This week, a staggering $100 billion deal between OpenAI and Nvidia, paired with plans for five new American data centers, forces us to rethink any notions of an AI bubble. Instead, it seems we’re witnessing an all-out sprint towards Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), with tech giants ready to spend whatever it takes.
We then untangle the complexities of the Trump administration’s updated H-1B visa program. The new $100,000 visa fee has ignited diverse reactions from tech leaders. Immigration expert Jeremy Neufeld joins us to shed light on why this substantial fee is likely to disadvantage startups and universities, potentially harming the broader U.S. economy by restricting access to crucial international talent.
Finally, we explore a peculiar new trend sweeping across TikTok: users actively planning and discussing a biblical Rapture. We examine how this eschatological theme has found an unexpected home on the popular social media platform.
Featured Guest:
- Jeremy Neufeld, Director of Immigration Policy at the Institute for Progress
Further Reading:
- Reports indicate Nvidia’s massive investment in OpenAI.
- OpenAI is expanding its infrastructure with five new data centers across the U.S.
- New H-1B visa regulations introduce a significant per-employee fee.
- Analysis suggests the new visa fee could disproportionately benefit large tech companies.
- TikTok users are engaging with discussions and preparations for a predicted Rapture event.
Credits:
“Hard Fork” is hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton and produced by Whitney Jones and Rachel Cohn. This episode was edited by Jen Poyant. Engineering by Katie McMurran and original music by Dan Powell and Elisheba Ittoop. Fact-checking by Will Peischel.
Special thanks to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Dahlia Haddad and Jeffrey Miranda.