WTT #1 - Intel’s Downfall? Search being Dead, and RoboTaxi is real?
Welcome to the very first issue of What the Tech.
Here’s the deal: news is everywhere, context isn’t. Intel is lobbying Washington to save itself, Google swears search isn’t dying while creators are bleeding traffic, and billions keep going into robotaxis even though half of us can’t get a decent public bus ride.
This is a new series for us at SK NEXUS and any and all feedback would be highly appreciated. As this grows, we want to make this a weekly thing and want to incorporate comments and questions into our content going forward.
That being said - Let’s get into it.
Story 1: Intel’s ping pong battle with the US Government
Links to refer to:
Intel is wobbling hard. The US government is reportedly considering a direct stake in the company to keep chip manufacturing onshore. Trump allies are pushing for loyal leadership, investors are nervous, and competitors like AMD, Nvidia, and TSMC are sprinting ahead. For the US, chips aren’t just tech - they’re national security.
My Take:
Thing is, for decades Intel and AMD have been the two big players. When AMD was struggling, Intel got complacent. Now AMD is flying, and Intel is the one begging for help. As a techie, it’s depressing because monopoly or duopoly always makes innovation lazy.
What’s fascinating is how openly the US government is stepping in. And honestly, it makes sense. Chips today are what nuclear power was in the Cold War: strategic, nation-defining.
With AI eating compute like biryani at a shaadi, whoever controls chip fabs controls the next era.
On a side note, we are doing a deep dive into Intel and it will be published soon as well to cover this topic in greater detail. Stay tuned!
Should it matter to you?
As a consumer? Not really. You’ll still buy whatever laptop or GPU comes to market. But as a technologist, it’s worth following. Every move trickles down. If supply chains choke or prices shoot up, Pakistani startups, dev shops, and even your gaming rig in will feel it, eventually.
Story 2: Google claims search isn’t dead
Links to refer to:
Publishers accuse Google’s AI answers of killing referral traffic. Google insists this is just “a readjustment” and that overall traffic is fine. Meanwhile, media outlets are laying off, moving behind paywalls, or shutting down.
My Take:
This is personal. I’ve been publishing online for years, and I’ve seen my own organic traffic collapse. That’s why we moved to Substack: to reach you directly without begging an algorithm.
Google calling this “no big deal” is laughable. Anyone who runs a site knows clicks are drying up. And when traffic dies, journalism dies. Already we’ve seen major publications either fold or get gobbled up by VCs.
For readers, this means one thing: curation matters more than ever. Anyone can spin up an AI-written blog. What lasts is the work of real humans you choose to follow. That’s why this newsletter exists - to spark curiosity, not just flood you with content.
Should it matter to you?
Yes. Because if you leave discovery up to Google, soon you’ll only see what advertisers and AI filters push at you.
Support independent voices, follow people who challenge you, and pick your own information diet.
Otherwise, the death of online journalism becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Story 3: Why are companies still pursuing a RoboTaxi future?
Links to refer to:
Summary:
Tesla and Waymo keep testing self-driving ride services in US cities. Influencers are taking them for spins, courts keep fining Tesla for safety failures, and investors still bet billions on the promise of robotaxi economics.
My Take:
I’ll be straight: robotaxis feel like a miss. Imagine if the billions sunk into this went to public transport - cheaper, greener, and with far bigger impact.
But the technologist in me respects the pursuit. Like space travel, it looks wasteful upfront, but the spin-offs are game-changing. Space gave us satellites, GPS, even memory foam. RoboTaxi R&D is already driving advances in sensors, ADAS (driver assist tech), and mapping that will show up in regular cars.
Still, the future isn’t global. At best, you’ll see robotaxis in a few rich, tightly managed districts. In Pakistan? We still debate whether AC is an optional feature in a Suzuki Alto. Long way to go.
Should it matter to you?
On your daily commute, probably not. But watch the side benefits. Your next car might come with safety features that exist only because Tesla and Waymo are burning cash in Austin. That’s worth keeping an eye on.
Recently, a Chinese channel did an in-depth and impressive review on ADAS tech. Probably the most high production video I have seen to date, it is worth a watch if you want to see the current state of this tech from a as realistic as possible view:
Platform Highlights
We’re in the last week of our Dev Dissection series, where we went step by step from idea to launching your first app.
All writeups are up here: thewanderingpro.com/devsessions
In Pakistan, community building is uphill. Most folks treat tech like a solo race. Our Discord is for people who want to build together, share mistakes, and learn as a collective. If that’s you, jump in.
Once the Dev Dissection series is over, we plan to start another one. Your feedback would be valuable as to what journey we should embark on.
💬 Got Questions? Let’s Make It a Thing.
If these stories left you curious, confused, or just plain annoyed, send me your questions.
If enough of you do, I’ll start a dedicated #AskWTT section where I answer one reader’s query every week.
Drop a comment or reply to this email.
As always, with or without my help - I wish you the best.
Do you think that self driving is not going to deliver in the near future like 3 to 5 years? Or perhaps that it won't pay off until like a decade or two?