Jul 19th 2026
This Week in Tech 1093
California Sober
Hosted by
Leo Laporte
Kimi K3, Qwen3.8, & China’s Open-Weight AI Gambit
New episodes every Sunday.
Guests:
Harper Reed,
Alex Wilhelm
What happens when China drops open-weight AI models that rival Silicon Valley’s best? This episode unpacks how a new wave of international AI releases is shaking up business, policy, and the future of innovation.
- Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."
- Claude on X: "Beginning July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in all Max and Team Premium plans, at 50% of limits. Pro and Team Standard users will continue to have access to Fable via usage credits, and will receive a one-time $100 credit. Demand for Fable has been challenging to"
- China’s Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi Model, Threatening America’s Lead
- Alibaba’s Qwen Unveils Preview of Flagship AI Model
- Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe
- The White House is now deciding who gets access to frontier AI models, not the labs
- Microsoft chief turns hostile on frontier AI labs, warns companies to guard their IP
- Meta Is Flooding the Market With Smartglasses. Privacy Advocates Are Up in Arms.
- Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ says
- Amazon Web Services customers receive bills for up to $1.5tn after global glitch
- MLB cracks down on using AI via dugout iPads to help shape in-game decisions
- White House Teleprompter Operator Bet on Trump Speeches, Kalshi Says
- New York school district is testing lifelike robot teachers
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Links
- China’s Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi Model, Threatening America’s Lead
- Alibaba’s Qwen Unveils Preview of Flagship AI Model
- Claude on X: "Beginning July 20, Claude Fable 5 will be included in all Max and Team Premium plans, at 50% of limits. Pro and Team Standard users will continue to have access to Fable via usage credits, and will receive a one-time $100 credit.
- The White House is now deciding who gets access to frontier AI models, not the labs
- Linus Torvalds to critics of AI coding in Linux: "Fork it. Or just walk away."
- Microsoft chief turns hostile on frontier AI labs, warns companies to guard their IP
- Meta Is Flooding the Market With Smartglasses. Privacy Advocates Are Up in Arms.
- Social media limits are coming for teens across Europe
- Federal employees can download TikTok on government devices, DOJ says
- Amazon Web Services customers receive bills for up to $1.5tn after global glitch
- MLB cracks down on using AI via dugout iPads to help shape in-game decisions
- White House Teleprompter Operator Bet on Trump Speeches, Kalshi Says
- I Got Slopped
- New York school district is testing lifelike robot teachers