Every Saturday

The Weekend

By The Information Staff

Know what happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends and people shaping culture, technology and everything in between.

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Recent Editions

Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Silicon Valley’s Trump Shift Begins Now

By Abram Brown · Jun 29, 2024 6:00am PDT · 1 comment
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The fame, feud and fortune behind billionaire Alexandr WangThe best high-tech spasPlus: An apocalypse found; a marvelous, murderous melodrama; and requiem for a reality TV star.Until this moment, it was hard to know how seriously to take Donald Trump’s emerging courtship of Silicon Valley... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The fame, feud and fortune behind billionaire Alexandr...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

The Anti-Altman’s Hail Mary Pitch to Investors

By Abram Brown · Jun 22, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Jacob Helberg, the MAGA star popular with tech liberalsThe best apps for exploring naturePlus: Ferrets, puffins and guinea pigs, oh my; Scottish scaries; and how to summer in Italy from your sofa.Wanted! Investors for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shove millions of dollars into a nascent... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Jacob Helberg, the MAGA star popular with tech...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Why I’m Worried About a Fake Cannibal

By Abram Brown · Jun 15, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The AI cold war heats upThe best wedding planners for a tech mogul blowoutPlus: Netflix’s “Jaws”; Paul Giamatti’s peculiar podcast; and how Toyota caused toilet paper shortages.Lately, misinformation researchers have expended a considerable amount of energy sounding the alarm about fake online content... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The AI cold war heats upThe best wedding planners for a...
Art by Clark Miller
A New List of The Worst VCs
By Abram Brown · Jun 8, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

A New List of The Worst VCs

By Abram Brown · Jun 8, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A lone shining light in food tech’s dark ageThe best summer camps for grownupsPlus: A tremendous trek through the Grand Canyon; “Succession” in breeches and gowns; and a gamified interview show.Venture capitalists excel at many things. For starters, they’re quite good at losing other people’s money. They’... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A lone shining light in food tech’s dark ageThe best...
What Happens After Melinda's Billion-Dollar Gift?
The Weekend

What Happens After Melinda's Billion-Dollar Gift?

By Abram Brown · Jun 1, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A Wall Street titan with Sequoia money  The very best ghostwriters for conjuring a bestsellerPlus: When crooks fell in love with an FBI messaging app; the tech that sparked a toe-curling scandal; and a joyous apocalypse.Melinda French Gates is wasting no time apparently. Less than a month after ... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A Wall Street titan with Sequoia money  The ...
The Weekend Newsletter
What happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends, people and companies shaping tech culture.
By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy
The Summer Guides To Read Before You Go Logoff
The Weekend

The Summer Guides To Read Before You Go Logoff

By Abram Brown · May 25, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter: Where techies should go to vacation this summer Book recommendations galorePlus: What men and women should wear to Sun ValleyThese words were written at a cruising altitude of 34,000 feet—or at least that’s where Captain Pat said we were a few minutes ago. Like many of you, I’m using the long weekend... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter: Where techies should go to vacation this summer ...
Wait, When Did Mark Zuckerberg Get Cool?
The Weekend

Wait, When Did Mark Zuckerberg Get Cool?

By Abram Brown · May 18, 2024 7:00am PDT · 2 comments
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A cautionary tale of startup ego and herd mentalityWhere to stay, network and dine in CannesPlus: The dangers around astro-ambitions; an intriguing underworld all over again; and a Hollywood resurrection that actually went well.  Remember a few years ago when Mark Zuckerberg existed in the public... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A cautionary tale of startup ego and herd mentalityWhere...
Apple Thought Different and Paid the Consequences
Apple Thought Different and Paid the Consequences
By Abram Brown · May 11, 2024 7:00am PDT
Apple Thought Different and Paid the Consequences
The Weekend

Apple Thought Different and Paid the Consequences

By Abram Brown · May 11, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Sequoia Capital’s Musk whisperer Our favorite new power-dining spots Plus: A funny-as-hell boss from hell; the mojo-less media; and a galactic bug hunt.As a small, dumb boy at heart, I saw the flying paint and smashed smithereens in Apple’s new iPad ad and honestly thought nothing more... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Meet Sequoia Capital’s Musk whisperer Our favorite...
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

Weekend: FTX and the Shipwreck Treasure

By Abram Brown · May 4, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A race against Apple that didn’t go as expectedSilicon Valley’s favorite new supplementsPlus: The terrors of an AI afterlife; a CEO who loves to war; and the hit that Netflix missed.A very rare watch sold for $1.5 million at auction a few days ago, a 14-karat gold heirloom belonging to John Jacob Astor IV,... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A race against Apple that didn’t go as expectedSilicon...
How to Really Save TikTok
The Weekend

How to Really Save TikTok

By Abram Brown · Apr 27, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The great Tokyo gamble.Our favorite interior designers…for rescuing boring offices. Billionaire nerd buys The Onion, thinks he can solve media’s problems (yes, we’re serious!). Plus: Yo-Yo Ma, Apple and global politics; a videogame legend’s unexpected new work; and Michael Douglas as our nation’s... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The great Tokyo gamble.Our favorite interior designers…...
The Weekend Newsletter
What happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends, people and companies shaping tech culture.
By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy
Marques Brownlee Did the Brave Thing
The Weekend

Marques Brownlee Did the Brave Thing

By Abram Brown · Apr 20, 2024 7:00am PDT · 1 comment
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The other Altman is ready for his close-upWhen a fake hurricane makes for good VC networkingThe Top 5: Best philanthropic advisersPlus: Taylor Swift’s cybersecurity woes; a demented poker game; and the unsung heroes of the sea who keep the internet afloat.Judging by the critical unison about Humane AI and... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The other Altman is ready for his close-upWhen a fake...
Why Google’s Demis Hassabis Won $3 Million
Why Google’s Demis Hassabis Won $3 Million
By Abram Brown · Apr 13, 2024 7:00am PDT
Why Google’s Demis Hassabis Won $3 Million
The Weekend

Why Google’s Demis Hassabis Won $3 Million

By Abram Brown · Apr 13, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A secretive weapons billionaire and his never-ending transformationWhere art insiders and Silicon Valley collectors make their hidden-gem purchasesA power lunch to end all power lunchesPlus: Apple’s latest chase; Spider-Man takes on Big Brother; and a billionaire investor’s favorite book.A week ago, Demis... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A secretive weapons billionaire and his never-ending...
Weekend: The NYT Gaming Czar Reveals His Playbook for Growth
The Weekend

Weekend: The NYT Gaming Czar Reveals His Playbook for Growth

By Abram Brown · Apr 6, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Microsoft’s hiring of Inflection co-founder Mustafa SuleymanHow an LA backwater turned into a hotbed of America-first capitalismThe Top 5: Best summer camps for future tech mogulsPlus: The guy who cost Reddit billions; a blast from Marvel’s past; an incredible shortcut through Robert Caro’s “The... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Microsoft’s hiring of Inflection co-founder...
Josh Kushner, The Next Unhappy Media Mogul?
The Weekend

Josh Kushner, The Next Unhappy Media Mogul?

By Abram Brown · Mar 30, 2024 7:00am PDT · 2 comments
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The skinny on Kim Kardashian’s Skims—and how it dodged retail armageddon.Beyoncé water and fake Pilsner: Our top 5 favorite New Age canned beverages that thirsty VCs love, too.Plus: The perils of inheritance; a man who could save us from our sinking world; and how a football star, a preacher and an actor... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The skinny on Kim Kardashian’s Skims—and how it dodged...
The Billionaires Trying to Save Our Worlds
The Weekend

The Billionaires Trying to Save Our Worlds

By Abram Brown · Mar 23, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Jeff Bezos’ plan for Blue Origin to rocket past Elon Musk’s SpaceXThey counsel Zuckerberg and advise Sam Altman: our picks of the top lawyers for startupsPlus: “3 Body Problem”; a startup’s glowing Frankenplant; and an unshakable source of American anxietyOver the last few days, I’ve spent much of... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:Inside Jeff Bezos’ plan for Blue Origin to rocket past...
The Weekend Newsletter
What happens when Silicon Valley logs off—the trends, people and companies shaping tech culture.
By providing your email, you agree to The Information’s Privacy Policy
Art by Clark Miller
An Ode to a Dead Dealmaker
By Abram Brown · Mar 16, 2024 7:00am PDT
Art by Clark Miller
The Weekend

An Ode to a Dead Dealmaker

By Abram Brown · Mar 16, 2024 7:00am PDT
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:* How OpenAI’s Sora is transforming everything from Hollywood to videogames to Madison Avenue* Foreign trade and fearsome foes!* A guide to acquiring one of Silicon Valley’s favorite fads: a chief of staff* Plus: The VC and surprise SF mayoral front-runner; the TikToker who can explain why AllBirds lost... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:* How OpenAI’s Sora is transforming everything from...
A Rising Star Investor's Polarizing Plan
The Weekend

A Rising Star Investor's Polarizing Plan

By Abram Brown · Mar 9, 2024 7:00am PST
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The Silicon Valley rising star who angered AndreessenHow a white-collar pirate pilfered the richA million-dollar strawberry that venture capitalists cravePlus—Oscars weekend! A digital shortcut to enjoying this year’s biggest films and what the Academy should do in the years to come.A week ago, I bent the... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:The Silicon Valley rising star who angered AndreessenHow...
Hot Dealmakers As Tech's Winter Lingers
The Weekend

Hot Dealmakers As Tech's Winter Lingers

By Abram Brown · Mar 2, 2024 7:00am PST
Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A new VC star’s unordinary approachOur finest AI tips to improve your lifeHow to best appreciate the new “Dune” moviePlus: What Socrates and Satya Nadella have in common; a vengeful billionaire and a murderous enigma; and a top-notch ‘Job.’A couple days ago, something unusual caught my attention: an... Welcome, Weekenders! In this newsletter:A new VC star’s unordinary approachOur finest AI tips to...
What Google Gemini’s Race Controversy Really Means
The Weekend

What Google Gemini’s Race Controversy Really Means

By Abram Brown · Feb 24, 2024 7:00am PST · 1 comment
Welcome to your Weekend!The internet kicked up a fuss this week when it discovered a surprising thing about Google Gemini, the company’s generative artificial intelligence tool. While you couldn’t prompt it to, say, provide an image of a white pope, it did respond to a request asking for a Black pope. It also seemed to have a habit of placing... Welcome to your Weekend!The internet kicked up a fuss this week when it discovered a surprising...
When You’re Really a Twitter, But You Want to Be an Uber
When You’re Really a Twitter, But You Want to Be an Uber
By Abram Brown · Feb 17, 2024 7:00am PST
When You’re Really a Twitter, But You Want to Be an Uber
The Weekend

When You’re Really a Twitter, But You Want to Be an Uber

By Abram Brown · Feb 17, 2024 7:00am PST
Welcome to your Weekend!A couple days ago, Mark Zuckerberg had quite a lot to say about his company—and someone else’s. Specifically, he talked about how Meta Platforms’ virtual reality headset, the Quest (which starts at $499), compares to Apple’s VR headset, the Vision Pro ($3,499). “I expected Quest would be a better value for most people,”... Welcome to your Weekend!A couple days ago, Mark Zuckerberg had quite a lot to say about his...