Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
IM8 Health - IM8health.com/twist
Sentry - Sentry.io/twist
Deel - Deel.com/twist
Plaud - Plaud.ai/twist
What’s the technology story of the year? No, it’s not Anthropic’s Mythos model, nor any other AI model. Upcoming IPOs? Wrong again. Jason thinks it’s China’s government’s decision to block Meta's acquisition of Manus. The multi-billion-dollar deal was heralded as evidence that AI companies founded in China could sidestep onerous government meddling by moving their operations to Singapore. That loophole now appears closed.
Jason and Lon then dug into the newly-reforged OpenAI-Microsoft partnership. The two companies have had a mutually beneficial, if fractious, operating relationship to date; that they had to rework their agreement is not a shock.
Then, your hosts watched and digested a video from China purportedly showing a self-driving car hitting a child at speed. What would happen in the United States if such a tragedy struck? And is that fait accompli?
Closing the show, Jason and Lon reacted to the latest Russell Brand implosion, discussed Lon’s new favorite show ‘Criminal Record,’ and shared recommended foot pedals (for AI dictation) and headphones for the road warriors tuning in.
Key Links: OpenAI and Microsoft
OpenAI’s announcement of its new Microsoft deal
Microsoft’s announcement of its new OpenAI deal
OpenAI announces its deal with AWS
News that Microsoft was considering legal action against OpenAI
Microsoft-OpenAI negotiations late 2025 edition, and terms announced in early 2026
Amazon announces that OpenAI models are coming to AWS
Key Links: Manus, Meta, China
News Coverage of China blocking the Manus deal
Reporting on the Benchmark-Manus funding round
The United States’ government examined the deal, recall
Manus announcement of $100M ARR
Early-2025 coverage of Manus as it blew up
Coverage of Didi’s service suspension in 2018
How ‘Golden Shares’ work
Key Links: Self-driving safety
Huawei ADS accident video
Waymo Santa Monica collision coverage
Waymo safety data
Cruise crash historical coverage, Waymo cat crash coverage
How Japan teaches kids to be safe in traffic
Key Links: Off Duty
Russell Brand hasn’t read the Bible (clip)
Why Brand was carrying a Bible
Lon’s streaming pick: Criminal Record
Jason’s recommended foot pedal
Jason’s recommended headphones
Timestamps:
0:00 Show starts
0:34 OpenAI and Microsoft have a new deal
2:32 Why would Microsoft cede exclusive access to OpenAI models?
4:53 Plaud: If your work depends on conversations — interviews, meetings, calls — you need a Plaud NotePin. You can check it out at Plaud.ai/twist and use code TWIST for 10% off!
7:19 Why Jason thinks Microsoft and Apple should work together on AI
8:55 China will block the Meta-Manus deal
11:28 Deel - Founders scale faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes, hire anyone anywhere, get visas handled fast, and get back to building. Visit deel.com/twist to learn more.
11:33 Golden Shares and what they provide
14:07 How do you unravel a multi-billion-dollar deal?
21:25 Sentry - New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST
23:52 The Huawei ADC crash
28:59 What happens when something similar happens in the United States?
31:11 IM8 Health: Start feeling like your best self every day. Go to IM8health.com/twist and use the code TWiST to get a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.
35:25 Russell Brand's public humiliation
40:32 Don't trust palm reading!
43:09 Lon's Off Duty streaming pick: Criminal Record
45:35 Jason's Pick: Which foot pedal for AI dictation is right for you?
47:53 Jason's Pick: In the market for new headphones?
48:43 Jason's Pick: In the market for new headphones?
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Follow Lon:
X: https://x.com/lons
Follow Alex:
X: https://x.com/alex
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
Follow Jason:
X: twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Thank you to our partners:
IM8 Health - IM8health.com/twist
Sentry - Sentry.io/twist
Deel - Deel.com/twist
Plaud - Plaud.ai/twist
Check out all our partner offers: partners.launch.co
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: twistartups.substack.com
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
IM8 Health - IM8health.com/twist
Sentry - Sentry.io/twist
Deel - Deel.com/twist
Plaud - Plaud.ai/twist
What’s the technology story of the year? No, it’s not Anthropic’s Mythos model, nor any other AI model. Upcoming IPOs? Wrong again. Jason thinks it’s China’s government’s decision to block Meta's acquisition of Manus. The multi-billion-dollar deal was heralded as evidence that AI companies founded in China could sidestep onerous government meddling by moving their operations to Singapore. That loophole now appears closed.
Jason and Lon then dug into the newly-reforged OpenAI-Microsoft partnership. The two companies have had a mutually beneficial, if fractious, operating relationship to date; that they had to rework their agreement is not a shock.
Then, your hosts watched and digested a video from China purportedly showing a self-driving car hitting a child at speed. What would happen in the United States if such a tragedy struck? And is that fait accompli?
Closing the show, Jason and Lon reacted to the latest Russell Brand implosion, discussed Lon’s new favorite show ‘Criminal Record,’ and shared recommended foot pedals (for AI dictation) and headphones for the road warriors tuning in.
Key Links: OpenAI and Microsoft
OpenAI’s announcement of its new Microsoft deal
Microsoft’s announcement of its new OpenAI deal
OpenAI announces its deal with AWS
News that Microsoft was considering legal action against OpenAI
Microsoft-OpenAI negotiations late 2025 edition, and terms announced in early 2026
Amazon announces that OpenAI models are coming to AWS
Key Links: Manus, Meta, China
News Coverage of China blocking the Manus deal
Reporting on the Benchmark-Manus funding round
The United States’ government examined the deal, recall
Manus announcement of $100M ARR
Early-2025 coverage of Manus as it blew up
Coverage of Didi’s service suspension in 2018
How ‘Golden Shares’ work
Key Links: Self-driving safety
Huawei ADS accident video
Waymo Santa Monica collision coverage
Waymo safety data
Cruise crash historical coverage, Waymo cat crash coverage
How Japan teaches kids to be safe in traffic
Key Links: Off Duty
Russell Brand hasn’t read the Bible (clip)
Why Brand was carrying a Bible
Lon’s streaming pick: Criminal Record
Jason’s recommended foot pedal
Jason’s recommended headphones
Timestamps:
0:00 Show starts
0:34 OpenAI and Microsoft have a new deal
2:32 Why would Microsoft cede exclusive access to OpenAI models?
4:53 Plaud: If your work depends on conversations — interviews, meetings, calls — you need a Plaud NotePin. You can check it out at Plaud.ai/twist and use code TWIST for 10% off!
7:19 Why Jason thinks Microsoft and Apple should work together on AI
8:55 China will block the Meta-Manus deal
11:28 Deel - Founders scale faster on Deel. Set up payroll for any country in minutes, hire anyone anywhere, get visas handled fast, and get back to building. Visit deel.com/twist to learn more.
11:33 Golden Shares and what they provide
14:07 How do you unravel a multi-billion-dollar deal?
21:25 Sentry - New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST
23:52 The Huawei ADC crash
28:59 What happens when something similar happens in the United States?
31:11 IM8 Health: Start feeling like your best self every day. Go to IM8health.com/twist and use the code TWiST to get a free welcome kit, five free travel sachets, and 10% off your order.
35:25 Russell Brand's public humiliation
40:32 Don't trust palm reading!
43:09 Lon's Off Duty streaming pick: Criminal Record
45:35 Jason's Pick: Which foot pedal for AI dictation is right for you?
47:53 Jason's Pick: In the market for new headphones?
48:43 Jason's Pick: In the market for new headphones?
Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: ticker.thisweekinstartups.com
Check out the TWIST500: twist500.com
Subscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcp
Follow Lon:
X: https://x.com/lons
Follow Alex:
X: https://x.com/alex
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelm
Follow Jason:
X: twitter.com/Jason
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanis
Thank you to our partners:
IM8 Health - IM8health.com/twist
Sentry - Sentry.io/twist
Deel - Deel.com/twist
Plaud - Plaud.ai/twist
Check out all our partner offers: partners.launch.co
Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarland
Check out Jason’s suite of newsletters: substack.com/@calacanis
Follow TWiST:
Twitter: twitter.com/TWiStartups
YouTube: youtube.com/thisweekin
Instagram: instagram.com/thisweekinstartups
TikTok: tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartups
Substack: twistartups.substack.com
