Figma’s Apple Moment; Allbirds’ AI Pivot

AI really is transforming the world!

The latest example: Dying shoemaker Allbirds is turning itself into an AI chip firm called NewBird AI. Its stock rocketed 600% in response.

But before we dig into that bizarre story, we should highlight what may be today’s more meaningful news: Anthropic executive Mike Krieger’s departure from the board of Figma.

This might be what you’d call Figma’s Apple moment.

For young folks, we’re talking about the then-Google CEO’s summer-2009 exit from the Apple board.

He left a month after Google https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/introducing-google-chrome-os.html#:~:text=On%20July%207%2C%202009%2C%20Google%20announced%20the,OS%20is%20an%20open%2Dsource%2C%20lightweight%20operating%20system">introduced the Chrome operating system and 11 monthshttps://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/first-android-powered-phone.html"> after Google’s Android first showed up powering a mobile phone.

Both moves put Google into direct competition with Apple, something then-CEO Steve Jobs https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2009/08/03Dr-Eric-Schmidt-Resigns-from-Apples-Board-of-Directors/">pointed out to explain why Schmidt was leaving Apple’s board.