Listen to today’s podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/silk-logic-small-business-daily/id1841930957
Small Business Daily Podcast — December 28, 2025
Today’s podcast episode was created from the following stories:
Nvidia’s Groq deal rattled Silicon Valley: here are 5 other AI startups split apart in Big Tech’s new deals
By Ben Bergman — December 27, 2025
Nvidia struck a non-exclusive licensing deal with Groq and hired its founder and top engineers, spotlighting a trend of talent-first agreements that skirt traditional acquisition hurdles. Similar moves across AI—Windsurf, Scale AI, Character AI, Inflection, and Adept—underscore shifting norms that can leave early employees with fewer upside options. For startups and small teams, this signals a market where IP licensing, retention packages, and talent portability matter as much as valuation.
AI Data Centers Demand More Than Copper Can Deliver
By Samuel K. Moore — December 27, 2025
As GPU-to-GPU bandwidth requirements surge, copper interconnects are hitting physical limits—the so-called “copper cliff.” Startups Point2 and AttoTude propose radio-based cables using millimeter-wave and terahertz links that promise longer reach, lower power, and slimmer cables without the cost and complexity of optics. If successful, these approaches could reshape data center design and cooling strategies, potentially reducing costs downstream for cloud users.
The Rise of Human-AI Teaming Platforms
By Art Inteligencia — December 27, 2025
Instead of replacing people, Human-AI Teaming Platforms aim to augment them—pairing algorithmic speed with human judgment. Case studies from Mastercard (fraud detection) and Autodesk (generative design) show how proactive, context-aware tools can reduce cognitive load while boosting outcomes. The takeaway: culture and workflow design are as critical as the tech, especially for small teams adopting AI to scale expertise.
One year on from the UK’s grand AI plan: has its infrastructure buildout been a success?
By Kai Nicol-Schwarz — December 27, 2025
The UK has courted billions in AI infrastructure pledges and designated “AI growth zones,” but grid connection delays and power constraints risk slowing deployment. Officials are prioritizing projects and exploring options like microgrids and co-location to accelerate usable compute. For businesses, access and timing may vary by region—planning around energy and cloud availability will be key in 2026.
2025 in review: the highs and lows of the ‘Magnificent 7’
By Gail Conway — December 28, 2025
AI drove massive gains and sharp volatility as the Magnificent 7 dominated market returns—culminating in Nvidia briefly topping a $5 trillion valuation. Trade shocks, bubble worries, and rotation among mega-caps punctuated the year, with analysts expecting greater divergence in 2026. For small business owners, the message is to expect uneven tech leadership—and to budget for AI’s benefits amid market swings.
The top 5 things that happened in the AI race this year
By Brent D. Griffiths — December 27, 2025
AI fueled an unprecedented capex spree—roughly $400 billion—lifting GDP and intensifying talent wars, financing deals, and tie-ups across the ecosystem. Bubble debates persisted even as Google’s Gemini 3 impressed and leading labs locked in multibillion-dollar cloud and chip commitments. Translation: the AI supply chain is scaling fast, but cost curves and competitive dynamics are still in flux.
