Rafe Uddin
@rafeuddin.ft.com
FT San Francisco Correspondent | Signal: rafeuddin.01 | +1 (415) 718-5729 | Tips: [email protected]
Pinned
Rafe Uddin
@rafeuddin.ft.com
· Jan 20
🚨Inauguration Day: I’ve moved to the FT’s San Francisco bureau to help cover Amazon, Microsoft and Uber as well as enterprise providers inc. Oracle and Salesforce.
Shoot me a line if you have any intel/gossip/advice.
I’m on Signal: Rafeuddin.01 or email: [email protected]
Shoot me a line if you have any intel/gossip/advice.
I’m on Signal: Rafeuddin.01 or email: [email protected]
I've been working with colleagues for several months to tell the story of Larry Ellison's institute in Oxford. It's a tale of grand vision and turbulent management.
Please reach out on Signal at rafeuddin.01 or via email at [email protected] if you have relevant information.
on.ft.com/4pkBtF2
Please reach out on Signal at rafeuddin.01 or via email at [email protected] if you have relevant information.
on.ft.com/4pkBtF2
Larry Ellison scales back £10bn Oxford science institute in leadership rift
[FREE TO READ] Trump-supporting billionaire narrows EIT’s ambitions by cutting initiatives and tightening control
on.ft.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:36 AM
I've been working with colleagues for several months to tell the story of Larry Ellison's institute in Oxford. It's a tale of grand vision and turbulent management.
Please reach out on Signal at rafeuddin.01 or via email at [email protected] if you have relevant information.
on.ft.com/4pkBtF2
Please reach out on Signal at rafeuddin.01 or via email at [email protected] if you have relevant information.
on.ft.com/4pkBtF2
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Breaking news: Amazon’s cloud business was hit by an outage on Monday. Websites including Snapchat, Lloyds Bank and BT were all suffering from disruption www.ft.com/content/f9d1...
October 20, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Breaking news: Amazon’s cloud business was hit by an outage on Monday. Websites including Snapchat, Lloyds Bank and BT were all suffering from disruption www.ft.com/content/f9d1...
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Salesforce boss Benioff walks back Trump praise after widespread backlash on.ft.com/4ojL2n0
Salesforce boss Benioff walks back Trump praise after widespread backlash
Venture capitalist Ron Conway resigns from board of company’s philanthropic arm in protest at comments
on.ft.com
October 17, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Salesforce boss Benioff walks back Trump praise after widespread backlash on.ft.com/4ojL2n0
NEW: Larry Ellison was back in the spotlight this week with Oracle hitching its wagon to OpenAI with a $300bn five-year deal. Can it deliver? Can the start-up afford it? Investors think so.
Fun to help Richard Waters on the @financialtimes.com Person in the News. on.ft.com/46eLlIj
Fun to help Richard Waters on the @financialtimes.com Person in the News. on.ft.com/46eLlIj
Larry Ellison, the tech world’s great survivor
[FREE TO READ] At 81, Oracle’s co-founder has reinvented himself as a power in AI to become (briefly) the richest person in the world
on.ft.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:18 PM
NEW: Larry Ellison was back in the spotlight this week with Oracle hitching its wagon to OpenAI with a $300bn five-year deal. Can it deliver? Can the start-up afford it? Investors think so.
Fun to help Richard Waters on the @financialtimes.com Person in the News. on.ft.com/46eLlIj
Fun to help Richard Waters on the @financialtimes.com Person in the News. on.ft.com/46eLlIj
NEW: Earlier this year the FT launched an investigation into UK City Minister Tulip Siddiq’s links to alleged embezzlement in Bangladesh.
Our investigation contributed to her resignation, but also invited us to take a deeper look at the alleged looting of billions of dollars.
on.ft.com/4pjqCMi
Our investigation contributed to her resignation, but also invited us to take a deeper look at the alleged looting of billions of dollars.
on.ft.com/4pjqCMi
Bangladesh’s missing billions, stolen in plain sight | FT Film
[FREE TO READ] Over $200bn was allegedly plundered from Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s time as prime minister
on.ft.com
September 11, 2025 at 6:57 AM
NEW: Earlier this year the FT launched an investigation into UK City Minister Tulip Siddiq’s links to alleged embezzlement in Bangladesh.
Our investigation contributed to her resignation, but also invited us to take a deeper look at the alleged looting of billions of dollars.
on.ft.com/4pjqCMi
Our investigation contributed to her resignation, but also invited us to take a deeper look at the alleged looting of billions of dollars.
on.ft.com/4pjqCMi
I had a lot of fun dragging a cofounder to go and catch Cofounders the Musical. A show that reminds audiences that trillions of dollars in market cap runs on cringe.
Column includes thoughts from show-backer Reid Hoffman and co-writer Ryan Nicole Austin.
Column includes thoughts from show-backer Reid Hoffman and co-writer Ryan Nicole Austin.
Silicon Valley gets the ‘Hamilton’ treatment on.ft.com/4mC3k2s | opinion
Silicon Valley gets the ‘Hamilton’ treatment
A new production backed by Reid Hoffman skewers the Bay Area’s tech subculture
on.ft.com
August 26, 2025 at 10:05 AM
I had a lot of fun dragging a cofounder to go and catch Cofounders the Musical. A show that reminds audiences that trillions of dollars in market cap runs on cringe.
Column includes thoughts from show-backer Reid Hoffman and co-writer Ryan Nicole Austin.
Column includes thoughts from show-backer Reid Hoffman and co-writer Ryan Nicole Austin.
NEW: During a hearing in London, Meta sought to block the disclosure of docs in a employment tribunal.
Following a application by the FT, we were able to report claims Meta inflated its ad performance and bypassed Apple’s privacy rules. w/@mshannahmurphy.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4mBbAQf
Following a application by the FT, we were able to report claims Meta inflated its ad performance and bypassed Apple’s privacy rules. w/@mshannahmurphy.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4mBbAQf
Meta inflated ad performance and bypassed Apple’s privacy rules, tribunal hears
[FREE TO READ] Former product manager alleges social media platform misled marketers in push for revenues
on.ft.com
August 21, 2025 at 5:54 AM
NEW: During a hearing in London, Meta sought to block the disclosure of docs in a employment tribunal.
Following a application by the FT, we were able to report claims Meta inflated its ad performance and bypassed Apple’s privacy rules. w/@mshannahmurphy.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4mBbAQf
Following a application by the FT, we were able to report claims Meta inflated its ad performance and bypassed Apple’s privacy rules. w/@mshannahmurphy.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4mBbAQf
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
New visual story: Inside the relentless race for AI capacity
The quest for superintelligence is spurring a data centre boom — but critics question the cost, environmental impact and whether it is all needed
ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
The quest for superintelligence is spurring a data centre boom — but critics question the cost, environmental impact and whether it is all needed
ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
July 31, 2025 at 11:50 AM
New visual story: Inside the relentless race for AI capacity
The quest for superintelligence is spurring a data centre boom — but critics question the cost, environmental impact and whether it is all needed
ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
The quest for superintelligence is spurring a data centre boom — but critics question the cost, environmental impact and whether it is all needed
ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
The FT's Visual Storytelling team has published the first part in a trilogy exploring the relentless race for AI capacity and the data centres at the heart of hundreds of billions of dollars in capital investment.
It's a tale of breathless ambition: ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
It's a tale of breathless ambition: ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
Inside the relentless race for AI capacity
The quest for superintelligence is spurring a data centre boom — but critics question the cost, environmental impact and whether it is all needed
ig.ft.com
July 31, 2025 at 5:46 AM
The FT's Visual Storytelling team has published the first part in a trilogy exploring the relentless race for AI capacity and the data centres at the heart of hundreds of billions of dollars in capital investment.
It's a tale of breathless ambition: ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
It's a tale of breathless ambition: ig.ft.com/ai-data-cent...
We've encouraged recent visitors to the FT's San Francisco bureau to hail a ride with Waymo. The experience is proving popular in the tech-forward city but how will robotaxis meaningfully scale across the globe?
Story with @tim.fo and Stephen Morris
on.ft.com/4lKMy0P
Story with @tim.fo and Stephen Morris
on.ft.com/4lKMy0P
What will it take for robotaxis to go global?
[FREE TO READ] The concept has been proved, but scaling up services beyond a handful of cities will require tens of billions in new investment
on.ft.com
July 24, 2025 at 12:46 PM
We've encouraged recent visitors to the FT's San Francisco bureau to hail a ride with Waymo. The experience is proving popular in the tech-forward city but how will robotaxis meaningfully scale across the globe?
Story with @tim.fo and Stephen Morris
on.ft.com/4lKMy0P
Story with @tim.fo and Stephen Morris
on.ft.com/4lKMy0P
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Uber agrees multibillion deal with Lucid for electric robotaxi fleet https://on.ft.com/3GTjvIZ
Uber agrees multibillion-dollar deal with Lucid for electric robotaxi fleet
Ride-hailing app to buy 20,000 EVs and invest $300mn in Lucid alongside partnership with self-driving start-up Nuro
on.ft.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Uber agrees multibillion deal with Lucid for electric robotaxi fleet https://on.ft.com/3GTjvIZ
NEW: Google is expected to agree a discount deal with the General Services Administration over current cloud contracts. Amazon and Microsoft to follow suit as Trump presses Big Tech, according to a senior GSA official.
Story with @joemillerjr.ft.com and Stephen Morris
Story with @joemillerjr.ft.com and Stephen Morris
Google to agree cloud discount as US government squeezes Big Tech https://on.ft.com/4lmv1M1
Google to agree cloud discount as US government squeezes Big Tech
Amazon and Microsoft are also under pressure to cut prices after Oracle struck a deal to reduce costs
on.ft.com
July 11, 2025 at 6:25 AM
NEW: Google is expected to agree a discount deal with the General Services Administration over current cloud contracts. Amazon and Microsoft to follow suit as Trump presses Big Tech, according to a senior GSA official.
Story with @joemillerjr.ft.com and Stephen Morris
Story with @joemillerjr.ft.com and Stephen Morris
NEW: Amazon is discussing plans to invest billions more into AI start-up Anthropic as it tries to position itself ahead of Google and capitalise on Microsoft’s fraying OpenAI relationship.
Story with @criddle.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
Story with @criddle.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
Amazon weighs further investment in Anthropic to deepen AI alliance https://on.ft.com/44DBJ9n
Amazon weighs further investment in Anthropic to deepen AI alliance
The tech groups are increasingly tied to each other and act as a bulwark to Microsoft-OpenAI partnership
on.ft.com
July 10, 2025 at 6:19 AM
NEW: Amazon is discussing plans to invest billions more into AI start-up Anthropic as it tries to position itself ahead of Google and capitalise on Microsoft’s fraying OpenAI relationship.
Story with @criddle.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
Story with @criddle.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
NEW: Tony Blair's staff took part in a BCG project for the redevelopment of Gaza along the lines of the 'Trump Riviera' plan www.ft.com/content/0b1b...
Tony Blair’s staff took part in ‘Gaza Riviera’ project with BCG
Former UK prime minister’s institute participated in meetings on plan to turn shattered enclave into trading hub
www.ft.com
July 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
NEW: Tony Blair's staff took part in a BCG project for the redevelopment of Gaza along the lines of the 'Trump Riviera' plan www.ft.com/content/0b1b...
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
SCOOP! Sachin Duggal, founder and "chief wizard" of the now defunct tech unicorn Builder.ai, made $20mn from selling shares in the company
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Builder.ai ‘Chief Wizard’ Sachin Dev Duggal made $20mn in share sales
[FREE TO READ] Former chief executive of collapsed Microsoft-backed start-up also borrowed against holdings
on.ft.com
June 25, 2025 at 12:25 PM
SCOOP! Sachin Duggal, founder and "chief wizard" of the now defunct tech unicorn Builder.ai, made $20mn from selling shares in the company
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Builder.ai collapsed last month, after raising half a billion dollars, when revenues had to be dramatically restated
With @bondhack.ft.com
on.ft.com/4k8t44A
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
After months of reporting (and even my own attempt at a jiu jitsu class), my FT Magazine cover story on Mark Zuckerberg’s metamorphosis to red-blooded “Maga Mark” is out!
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
How Mark Zuckerberg unleashed his inner brawler
[FREE TO READ] The boss’s transformation shocked liberals at Meta, but his closest allies say this is who he was all along
on.ft.com
June 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
After months of reporting (and even my own attempt at a jiu jitsu class), my FT Magazine cover story on Mark Zuckerberg’s metamorphosis to red-blooded “Maga Mark” is out!
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
Is this political expediency, a midlife crisis or who Zuck has been all along?
on.ft.com/4nsoktx
EXC: Microsoft has considered walking away from talks with OpenAI over the future of their partnership, instead sitting on a favourable contract that runs until 2030.
Story from @criddle.bsky.social, @tabbykinder.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3ZCHyCp
Story from @criddle.bsky.social, @tabbykinder.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3ZCHyCp
Microsoft prepared to walk away from high-stakes OpenAI talks
[FREE TO READ] ChatGPT maker’s plans to convert into a for-profit leads software giant to make contingency plans
on.ft.com
June 18, 2025 at 8:07 PM
EXC: Microsoft has considered walking away from talks with OpenAI over the future of their partnership, instead sitting on a favourable contract that runs until 2030.
Story from @criddle.bsky.social, @tabbykinder.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3ZCHyCp
Story from @criddle.bsky.social, @tabbykinder.bsky.social and @georgehammond.bsky.social
on.ft.com/3ZCHyCp
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Barbie-maker Mattel partners with OpenAI to make artificial intelligence child’s play
https://www.ft.com/content/7a9d0c47-5294-46b7-9d06-181654129d43
https://www.ft.com/content/7a9d0c47-5294-46b7-9d06-181654129d43
Barbie-maker Mattel partners with OpenAI to make artificial intelligence child’s play
Toymaker and tech group team up to ‘bring the magic of AI to age-appropriate play experiences’
www.ft.com
June 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Barbie-maker Mattel partners with OpenAI to make artificial intelligence child’s play
https://www.ft.com/content/7a9d0c47-5294-46b7-9d06-181654129d43
https://www.ft.com/content/7a9d0c47-5294-46b7-9d06-181654129d43
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Oracle shares jump after upbeat forecast for cloud division
https://www.ft.com/content/dadc5cbe-67a5-44c9-9b7b-5c23bf4e77ee
https://www.ft.com/content/dadc5cbe-67a5-44c9-9b7b-5c23bf4e77ee
Oracle shares jump after upbeat forecast for cloud division
Chief says cloud infrastructure business was expected to grow more than 70% in the next fiscal year
www.ft.com
June 11, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Oracle shares jump after upbeat forecast for cloud division
https://www.ft.com/content/dadc5cbe-67a5-44c9-9b7b-5c23bf4e77ee
https://www.ft.com/content/dadc5cbe-67a5-44c9-9b7b-5c23bf4e77ee
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Microsoft to rank ‘safety’ of AI models sold to cloud customers
https://www.ft.com/content/02f39b33-fa6e-4bb7-b1f4-8171b50738af
https://www.ft.com/content/02f39b33-fa6e-4bb7-b1f4-8171b50738af
Microsoft to rank ‘safety’ of AI models sold to cloud customers
Tech group’s corporate clients use its ‘leaderboard’ to assess rival offerings by likes of OpenAI and Elon Musk’s xAI
www.ft.com
June 7, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Microsoft to rank ‘safety’ of AI models sold to cloud customers
https://www.ft.com/content/02f39b33-fa6e-4bb7-b1f4-8171b50738af
https://www.ft.com/content/02f39b33-fa6e-4bb7-b1f4-8171b50738af
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
Triumphing under Trump: the corporate winners and losers
https://www.ft.com/content/368586a4-80e6-4715-b56e-dd63f8c7df59
https://www.ft.com/content/368586a4-80e6-4715-b56e-dd63f8c7df59
Triumphing under Trump: the corporate winners and losers
How global companies have fared since the US president’s inauguration
www.ft.com
June 6, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Triumphing under Trump: the corporate winners and losers
https://www.ft.com/content/368586a4-80e6-4715-b56e-dd63f8c7df59
https://www.ft.com/content/368586a4-80e6-4715-b56e-dd63f8c7df59
Uber looks to be readying for life after Dara Khosrowshahi, but one former executive tells the FT that they can't conceive of a business where he might hold the same amount of control.
Uber brings back chief operating officer role as Khosrowshahi loosens grip
https://www.ft.com/content/753d15a8-5659-4869-a8c6-ca2da223bd25
https://www.ft.com/content/753d15a8-5659-4869-a8c6-ca2da223bd25
Uber brings back chief operating officer role as Khosrowshahi loosens grip
Andrew Macdonald has been appointed COO and president after serving as head of mobility
www.ft.com
June 2, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Uber looks to be readying for life after Dara Khosrowshahi, but one former executive tells the FT that they can't conceive of a business where he might hold the same amount of control.
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
FT Wealth is out in today’s paper, with a fresh redesign and fabulous stories, from India’s Instagram prince to the chances of a billionaire tax. You can read all the stories here too www.ft.com/ft-wealth
May 30, 2025 at 6:50 AM
FT Wealth is out in today’s paper, with a fresh redesign and fabulous stories, from India’s Instagram prince to the chances of a billionaire tax. You can read all the stories here too www.ft.com/ft-wealth
Reposted by Rafe Uddin
New York Times agrees first AI deal with Amazon
https://www.ft.com/content/bc73404e-6f01-4b9e-9563-1a5f055d2c98
https://www.ft.com/content/bc73404e-6f01-4b9e-9563-1a5f055d2c98
New York Times agrees first AI deal with Amazon
Paper will license its editorial content to ecommerce giant to train its artificial intelligence models
www.ft.com
May 29, 2025 at 2:52 PM
New York Times agrees first AI deal with Amazon
https://www.ft.com/content/bc73404e-6f01-4b9e-9563-1a5f055d2c98
https://www.ft.com/content/bc73404e-6f01-4b9e-9563-1a5f055d2c98