> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://spyglass.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Dispatch 035: On to '25 - URL: https://spyglass.org/dispatch-035-on-to-25/ - Published: 2024-12-20T16:23:47.000Z - Updated: 2024-12-20T16:26:31.000Z - Description: Google's 'AI Mode' • Billionaires at Dinner • Nintendo's Switch 2 • Amazon's Bond Problem - Author: M.G. Siegler - Tags: newsletter, dispatch One goal I had this year was to ramp up to a daily newsletter – mission: accomplished. [What started as weekly](https://spyglass.org/tag/from-afar/) in January, [moved to daily](https://spyglass.org/newsletter/) in August, and after 85 weekdays in a row if my math is right (well, if ChatGPT's math is right – and as we all know by now, math is not exactly an AI strong suit), now it's time for a bit of a break for the holidays. I'll still plan to write various posts here and there on [Spyglass](https://spyglass.org/), but I'll keep my notes on what I'm reading to myself until we're all **back in January 2025**. Happy Holidays and New Year to all. Thanks for reading. 🥳 🍺 Enjoying a [Buxton Right to Road Best Bitter](https://buxtonbrewery.co.uk/product/right-to-roam/?ref=spyglass.org#:~:text=Best%20Bitter,a%20beer%20all%20can%20enjoy.&text=440%20ml.,Alc%204.2%25%20vol.) 🎵 Listening to ["Weak in Your Light" by Nation of Language](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2xsH7a9cc&ref=spyglass.org) ****Spyglass Dispatch** is a [newsletter](https://spyglass.org/newsletter/) sent on weekdays featuring links and commentary from ****M.G. Siegler** on timely topics found around the web. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. --- ### I Think... **🔎** [**Google Plans to Add ‘AI Mode’ Option to Search**](https://www.theinformation.com/articles/google-plans-to-add-ai-mode-option-to-search?rc=lsmcir&ref=spyglass.org) – If accurate, this would be a *big* deal. While [I've noted](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-006/#:~:text=%F0%9F%8C%9F%20Standalone%20%E2%80%98Google,anyone.%20%5B9to5Google%5D) that one issue with Gemini is that it has been a bit buried relative to other Google products ([though not as badly as their image and video generation tools!](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-032-the-pe-playbook-for-america/#:~:text=%F0%9F%91%80%20Google%20DeepMind,Gemini%3F%20%5BTechCrunch%5D)), that would change quickly if Google were to, say, put a toggle to switch over to 'AI Mode' on the main Google Search page. Right now, my own workflow is to use Google for web search and ChatGPT for queries where I want a direct answer. If I could simply toggle between those two use cases on the same page... But, as the article notes, they'd would have to be pretty careful with that. Just as Frodo putting on the Ring of Power draws the Eye of Sauron, Google putting anything on their main search page would draw [the eyes of regulators](https://spyglass.org/the-google-break-up/), fast. ChatGPT may have mindshare and some amount of scale, but not Google Search scale... \[**Information** 🔒\] 💍 [**Billionaire Rivals Bezos and Musk Are Said to Have Dined With Trump at Mar-a-Lago**](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/politics/trump-elon-musk-bezos-mar-a-lago.html?ref=spyglass.org) – That headline is a bit gracious. As noted in the piece, Elon Musk was a *surprise* guest at this dinner, which chief rival Jeff Bezos must have *loved*. But don't take my snark for it, take [a report on the ground at Mar-a-Lago of the "cock-block"](https://www.threads.net/@kalihays1/post/DDxR45oSEwj?xmt=AQGzLzTzZL5h3wH2nf%5FvCSgSKk7X74FoS5pafvucau7Qew&ref=spyglass.org) (the original poster deleted, for obvious reasons, but social media never forgets). This popping-out-of-the-cake follows similar Musk power plays on [Tim Cook](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-031-youtube-tv-makes-a-costly-mistake/#:~:text=Fresh%20off%20his,dinner...%20%5BNYT%5D) and [Sundar Pichai](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-013/#:~:text=Speaking%20of%2C%20while%20he%20apparently%20just%20happened%20to%20be%20in%20the%20room%20%28where%20it%20happened%29%2C%20even%20just%20the%20optics%20of%20Elon%20Musk%20joining%20President%2DElect%20Donald%20Trump%27s%20call%20with%20Sundar%20Pichai%20seems%20wildly%20inappropriate%20and%20conflicted.%20No%20real%20surprise%20there%2C%20of%20course.%20%5BInformation%20%F0%9F%94%92%5D). There is no way all of this ends well. It's just a matter of [which sides get burned](https://spyglass.org/do-you-feel-in-charge/) the worst and how (I'm including [Musk and Trump](https://spyglass.org/paidpals/) in that list as well). Sort of fun to watch unfold though. \[**NYT**\] **🕹️** [**The Nintendo Switch 2 and Its Dock**](https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/18/24324483/nintendo-switch-2-leak-reddit-next-handheld?ref=spyglass.org) – While this is all still very much in the unconfirmed rumor camp, there's starting to be quite a bit of smoke billowing... [A recent Reddit AMA](https://www.reddit.com/r/NintendoSwitch2/comments/1hf06co/switch%5F2%5Fama%5Fwith%5Fnext%5Fhandheld%5Fsummarized/?ref=spyglass.org) with a would-be leaker claims the next Nintendo console will be announced in January ([early side of the stated timeline!](https://spyglass.org/nintendo-switch-2/)) as the, wait for it: 'Switch 2' (come on, ['Super Switch'](https://spyglass.org/super-switch/) was right there!). Beyond that, the biggest news may be the use of magnetic Joy-Cons to replace the rails of the last generation. Oh, and the ability to draw more power (and thus, fun faster?) when docked? This plus those wider and taller [case renders](https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/13/24320659/nintendo-switch-2-dbrand-killswitch?ref=spyglass.org)... \[**Verge**\] --- ### I Wrote... While the world has been waiting for [a new James Bond to be chosen](https://spyglass.org/aaron-taylor-johnson-james-bond/), that's perhaps not the actual hold up in the continuation of the franchise. It's perhaps something far more problematic: the relationship with Amazon... [For 007, Amazon is Not EnoughAmazon seemingly has a big Barbara Broccoli problem, which means the world has a big James Bond problem![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings---Multi-263.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2024-12-20-at-1.50.39-PM-1-1.png)](https://spyglass.org/license-to-shop/) --- ### I Link... - While original creations with the various new **AI video** models are [pretty interesting and fun](https://spyglass.org/sora-ai-video-generation/) (albeit early), far more compelling to the mainstream will be using such tools on services like **Instagram** (and YouTube and TikTok – if the latter isn't [banned](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-034-a-new-social-media/#:~:text=Well%2C%20TikTok%20got%20their%20Supreme%20Court%20hearing%20%E2%80%93%20but%20much%20earlier%20than%20thought%2C%20on%20January%2010%2C%20ahead%20of%20their%20would%2Dbe%20January%2019%20ban%20date.%20Given%20the%20lower%20court%20rulings%2C%20this%20doesn%27t%20seem%20like%20particularly%20positive%20news.%20It%20may%20all%20come%20down%20to%20Trump%2C%20and%20a%20deal%2C%20which%20he%20must%20love.%20%5BCBS%20News%5D)). To that end, IG will get Meta's **Movie Gen** baked in at some point next year. The teaser [looks](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDwzSoyxRSx/?ref=spyglass.org) impressive. \[[**Verge**](https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/19/24325015/instagram-ai-video-editing-tool-meta-movie-gen-teaser?ref=spyglass.org)\] - As mentioned in [the Surf post](https://spyglass.org/surf-fediverse-app/) yesterday, [**Tapestry**](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/iconfactory/project-tapestry?ref=spyglass.org) is another player in the **aggregate-social-feeds** field ([which I wrote about almost a year ago](https://spyglass.org/project-tapestry/)), is nearing its launch as well. \[[**TechCrunch**](https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/19/tapestry-a-new-app-for-tracking-social-media-news-blogs-and-more-will-launch-in-early-2025/?ref=spyglass.org)\] - 2 ***Jackyl*** 2 ***Day***, **Eddie Redmayne** will return for the second season of the ([great](https://spyglass.org/disnight-of-the-jackal/)) new show, he has officially confirmed. \[[**THR**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/the-day-of-the-jackal-season-2-eddie-redmayne-returns-1236090509/?ref=spyglass.org)\] - They'll also being ***Dune*** at least two seasons of the ***Prophecy*** show on **HBO**/Max. I've been waiting to weigh in on this one until after the seasons ends (this Sunday), but spoiler alert: it's not great. \[[**THR**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dune-prophecy-renewed-season-2-hbo-1236090988/?ref=spyglass.org)\] - The ambition of **NVIDIA** runs head first into the agenda of the **US government**. Tough spot, especially as you're trying to diversify away from the Big Tech companies [that are trying](https://spyglass.org/the-race-for-ai-independence/) to diversify away from you! \[[**NYT**](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/technology/nvidia-chip-sales-us-china.html?ref=spyglass.org)\] - **OpenAI** is working on their follow up to their '**o1**' reasoning model, but likely can't use the name 'o2' due to [the British telecom company](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O2%5F%28UK%29?ref=spyglass.org) of the same name, so they may just skip right to '**o3**' – LoL – yet another reason [they should have stayed with 'Strawberry'](https://spyglass.org/strawberry-openai-o1/)! \[[**Information**](https://www.theinformation.com/briefings/openai-preps-o3-reasoning-model?rc=lsmcir&ref=spyglass.org) 🔒\] - Meanwhile, **Google's** first **reasoning model** is finally here – and they've somehow managed to pick a *worse* name than 'o1'. '**Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking Experimental**' sounds almost Microsoftian – a thinking man's version, perhaps? And apparently it still could have used some more time in the oven. It can't pass [the, yes, "strawberry" test](https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/27/why-ai-cant-spell-strawberry/?ref=spyglass.org), as it were. \[[**TechCrunch**](https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/19/google-releases-its-own-reasoning-ai-model/?ref=spyglass.org)\] - Following the [announcement](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-033-streaming-saves-santa/#:~:text=Disney%20rarely%20releases,Pixar.%20%5BNYT%5D) of the ***Bluey*** movie, **Disney** is going to add the characters to their **parks** and **cruises** as well. My own (obvious) guess: if history is any guide with these moves, an acquisition of Ludo Studio (and a payoff to the BBC) could be in the works... \[[**THR**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disney-bluey-disney-world-disneyland-disney-cruise-line-1236091003/?ref=spyglass.org)\] - **Perplexity** hit [that](https://spyglass.org/disnight-of-the-jackal/#:~:text=A%20lot%20of%20%28lofty%29%20numbers%20in%20terms%20of%20where%20Perplexity%20currently%20stands%20as%20a%20business%20%E2%80%93%20and%20where%20they%20think%20they%20will%20in%20the%20next%20couple%20of%20years%2C%20as%20they%20aim%20to%20complete%20a%20new%20large%20round%20of%20funding%20at%20%249B.%20%5BInformation%20%F0%9F%94%92%5D) **$9B valuation** with a new $500M raise. They're going to need that money if they're really [getting into hardware](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-017/#:~:text=%F0%9F%97%A3%EF%B8%8F%20Perplexity%20Mulls,mode...%20%5BTechCrunch%5D)... \[[**Bloomberg**](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-18/ai-startup-perplexity-closes-funding-round-at-9-billion-value?ref=spyglass.org) 🔒\] - Begun, the **Elon Musk**\-is-the-new-**Steve-Bannon**, [narrative](https://500ish.com/the-512541003a00?ref=spyglass.org) has. To be clear and fair, the *NYT* acknowledges this potential and obvious [agenda](https://spyglass.org/dispatch-034-a-new-social-media/#:~:text=Imagine%20a%20very%20online%20person%20sidetracking%20a%20major%20spending%20plan%20in%20Congress%20by%20retweeting%20various%20misleading%20memes%20and%20other%20misinformation%20%E2%80%93%20it%27s%20easy%20if%20you%20try.%20%5BPolitico%5D) here. Still, this will get to **Trump**, eventually. And I mean that literally and [figuratively](https://spyglass.org/paidpals/). [Who is really in charge](https://spyglass.org/do-you-feel-in-charge/)? \[[**NYT**](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/politics/elon-musk-politics.html?ref=spyglass.org)\] - **Luke Wilson** says he's always pitching **Mike Judge** on ideas for '**Idiocracy 2**', the now cult-classic film ([some might say](https://spyglass.org/even-flow/#:~:text=%F0%9F%A7%8B%20The%20Customized,though.%20%5BNYT%5D), [documentary](https://500ish.com/these-used-to-be-serious-people-fec426c5531c?ref=spyglass.org)) which 20th Century Fox essentially killed-upon-opening at the box office. \[[**THR**](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/luke-wilson-pitching-idiocracy-sequel-mike-judge-1236086977/?ref=spyglass.org)\] --- ### I Quote... > "The problem is, neither the Scaling Laws nor Moore’s Law are immutable laws of nature. They’re simply smart observations." \-- **Cade Metz and Tripp Mickle**, [in their year-end story for *NYT*](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/technology/artificial-intelligence-data-openai-google.html?ref=spyglass.org) summarizing the debate on if AI is slowing down – i.e. [hitting a wall](https://spyglass.org/the-ai-wall/) – or if it's just a temporary blip. Seems like a fitting quote to end the year. --- ### I Spy... From [the *NYT* article](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/politics/elon-musk-politics.html?ref=spyglass.org) linked above, below, find Elon Musk meeting with members of Congress and Rogue from the X-Men. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/2024/12/19trump-news-musk-hktm-superJumbo.webp)](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/us/politics/elon-musk-politics.html?ref=spyglass.org) --- ## The Spyglass Dispatch A daily newsletter by M.G. Siegler Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. Sent from afar on weekdays...