Michael Brown
@michaelbrownjr.xyz
Opinions on the software, engineering, consumer technology, and its use within culture.
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👨🏾💻 github.com/michaelbrownjr
📝 michaelbtech.com
💧 drupal.org/u/michaelbrownjr
👨🏾💻 github.com/michaelbrownjr
OpenAI removed "safely" from its mission statement, signaling a shift from public benefit to shareholder returns and potentially marking the final corporate takeover of AI.
share.google/heokFd8snd1X...
share.google/heokFd8snd1X...
OpenAI has deleted the word ‘safely’ from its mission – and its new structure is a test for whether AI serves society or shareholders
OpenAI’s restructuring may serve as a test case for how society oversees the work of organizations with the potential to both provide benefits and harm humanity.
share.google
February 14, 2026 at 5:50 AM
OpenAI removed "safely" from its mission statement, signaling a shift from public benefit to shareholder returns and potentially marking the final corporate takeover of AI.
share.google/heokFd8snd1X...
share.google/heokFd8snd1X...
Google is using Fitbit to bridge the gap between consumer tech and clinical diagnostics by enabling proactive medical intervention through AI models trained on 40 million sensor hours, decoding the body's unique language.
I enjoyed this breakdown from 10 months ago.
youtu.be/qF4I2-F6Ng0...
I enjoyed this breakdown from 10 months ago.
youtu.be/qF4I2-F6Ng0...
YouTube
Ever wondered how cutting-edge AI can tackle something as critical as detecting the absence of a pulse? 🤔 Join Rishi Chandra as he dives deep into the AI techniques and validation that powered Google's latest breakthrough: Loss of Pulse Detection.
But that's not all! For developers, get ready to build the future of health tech. Rishi also unveils the global launch of Medical Records APIs in Health Connect, enabling secure read/write access to FHIR-standardized data like allergies, medications, and labs. Let's geek out on the possibilities! 🤓 #Google #Health #AI
Learn more: https://health.google/the-check-up/
Watch more videos from Google on Health and subscribe to our channel: https://yt.be/health-playlist
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Google is using Fitbit to bridge the gap between consumer tech and clinical diagnostics by enabling proactive medical intervention through AI models trained on 40 million sensor hours, decoding the body's unique language.
I enjoyed this breakdown from 10 months ago.
youtu.be/qF4I2-F6Ng0...
I enjoyed this breakdown from 10 months ago.
youtu.be/qF4I2-F6Ng0...
Microsoft plans to replace OpenAI's models with its own by 2026.
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman:
"We have to develop our own foundation models, which are at the absolute frontier, with gigawatt-scale compute and some of the very best AI training teams in the world"
www.ft.com/content/f1ec...
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman:
"We have to develop our own foundation models, which are at the absolute frontier, with gigawatt-scale compute and some of the very best AI training teams in the world"
www.ft.com/content/f1ec...
February 13, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Microsoft plans to replace OpenAI's models with its own by 2026.
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman:
"We have to develop our own foundation models, which are at the absolute frontier, with gigawatt-scale compute and some of the very best AI training teams in the world"
www.ft.com/content/f1ec...
Microsoft AI chief Mustafa Suleyman:
"We have to develop our own foundation models, which are at the absolute frontier, with gigawatt-scale compute and some of the very best AI training teams in the world"
www.ft.com/content/f1ec...
Alphabet is tapping the debt markets for a massive multibillion-dollar cash injection that signals a major shift in how Big Tech plans to fund the next era of infrastructure.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
February 10, 2026 at 4:08 AM
Alphabet is tapping the debt markets for a massive multibillion-dollar cash injection that signals a major shift in how Big Tech plans to fund the next era of infrastructure.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Google is finally admitting that the era of siloed software and hardware development is dead. The tech giant is pivoting its entire design philosophy to solve a problem most users didn't even realize they had.
February 10, 2026 at 3:52 AM
Google is finally admitting that the era of siloed software and hardware development is dead. The tech giant is pivoting its entire design philosophy to solve a problem most users didn't even realize they had.
YouTube TV is finally ending the era of the bloated $83-a-month "take it or leave it" cable bundle.
The service just unveiled ten new genre-based plans starting at $54.99, allowing users to pay only for sports, news, or entertainment.
Read more here: blog.youtube/news-and-eve...
The service just unveiled ten new genre-based plans starting at $54.99, allowing users to pay only for sports, news, or entertainment.
Read more here: blog.youtube/news-and-eve...
Choose the YouTube TV plan that fits your interests
- YouTube Blog
Explore new genre-based YouTube TV plans designed for sports fans, news junkies, and families. Learn how to customize your channel lineup with flexible options for entertainment and live broadcasts while keeping features like unlimited DVR.
blog.youtube
February 9, 2026 at 6:50 PM
YouTube TV is finally ending the era of the bloated $83-a-month "take it or leave it" cable bundle.
The service just unveiled ten new genre-based plans starting at $54.99, allowing users to pay only for sports, news, or entertainment.
Read more here: blog.youtube/news-and-eve...
The service just unveiled ten new genre-based plans starting at $54.99, allowing users to pay only for sports, news, or entertainment.
Read more here: blog.youtube/news-and-eve...
The narrative that Google is losing the AI war just hit a $2 trillion reality check
@Google is officially pivoting from a defensive crouch to an all-out sprint, proving that incumbency is the ultimate moat in the generative era.
Read more here: www.wsj.com/tech/ai/goog...
@Google is officially pivoting from a defensive crouch to an all-out sprint, proving that incumbency is the ultimate moat in the generative era.
Read more here: www.wsj.com/tech/ai/goog...
Google Leans Hard Into Its AI-Winner Status - WSJ
Ad and cloud growth acceleration justify the recent surge in Alphabet’s stock, but the blowout capex forecast still takes one’s breath away.
www.wsj.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:11 PM
The narrative that Google is losing the AI war just hit a $2 trillion reality check
@Google is officially pivoting from a defensive crouch to an all-out sprint, proving that incumbency is the ultimate moat in the generative era.
Read more here: www.wsj.com/tech/ai/goog...
@Google is officially pivoting from a defensive crouch to an all-out sprint, proving that incumbency is the ultimate moat in the generative era.
Read more here: www.wsj.com/tech/ai/goog...
Google has just spent five years quietly building the world’s most expensive payroll for people who don't even work for them.
Google has moved more money to independent creators in four years than the entire traditional Hollywood studio system combined.
www.youtube.com/creators/par...
Google has moved more money to independent creators in four years than the entire traditional Hollywood studio system combined.
www.youtube.com/creators/par...
YouTube Partner Program: Eligibility, Benefits & Application
Whether you're new to the program or want to maximize your earnings, the YouTube Partner Program offers resources, support, and community to help you succeed.
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Google has just spent five years quietly building the world’s most expensive payroll for people who don't even work for them.
Google has moved more money to independent creators in four years than the entire traditional Hollywood studio system combined.
www.youtube.com/creators/par...
Google has moved more money to independent creators in four years than the entire traditional Hollywood studio system combined.
www.youtube.com/creators/par...
I have never been more mad at myself for not keeping up with those four semesters of Spanish in my life!
Bad Bunny's performance was so good! I would have loved it even more if I understood the language as much as I understood the imagery.
Bad Bunny's performance was so good! I would have loved it even more if I understood the language as much as I understood the imagery.
February 9, 2026 at 1:50 AM
I have never been more mad at myself for not keeping up with those four semesters of Spanish in my life!
Bad Bunny's performance was so good! I would have loved it even more if I understood the language as much as I understood the imagery.
Bad Bunny's performance was so good! I would have loved it even more if I understood the language as much as I understood the imagery.
Pixel 10's Camera Coach is definitely an MVP "preview," but I’ve found its real value right now isn't for people because taking 10s to frame a person feels awkward, but for landscapes and nature, having a pocket instructor for composition is cool.
February 8, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Pixel 10's Camera Coach is definitely an MVP "preview," but I’ve found its real value right now isn't for people because taking 10s to frame a person feels awkward, but for landscapes and nature, having a pocket instructor for composition is cool.
Remember the days when Android phones rarely had case options?
I swap between Bellroy and Spigen cases, and have been using official Google cases for the last three Pixel generations using my Google store credits.
Pixel 10 Cases: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
I swap between Bellroy and Spigen cases, and have been using official Google cases for the last three Pixel generations using my Google store credits.
Pixel 10 Cases: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
February 8, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Remember the days when Android phones rarely had case options?
I swap between Bellroy and Spigen cases, and have been using official Google cases for the last three Pixel generations using my Google store credits.
Pixel 10 Cases: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
I swap between Bellroy and Spigen cases, and have been using official Google cases for the last three Pixel generations using my Google store credits.
Pixel 10 Cases: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
I ordered these before the news got out that they are bad.
They just came in today, so let's see if they're as bad as they say they.
They just came in today, so let's see if they're as bad as they say they.
February 7, 2026 at 10:20 PM
I ordered these before the news got out that they are bad.
They just came in today, so let's see if they're as bad as they say they.
They just came in today, so let's see if they're as bad as they say they.
I feel like most straight men don't rock with the moonstone color on the Pixel 10 Pro. I think it goes pretty hard 🔥
February 6, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I feel like most straight men don't rock with the moonstone color on the Pixel 10 Pro. I think it goes pretty hard 🔥
My favorite tech items this past year (outside of my phone and watch) has been my Pixel Tablet and Google Home speakers.
I'd consider both "home tech" because I mainly use them while I'm at home but they both have multiple purposes for the home.
Home Tech: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
I'd consider both "home tech" because I mainly use them while I'm at home but they both have multiple purposes for the home.
Home Tech: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
February 6, 2026 at 6:24 PM
My favorite tech items this past year (outside of my phone and watch) has been my Pixel Tablet and Google Home speakers.
I'd consider both "home tech" because I mainly use them while I'm at home but they both have multiple purposes for the home.
Home Tech: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
I'd consider both "home tech" because I mainly use them while I'm at home but they both have multiple purposes for the home.
Home Tech: www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/...
Well, this didn't age well, Tim
February 6, 2026 at 4:09 AM
Well, this didn't age well, Tim
Well, looks like Apple is killing another big ambitious project before it sees the light of day. But hey... Shares are up and there's more product categories coming 🫤
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
February 6, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Well, looks like Apple is killing another big ambitious project before it sees the light of day. But hey... Shares are up and there's more product categories coming 🫤
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
With Apple's next iOS release, iOS 26.3, you'll be able to "Transfer to Android" a lot easier.
Looks like Apple is slowly releasing the handcuffs a little, but not full as you can see "health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and 'protected items' are not available for transfer"
Looks like Apple is slowly releasing the handcuffs a little, but not full as you can see "health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and 'protected items' are not available for transfer"
February 5, 2026 at 5:52 PM
With Apple's next iOS release, iOS 26.3, you'll be able to "Transfer to Android" a lot easier.
Looks like Apple is slowly releasing the handcuffs a little, but not full as you can see "health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and 'protected items' are not available for transfer"
Looks like Apple is slowly releasing the handcuffs a little, but not full as you can see "health data, devices paired with Bluetooth, and 'protected items' are not available for transfer"
More Android devices are getting AirDrop support this year.
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
February 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
More Android devices are getting AirDrop support this year.
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
Here's my favorite from the hilarious ad campaign from Anthropic. Such a good ad.
February 5, 2026 at 3:23 PM
Here's my favorite from the hilarious ad campaign from Anthropic. Such a good ad.
Google's "Likeness", from Android XR, may soon be in more places as 3D avatars across Android.
https://thehighcontrast/p/gemini-may-soon-offer-3d-avatars
https://thehighcontrast/p/gemini-may-soon-offer-3d-avatars
February 5, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Google's "Likeness", from Android XR, may soon be in more places as 3D avatars across Android.
https://thehighcontrast/p/gemini-may-soon-offer-3d-avatars
https://thehighcontrast/p/gemini-may-soon-offer-3d-avatars
While Google has generated substantial profits in Q4, their infrastructure is strategically positioned for continued success, and even more so now.
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
February 4, 2026 at 9:37 PM
While Google has generated substantial profits in Q4, their infrastructure is strategically positioned for continued success, and even more so now.
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
Wait wait wait.. Sam Altman clapped back at (responded to) Anthropic for their Superbowl ads?!
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
February 4, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Wait wait wait.. Sam Altman clapped back at (responded to) Anthropic for their Superbowl ads?!
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
I have a confession. I love marketing shade between companies 😁 open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
February 4, 2026 at 3:41 PM
I have a confession. I love marketing shade between companies 😁 open.substack.com/pub/thehighc...
I wondered what James Park, one of the co-founders of Fitbit is doing these days. Looks like he’s still doing health stuff and this sounds awesome. www.axios.com/2026/02/0…
February 3, 2026 at 1:18 PM
I wondered what James Park, one of the co-founders of Fitbit is doing these days. Looks like he’s still doing health stuff and this sounds awesome. www.axios.com/2026/02/0…
I think OpenAI's problem is a lack of focus. They're trying to be everywhere, all the time, but don't have a single area where they're truly exceptional.
Google is about contextual data, Apple is about products, Meta is about social data, and Microsoft is about enterprise.
Google is about contextual data, Apple is about products, Meta is about social data, and Microsoft is about enterprise.
February 3, 2026 at 4:51 AM
I think OpenAI's problem is a lack of focus. They're trying to be everywhere, all the time, but don't have a single area where they're truly exceptional.
Google is about contextual data, Apple is about products, Meta is about social data, and Microsoft is about enterprise.
Google is about contextual data, Apple is about products, Meta is about social data, and Microsoft is about enterprise.