People vs Algorithms

This week, Brian, Troy, and Alex break down how tech is quietly building its own media empire—slick, founder-led, and fully aligned with industry interests. From TBPN to Turpentine, it's not journalism—it just looks like it. They also explore the “Chaos Economy” through Foxconn's EV pivot and unpack why analogies beat logic in shaping how we process tech shifts. Plus, Pete Buttigieg's appearance on Flagrant shows that even politics is adapting to the influencer era.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week we dig into the spread of hyperpunditry and why the Information Space rewards those who confidently switch lanes with abandon. Plus: AI's bottoms-up adoption curve, Anonymous Banker on golf media's strength and the crazy life of sea turtles.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

The tariff wars kicked off and confirmed that we are in a post-expertise era where your bona fides matter less than your confidence. Plus: celebrating GDPR's impending demise. what to do with Vanity Fair, and Shopify's AI manifesto.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Gawker Media founder Nick Denton joins the show to discuss how narratives and memes run the world, and why it's better to trade on them than run the old media playbook of the attention economy.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

We dig into the idea of taste—how it's formed, how it signals identity, and where it fits in media and business today. We also unpack how taste once defined media gatekeepers, how it's now being democratized (or commodified), and why developing taste is less about money and more about intentionality. We are then joined by sociologist and brand strategist Ana Andjelic to debate the merits of European taste vs American taste. Plus: Anonymous Banker has a cameo on how to get a “taste premium” in M&A.PvA What We Learned About Taste in MiamiWatch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

The media industry, like politics, has been stuck in a scarcity mindset—managing decline instead of building for the future. In this episode, we dig into The Abundance Agenda, the new book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, and explore what a pro-growth strategy could look like for media. Plus, TheSkimm exits to Ziff Davis, the rise of AI-driven advertising, and Anonymous Banker joins to explain why second-tier comedians might be the next big media arbitrage opportunity.Why Can't AI Make Its Own Discoveries? — With Yann LeCunWatch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

AI is giving rise to vibe coding while old conventions fall away. Thinking on your feet is now more important than rehearsed, polished presentation, which soon can be done with the push of a button. It's time to find your inner Rick Rubin. Plus: How to build an enterprise brand.Show Notes:PvA Weekend Fan MailVibe CodingCreative AI Superpowers You're Not Using YetA love letter to LA----------------------------------------Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's PvA Weekend newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Online education company Chegg is suing Google for AI Overviews and might become the first major company felled by AI. We go over the hitlist of others at risk of getting Chegged, including SEO-dependent publishers, SaaS companies and even the email newsletter industrial complex. Plus: Why Lenny Rachitsky has succeeded, the case against all-inclusive resorts and a debate on whether reading is dying or just in a format transition.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Troy's at “advanced” tennis camp, so Brian and Alex discuss the shifting dynamics of the newsletter and video game markets. Newsletters are entering into bubble territory, while parts of the video game market are losing ground after a long run of robust growth. Plus: an urban redevelopment good product.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Media has never been neat, but it's getting messier. This week, Brian and Troy explore how AI is reshaping the creative process, how different personality-driven brands thrive on particular platforms, and the developing messy aesthetic of modern media that's spreading to earnings calls and product launches. Troy shares how OpenAI's Projects feature changed his workflow, turning AI into a true research assistant. Anonymous Banker joins to break down AI's irrational valuations and why X's debt selling on par means Elon's won. We also debate whether Substack will inevitably embrace advertising and how creators are navigating capital investments. Plus: a yacht rock documentary and Masa biography as dual good products.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week, we examine the great realignment as tech and government unite to assert US tech dominance over ideas of digital sovereignty. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed plans its own social platform, despite toothpaste rarely going back into the tube. Plus: assessing OpenAI's grandiose Super Bowl ad.SOLSTICE - 5: Forgotten archivesGarys EconomicsMerlin Bird IDWatch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week, on the heels of OpenAI releasing Deep Research, we assess whether AI has caught on with regular people beyond kicking the tires on ChatGPT. Maybe the AI Super Bowl ads will make it more appealing. Plus: the memeification and financialization of everything, volatility as the norm, X shows signs of a financial turnaround and alarm clocks with apps and a subscription program. Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

The nature of work and careers is undergoing profound changes that are often obscured by debates over return-to-work mandates. This week we consider the rise of decentralized work that's networked and elevates autonomy over outdated command and control approaches developed in a different century. Plus: a celebration of Data Privacy Day and Deepseek's cannonball into the Big Tech AI pool party.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Our tech overlords reported for duty to Washington while Troy perused the powder at Davos. This week, we go beyond first principles to consider the second-order impact of a politicized tech elite. Plus: The Washington Post gets a BHAG and CNN plots a post-TV future. Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Economic growth requires labor productivity. We all aspire, in our own ways, to be productive, if only because our productivity is directly tied to our rewards. Yet American labor productivity has stagnated since the first decade of the internet coming to business. AI is now held out as the latest savior to productivity.Modern productivity culture is an outgrowth of optimization obsession. We can measure more than ever, so we gravitate to squeezing out incremental gains and sometimes lose sight of the direction we want to go. We chase productivity growth hacks like the Pomodoro Method and lean on apps like Notion. The quest for productivity has become a secular religion.This week, we discuss why we are constantly searching for productivity, our own approaches to productivity, why AI isn't the silver bullet, and why what we really need is better prioritization.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week, we discuss Mark Zuckerberg's craven capitulation on content moderation, even if it was an inevitable decision; the upside of algorithmic rabbit holes vs the downside of the commodification of attention; and how creator culture is reshaping trust in media institutions. Plus: why the Ninja Creami and IVs are good products.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week, we discuss the outlook in 2025 for legacy media (not great), alternative media (much better), chat as a new media mode, X emerging as a critical power center, and culture wars morphing into class wars.The Information Space in 2025 newsletterWatch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Podcasting challenges late nite, lying in media, shopping as content, super consumers and Alex rediscovers America at Disney.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Tech has swallowed media, and is increasingly swallowing other industries and accruing power along the way. Plus: why adding a chatbot won't save the article page, the real message of the big ad holding company merger, and an introduction to the new PvA companion product. Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Prediction market + news; media's bifurcating star system; media's management-labor divide; AI + browsers; car talk; LinkedIn cringeWatch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week: The internet comes to life as spectacle, Elon proclaims you are the media, why publishers need to get to the transactional level, and an assessment of a new MAGA cultural aesthetic. Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week on People vs. Algorithms, we unpacked London's charm, the shifting dynamics of media and search, and why Google's dominance feels both indispensable and fragile. Troy and I contrasted American and British publishing cultures—bigger isn't always better, as UK publishers adapt to constraints with scrappy innovation. Search's transformation, fueled by AI and shifts in Google's strategy, dominated our discussion. While it offers consumers better tools, publishers are left scrambling, questioning their survival amid frictionless AI-driven content.What are the best Patagonia ski pants on a budget?Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

The election in many ways confirmed what many had suspected: the information space has superceded and subsumed the traditional media world. Traditional media is now just one node, and perhaps more alarmingly its influence – and ability to persuade – has drastically declined. We talk in this episode about the implications of this shift, particularly with the spotlight now on what's being called the manosphere, a chaotic loose confederation of podcasters and YouTubers who have seemingly broken through to be a key node of persuasion for young men. Plus: Is CNN fixable?Rise of the Under Toad: The Tragic Life of Joe RoganDijon - Big Mike's (Live)Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

We run through the implications of the return of Donald Trump to the presidency after an election that saw the mainstream news media making way for new power brokers in unusual guises. The podcast election proved to be real – and a harbinger of changes to come as the Information Space subsumes the Fourth Estate.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Complex is a digital media survivor. It has lived many lives, including as a magazine, a dot-com, an ad network, Go90 (RIP) provider, YouTube showrunner, events organizer, hot sauce merchant, neglected BuzzFeed brand, and now in its latest iteration as a commerce engine. Complex President Moksha Fitzgibbons joins the show to discuss his return to Complex, where he was an integral part of the founding team going back to its Marc Ecko days, and how the youth culture brand is betting on combining its reach and engagement with the live shopping platform of NTWRK, which bought Complex for $108 million in February. Moksha discusses how the brand plans to focus increasingly on driving commerce and far less on selling advertising. Plus: Brian and Troy discuss the news industry's current meltdown at the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

There's a new consensus about the media business that is emerging. The past is not coming back, that much is for certain. The challenges are well known, and the bright spots — and they exist — tend to be smaller and harder to scale.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Mass media's extinction event has come first for text content. Text is increasingly being "pushed down the stack" and commoditized due to AI's ability to generate, manipulate, and reformat text content. This shift is forcing media companies that primarily deal in text to adapt or risk becoming obsolete. While text isn't disappearing entirely, its role is changing. It's becoming more of an input for other forms of media rather than the primary output. Meanwhile, other parts of media are gaining in influence. This will turn out to be the podcast election, as Kamala Harris prepares to make her closing case to… Joe Rogan while continuing to snub mass media like Time and the New York Times. We also discuss the power of Fortnite, which points to a future of media where content is a means to an ends. In the case of Fortnite, that ends is a combination of a place to hang out, a hub for commercial events like virtual concerts, a competitive environment premised on participation rather than inert consumption, and a communication medium. Plus: Bill Gates is apparently a good product.Cabel Sasser, Panic - XOXO Festival (2024)Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week, we take a look at making bets that go wrong, and how it's often difficult to tell if a bet is a bad one in the short term. Was Meta's bet on VR a bad bet? Maybe in the short term, but perhaps not in the long term. Media companies have made their fair share of bad bets over the years, although there weren't many options available. Will the parade of AI deals join the pile of bad bets? Plus… Good Product with a VERY special guest Steve Katelman.Donald Trump says he's ‘basically a truthful person'Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week, we discuss a new framework for the media industry that separates content into two distinct categories: "above the line" and "below the line" media. The line in question represents the threshold of human uniqueness in content creation. Above it lies the territory where human creativity, insight, and expertise still reign supreme. Below it, we find the realm increasingly dominated by AI-driven processes and automation. Plus: Taylor Lorenz and the question of whether packaged media can retain talent; AI dwindling the value of curation; synthetic social networks; and praise for bullshitters. Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Human ComputerFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

The heart of organizations is tension, which when productive can lead to great outcomes. If it goes to extremes, disaster. This week, we discuss tension at OpenAI between its non-profit mission and massive ambitions, the tensions of hacking attention to sell products, the Trump tension between the truth and making a valid a point, and the tension between tech changing consumer expectations and media business models.Episode links:NotebookLM from Google.Seb Young's music project, Chronically Offline.Eating the pets video.Channel 5, Aurora Migrant Gang 'Takeover'Elsewhere:Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

We discuss the Department of Justice's antitrust case against Google as a classic case of fighting the last war. And even if Google's monopoly is dismantled, history shows to be careful of what you wish for because what comes next could be worse. Plus: Airmail's weird business, the struggles at Food52 and why chicken parm is a great American product.Watch us on YouTubeTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This week we're joined by Emily Sundberg and celebrate our 100th episode, talking about classic topics like X vs Threads and is Silence the best product.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Founders can force change that managers (call them operators) can't, at least as efficiently. Plus: AI land grab update, Gannett's commerce play goes away, and the Sicilian tonnara and summer books. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

This is shaping up to be a TikTok election where relatability is at a premium. The successful rollout of the Harris-Walz ticket is moving authenticity from loudly telling the truths others dare not to something softer and more familiar. Plus: the recalibration of remote work, AI backlash and the difficulty of deciding level of spending on content as the weight of many publisher models shifts to indirect monetization paths.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:04:18 Political Campaign Strategies13:00 Generational Shifts and Voting Patterns19:20 The Future of Media and Technology31:07 Prediction Markets and Media35:46 Media Products and Betting Data38:16 The Future of Remote Work40:33 AI and Its Ethical Implications42:42 Peter Thiel on Joe Rogan's Podcast45:19 The Role of VCs in Politics49:20 Good Product

This week, we discuss conversations vs interviews, why social networking has been replaced by algorithmic content, YouTube's pivotal role in the emerging media space, and why the Olympics were a great media product.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:59 Introduction04:22 Diving into the Elon Musk and Donald Trump Conversation11:59 Bias in Media and Algorithms19:33 Mr. Beast Controversy23:35 YouTube's Role in Content Regulation25:38 The Evolution of Social Networks31:06 The Future of Media and Streaming38:17 Good Product

A federal judge has ruled Google a monopoly for locking up distribution with Apple. We discuss the percent and likely impact. Also, memes as the media format of the moment, as they become how big events like the Olympics and presidential election become participatory. Meanwhile, YouTube is becoming modern TV.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:01:13 Google Declared a Monopoly02:08 Historical Parallels with Microsoft05:00 Apple's Role and Strategic Decisions06:47 Google's Financial Strategies10:55 The Evolution of Paid Search19:39 The Role of Memes in Modern Media30:09 Authenticity and Political Tactics33:15 Twitter's Advertising Struggles41:11 Media Landscape and Axios Layoffs48:16 AI in Media and SearchGPT Review56:10 YouTube's Dominance and Content Trends

OpenAI is readying a new search engine, Meta is pushing further into search with Llama, Perplexity is cutting deals with publishers. This week, we look to what the future of search looks like. Plus: why Nike ended up in Wall Street's doghouse, why Tucker Carlson is a podcast star, and why Pulp Fiction still works.Nike: An Epic Saga of Value DestructionTroy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:01:07 Discussing the Future of Search04:05 Challenges and Opportunities in Search09:03 Vertical Search and AI Overviews11:16 Google's Exclusive Deals and Market Shifts19:04 The Future of News and Subscription Models24:05 The Rise of Media Personalities28:18 Media Brands vs. Individual Personalities30:04 Challenges for Legacy Media Brands38:04 Nike's Digital Marketing Dilemma44:48 Good Product

This week, we're joined by Joe Marchese, operating and build partner at Human Ventures and veteran media exec. We discuss why the obsession with performance marketing has created incentives for many intermediaries to focus on giving the appearance of being responsible for a sale rather than actually contributing to the sale, and how that's led to short-term approaches that skips the basics of building lasting brands. Plus: What the meting of Kamala Harris says about the direction of news and political campaigns, why Netflix points to a shrinking TV ad market and the perils of operating content and commerce businesses as part of one company. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction06:09 Netflix vs. Apple TV: The Future of Streaming16:51 The Meme Election24:42 The Role of AI in Media and Advertising35:59 The Evolution of Content Creation Tools38:07 The Cookiepocalypse and Ad Tech Cynicism40:31 Performance Media and Brand Building44:37 Content and Commerce: The Houdinki Case Study51:32 The Future of Digital Media and Monetization58:56 Media Investments and Optimism01:01:00 Good Product

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump was a stress test for the Information Space, and a reminder of just how much the media has changed. You had mainstream news outlets jockeying with individuals holding forth with a collection of expertise, conspiracies, jokes, memes and partisan potshots. Some of it was informative, some of it was hilarious, some of it was infuriating, and much of it was… entertaining? We unpack yet another crazy plot twist and look forward to what it means as the media business girds for what looks very likely to be a return to power of Donald Trump and an ascendent political movement that's to a large degree successfully vanquished the packaged news media. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction02:50 Personal Media Consumption Experiences04:13 The Evolution of Media and Information08:08 Trump's Influence on Media and Politics15:13 The Future of Media in a Polarized World26:23 Trump's Media Mastery and Political Impact38:34 Tech's Political Landscape42:44 Big Tech vs. Small Tech44:26 The Role of Media in Politics49:55 The Rise of YouTube as a Podcast Platform53:58 The Evolution of Digital Advertising01:03:51 Good Product

The tidal wave of crap is a reality in the Information Space. This week, we discuss the rules of winning in the Information Space, including why it helps to get into fights, present as authoritative and authentic, and above all else to be willing to be shameless.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction03:00 Threads and Social Media Dynamics06:16 The Rise of Authenticity11:17 Traditional Media's Role16:19 AI and Productivity32:41 The Role of Hyperbole and Conspiracy Theories34:20 The New Rules of the Information Space42:53 The Importance of Podcasts in Modern Media52:56 Good Product

In this July 4th episode, Alex, Brian and Troy chat about whether life will ever get back to 'normal,' Threads vs. X, gamer saints and AI dogs.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Holiday Podcast Kickoff00:59 Media Industry: Past, Present, and Future02:55 The Canonized Gamer Boy04:20 The Rise of Viral Fame05:54 Threads vs. X: The Social Media Debate07:41 The Future of Social Media09:08 AI and Surveillance in Everyday Life19:56 The Changing Landscape of War22:16 FigmaCon and the Future of Design24:42 Music Industry's Battle with AI27:12 The Future of Publishing and Media34:15 The Role of Legacy Media38:05 Embracing Change in Media40:31 Summertime Recommendations

Troy and Brian discuss the realist mood in Cannes, the key to good brand events, why hotels need a good playlist and Perplexity serving as an AI boogeyman.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction04:17 Media Memberships and Loyalty06:48 Hospitality and Technology12:22 Events and Differentiation14:55 Cannes Observations and Reflections18:01 Media Industry Dynamics27:15 Exploring with AI in Paris and London32:30 The Rise of Perplexity and Content Theft36:33 Publishers vs. AI Crawlers41:27 The Future of Media and Distribution46:24 Good Product

Apple has entered the AI fray with a compelling view of using it to remove friction that gets in the way of people want to get things done. The issue arises for those who create that friction by serving as intermediaries.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:39 Introduction to People vs. Algorithms04:23 Apple's WWDC Highlights10:29 Privacy and Trust in Tech27:30 Microsoft's Rewind Feature Controversy33:33 The Enduring Relevance of the Phone38:45 Advertising Trends and Challenges48:11 The War on the Inbox53:57 Sleep and Technology

Technology acts as a compressor. AI is the latest pressure point. This week, we look at compression in software development, marketing and publishing. We then go into the difficult challenge of change management at the Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:53 Mailbag02:41 The Decline of Blockbuster and Rise of Netflix05:14 The Future of Software and AI's Impact10:29 AI in Marketing and Customer Support28:26 Navigating Change in Media Organizations32:05 Digital Transformation in Media35:34 The Decline of Traditional Newspapers38:09 Strategies for Media Reinvention47:36 The Role of Unions in Media49:57 Good Product56:52 Closing Remarks

In this episode Brian, Troy, and Alex talk about AI hallucinations, and how they mirror human misperceptions. Troy believes the open web and traditional media will still hold value, while Alex thinks AI and platforms like Google and social media will take over. They also touch on the future of ad-supported AI services and SEO, Vivek Ramaswamy's anti-BuzzFeed campaign and a genius idea about electing presidents.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Spicy Takes00:54 AI Hallucinations: The Human Aspect01:49 The Future of AI and Media02:44 Debate: Is the Web Dead?04:45 The Role of Media Brands in the AI Era12:17 Advertising and AI: A New Economy14:29 The Impact of AI on Content Discovery20:30 Legal and Ethical Considerations22:57 The Future of Media and AI Integration27:46 Union Pressures and Performance Reviews30:02 The Future of Media and Open Web34:46 Buzzfeed and Media Outsiders41:26 The Role of AI in Leadership44:46 Good Product49:29 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

What do tech and media look like in five years? Plus: Sam Altman as slippery character and AI comes to search and devices.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction01:28 Sam Altman and Scarlett Johansson Controversy06:43 Microsoft's AI Integration in Hardware13:39 Google AI and the Future of Search20:32 Speculations on AI's Long-Term Effects33:21 Five Years into the Future: A Thought Exercise40:39 AI Redefines Hardware44:50 Advertising in the AI Era50:05 Media Consumption Trends57:36 Good Product01:03:53 Podcast Reflections

Brian, Alex, and Troy get into the new AI updates from OpenAI and Google. They unpack how these big changes might shake up industries like media and advertising, and what that means for our daily tech interactions.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Catching Up and Studio Updates00:46 Introduction to People vs. Algorithms00:59 The AI Revolution: Predictions and Impacts03:00 Reflecting on Last Week's Episode and Media Sustainability09:16 Exploring the New Era of AI and Its Implications11:15 The Potential and Challenges of Advanced AI Interfaces19:14 The Future of Education, Work, and Technology25:05 Universal Basic Compute and Societal Impacts28:27 The Social Media Backlash and GPT-4's Impact30:19 Reflecting on Past Tech Hype: From TCP/IP to the iPhone32:34 The Future of Computing and the Internet38:19 Navigating the Shift: Strategies for Media and Tech Companies43:32 The Role of AI and Social Media in the Future46:56 Creative Missteps: The Controversial Apple Ad50:41 The Evolution of Streaming and Live Content54:34 Good Product

Jess Sibley, CEO of Time, joins Brian and Troy to discuss adapting Time to today's digital challenges. Jess shares her strategies for navigating algorithm changes and AI, shifting Time's focus from consumer to business-oriented models, and the implications for digital content and monetization.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Guest Introduction01:13 Navigating the Chaos in Search and AI's Impact on Publishing01:27 Modernizing Legacy Brands and the Shift from B2C to B2B02:42 The Evolution of Media and Google's Algorithm Changes05:49 Exploring Revenue Diversification and the Future of Publishing12:33 The Impact of AI and Search on Media Strategies21:54 Time's Transformation and Strategic Partnerships27:54 The Role of Time Magazine in a Digital Age32:19 Time Studios and Future Media Projects35:15 The Benioffs' Leadership at Time41:54 Exclusive Insights: High-Profile Interviews and Media Impact49:07 Navigating the Media Landscape: Strategy and Culture at Time54:12 Addressing Brand Safety in Journalism01:00:18 The Future of Time: Trust, Impact, and Audience Engagement01:02:42 Good Product: The Significance of AirPods and Music

Brian, Troy, and Alex discuss the commercialization of the internet and the impact of AI on media. They explore big media-tech partnerships, the evolving role of AI in content distribution, and the potential benefits and challenges AI brings to our digital lives.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Opening Banter and Personal Updates02:46 AI Negotiations and Media Deals: A Deep Dive09:14 The Future of Media and Content Creation19:29 Navigating the World of AI Products and Market Trends26:34 Reflections on AI Device Launches and Market Impact35:53 Google's AI Ambitions and the Pixel Phone37:57 AI's Role in Customer Service and Its Ethical Implications40:31 AI's Influence on Advertising and Branding43:17 The Fediverse: A New Approach to Social Media and Content Distribution58:49 Navigating the Overload of Email Newsletters01:03:49 Good Product Recommendations and Cultural Commentary

Omnicom digital chief Jonathan Nelson joins the show to discuss why ad agencies, forever under threat, will adapt to AI. We go into Omnicom's purchase of Flywheel Digital, a software company for digital commerce -- a further sign that the next phase of what we used to call the internet will be defined by commerce rather than advertising.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Opening Banter and Warm-Up00:31 Introduction to 'People vs. Algorithms' Podcast01:33 The Future of Magazines and Ad Agencies in the AI Era03:57 Navigating the Digital and Media Landscape: Insights and Anecdotes22:04 Navigating Media, Identity, and the Outlaw Mentality36:54 The Dawn of Digital Agencies and Banner Ads39:21 Evolution of Advertising: From Novelty to Foundation43:52 The Future of Advertising: AI, Ethics, and Consumer Impact50:52 Navigating the Media Landscape: Relationships and Technology55:15 The Role of Websites and Consumer Behavior Online57:36 Reflections on Advertising, Technology, and Career Advice01:09:04 Concluding Thoughts on AI, Ethics, and the Future of Advertising

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 TwitterTopics: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