Rethinking Tech

Rethinking Tech

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. 1 DAG SIDEN

    The Silicon Valley Playbook: How Tech Billionaires Bend the Rules

    Silicon Valley is changing the game—and the rules of tech exits will never be the same. From Elon Musk folding XAI into SpaceX to Anthropic’s multi-billion-dollar deals, this episode breaks down how startups are using clever licensing and acqui-hire strategies to stay ahead—and avoid regulatory scrutiny. In this episode, we cover: Elon Musk’s $1.25T XAI + SpaceX deal explained How AI startups use non-exclusive licenses and acqui-hires Why these deals are shaking up investors, regulators, and employees The new power dynamics in Silicon Valley 💡 Why it matters:These deals aren’t just about money—they’re about influence, innovation, and the future of tech. Understand how the next wave of billion-dollar tech moves works before everyone else. 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    39 min.
  2. 1 DAG SIDEN · BONUSINDHOLD

    An 8-Year-Old Used AI to Deepfake a Teacher — What Are We Failing to Protect?

    An eight-year-old used AI to create an explicit deepfake of a primary school teacher.The teacher resigned.And almost nothing else happened. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack a disturbing case from London that exposes how unprepared schools, parents, platforms, and governments are for AI’s impact on children, consent, and safety. This isn’t a story about futuristic risk. It’s about what happens when powerful tools reach kids faster than responsibility, guardrails, or accountability. How an AI “nudify” deepfake led to a teacher quitting — and why the response failed Why schools and parents quietly avoided accountability The normalization problem: when extreme behavior is brushed aside The demand-driven design of harmful AI features Why “innovation has collateral damage” is no longer an acceptable defense The age-restriction comparison: why AI needs guardrails like alcohol or smoking Why reactive bans come too late — and what proactive protection should look like This episode isn’t about punishing a child.It’s about recognizing a systemic failure. When AI can strip consent, dignity, and safety — and society responds with silence — the harm doesn’t stop with one incident. It becomes normalized. The real question isn’t whether kids will find these tools.It’s why adults keep allowing them to exist unchecked. What this episode covers is Why this matters 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    6 min.
  3. 2 DAGE SIDEN · BONUSINDHOLD

    France Is Ditching US Big Tech — Is Digital Sovereignty Finally Real?

    Big Tech built the digital world governments run on.Now France is trying to unplug from it. In a quiet but consequential move, France has launched Visio — a state-mandated video-conferencing platform designed to replace Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and WebEx across government services by 2027. It’s not about software. It’s about sovereignty. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack why France started with communications tools, what this signals for Europe, and why digital independence may be far harder than it sounds. Why France chose video conferencing as the first US Big Tech replacement How Visio fits into a broader push for digital and data sovereignty The hidden risks of relying on US-controlled communications infrastructure Why most countries can’t achieve full tech sovereignty — even if they want to The trade-off governments face: security vs. service quality A practical framework for deciding what tech to build, buy, or replace Why decoupling from Big Tech may mean years of friction and degraded services Whether this sparks real innovation — or just short-term chaos This isn’t about France versus Microsoft.It’s about who controls the infrastructure modern states depend on — and what happens when trust in global platforms breaks down. Digital sovereignty sounds simple. In practice, it means higher costs, imperfect tools, and long transition periods. France is finding out what happens when governments stop talking about control — and start trying to build it. What this episode covers is Why this matters 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    7 min.
  4. 3 DAGE SIDEN · BONUSINDHOLD

    India–EU Free Trade Deal: A New Power Bloc Emerges as the US Pushes Back

    After nearly two decades of stalled negotiations, India and the European Union have finalized what leaders are calling one of the most consequential free trade agreements in decades — spanning nearly 2 billion people and a quarter of the global economy. But this deal isn’t happening in a vacuum. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack why the EU is accelerating trade ties with India now, how US pressure and geopolitical uncertainty shaped the timing, and why this agreement signals a deeper shift in global power, trade, and technology alignment. Why the EU turned to India as a strategic trade partner amid growing friction with the US How US criticism frames the deal as indirectly subsidizing Russian energy — and why that argument is complicated The parallel US–India energy deal involving Venezuelan oil Whether Europe’s rhetoric on “fair trade over tariffs” matches its economic reality Why both India and the EU may still ultimately prioritize access to the US market What this deal could mean for tech, digital infrastructure, and future innovation The quiet role of digital ID, payment traceability, and regulatory convergence This isn’t just a trade agreement — it’s a stress test for global alliances. As the US, EU, and India recalibrate power, energy flows, and technology dependencies, this deal reveals how sovereignty, economics, and geopolitics are becoming inseparable. The real question isn’t who signed — it’s who gains leverage, who adapts fastest, and who still sets the rules when trade blocs collide. What this episode covers is Why this matters 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    5 min.
  5. 4 DAGE SIDEN · BONUSINDHOLD

    Moltbook: When AI Agents Get Their Own Social Network

    AI agents just got their own social platform — and humans aren’t invited to participate. Moltbook exploded across the internet this week as a “social network for AI agents,” where bots talk to bots while humans can only watch. What followed was predictable: viral screenshots, talk of AI religions, manifesto posts declaring humans obsolete — and a wave of panic that burned just as fast as it spread. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack what Moltbook actually is, why it went viral, and what the frenzy reveals about how easily fear can be engineered in the AI era. What Moltbook really is — and why humans are locked out How non-authentic AI bots and scams fueled the hype Why “AI manifestos” triggered outsized fear The mechanics of viral panic in tech discourse How the same attention loops power protests, outrage, and misinformation Why this moment matters less for AI — and more for human behavior The real risks of agentic AI (and why Moltbook isn’t one of them) Moltbook isn’t the beginning of an AI takeover — but it is a warning sign. This episode isn’t about bots plotting against humanity. It’s about how easily narratives spread, how fear scales faster than facts, and how unprepared we are to regulate technology that evolves faster than our institutions. The question isn’t whether AI agents are organizing. It’s whether humans can keep their footing when they are no longer at the center of the conversation. What this episode covers is Why this matters 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    8 min.
  6. 5 DAGE SIDEN · BONUSINDHOLD

    Tesla Isn’t a Car Company Anymore: Elon Musk’s Bet on AI, Robots, and Space

    Tesla is quietly telling the market something uncomfortable: the future of the company isn’t cars. As Chinese EV makers like BYD overtake Tesla in unit sales, Elon Musk is shifting focus — away from mass-market vehicles and toward autonomous driving, robo-taxis, humanoid robots, and AI-powered machines. At the same time, Musk is folding his companies closer together, merging XAI into SpaceX in a trillion-dollar internal deal that raises bigger questions about valuation, control, and what Tesla is actually becoming. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda zoom out to the Elon-level strategy — and ask whether this is a visionary pivot, a financial engineering play, or a signal that the EV era is already maturing. Why Tesla is deprioritizing cars in favor of autonomy, robo-taxis, and robotics How BYD overtaking Tesla in global EV shipments changed the competitive landscape The retirement of the Model S and Model X — and what that says about Tesla’s priorities Elon Musk’s $1.25T XAI–SpaceX deal and why “paper wealth” still matters Why keeping companies private is becoming more attractive than IPOs The real bottleneck in AI: compute, cooling, and infrastructure — not models Why XAI ended up inside SpaceX instead of Tesla Whether Tesla’s future revenue lies in licensing autonomy and AI — not selling cars This isn’t just a Tesla story. It’s a signal about where tech power is consolidating. As EVs become commoditized and Chinese manufacturers scale faster, Musk is repositioning Tesla as part of a larger AI-infrastructure empire — one built on autonomy, robotics, and space-based compute. The question isn’t whether the vision is ambitious. It’s whether the markets — and society — are ready to follow him there. Tesla may still sell cars.But Elon Musk is betting that the real future isn’t driving — it’s control of the machines that do. What this episode coversWhy this matters 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    8 min.
  7. 6 DAGE SIDEN · BONUSINDHOLD

    Fighter Jets, Sovereignty, and Pressure Politics: Canada Pushes Back on the U.S.

    Canada just tested the limits of its closest alliance — and the U.S. responded with pressure. After signaling hesitation on its F-35 fighter jet purchase, Canada was publicly warned that U.S. jets could enter Canadian airspace under existing defense arrangements. Officially, this is about security. Unofficially, it’s about leverage, dependence, and who really controls sovereignty inside modern alliances. What this episode covers In this week’s Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack the story through defense, geopolitics, and industrial policy: Why Canada is rethinking the F-35 deal — and what wasn’t said publicly The hidden risks of defense dependence, from kill switches to supply chains Why Canada is exploring alternatives like Saab — and the promise of domestic jobs How NORAD and shared airspace became a pressure point Why this mirrors U.S. moves on chips, manufacturing, and economic nationalism The uncomfortable question: where does alliance end and coercion begin? Why this matters This isn’t just about fighter jets. It’s about how middle powers protect autonomy when alliances start to feel asymmetric. Canada’s move reflects a broader global shift: countries want security partnerships without total dependence. The U.S. response shows how power is enforced when strategic interests are challenged. The deeper question isn’t whether Canada is right or wrong — it’s whether sovereignty is still possible inside modern defense alliances. 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    5 min.
  8. 4. FEB. · BONUSINDHOLD

    Who Really Controls Africa’s Internet? Big Tech, Satellites, and Data Power

    Big Tech says it’s bringing internet access to Africa.But this isn’t just about connectivity — it’s about who controls the pipes, the data, and the future of the world’s fastest-growing population. In this episode of Rethinking Tech, Aparna and Harinda unpack why Amazon has just joined Starlink, Google, and Meta in the race to wire Africa — and why the stakes go far beyond broadband. Africa remains the least connected region in the world, with less than 40% of the population online. That gap has turned the continent into the most strategic growth market in tech — and the battleground is split between satellite constellations in space and subsea cables under the ocean. Amazon’s new low-earth-orbit satellite license in Nigeria — and how it puts Amazon head-to-head with Starlink Why Google and Meta are betting on massive subsea cable projects instead of satellites Satellite internet vs. undersea cables: speed, scale, cost, and control Why Africa’s population growth makes connectivity a long-term geopolitical prize The sovereignty dilemma: should governments build national internet infrastructure — or outsource it to Big Tech? How “free” connectivity becomes a gateway to data extraction and ad-driven monetization Why weaker data and AI regulations in Africa raise serious long-term risks The bigger question: is access to the internet a human right — and if so, who should provide it? This isn’t a story about altruism or innovation alone.It’s about platform power, data ownership, and who benefits when entire regions come online for the first time. As satellites launch overhead and cables land on African shores, the real question isn’t whether Africa will be connected — it’s who will profit, who will govern the data, and who will set the rules. What this episode cover to Why this matters 🔗 Connect with Us 📺 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👤 Aparna: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/aparnabhushan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠👤 Harinda: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/harindak/⁠

    7 min.

Om

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.