Model Mayhem
TBPN

Model Mayhem

July 9, 2026

Happy Thursday.

We’re live on YouTube and 𝕏.

The current things in tech and business are the near simultaneous releases of OpenAI’s GPT 5.6, Meta’s agentic and coding model Muse Spark, and SpaceXAI’s agentic and coding model Grok 4.5.

Today’s LineupRun of ShowAlamy

It’s Model Mayhem Today

Several frontier AI labs have released major new models within the past 24 hours (links to each in the Headlines section below).

xAI unveiled Grok 4.5, its first model built specifically for coding and AI agents, developed in collaboration with Cursor. Meta announced Muse Spark, a new agentic coding model, with Mark Zuckerberg returning to X for the first time in years to post about the launch. OpenAI also released GPT-5.6, a new general-purpose model with expanded coding and agent capabilities, alongside GPT Live, a new real-time interactive voice experience.

We’ll be breaking down all of these launches and what they mean on today’s show.

Clip Spotlight: Ben Thompson thinks Rockstar should charge more than $80 for GTA 6

Ben: "They should be charging like $200 for this game! GTA 6 is like, the last great game."

"It was mostly all made pre-AI. It is the pinnacle of AAA craftsmanship. Years and years and years of blood, sweat, and tears. To the extent where you have the Twitter analysts like, counting cigarette butts outside Rockstar's offices to see how much crunch they're in."

"I feel compelled to buy GTA 6, just in honor of it existing. Even if I don't know if I'm ever going to play it. I'd be happy to pay $200. $80 is ridiculous. They should charge more."

John: "You're going to get canceled for this. This is a nuclear take."

Headlines

OpenAI rolls out GPT 5.6, GPT-Live

Meta releases Muse Spark 1.1

SpaceXAI announces Grok 4.5

Humanoid robot company 1X unveils new highly dextrous robot hands

Bloomberg: Zuckerberg Pledges ‘Aggressive’ Pricing With Meta’s First Pay-to-Use AI

Core Memory interviews TBPN interview, takes studio tour

Prof G Podcast: Why OpenAI Bought a Podcast — with TBPN’s John Coogan and Jordi Hays

Inside Higher Ed: Brown Professor Suspects Majority of His Class Used AI to Cheat

FT: Outspoken Chinese economist who doubted official GDP data dies

WSJ: Federal Regulator Warns Robotaxis Are a ‘Danger’ to the Public

Bloomberg: Sonos Cuts Top Design and Product Executives as Part of Layoffs

Sifted: Exclusive: Lovable in talks to raise $300m at $13.2bn valuation

WSJ: Airbnb Puts Down Roots Behind Enemy Lines by Buying Its First NYC Office

Barron’s: A New Bombshell Has Entered Prediction Markets: Love Island

WSJ: JPMorgan Plans to Target Small-Company Deals as Part of M&A Push

WSJ: He Earns $33 an Hour as a Costco Cashier. Now He’s a Millionaire.

Yahoo! Finance: Cerebras targets Europe with multibillion-dollar AI expansion, challenging Nvidia

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