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The Vergecast · November 6, 2026 · 1h 39m

Big Tech lost big in the 2026 election

Nilay Patel and David Pierce discuss the stunning results of the 2026 midterms, where Democrats swept to victory and dealt significant losses to the AI industry. They examine the backlash against data centers, Elon Musk’s failed political spending, and what the new Congress means for tech regulation. The conversation then turns to the sobering reality of AI monetization: Uber fulfilled only 4 AI agent rides, DoorDash’s CEO warned against delusion, and Google struggles to make AI pay like its search engine. Finally, they review Apple’s new touchscreen MacBook Pro and debate whether anyone is actually making money in AI.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Preview

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Data Centers Become a Political Black Eye for Big Tech00:02:00
The 2026 midterms saw a sweeping rejection of AI infrastructure as data center projects became a rallying point for communities opposed to energy drain, land use, and perceived corruption.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini
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The AI Agent Reality Check: Uber, DoorDash, and the Gap Between Hype and Usage00:47:43
Despite massive investment and promotional campaigns, AI agents are barely being used in the real world, with Uber fulfilling only 4 rides and DoorDash handling a few hundred orders via AI agents.
ClaudeChatGPTGemini

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