Centific’s Role in AI Boom, Databricks $134B Valuation, Alien Hunter Funding | Dec 16, 2025

The Information’s Kevin McLaughlin breaks down Databricks’ massive $4 billion funding round and the growing liability of corporate chatbots. We also talk with Crypto Reporter Yueqi Yang about Lead Bank tightening its grip on the stablecoin industry and Sapphire Ventures’ Rajeev Dham about his enterprise AI predictions for 2026. Finally, we look at whether NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang will fund AI-powered alien hunting with AI Reporter Rocket Drew and discuss the future of humanoid robots and their role in the AI boom with Centific SVP Prithivi Pradeep.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/small-bank-critical-stablecoin-payments-tightens-risk-controlshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/corporate-chatbots-gone-wildhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/alien-hunters-want-jensen-huang-fund-ai-telescopehttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/servicenow-sell-highlights-jittery-marketTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

The Information’s Wayne Ma talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about Apple's new org chart following recent executive exits, including the demotion of the AI group. We also talk with Features Editor Nick Wingfield about the origins and viability of putting data centers in space, and TMF Associates’ Tim Farrar analyzes the big questions around a potential $1.5 trillion SpaceX IPO and its reliance on the Starlink story. Lastly, we get into xAI's uphill battle to sell Grok to businesses with The Information’s Theo Wayt, and the harsh reality of AI’s colossal power infrastructure needs with Ann Davis Vaughan, as she launches her debut AI Infrastructure newsletter. Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/bragawatt-data-center-era-brings-reality-checks-energy-breakthroughshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/elon-musk-suddenly-talking-space-data-centershttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/xai-uphill-battle-selling-grok-businesseshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/people-running-apple-executive-exodusTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

Harvey's Niko Grupen talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about OpenAI's GPT-5.2 and its new capability awareness feature. We also talk with Theory Ventures' Tomasz Tunguz about Broadcom's stock drop despite strong earnings, and Wealthfront CEO David Fortunato discusses the company's IPO and its cautious view on AI in core investing. Rubrik Co-Founder and CEO Bipul Sinha shares his company's growth playbook and his view on Larry Ellison's big cloud bet. Lastly, The Information's Editors Martin Peers and Nick Wingfield discuss the scale of Larry Ellison's bets in media and tech, and Nebius Co-Founder Roman Chernin explains his focus on open-source AI and the changing customer profile in cloud infrastructure.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/whatnots-schlock-empire-shows-digital-live-shopping-can-thrive-americahttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/tech-giants-partnering-broadcom-break-free-nvidiahttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/oracles-data-centers-openai-reportedly-delayedhttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/exclusive-wealthfront-prices-ipo-14-tripling-tiger-investmentTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

Co-Executive Editor Martin Peers talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about Disney's $1 billion investment in OpenAI and the risks of licensing its characters for Sora videos. We also talk with Asia Correspondent Juro Osawa about Tencent poaching ByteDance AI talent and the heating China AI race, and RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Rishi Jaluria breaks down Oracle's quarterly results, $10 billion cash burn, and the challenge of financing its AI cloud expansion. Lastly, we get into the future of the cloud, 'Cognition as a Service,' and AI teammates with Mayfield's Managing Partner Navin Chaddha and discuss the strategy for TalkShopLive with its new CEO Sandie Hawkins.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/disney-invest-1-billion-openaihttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/oracles-costly-ai-expansion-turns-wall-streethttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/disney-openai-ai-startup-valuations-keep-falling-revenue-riseshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/tencent-poaches-bytedance-researchers-china-ai-race-heatsTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

Pinterest CEO Bill Ready talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about using open-source AI models to rival proprietary leaders and how AI chatbots will change advertising. We also talk with Asia Bureau Chief Jing Yang about China's emergency meetings on the Nvidia H200 chip and DeepSeek's model development, and The Information’s Miles Kruppa about the UAE fund becoming a major financier for big US data center projects. Lastly, we get into custom models and the future of the AI model battlefield with AWS Director of Technology Shaown Nandi.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/china-weighs-nvidia-chip-purchase-emergency-meetings-tech-companieshttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/nvidia-builds-technology-help-fight-chip-smugglinghttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/deepseek-using-banned-nvidia-chips-race-build-next-modelhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/uae-fund-mgx-quietly-becomes-one-biggest-data-center-financiersTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

The Information’s Editor-in-Chief Jessica Lessin and Moor Insights & Strategy’s Patrick Moorhead talk with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about President Trump allowing NVIDIA to sell H200 chips in China and the uncertainty surrounding the deal. We also talk with D.C. Correspondent Sylvia Varnham O'Regan about how AI backlash, including data center costs and job fears, is shaping the 2026 midterm elections. Next, CoreWeave VP Chen Goldberg discusses CoreWeave's new Mission Control GPU monitoring features. IBM’s Rob Thomas and Confluent CEO Jay Kreps discuss the rationale behind IBM's $11 billion acquisition of Confluent, and finally, we get into Instacart's new ChatGPT integration and the advertising implications with E-Commerce Reporter Ann Gehan.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/ai-backlash-shape-midterm-electionshttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/instacart-launches-chatgpt-app-instant-checkout-featurehttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/trump-reportedly-let-nvidia-sell-advanced-ai-chips-chinahttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/ibm-agrees-buy-confluent-11-billionTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

The Information’s Co-Executive Editor Martin Peers talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about Paramount’s hostile tender offer for Warner Bros. and its advantages over the Netflix deal. We also talk with Water Tower Research’s Paul Meeks about IBM’s $11 billion acquisition of Confluent and what to watch for in Oracle and Broadcom's earnings. OpenAI Reporter Sri Muppidi gives us the latest from the company's 'Code Red' and an interview with ChatGPT product head Nick Turley, and AI Reporter Stephanie Palazzolo discusses the growing skepticism around AI breakthroughs in biology from the NeurIPS conference. Lastly, Crypto Reporter Yueqi Yang breaks down the intensifying competition in prediction markets following Kalshi's $11 billion valuation.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/ais-biggest-event-researchers-said-field-needs-overhaulhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/chatgpt-product-chief-responding-code-redhttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/ellisons-paramount-skydance-make-108-billion-tender-offer-warnerhttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/ibm-agrees-buy-confluent-11-billionhttps://www.theinformation.com/briefings/openais-head-chatgpt-envisions-ai-superpowersTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

The Information's Co-Executive Editor Martin Peers talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about Netflix's controversial $82.7 billion acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery and why he calls it "the stupidest deal." We also talk with The Information's Aaron Tilley about Apple's executive turnover and who is on the short list to succeed CEO Tim Cook, and reporter Jemima McEvoy breaks down her deep dive on Broadcom CEO Hock Tan and the company's emergence as NVIDIA's most credible challenger in AI chips. Then, Editor-in-Chief Jessica Lessin and Managing Editor Laura Mandaro get into the escalating OpenAI-Google rivalry and the state of venture capital. Lastly, we speak with Dude Perfect CEO Andrew Yaffe about how the YouTube brand is building a truly scalable media business.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/netflixs-warner-purchase-82-7-billion-blunderhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/silicon-valley-buzzing-apple-ceo-successionhttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/diamonds-turds-hock-tan-turned-broadcom-ai-juggernauthttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/amodeis-advantage-altman-comes-viewTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

The Information's Catherine Perloff talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about web publishers' confusion over whether heightened traffic is from humans or bots, and the companies providing bot-blocking solutions. We also speak with C3 AI new CEO Steven Ehikian about fixing sales execution issues following falling revenue and his plan to reenergize the company. Then, we speak with The Information's Stephanie Palazzolo about OpenAI's new model code-named 'Garlic' to counter Google's Gemini 3, and the 'split brain problem' models are facing. Lastly, we get into the new US robotics policy, the tariff-induced rising costs of robot components, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's strategy against OpenAI with The Information's Rocket Drew.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/openai-pivots-counter-gemini-3https://www.theinformation.com/articles/inside-web-publishers-quest-stamp-ai-bots-posing-humanshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/anthropics-ceo-says-code-redsTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda

Microsoft Reporter Aaron Holmes talks with TITV Host Akash Pasricha about why Microsoft is lowering AI agent sales quotas and what this signals for the broader generative AI market. We also talk with Finance Editor Ken Brown about why credit ratings agencies are becoming central to the AI debt story, and Nnamdi Okike, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at 645 Ventures, on why VC fundraising is trending toward a decade low. Lastly, we get into the future of travel tech with Johannes Reck, Co-Founder & CEO of GetYourGuide, who discusses the European market and competition with Airbnb and Booking Holdings.Articles discussed on this episode: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/microsoft-lowers-ai-software-sales-quotas-customers-resist-newer-productshttps://www.theinformation.com/articles/s-p-takes-ai-debt-deals-crypto-giantsTITV airs on YouTube, X and LinkedIn at 10AM PT / 1PM ET. Or check us out wherever you get your podcasts.Subscribe to: - The Information on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theinformation- The Information: https://www.theinformation.com/subscribe_hSign up for the AI Agenda newsletter: https://www.theinformation.com/features/ai-agenda