Sal Rodriguez 🕷️

Not sure what comes next, but I’m open to a variety of opportunities in a number of locations. Feel free to reach out.

I’m sad to leave all my wonderful friends and colleagues, but I’m so grateful I got to work with them again, learn so much and publish some incredible pieces that we’ll always be proud of.

Hi world, I was among those let go from CNBC this week, bringing to end my second stint at the consumer news and business channel and my first as an editor.

Waymo begins deploying next-gen Ojai robotaxis to extend its U.S. lead The company is preparing to expand in several new cities in 2026.

Waymo says it's beginning to deploy its sixth-generation driverless system in robotaxis, starting with California employees. www.cnbc.com/2026/02/12/w...

Salesforce employees call on CEO Benioff to cancel ICE 'opportunities' More than 1,400 Salesforce employees have signed a letter calling on CEO Marc Benioff to cancel all potential business with the U.S. ICE agency.

Salesforce employees call on CEO Benioff to cancel ICE 'opportunities'

Alphabet calls out new AI-related risks, as it taps debt market to fund buildout In Alphabet's annual report, the company said AI poses business risks, including its potential impact on advertising.

Alphabet calls out new AI-related risks in latest financial filings www.cnbc.com/2026/02/09/a... by @jennelias.bsky.social

Google and Microsoft offer lucrative deals to promote AI, but even $500,000 won't sway some creators Tech companies including Google and Microsoft are paying influencers hundreds of thousands of dollars to promote AI products.

AI companies, like OpenAI & Anthropic, are now paying creators to promote their products to social media users. Some, like Google & Microsoft, are offering creators as much as $500k for these ads, but some creators refuse to promote AI www.cnbc.com/2026/02/06/g... By @zachvallese.bsky.social

Sandberg, other Meta vets invest in AI workplace communications startup Slashwork is backed by former Meta executives Sheryl Sandberg, David Fischer, Carolyn Everson and Julien Codorniou, who led Facebook Workplace.

Two years ago Meta shuttered its Facebook Workplace enterprise communication app. Today, a phoenix rose from those ashes, as several former Meta execs, including Sheryl Sandberg, are backing a new communications tool that is powered by AI www.cnbc.com/2026/02/04/s... By @lolavkm.bsky.social

Nvidia, OpenAI appear stalled on their mega deal. But the AI giants still need each other Five months after OpenAI and Nvidia announced a $100 billion deal, no contract has been signed and no money has changed hands.

Nvidia, OpenAI appear stalled on their mega deal. But the AI giants still need each other www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/n... by @kif.bsky.social

Apple, Google host dozens of AI ‘nudify’ apps like Grok, report finds A tech watchdog organization found 55 nudify apps on Google Play and 47 in the Apple App Store.

After CNBC and @ttp-updates.bsky.social contacted Apple and Google about dozens of nudify apps on their respective app stores, the two companies removed dozens of these services from their platforms, but several remain www.cnbc.com/2026/01/27/a... Check out this report by @lolavkm.bsky.social

Tech's top CEOs mum after ICE killings, while leaders like Reid Hoffman, Yann LeCun speak out While a few leaders have voiced outrage, the tech sector has stayed widely silent after the second fatal shooting by Federal agents in Minneapolis this month.

When President Trump introduced the Muslim travel ban 8 years ago, tech CEOs were some of the loudest critics against it. Now, as ICE agents kill protesters in Minnesota, the tech industry's silence is deafening www.cnbc.com/2026/01/26/a... by Lola Murti and @jennelias.bsky.social

Nvidia set to supplant Apple as TSMC's top customer, signaling chip industry's 'changing dynamic' The positional swap will mark a fundamental shift in the semiconductor industry, reflecting Nvidia's growing importance amid the AI infrastructure buildout.

Nvidia set to supplant Apple as TSMC’s top customer, signaling chip industry’s ‘changing dynamic’ www.cnbc.com/2026/01/26/n... by @kif.bsky.social

Meta's Reality Labs cuts sparked fears of a 'VR winter' Meta's deprioritizing virtual reality in favor of artificial intelligence and Internet-connected smart glasses raised concerns about the future of the industry.

VR winter is here www.cnbc.com/2026/01/24/m... By @jonathanvanian.bsky.social

Waymo launches robotaxi service in Miami, extending U.S. lead Miami represents the sixth market for Waymo, which is owned by Google parent Alphabet.

Waymo today announced its first market expansion of 2026: Miami www.cnbc.com/2026/01/22/w... by @lorak.bsky.social

Most of Instagram's ads ran on Reels in 2025, data shows More than half of all ads on Meta's Instagram ran in the service's short-form video Reels product in 2025, up from 35% in 2024, according to Sensor Tower.

Most of Instagram’s ads ran on Reels in 2025, data shows www.cnbc.com/2026/01/20/m... by @zachvallese.bsky.social

Google was at risk of losing its dominance — until it promoted this AI executive Josh Woodward, a 16-year Google veteran, is tasked with running the Gemini app and going head-to-head with OpenAI in the booming generative AI market.

Google was at risk of losing its dominance — until it promoted this AI executive www.cnbc.com/2025/12/20/j... excellent profile of Google's Josh Woodward by @jennelias.bsky.social

Apple punted on AI this year. Next year will be critical Apple this year delayed its big Siri upgrade to 2026. As the company looks ahead, the pressure is on for the iPhone maker to show investors its AI strategy.

Apple punted on AI this year. Next year will be critical www.cnbc.com/2025/12/17/a... by @kif.bsky.social

Robotaxis in 2025: Waymo plots global expansion as Zoox, Tesla roll to the starting line Robotaxis grew rapidly in 2025 with Waymo expanding fastest, Zoox debuting public rides and Tesla launching autonomous rides with human supervision.

Here's how the robotaxi market looks as we close out 2025 and look ahead at 2026, with Waymo ahead of the pack but Zoox and Tesla finally rolling to the starting line www.cnbc.com/2025/12/16/w... by @lorak.bsky.social @jennelias.bsky.social & @anniepalmer.bsky.social

From Llamas to Avocados: Meta's shifting AI strategy is causing internal confusion Meta’s push to develop its next frontier model, codenamed Avocado, under new AI leadership is creating internal friction as it races rivals OpenAI and Google.

Huge report today on the state of Meta's AI strategy, six months after Mark Zuckerberg's multi-billion dollar talent spending spree

A must-read by @jonathanvanian.bsky.social for anyone curious about Meta's next move. Hint: It's proprietary and codenamed Avocado www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/m...

From Llamas to Avocados: Meta's shifting AI strategy is causing internal confusion Meta’s push to develop its next frontier model, codenamed Avocado, under new AI leadership is creating internal friction as it races rivals OpenAI and Google.

From 🦙 to 🥑:

"Zuckerberg was so optimistic last year about his Llama family of artificial intelligence models that he predicted they would become the 'most advanced in the industry.'"

Now, "Meta is pursuing a new Llama successor, code-named Avocado."

www.cnbc.com/2025/12/09/m...

YouTube's new AI deepfake tracking tool is alarming experts and creators A YouTube tool that uses creators' biometrics to remove AI-generated videos also allows Google to train its AI models on that sensitive data, experts told CNBC.

YouTube is stuck between Google's AI ambitions & serving creators. No where is that fissure more palpable than YouTube's requirement that creators upload their gov ID and biometrics in exchange for a deepfake detection and removal tool www.cnbc.com/2025/12/02/y...

By @zachvallese.bsky.social

Social media users report Netflix outage during 'Stranger Things' premiere Social media users said they were experiencing issues with Netflix on Wednesday, the night of the "Stranger Things" fifth season premiere.

Netflix appears to be suffering an outage on the night of the "Stranger Things" fifth season premiere www.cnbc.com/2025/11/26/n...

Amazon faces FAA probe after delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas The probe comes as Amazon faces stiffer competition from Walmart, which has also begun drone deliveries.

Late night scoop from @anniepalmer.bsky.social:

Amazon faces FAA probe after delivery drone snaps internet cable in Texas

www.cnbc.com/2025/11/25/a...

AI Christmas: The latest devices from Amazon, Meta, Google and more This holiday shopping season features more advanced smart glasses, smart speakers with generative AI and a pendant users can wear to carry around an AI friend.

Looking for genAI hardware to gift your loved ones this holiday season? Here's @cnbc.com's roundup of the best options: www.cnbc.com/2025/11/22/a...

Waymo to begin manual drives in Minneapolis, Tampa and New Orleans, aims to open service in 2026 If Waymo does begin operating in those markets next year, that would bring the robotaxi company's list of 2026 planned expansions to 15 cities.

Waymo today added Minneapolis to its list of cities that it hopes to start serving in 2026. It's the latest sign that the Google sister company believes its robotaxis might soon be ready to brave cold weather www.cnbc.com/2025/11/20/w... by @jennelias.bsky.social

Zoox begins offering robotaxi rides in San Francisco, facing off with Waymo Riders can sign up to join the "Zoox Explorers" program to take free rides on the company's box-shaped vehicles in certain San Francisco neighborhoods.

Zoox begins offering robotaxi rides in San Francisco, facing off with Waymo www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/z... by @anniepalmer.bsky.social

Waymo begins offering freeway robotaxi rides in San Francisco, LA and Phoenix The Google sister company has been testing robotaxi freeway rides with employees for more than a year.

You can now take Waymos on freeways in SF, LA and PHX www.cnbc.com/2025/11/12/w... by @jennelias.bsky.social & @lorak.bsky.social

Microsoft AI chief says only biological beings can be conscious Mustafa Suleyman has become one of the most influential voices in tech to come out against building seemingly conscious AI.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, and he told me he believes only biological beings are capable of consciousness.

Here’s my latest for CNBC: www.cnbc.com/2025/11/02/m...

Meta's AI app has seen growth soar since launch of Vibes, but trails OpenAI's Sora The Meta AI app has seen a major jolt in downloads since the company launched Vibes and began paying creators to make AI-generated videos.

Meta has been paying creators to populate its Vibes feed of AI-generated video www.cnbc.com/2025/10/28/m... by @vancityreynolds.bsky.social & @zachvallese.bsky.social

Microsoft AI chief says company won’t build chatbots for erotica Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman said the software company won't build erotica AI services, the latest break with rival-partner OpenAI.

A philosophical divide on how to build AI chatbots is emerging among tech heavy weights -- those willing to indulge AI erotica & seemingly conscious AI (OpenAI) & those against it (Microsoft)

Here's my latest for CNBC: www.cnbc.com/2025/10/23/m...