The CIA just ran a high-stakes search-and-rescue in Iran using a classified quantum magnetometry platform dubbed Ghost Murmur, Intel quietly bolted its foundry muscle to Elon Musk’s Terafab alliance, and AI-driven hiring freezes are creating a ‘ghost job’ market that is squeezing tech talent. Alan Shimel, Mike Vizard, Jon Swartz, Fred Wilmot, Gina Rosenthal and Anne Ahola Ward connect those dots on Techstrong Gang.

Ghost Murmur rescue: Lockheed’s Skunk Works built a long-range quantum heartbeat tracker that let the CIA find a downed airman in Iran before adversaries could.
Terafab momentum: Intel is lending its manufacturing expertise to Musk’s plan to build a terawatt of AI compute per year, giving the alliance real chip-making muscle.
Ghost job era: AI filters and hiring freezes have created a ‘low-hire, low-fire’ job market where candidates face ghost listings, pay cuts and algorithmic gatekeepers.