People vs Algorithms Troy Young, Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer

In this episode Alex, Brian and Troy dive into topics like how AI is changing advertising, the ways tech meets human needs, and the big shifts society might see because of tech. They chat about everything from AI taking over creative jobs to why we still need a human touch in things like art.
Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter
Topics:
00:00 Exploring Polycules and Regional Acceptance00:59 Welcome to People vs. Algorithms: Unpacking Media and Tech01:09 Insights from the Possible Conference: Marketing and AI's Future04:44 The Impact of AI on Advertising and Creativity06:59 AI's Role in Advertising: A Deep Dive14:20 The Future of Advertising Agencies in the AI Era17:27 The Quirks of Product Marketing and Consumerism19:22 The Humane Product Launch: A Case Study in Failure25:28 Exploring the Limits of AI in Personal and Professional Services30:46 The Debate Over AI in Our Lives: Convenience vs. Human Connection33:20 The Dystopian and Utopian Views of AI's Future41:22 The Socio-Economic Implications of AI and Technology47:46 Navigating the Digital Age: Truth, Trust, and Technology54:57 Yahoo's Evolution and the Future of Digital Platforms01:00:12 Closing Thoughts and Listener Feedback

In this episode Brian, Troy, and Alex dive into AI mishaps in Teslas, muse over BuzzFeed's AI pivot, and ponder the future of creativity in tech. They chat about navigating power in the digital age, laugh at media's latest shenanigans, and champion the underdog entrepreneurs shaking things up.
Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter
Topics:
00:00 Tesla's Autopilot Update01:02 Introducing People Vs. Algorithms05:32 BuzzFeed's AI Pivot and the Future of Media22:19 AI's Impact on Creativity and the Music Industry26:30 The New York Times Embraces AI for Audio Articles33:09 Diving into the Concept of Power36:11 The Journey to Gaining Power: Personal Stories and Advice43:10 Understanding Power in the Context of Career and Entrepreneurship49:31 AI's Influence on Power Dynamics and Organizational Structures54:24 Reflecting on Media, AI, and the Future of Content Creation59:47 Good Product Recommendations

With Alex still on vacation, Axios senior media reporter Sara Fischer joins Troy and Brian to break down the current state of the media business, including why TikTok is winning, the death of aggregation as a competitive advantage, why social media is a major reason women’s sports is one of the hottest segments, The New York Times as an extensible model and the future of print magazines as marketing pieces.
Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter
Topics:
00:00 Brooklyn, Miami or Washington?01:10 Introducing 'People vs. Algorithms': A Deep Dive into Media Trends02:37 The Power of Distinctive Journalism in Today's Media05:39 The Evolution of News Consumption and the Rise of TikTok07:41 The Future of Media: Between Eras and the AI Influence10:00 The Art of Distinctive Reporting in the Digital Age12:51 Exploring the Success of The New York Times and Other Media Giants21:22 The Rise of Women's Sports and the Impact of Social Media25:52 The Ongoing Battles in the Media Industry34:04 The Shift in Media Brand Strategies36:20 The Evolution of Legacy Media and New Upstarts39:25 Navigating the Complexities of Media Business Models52:35 Exploring the Future of Reddit and Other Platforms56:17 Beyonce's New Album: A Cultural Phenomenon

Emily, Brian and Troy delve into the complex world of influencers and celebrities as they navigate public scrutiny and fame in the digital age. They explore the societal impact of extensive phone use and the rise of influencers creating their own brands.
Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter
Topics:
00:00 An Unforgettable Trip to the Grenadines: The Start of an Influencer's Journey01:12 Introducing 'People vs. Algorithms': A Deep Dive into Media, Tech, and Culture01:17 Emily Sundberg's Unique Blend of Business and Culture in 'Feed Me'02:31 Exploring the Complex World of Influence and Celebrity08:11 The Intricacies of Being an Influencer and the Impact on Personal Identity16:01 The Huberman Controversy: A Case Study in Celebrity and Accountability30:52 The Future of Celebrity: Microdramas and the New Age of Public Scrutiny38:19 The Unpreparedness of Rising Influencers41:57 The Personal Touch in Building a Brand47:06 Exploring the Future of Work and Influence53:27 Navigating the Complexities of a Digital Career01:03:13 The Impact of Technology on Society and Personal Life01:06:48 The Good Product Corner

In this episode of 'People vs. Algorithms,' hosts Brian Morrissey, Troy Young, and Alex Schleifer engage in a wide-ranging discussion on how algorithms shape our cultural landscape, the future of AI in content creation, and the consequences of a digitally dominated world. They share insights from the Game Developer Conference about the optimism among independent studios and discuss the ramifications of algorithmic sameness across media. The episode features a detailed conversation with Kyle Chayka, a writer at the New Yorker and author of 'Filterworld,' centering on how algorithms are flattening culture and what it means for creators and consumers alike.
Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter
Topics:
00:00 Kicking Off at the Game Developer Conference06:42 The Future of AI in Gaming: Opportunities and Challenges08:40 Navigating the Complexities of AI Ethics and Open Source Debates19:49 The Middle Management Dilemma: Efficiency vs. Human Touch27:33 Listener Questions: The Future of Learning and AI's Role34:01 The Digital Dilemma: Navigating Education and Work in a Tech-Driven World34:48 Rethinking Education: A Vision for the Future35:08 Introducing Kyle: A Deep Dive into Algorithms and Culture35:48 The Impact of Algorithms on Culture and Individuality38:41 Exploring the Future: The Role of Algorithms in Shaping Our World43:02 The Algorithmic Influence: From Consumption to Creation47:29 Navigating the Algorithmic Landscape: Personal Experiences and Strategies51:36 The Future of Culture in the Age of Algorithms55:59 The Personal and Professional Impact of Living Online59:01 Envisioning a Future Beyond Algorithmic Feeds01:06:28 Exploring Good Products

As Alex says, the ground is shifting more and faster than it has in some time in the tech world, which usually means gaping craters are opened to swallow up media companies. We discuss the Reddit IPO, X apparently pivoting to video – we recorded this prior to Don Lemmon announcing he wouldn’t be launching his show on X after an apparently disastrous interview with Elon Musk pissed off Musk, go figure – and the effort to ban TikTok.
We also have a guest this week. Tony Stubblebine joined us to discuss where Medium fits in the information space. We talked to Tony about how Medium aims to be the place for expert content, why journalism is apparently expensive to produce because journalists have to learn about the stuff they cover, and the frequent misalignment of incentives in the media business, particularly ones reliant on advertising.
Submit a question or comment for the show here: https://memo.fm/pva/
Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter
Topics:
00:00 Introducing the Voicemail Feature: A New Way to Engage01:44 Welcome to People vs. Algorithms: Unpacking Media and Tech Shifts02:06 Deep Dive into Reddit's IPO and the Future of Social Platforms02:44 Exploring Medium's Journey and Its Place in the Digital World04:29 Listener Engagement and the Future of Podcasting05:18 Analyzing Reddit's Strategy and Its Impact on the Digital Landscape16:17 X Pivoting to Video19:46 The Controversial Debate: The Potential TikTok Ban25:20 Apple's Strategy and the Shifting Tech Landscape32:21 Medium's New Direction Under CEO Tony Stubblebine40:44 Evaluating Medium's Pivot to Subscription and Target Author Strategy41:26 The Power of Expert Content in the Digital Age43:03 The Debate Over Text vs. Video Content44:05 The Importance of Writing in an Evolving Internet44:55 Addressing Changing Consumer Habits and Content Consumption48:56 The Future of Twitter and Social Media Platforms50:36 Exploring Federation and Content Distribution Strategies51:37 Navigating Negotiations with AI Companies55:17 The Potential and Challenges of Reddit's IPO58:13 The Role of Medium in Independent Expert Content Creation59:39 Reflecting on the State of Professional Media01:08:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions01:11:12 The Impact of Advertising on Business and Culture