FT Tech Tonic

4.4 (81)
TECHNOLOGY
UPDATED WEEKLY

We are in the midst of a digital revolution, where the line between our physical world and cyberspace is blurring. Tech Tonic is the show that investigates the promises and perils of this new technological age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

DEC 3

The geopolitics of chips: Nvidia and the AI boom

Amid the artificial intelligence boom, demand for AI chips has exploded. But this push for chips also creates new challenges for countries and companies. How will countries cope with the huge amounts of energy these chips consume? Will anyone compete with Nvidia to supply the AI chips of the future? And can China develop its own chips to fuel its own AI development? James Kynge visits a data centre to find out how advanced AI chips are causing new problems for the sector. In Phoenix, Arizona, James meets Mark Bauer, co-leader with JLL's Data Center Solutions group, and Frank Eichenhorst, vice president of data centre operations at PhoenixNAP. How will the clash of titans play out between NVIDIA and Big Tech? And we hear from Amir Salek, senior managing director at Cerberus Capital and the brains behind Google’s TPU chip; Tamay Besiroglu, associate director of Epoch AI; Dylan Patel, lead analyst at consulting firm SemiAnalysis; and the FT’s global tech correspondent Tim Bradshaw to find out more about the battle for AI chips. SMIC did not respond to a request for comment. Free links to read more on this topic: Nvidia and the AI boom face a scaling problem Chip challengers try to break Nvidia’s grip on AI market Amazon steps up effort to build AI chips that can rival Nvidia TSMC says it alerted US to potential violation of China AI chip controls Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Joseph Enrick Salcedo, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Tim Bradshaw. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

24 min
NOV 26

The geopolitics of chips: Taiwan’s ‘Silicon Shield’

The global tech industry depends on Taiwan’s semiconductor chips and many believe the sector plays a key role in the island’s national security, helping stave off an invasion from mainland China. But as relations between China and Taiwan worsen, some countries are taking steps to become less reliant on Taiwanese chips. Already, the US, Germany and Japan have lured Taiwanese semiconductor makers to their own shores. Could that make Taiwan a more vulnerable target for attack? Presenter James Kynge visits the island and speaks to FT greater China correspondent Kathrin Hille, Taiwan's science and technology minister Cheng-Wen Wu, the president of Taiwan's semiconductor industry association Chih-I Wu, UMC associate vice-president Michael Wang, and Hsin-mei Cheng, writer and producer of 'Zero Day', a TV show about a hypothetical invasion from the mainland. Free links to read more on this topic: US and Taiwan seek to strengthen drone supply chain to keep out China Taiwan’s new leader faces China threat and voters left behind by chip boom Taiwan on the faultline Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Sam Giovinco, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Kathrin Hille. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 min
NOV 19

The geopolitics of chips: A manufacturing miracle

Semiconductors are one of the most complex and technically difficult pieces of hardware to make in the world – which is why they’ve become a flashpoint for tensions between the US and China. For years, semiconductor technology has advanced at a breakneck pace - but there are signs that this might be slowing down. What will that mean for the global fight for chips? The FT’s longtime China correspondent James Kynge travels to the Netherlands to see ASML’s extreme ultraviolet lithography system, one of the most complex machines on the planet. Plus, we hear from the man at Intel charged with keeping Moore’s Law going, and from Chris Miller, author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology. Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Joseph Salcedo and Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Tim Bradshaw. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

31 min
NOV 12

The geopolitics of chips: Chips in the USA

The next superpower will be a tech superpower, and to be that superpower you need to have some control over the semiconductor industry which is driving the AI revolution. But almost all advanced semiconductors are made in Taiwan — and it is under constant threat of a Chinese invasion. President Joe Biden’s Chips Act promises lavish subsidies to companies working to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to US soil. Will those subsidies survive once Donald Trump, the president-elect, is in the White House? The FT’s James Kynge, is in Phoenix, Arizona, the former heartland of American chip manufacturing. He speaks to those trying to revive the US chipmaking industry. Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Tim Bradshaw. Clips: The Joe Rogan Experience, CNBC Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 min
SEASON 13 TRAILER

Coming soon: The fight for the future of chips

There's a battle going on for control of the global semiconductor industry – the chips that are in virtually every piece of electronics we use from our phones to our cars to the latest AI software. For the past half century, chips have quietly powered the technological revolution. In this series, James Kynge goes deep into the miracle of modern chip manufacturing and the struggle over who commands its future. Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is the senior producer. The producer is Josh Gabert-Doyon. Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Tim Bradshaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 min
SEP 10

The Telegram case: Privacy vs security

What are the limits of privacy when it comes to our online lives? If authorities are investigating a crime, should they be able to access private messages sent between two individuals? In this episode of Tech Tonic, John Thornhill interviews Eva Galperin, director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which campaigns for the right to digital privacy. After the detention of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov for failing to cooperate with French authorities, they discuss encryption technology and what sort of messaging data companies do share with governments. Want more? How France embraced Telegram’s Pavel Durov – before turning on him Pavel Durov, Telegram’s self-mythologising founder How Telegram chief Pavel Durov miscalculated on moderation Emmanuel Macron hits back at claims Telegram chief’s arrest is political The Durov case is not about free speech Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

28 min
SEP 3

The Telegram case: Pavel Durov

The FT’s Innovation editor John Thornhill and San Francisco tech correspondent Hannah Murphy have in the past both met and interviewed Pavel Durov, the secretive founder of Telegram who was arrested in France for alleged failure to address criminality on the messaging app. In the first episode of a two-part series, they discuss how Durov went from free speech hero to a wanted man, and what the charges against him mean for the future of Telegram – and Big Tech – and the limits of free speech. Does his arrest flag a turning point in the regulation of social media platforms? Want more? Pavel Durov, Telegram’s self-mythologising founder How Telegram chief Pavel Durov miscalculated on moderation Emmanuel Macron hits back at claims Telegram chief’s arrest is political The Durov case is not about free speech Russian lawmakers hit back at arrest of Telegram chief Pavel Durov in France This episode of Tech Tonic is presented by John Thornhill and Hannah Murphy. The producer is Persis Love. Edwin Lane is senior producer. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound engineering by Breen Turner. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

35 min
AUG 29

The trouble with deepfakes: Beyond control?

Anita was scrolling on Twitter when she found someone had made deepfake porn of her, without her permission. But that was just the start of her problems; she found it was difficult and expensive to get the deepfakes taken down and nigh-on impossible to prevent their proliferation online. So, what guardrails can regulators and tech companies put in place to prevent the spread of deepfakes and protect those whose likeness has been stolen without their consent? Technological fixes, such as deepfake detection software and deepfake watermarking exist, but can the technology keep up with the ever-improving capacities of generative AI? Host Hannah Murphy speaks to Hany Farid, digital forensics expert at the University of California, Berkeley; Nina Schick, CEO and founder of Tamang Ventures, author and Qlik AI Council member; and Sweet Anita, Twitch streamer. Tell us what you think of Tech Tonic and you could be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort 35 Wireless Headphones. Complete the survey here. Want more? Google upgrades search in drive to tackle deepfake porn India tells tech giants to police deepfakes under ‘explicit’ rules Political deepfakes top list of malicious AI use, DeepMind finds Clips: sweet_anita Twitch Since publication, Mastercard, one of the companies mentioned in this episode, sent the following response: 'Purchases of nonconsensual deepfake content are not allowed on our network. When we see or are made aware of specific instances of such activity, we investigate the allegations and take action to ensure compliance with both local laws and our rules and standards.' This series of Tech Tonic is presented by Hannah Murphy. The producer is Persis Love. The senior producer is Edwin Lane. Our executive producer Manuela Saragosa. Additional production help from Josh Gabert-Doyon. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

23 min

See All (206)

John Thornhill

Host

4.4

out of 5

81 Ratings

My fintech go-to

05/05/2023

TM Accion

I love this show for its fresh insights that help me think about the bigger picture of what’s ahead of us.
This China series is not worthy of the FT

May 17

CaityC

The framing of this series — China: will it overtake the US in the tech race — is so very, very cringe. As a person who’s done tech start ups, consuktrd in tech & life sciences FDI, I find the reporter’s understanding of innovation shallow, and the “race” framing jingoistic. It’s a global, multipolar innovation market now, with various countries having systems that advantage & disadvantage them. Each country will have to figure out how to best play in the market. China has big disadvantages as well as advantages— it’s not that scary. Pffft.
Lefty tech talk but it’s ok

12/05/2023

lrhhrl

Worth a listen but ideologically rigid with lefty views. Everything is filtered through that lens which is unfortunate.
Informative

09/15/2022

acf120

Both seasons are informative, well researched, and well worth a listen.

We are in the midst of a digital revolution, where the line between our physical world and cyberspace is blurring. Tech Tonic is the show that investigates the promises and perils of this new technological age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.