Inside Orchard

It increasingly feels like some of the prevailing assumptions underpinning new media’s growth over the past decade has been a mirage. Take a closer look at the new newsletters, podcasts, videos, Substacks, and livestreams entering the market. You undoubtedly are seeing some of these in your “For you” feed on X. Instead of depending on their audiences for financial sustainability, these new media outfits are relying on sponsors (both disclosed and in many cases undisclosed) and other shady financial arrangements (i.e. pay to play schemes in which sponsors get interviews and exposure) that risks authenticity and objectivity. It’s becoming a stain on new media. I discussed the topic, including why this trend is unfolding, in my newest @InsideOrchard essay available here: insideorchard.com/essays/new-med…

NEW Essay / Podcast Episode: New Media’s Authenticity Problem insideorchard.com/essays/new-med… As it becomes easier to launch a new media company, it’s becoming more difficult to find and keep an engaged audience offering financial support. The innocence in new media is disappearing.

Before I took some time off earlier this month, I published an Inside Orchard essay on OpenAI/TBPN. The essay is found below. I think the essay accurately captures OpenAI’s motivation in the deal. One is unable to say “the OpenAI deal isn’t about the livestream/podcast.” Of course it is. However, OpenAI has a larger goal in mind here than just controlling a tech publication. OpenAI is struggling mightily when it comes to connecting with people. The essay also covers two factors that gives OpenAI’s TBPN bet low odds of working out.

NEW ESSAY: Acquiring TBPN Is an OpenAI Hail Mary Pass insideorchard.com/essays/acquiri… Ahead of an IPO, OpenAI acquiring TBPN as a way to speak to consumers differently is a Hail Mary pass with low odds of succeeding.

Acquiring TBPN Is an OpenAI Hail Mary Pass insideorchard.com/essays/acquiri… Ahead of an IPO, OpenAI has been making one change after another in a bid to clean up house. Acquiring TBPN as a way to speak to consumers differently is a Hail Mary pass with low odds of succeeding.

NEW ESSAY: AI Is in a Weird Place Right Now insideorchard.com/essays/ai-is-i… We discuss nine AI developments that have been on my radar including chatbot platform craze cooling, NVIDIA not convincing Wall Street, and a $599 MacBook being the leading contender for device of the year.

AI Is in a Weird Place Right Now insideorchard.com/essays/ai-is-i… We discuss nine AI developments that have been on my radar including chatbot platform craze cooling, NVIDIA not convincing Wall Street, and a $599 MacBook being the leading contender for device of the year.

The Metaverse flop is once again in the news. Feels a bit like beating a dead horse though as this was all discussed back in January when Meta pivoted away from VR. At the time, I examined what happened and why it was an inevitable move. insideorchard.com/essays/meta-pu…

The Apple Silicon Renaissance insideorchard.com/essays/the-app… After spending some time with MacBook Neo, the takeaway isn’t that the laptop is being rethought or rejuvenated. Instead, we are still seeing ramifications associated with Apple’s original bet on custom silicon.

Anthropic has grabbed a number of pretty convincing wins in recent months. This has allowed the company’s brand to mature to mean something other than “not ChatGPT.” I don’t think consensus is fully appreciating the change taking place. insideorchard.com/essays/anthrop…

Anthropic Is Grabbing Wins insideorchard.com/essays/anthrop… Although we are only three months into 2026, this is shaping up to be a good year for Anthropic. We have a company willing to put aside near-term revenue generation in order to stand for something.

For my newest @InsideOrchard essay and podcast episode, I examined what’s unfolding on Wall Street as it pertains to the Mag 7 underperformance. Microsoft and Amazon shares are underperforming the S&P 500 over a five-year stretch going back to 2021. That is remarkable. There are then valuation metrics that would raise an eyebrow or two. While Wall Street has shown prior bouts of hesitation when it comes to AI capex, this time is different. The magnitude of the AI spending is so great that 2026 capex is positioned to wipe out nearly a decade’s worth of free cash flow growth among the hyperscalers. I examine how Wall Street is struggling to get their heads around the AI capex trajectory, partially because companies themselves are struggling with the totals, and how this is leading to panic. insideorchard.com/essays/wall-st…

Wall Street Is Beginning to Panic About Big Tech Capex insideorchard.com/essays/wall-st… While Wall Street has shown prior bouts of hesitation when it comes to AI capex, this time is different.

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses adoption is trending notably weaker than Apple Watch adoption out of the gate a decade earlier (and at a much higher average selling price). While some people are buying smart glasses, it’s very early. The category needs greater utility. This presents an opportunity to put tech fascination aside to place a spotlight on how Meta can’t be trusted with smart glasses as it pertains to upholding privacy and data protections. It’s unfortunate how much of the tech press has chosen to take a laissez-faire approach and ignore this uncomfortable truth. insideorchard.com/essays/meta-ca…

My newest @InsideOrchard essay / podcast episode: Meta Can’t Be Trusted With Smart Glasses insideorchard.com/essays/meta-ca… It’s time to put tech fascination aside to state the uncomfortable truth: Meta’s move into smart glasses can’t be trusted as it pertains to upholding privacy & data protections.

NEW Essay / Podcast Episode: Meta Can’t Be Trusted With Smart Glasses insideorchard.com/essays/meta-ca… It’s time to put tech fascination aside to state the uncomfortable truth: Meta’s move into smart glasses can’t be trusted as it pertains to upholding privacy & data protections.

“[F]or LoveFrom’s [Ferrari Luce] design choices to be embraced by the masses, they will need to be copied by other car manufacturers. It’s the exact opposite of what Jony faced at Apple when his designs, especially in his later years at Apple, were quickly adopted by hundreds of millions of people." insideorchard.com/essays/jony-iv…

Elon Musk should give Tesla the leadership autonomy that he gives SpaceX. He just can’t come to grips with reality. It doesn’t help that he has chased away dissenting opinions.

The AI IPO Race Is On: insideorchard.com/essays/the-ai-… Jony Ive’s Ferrari: insideorchard.com/essays/jony-iv… (3/3)

Barnes & Noble Has Become an Antidote to Amazon: insideorchard.com/essays/barnes-… Meta Pulling Back From VR Was Inevitable: insideorchard.com/essays/meta-pu… Tesla Needs Bridges, but Elon Musk Refuses to Build Them: insideorchard.com/essays/tesla-n… (2/3)

Six weeks into 2026. Six new Inside Orchard essays and podcast episodes. Weekly essays / podcast episodes are available exclusively to Inside Orchard subscribers. A subscription is just $10/month or $100/year. Why AI Slop Worries Me: insideorchard.com/essays/why-ai-… (1/3)