: New water toys that tech moguls love• Power and Influence: Kamala Harris’ Silicon Valley hive is fired up• Revisiting: The Parker Conrad–David Sacks feud • Plus: What eels say... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:• The Big Read: A lawyer who thinks social media and...
Musk’s Bogus California Exodus
The Weekend

Musk’s Bogus California Exodus

By Abram Brown · Jul 20, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Dawn of the Silicon Valley superbabyNew tech mogul must-have: a Jensen jacket Plus: A witty, extremely online weatherman; the ladies at Luxor; and Nicolas Cage goes Hannibal.Elon Musk is pledging to leave California—and to take his companies with him. As with many Musk declarations, his vow seems more... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Dawn of the Silicon Valley superbabyNew tech mogul...
Art by Clark Miller
An Ellison’s Comic Gay Adventure
By Abram Brown · Jul 13, 2024 7:00am PDT
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

An Ellison’s Comic Gay Adventure

By Abram Brown · Jul 13, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A tale of a remarkable Silicon Valley marathon The very finest fellowships for tech moguls Plus: Hasan Minhaj’s digital reinvention; a funny dog story; and a beachside riddle. Nimona and Ballister Boldheart seem unlikely to secure a place among cinema’s most remembered pairings of animated... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A tale of a remarkable Silicon Valley marathon The ...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Palantir and the Prime Minister

By Abram Brown · Jul 6, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Where Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook are going next week25 great TV shows and movies for summer 2024Plus: a jailhouse monster; how Juul caught fire; and a wonderland of Miyazaki-style magic.With the Fourth behind us, I suppose we’d all do best to grit our teeth and prepare ourselves for the slog... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Where Sam Altman, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook are going next...
The Weekend Newsletter
What happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends, people and companies shaping tech culture.
By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Silicon Valley’s Trump Shift Begins Now

By Abram Brown · Jun 29, 2024 6:00am PDT · 1 comment
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The fame, feud and fortune behind billionaire Alexandr WangThe best high-tech spasPlus: An apocalypse found; a marvelous, murderous melodrama; and requiem for a reality TV star.Until this moment, it was hard to know how seriously to take Donald Trump’s emerging courtship of Silicon Valley... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The fame, feud and fortune behind billionaire Alexandr...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

The Anti-Altman’s Hail Mary Pitch to Investors

By Abram Brown · Jun 22, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Jacob Helberg, the MAGA star popular with tech liberalsThe best apps for exploring naturePlus: Ferrets, puffins and guinea pigs, oh my; Scottish scaries; and how to summer in Italy from your sofa.Wanted! Investors for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shove millions of dollars into a nascent... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Jacob Helberg, the MAGA star popular with tech...
Art by Clark Miller
Why I’m Worried About a Fake Cannibal
By Abram Brown · Jun 15, 2024 7:00am PDT
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Why I’m Worried About a Fake Cannibal

By Abram Brown · Jun 15, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The AI cold war heats upThe best wedding planners for a tech mogul blowoutPlus: Netflix’s “Jaws”; Paul Giamatti’s peculiar podcast; and how Toyota caused toilet paper shortages.Lately, misinformation researchers have expended a considerable amount of energy sounding the alarm about fake online content... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The AI cold war heats upThe best wedding planners for a...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

A New List of The Worst VCs

By Abram Brown · Jun 8, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A lone shining light in food tech’s dark ageThe best summer camps for grownupsPlus: A tremendous trek through the Grand Canyon; “Succession” in breeches and gowns; and a gamified interview show.Venture capitalists excel at many things. For starters, they’re quite good at losing other people’s money. They’... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A lone shining light in food tech’s dark ageThe best...
What Happens After Melinda's Billion-Dollar Gift?
The Weekend

What Happens After Melinda's Billion-Dollar Gift?

By Abram Brown · Jun 1, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A Wall Street titan with Sequoia money  The very best ghostwriters for conjuring a bestsellerPlus: When crooks fell in love with an FBI messaging app; the tech that sparked a toe-curling scandal; and a joyous apocalypse.Melinda French Gates is wasting no time apparently. Less than a month after ... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A Wall Street titan with Sequoia money  The ...
The Weekend Newsletter
What happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends, people and companies shaping tech culture.
By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy
The Summer Guides To Read Before You Go Logoff
The Weekend

The Summer Guides To Read Before You Go Logoff

By Abram Brown · May 25, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter: Where techies should go to vacation this summer Book recommendations galorePlus: What men and women should wear to Sun ValleyThese words were written at a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet—or at least that’s where Captain Pat said we were a few minutes ago. Like many of you, I’m using the long weekend... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter: Where techies should go to vacation this summer ...
Wait, When Did Mark Zuckerberg Get Cool?
Wait, When Did Mark Zuckerberg Get Cool?
By Abram Brown · May 18, 2024 7:00am PDT · 2 comments
Wait, When Did Mark Zuckerberg Get Cool?
The Weekend

Wait, When Did Mark Zuckerberg Get Cool?

By Abram Brown · May 18, 2024 7:00am PDT · 2 comments
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A cautionary tale of startup ego and herd mentalityWhere to stay, network and dine in CannesPlus: The dangers around astro-ambitions; an intriguing underworld all over again; and a Hollywood resurrection that actually went well.  Remember a few years ago when Mark Zuckerberg existed in the public... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A cautionary tale of startup ego and herd mentalityWhere...
Apple Thought Different and Paid the Consequences
The Weekend

Apple Thought Different and Paid the Consequences

By Abram Brown · May 11, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Sequoia Capital’s Musk whisperer Our favorite new power-dining spots Plus: A funny-as-hell boss from hell; the mojo-less media; and a galactic bug hunt.As a small, dumb boy at heart, I saw the flying paint and smashed smithereens in Apple’s new iPad ad and honestly thought nothing more... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Sequoia Capital’s Musk whisperer Our favorite...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Weekend: FTX and the Shipwreck Treasure

By Abram Brown · May 4, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A race against Apple that didn’t go as expectedSilicon Valley’s favorite new supplementsPlus: The terrors of an AI afterlife; a CEO who loves to war; and the hit that Netflix missed.A very rare watch sold for $1.5 million at auction a few days ago, a 14-karat gold heirloom belonging to John Jacob Astor IV,... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A race against Apple that didn’t go as expectedSilicon...
How to Really Save TikTok
The Weekend

How to Really Save TikTok

By Abram Brown · Apr 27, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The great Tokyo gamble.Our favorite interior designers…for rescuing boring offices. Billionaire nerd buys The Onion, thinks he can solve media’s problems (yes, we’re serious!). Plus: Yo-Yo Ma, Apple and global politics; a videogame legend’s unexpected new work; and Michael Douglas as our nation’s... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The great Tokyo gamble.Our favorite interior designers…...
The Weekend Newsletter
What happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends, people and companies shaping tech culture.
By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy
Marques Brownlee Did the Brave Thing
Marques Brownlee Did the Brave Thing
By Abram Brown · Apr 20, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment
Marques Brownlee Did the Brave Thing
The Weekend

Marques Brownlee Did the Brave Thing

By Abram Brown · Apr 20, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The other Altman is ready for his close-upWhen a fake hurricane makes for good VC networkingThe Top 5: Best philanthropic advisersPlus: Taylor Swift’s cybersecurity woes; a demented poker game; and the unsung heroes of the sea who keep the internet afloat.Judging by the critical unison about Humane AI and... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The other Altman is ready for his close-upWhen a fake...
Why Google’s Demis Hassabis Won $3 Million
The Weekend

Why Google’s Demis Hassabis Won $3 Million

By Abram Brown · Apr 13, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A secretive weapons billionaire and his never-ending transformationWhere art insiders and Silicon Valley collectors make their hidden-gem purchasesA power lunch to end all power lunchesPlus: Apple’s latest chase; Spider-Man takes on Big Brother; and a billionaire investor’s favorite book.A week ago, Demis... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A secretive weapons billionaire and his never-ending...
Weekend: The NYT Gaming Czar Reveals His Playbook for Growth
The Weekend

Weekend: The NYT Gaming Czar Reveals His Playbook for Growth

By Abram Brown · Apr 6, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Microsoft’s hiring of Inflection co-founder Mustafa SuleymanHow an LA backwater turned into a hotbed of America-first capitalismThe Top 5: Best summer camps for future tech mogulsPlus: The guy who cost Reddit billions; a blast from Marvel’s past; an incredible shortcut through Robert Caro’s “The... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Microsoft’s hiring of Inflection co-founder...
Josh Kushner, The Next Unhappy Media Mogul?
The Weekend

Josh Kushner, The Next Unhappy Media Mogul?

By Abram Brown · Mar 30, 2024 7:00am PDT · 2 comments
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The skinny on Kim Kardashian’s Skims—and how it dodged retail armageddon.Beyoncé water and fake Pilsner: Our top 5 favorite New Age canned beverages that thirsty VCs love, too.Plus: The perils of inheritance; a man who could save us from our sinking world; and how a football star, a preacher and an actor... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The skinny on Kim Kardashian’s Skims—and how it dodged...
The Billionaires Trying to Save Our Worlds
The Billionaires Trying to Save Our Worlds
By Abram Brown · Mar 23, 2024 7:00am PDT
The Billionaires Trying to Save Our Worlds
The Weekend

The Billionaires Trying to Save Our Worlds

By Abram Brown · Mar 23, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Jeff Bezos’ plan for Blue Origin to rocket past Elon Musk’s SpaceXThey counsel Zuckerberg and advise Sam Altman: our picks of the top lawyers for startupsPlus: “3 Body Problem”; a startup’s glowing Frankenplant; and an unshakable source of American anxietyOver the last few days, I’ve spent much of... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Jeff Bezos’ plan for Blue Origin to rocket past...