Rethinking Tech

Rethinking Tech
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The news often gives us a narrow, surface-level view of what’s happening in the tech world. We help you go deeper by connecting today’s events to the past, helping you zoom out to see the bigger picture - what’s happening, what’s coming, and how it all impacts you.

  1. 14 HR AGO

    Trump Reopens Nvidia Chip Sales to China — With a Catch

    A major shift is unfolding in U.S. tech policy. In this x10 episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda break down how Trump has loosened restrictions on certain Nvidia chip sales to China, allowing exports to resume under a new framework — including a 25% fee paid by Nvidia to the U.S. government on sales made directly to China. They discuss: What restrictions are being relaxed — and what remains off-limits Why Nvidia sits at the center of U.S.–China tech tensions How fees and controls are being used as policy tools What this move signals about the future of semiconductor geopolitics How economic incentives are reshaping national security decisions This episode explains why chips are no longer just a tech issue — but a bargaining chip in global power politics. 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 LinkedIn (Aparna): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/👤 LinkedIn (Harinda): https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/ ⭐ Stay Connected

    5 min

  2. 3 DAYS AGO

    OpenAI Declares Code Red — Everything Is Changing Or Is It?

    OpenAI has quietly declared Code Red — and it signals a major shift in priorities. In this x10 episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda break down why OpenAI is pulling back from experimentation and refocusing on its core mission: building better models. After years of testing products, partnerships, and business directions, the company is now signaling that model improvement comes first. They discuss: What “Code Red” actually means inside OpenAI Why model performance has become the top priority again How internal focus is shifting away from distractions What this reset says about the current state of AI development Why scaling AI is harder — and more fragile — than it looks This episode explains why OpenAI is going back to the basics — and why that matters for the future of AI. ⭐ Stay Connected 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👤 LinkedIn (Aparna): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/👤 LinkedIn (Harinda): https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/

    6 min

  3. 4 DAYS AGO

    China Names Dutch Spies — A Dangerous Escalation in the Nexperia Saga

    China has taken an extraordinary step: publicly naming alleged Dutch intelligence operatives — a rare and deliberate escalation that pushes the ongoing Nexperia dispute into far more dangerous territory.In this x10 episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda break down why China chose to go public, how this move fits into the broader Nexperia drama, and what it signals about the deepening intersection of technology, national security, and geopolitics.They discuss:Why China’s decision to name alleged spies marks a major escalationHow the Nexperia case has moved beyond corporate control into state conflictWhat this reveals about Europe–China relations under strainWhy semiconductors, intelligence, and sovereignty are now inseparableHow public exposure is being used as a geopolitical weapon📰 Read the reporting that sparked this discussion:👉 https://www.dutchnews.nl/2025/12/china-names-dutch-spies-online-as-nexperia-row-lingers/This episode explains why the Nexperia story is no longer just about chips — but about power, retaliation, and where the next line may be crossed.

    5 min

  4. 5 DAYS AGO

    Pax Silica: The Anti-China Chip Alliance That Could Rewire the World!

    Is the world entering a new tech alliance designed to contain China’s semiconductor dominance? 🇺🇸🇹🇼🇯🇵🇳🇱 In this Rethinking Tech x10 episode, Aparna and Harinda break down the emerging Pax Silica Initiative — a strategic convergence of the United States, Taiwan, Japan, and the Netherlands that could reshape the global chip landscape. With semiconductors at the heart of national power and economic competition, this alliance raises big questions about technology, security, and geopolitical strategy. We explore: What the Pax Silica Initiative actually is and why it’s gaining traction How key world leaders are aligning on chip policy and supply chains What this means for China’s rise in technology and global influence The broader context of semiconductor geopolitics in 2025 and beyond Whether this marks the start of a new global tech front Get the full official context from the U.S. State Department here:👉 https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/12/pax-silica-initiative?utm_source=archives.internationalintrigue.io&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-world-watches-bondi&_bhlid=aab52fc53b284be4b3d57b373e7992424cdb5552 This short episode cuts through the headlines to explain why semiconductors are now central to global power and alliance building — and how this could affect tech, policy, and world stability.

    6 min

  5. 16 DEC

    Australia Just Banned Social Media for Teens: Is This the Start of a Global Crackdown?

    Australia just made a historic move: banning social media for anyone under 16 — and it could trigger a global chain reaction. 📵This isn’t just about teens and TikTok. It’s about governments challenging Big Tech, societies redefining childhood, and a fundamental question: Who should control the digital lives of young people — parents, platforms, or the state? In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda break down what this ban actually means for Australia, how it fits into a rising global trend of age restrictions, and why this moment could shape the future of Generation Alpha, democracy, and the entire tech industry. We explore: Why Australia acted first — and why other countries may follow The ethics of protecting children vs. respecting parental responsibility Why social media harms are finally reaching political breaking points The impossible challenge of age verification and digital identity How the ban could financially shake Big Tech giants What happens to a generation raised outside of algorithmic platforms The geopolitical fight between the U.S., EU, and the rest of the world on tech regulation How societies — not companies — ultimately define accountability What “success” in tech regulation actually looks like This is the episode that reveals what’s really at stake when a country decides teens should not be allowed on social media. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Australia's Social Media Ban: A Game Changer00:45 Understanding the Implications of the Ban01:16 The Global Trend Towards Age Restrictions02:12 The Ethical Debate: Protecting Children vs. Parental Responsibility05:13 Identifying the Core Issues with Social Media07:43 The Tech Landscape: Age Verification Challenges10:13 The Financial Impact on Big Tech12:53 The Future of Generation Alpha and Social Media14:44 The Competitive Landscape for Tech Companies16:21 The Role of Society in Tech Accountability17:36 Geopolitical Implications of Tech Regulation18:42 Defining Success in Tech Regulation20:21 The U.S. Response to Global Tech Regulation21:05 The EU's Position in Global Tech Politics25:37 Ethics and Youth Perspectives on Social Media29:43 The Broader Impact of Technology on Society ⭐ Stay Connected 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RethinkingTech🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6NYgOPmYW6Ba2LFn3IBST3🍏 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/rethinking-tech/id1795651530📸 TikTok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast 👤 LinkedIn (Aparna): https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/ 👤 LinkedIn (Harinda): https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/

    27 min

  6. 11 DEC

    Technopolitics - Understanding How Geopolitics Is Reshaping Global Tech: What Business Leaders Need to Know

    On this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna speaks with digital sovereignty expert Damien Kopp about the growing importance of technopolitics - the intersection of technology, geopolitics, and national power. Damien outlines why business and technology leaders must rethink traditional business continuity planning to account for new vulnerabilities driven by global tensions, data-residency laws, supply-chain dependencies, and the ideological biases embedded in modern AI systems. Together, they examine how conflicts, regulation, and competition between major powers like the U.S. and China are reshaping technology choices for companies worldwide. Damien offers a practical framework for assessing geopolitical exposure within tech stacks, discusses the misconceptions around “sovereign clouds,” and explores how emerging power blocs such as the BRICS are redefining digital influence. This conversation provides a clear, forward-looking analysis for organizations seeking resilience in an increasingly fragmented technological landscape. 📌 Stay Connected🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Tik Tok: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast 👤 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/ 👤 LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠ 👤 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienkopp/

    29 min

  7. 9 DEC

    How Advertising in LLMs Could Reshape Power, Influence & Politics

    AI is rewriting the advertising industry — and the next trillion-dollar frontier may belong to OpenAI. 📲In this episode of Rethinking Tech, hosts Aparna and Harinda unpack how the ad industry really works, why tech companies became ad companies, and what it means when LLMs and generative AI start selling influence at scale. From hyper-personalized ads to political micro-targeting, from data extraction to democracy itself, they explore how AI is transforming advertising into one of the most powerful — and dangerous — forces in society. 📢 How the advertising industry evolved into a trillion-dollar global machine 💸 Why tech companies like Google, Meta — and now OpenAI — rely on ads for survival 🧠 How personalization, data, and LLMs create the most persuasive ads ever built ⚖️ The ethical dilemma of micro-targeting and psychological profiling 🗳️ How AI-powered ads can influence elections and democratic processes 🌍 The geopolitical power struggle behind AI advertising 🤖 What happens when AI systems start shaping what we see, buy, believe — and vote for 00:00 Introduction to Advertising and AI01:15 The Evolution of the Ad Industry03:45 Tech's Role in Advertising06:25 The Size and Impact of the Ad Market08:43 Personalization and Targeting in Ads11:29 The Future of Advertising with AI14:07 OpenAI's Potential Move into Advertising19:03 The Dilemma of Personalized Advertising21:44 AI's Impact on Democracy22:30 Political Advertising in the Digital Age25:13 The Role of AI in Information Consumption28:42 Geopolitical Implications of AI and Advertising31:00 Ethics of Advertising in Society 🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast 👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into AI, power, geopolitics, and the future of the digital world. 🎧 In this episode, Aparna and Harinda explore:⏰ Chapters📌 Stay Connected

    37 min

  8. 25 NOV

    European Values are being Rewritten by U.S. Big Tech | Digital Sovereignty, Geopolitics, AI & Ethics

    U.S. Big Tech is reshaping Europe — from culture and language to regulation, geopolitics, and digital identity. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda break down how American platforms, AI systems, and tech power are influencing the European Union’s values, sovereignty, and future.We explore:Why U.S. tech companies dominate European digital infrastructureHow American social media standards are shifting European culture and linguistic diversityThe impact of AI models built on U.S. values and biasesWhether the EU can still preserve its cultural identity in a digital-first worldHow geopolitics, NATO, security, and economic dependence tie Europe even closer to the U.S.The controversial EU “digital omnibus” deregulation effortWhether Europe is too late to build its own sovereign technology stack⏰Chapters 00:00 The Impact of US Tech on European Values06:57 Tech Players and Their Influence15:18 Geopolitical Implications of Tech20:37 Affordability Crises and Geopolitical Implications23:16 EU's Stance on Climate Change and Global Conflicts26:04 Cultural Values and Nationalism in Europe28:32 Technology Sovereignty and European Identity36:01 The Future of European Values in a Globalized World📌 Stay Connected🔗 Website: rethinkingtech.co📰 Substack: rethinktech.substack.com🎧 Spotify: Rethinking Tech🍏 Apple Podcasts: Rethinking Tech📸 Instagram: @rethinking_tech💼 LinkedIn: Rethinking Tech Podcast👉 Subscribe for more deep dives into protests, politics, tech, and global power struggles.

    37 min
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The news often gives us a narrow, surface-level view of what’s happening in the tech world. We help you go deeper by connecting today’s events to the past, helping you zoom out to see the bigger picture - what’s happening, what’s coming, and how it all impacts you.

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  • Creator
    Rethinking Tech
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    58
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    Clean
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    © Rethinking Tech
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