An Interview with Ben Thompson at the MoffettNathanson Media, Internet & Communications Conference

Ever wonder how a looming compute shortage could reshape the entire internet landscape? Ben Thompson, speaking at the MoffettNathanson conference, highlights that this isn’t just about hardware — it’s about the very way companies gather, analyze, and act on data. According to Thompson, the shortage could slow down the explosion of consumer AI and force a rethink of how we approach aggregation and platform power. He points out that big players might have to consolidate even more, as smaller firms struggle to access the computing muscle they need. But here’s the twist — this could also accelerate the rise of more efficient, smarter AI models that do more with less. As Thompson explains, the key isn’t just in more chips, but in smarter, more targeted use of resources. So, the real question isn’t whether this crunch continues, but who will innovate around it first — before the scarcity becomes the new normal.