This Month
The top five billionaire tech bros who are on the Trump train
From fawning phone calls to huge donations, here’s how the historically progressive bosses of Tesla, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Meta and OpenAI are preparing.
- Amelia McGuire
NZ firm turns $1b unicorn helping kids get into elite unis
The 11-year-old Crimson Education has cracked the billion-dollar valuation after a small fundraising round led by New Zealand venture capitalists.
- Paul Smith
August
Apple plans its smallest computer ever
As part of an overhaul of the Mac line with AI-focused M4 chips, the Mac Mini will get its first big redesign since it was revamped under Steve Jobs in 2010.
- Mark Gurman
Billionaires fund Santos’ bête noire
Gas circles have long pondered the possible connection of Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest to a case against the gas giant. But he’s not involved.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
June
How the tech elite went from disruptors to disrupted
Some of the world’s most powerful business executives allowed themselves to be seduced by Donald Trump.
- Kara Swisher
Twiggy’s hot air always seems to pass muster
The wind farm Apple walked away from now has environmental approval, having promised to destroy a little less of a koala habitat.
- Updated
- Myriam Robin
- Opinion
- AI
Even Apple cannot explain why we need AI in our lives
A souped-up Siri and personalised emojis are coming, but there is little sense that Apple has edited down the possibilities of generative AI to prioritise the truly useful.
- Richard Waters
May
- Analysis
- AI
Nvidia’s share price is about to plummet, but it’s all part of the plan
Nvidia boss Jensen Huang knows this is his moment, and he’s capitalising on surging demand for his AI chips and his white-hot shares.
- Updated
- Paul Smith and James Thomson
- Opinion
- Workplace culture
How much fun should you have at work?
Jokes at work need to be deployed with skill and care. Yet, the best are glorious and the working world would be a far better place if we had a great deal more of them.
- Pilita Clark
- Opinion
- Start-ups
Why we should celebrate the unsung heroes of the Aussie tech scene
Successful start-up exits deliver rich returns to investors and create wealth for founders and some employees, and hopefully recycle talent back into the sector.
- Leigh Jasper
March
- Opinion
- Tech Observed
How the US suing Apple could change Australians’ digital world
The US Department of Justice has taken Apple to task over the very things it’s being tried for in a Melbourne courtroom. Does one case affect the other?
- John Davidson
February
The Apple fever dreams of Chris Ellison
The mining billionaire went after the company’s doubters, deploying surreal image adjacency to the world’s largest company.
- Mark Di Stefano
Nvidia’s AI-fuelled rocket ship draws acclaim and doubters
The explosive growth of Nvidia dates back to a Steve Jobs-like visionary decision but investors are betting on how long its dominance of the AI market can last.
- Jessica Sier and Paul Smith
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has become a Steve Jobs-like tech giant
Now a Wall Street hero, Nadella initially faced scepticism that he could change Microsoft’s combative culture after 22 years inside the company.
- Matt O'Brien
November 2023
- Opinion
- Software
Sam Altman’s attitude shows the cult of the founder will not die
OpenAI CEO’s removal reveals an unappealing side of the 38-year-old, undermining the humility that made people worry less about artificial intelligence.
- Dave Lee
- Opinion
- AI
Adults are replacing altruists at OpenAI
Economist Larry Summers are other experienced figures will make returning CEO Sam Altman more accountable to investors, especially Microsoft.
- Parmy Olson
The long shadow of Steve Jobs looms over the turmoil at OpenAI
One of the most persistent tech cliches is of the visionary founder – who can reach into the future, break off a piece and make it into something the masses adore.
- David Streitfeld
OpenAI board taps former Twitch CEO to succeed Altman
Emmett Shear won over directors because he appeared to recognise the existential threats that AI presented.
- Ashlee Vance, Emily Chang and Ed Ludlow
OpenAI investors push to reinstate Sam Altman as CEO
Microsoft’s Satya Nadella was left blindsided and furious by the decision to sack Sam Altman. He has since pledged to support him in whatever steps he takes.
- Updated
- Cade Metz, Mike Isaac and Erin Griffith
- Analysis
- The Breakdown
As Albanese travels to China, Apple’s results offer a warning
The company has navigated China better than any other Western big tech firm, but its sales there still fell short of expectations last quarter.
- Nick Bonyhady