Monday, October 19, 2026Mon, Oct 19
Live nowOn the air 24/7Watch live
Play
Breaking

Trump urges France to 'close the borders' after weekend of rioting

Updated Watch live

TechASK BBN

Tech CEO cuts workforce from over 1,000 to 120 in 3 years, says AI…

Bird's CEO says agents now do the accounting and more, and the company has raised four hundred fifty million dollars in debt that goes to existing shareholders, not growth.

On air: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on BBN This Morning
Published
Photo: Robert.Harker · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN This Morning at 7:46 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Hindustan Times's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

  1. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Amsterdam firm, formerly MessageBird, has cut its headcount from more than a thousand to one hundred twenty.

  2. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorCEO Robert Vis says agents now handle everything from accounting to writing entries into the company's ledger.

  3. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorDoes this affect me? Say I'm an engineer. Say I'm very good at just code.

  4. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorVis says if you're extremely good at just code but have no product sense, that wouldn't work at Bird.

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe says the company wants versatile people with high agency.

  6. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorProduct sense. Right. And what happens next?

  7. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorBird raised four hundred fifty million dollars in debt, led by JPMorgan, Capital One and Citi.

  8. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorKonsulteer reports the money goes to existing shareholders, including current and former employees, not to growth.

  9. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNot to growth. So the company got smaller and borrowed money to hand out.

  10. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe one thing at Bird that still needs a lot of people is the line for the money.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore Tech →

More Shorts

All videos →
  1. Photo: Bill Ingalls · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
    ▶ As it aired · TechSpaceX Starfall capsule launches on Bandwagon-5 rideshare missionRead the story
  2. Photo: Official SpaceX Photos · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
    ▶ As it aired · TechNASA's SpaceX launch lights up the sky with a giant glowing jellyfishRead the story
  3. ▶ Before the Internet · Pop CultureVintage Utility Pole Repair: No Hold Music, No Case NumberAbout this segment
  4. Photo: Zeb Micelli · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
    ▶ As it aired · TechMaricopa County Again Ground Zero of Election Conspiracy TheoriesRead the story
  5. Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
    ▶ Short · TechElon Musk says he'll give a SpaceX share to every American childRead the story
  6. ▶ Interviews · U.S.North Dakota State Beats Nevada 31-17: An Inmate Reviews the HeistAbout this segment
  7. Photo: Bondarev.gal · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons
    ▶ As it aired · TechOne Blood Type Seems to Carry a Higher Risk of Type 2 DiabetesRead the story
  8. Photo: Jason Persse from Brooklyn, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
    ▶ As it aired · TechJ Mascis bought his Jazzmaster because it was cheapRead the story
  9. ▶ Interviews · U.S.Ancient Amber Insect Named Noo-Noo After a Teletubbies VacuumAbout this segment
  10. Photo: NASA/W. Liller · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
    ▶ As it aired · TechHalley's Comet returns to the night sky, sort ofRead the story
Aired onBBN This MorningThe day's stories, before your commuteAbout the show →

The story so far

  1. French AI CEO warns Americans against voting Democrat: 'you don't… · Fox News
  2. Cerebras CEO pictures an AI assistant in every home · TechCrunch
  3. Tech CEO cuts workforce from over 1,000 to 120 in 3 years, says AI… (this story)

From the archive: everything BBN aired on Monday, October 19, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months

More in Tech

All Tech →
Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
TOP STORY

Elon Musk says he'll give a SpaceX share to every American child

Musk posted the pledge on X in reply to an Anthropic announcement; estimates put it above ten billion dollars, unconfirmed by him or SpaceX; the…

Via CNBC