Author/Founder of @stratechery. Host of @ditheringfm @sharptechpod. @notechben for sports. @monkbent on other networks. Home on the Internet.

Joined December 2006
1,763 Photos and videos
Pinned Tweet
So, I've launched a new podcast with @andrewsharp:
65
287
659
Ben Thompson retweeted
The iPhone's Last Stand Siri isn't state of the art, but as long as it works — and it appears it does — it's good enough for the consumer market. stratechery.com/2026/the-iph…
1
2
32
13,711
It's actually super important that the Siri demo was kind of slow, because it emphasized it was real. Would be even better if it were live, though.
18
19
1,073
61,558
Ben Thompson retweeted
The Google Capital Company Google has issued equity to Berkshire Hathaway in a deal that signals far more demand and a future where capital is the ultimate commodity. stratechery.com/2026/the-goo…
6
16
158
47,048
I’m gonna delete this thread because I think people complaining about airlines on Twitter are pretty lame, including myself! That said, I think the takeaway is that the reason I was upset is precisely because of dashed expectations. If this were American I would have shrugged my shoulders. So I guess that’s a compliment to United, but also a reminder that it’s risky to advertise things (like Starlink) when you can’t yet confidently deliver on them. Anyhow, 28B on Southwest. Let’s go! 😅
18
1
149
51,179
Ben Thompson retweeted
As always, it was fantastic to join Ben Thompson on the @stratechery podcast. We discussed the generative revolution in digital advertising, Meta’s communications challenges, the evolution of Google Search, Apple, AppLovin, and the components of a Prosperous Society.
5
5
113
34,706
This is excellent
We go where we need to be, and today that was @NASAKennedy. Some of my senior engineers and I spent time at @blueorigin with @JeffBezos and @davill, speaking with the workforce and seeing the damage at LC-36 firsthand. I appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from those working through the aftermath and better understand the challenges ahead. There is a lot of work to do, but this is exactly why people choose careers in aerospace, whether at NASA, Blue Origin, or across the industry. The talent in this field thrives under pressure and performs at its best when solving the toughest problems. We have been saying for months at NASA that we are not going to sit on our hands and wait for the capabilities necessary to achieve the nation’s most pressing objectives. We are going to take an active role alongside our partners, just as we did in the 1960s, to overcome setbacks, remove obstacles, and deliver the intended outcomes. @NASA is committed to helping the Blue team recover, continue to advance their lunar lander and get New Glenn back to launching as soon as safely possible. America’s greatest achievements in space were never the result of avoiding setbacks. They came from overcoming them. We have done it before, and we will do it again🇺🇸
3
2
66
32,044
I like the Luce
Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc driving the Ferrari Luce should have been the entirety of the launch campaign. Am totally convinced now. This $640k EV is gonna sell like hot cakes.
29
7
307
97,596
(This take is contextualized by the fact I don’t really like electrical cars, as I explained here)
Much Ado About Data Centers, What Tech Gets Wrong About Its Critics, Q&A on SpaceX, Chinese AI, Elon Musk sharptech.fm/member/episode/…
4
13
15,390
Ben Thompson retweeted
The SpaceX IPO and Data Centers in Space There isn't a financial model that justifies the SpaceX IPO, but data centers in space are plausible, and that might be enough. stratechery.com/2026/the-spa…
21
28
238
228,460
I’ve been a big fan of what @united is doing in general, but from what I’ve heard (via other passengers and flight attendants), it seems they didn’t renew their Panasonic contract for widebodies while Starlink is rolled out. I’m pumped about Starlink and will seek out United once I know it’s available (had it this week and it was awesome). Until then, however, no Internet, particular on transoceanic flights, is unacceptable and a very poor choice by United’s management. I’ll be flying someone else for those for now.
I’ve just endured my third consecutive long-haul flight on @united with no WiFi. I’ve just decided to choose any other airline available, even if I have to connect to DC through New Zealand.
31
9
410
210,042
One clarification: I don’t know if United didn’t renew the contract. That’s what a flight attendant said (and Panasonic is the provider on wide bodies which are where all the issues are). Also I’m a 10 year 1K so I don’t suggest I’ll be flying elsewhere lightly!
6
2
45
20,399
Update: no truth to contract not renewed x.com/xJonNYC/status/2055407…

Replying to @xJonNYC
On the rumor that it's something else, this is gospel: "This is 100% unequivocally false (that UA terminated it's Panasonic contract.) United’s contract with Panasonic remains in force and will on an indefinite basis, since there are many aircraft which won’t get Starlink and will stay with Panasonic until they are retired (A319/320 and some B763/752). That doesn’t mean that Panasonic’s performance hasn’t been bad (it has been awful) but it’s not a decision on United’s side and they are pushing very hard for PAC to fix the root causes of the poor performance."
1
1
8
12,642
RT @xJonNYC: On the rumor that it's something else, this is gospel: "This is 100% unequivocally false (that UA terminated it's Panasonic c…
3
8
Is this from the SpaceX prospectus
Best comment ever on data centers
5
9
313
46,162