Bad Faith Episode 472 - Monopoly Money (w/ Matt Stoller)
May 8, 2025
Matt Stoller, Director of Research at the American Economic Liberties Project, dives into critical issues of big tech and monopolies. He discusses Facebook’s antitrust case and the implications of Meta's acquisitions on competition. Stoller also tackles the hype surrounding AI, cautioning against its overstated potential in various sectors, including healthcare. The conversation touches on the internal strife within the Republican Party regarding corporate power and the economic impacts of Trump’s tariffs, particularly on vulnerable communities.
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Episode notes
Zuckerberg's AI Therapist Vision
- Mark Zuckerberg's idea of AI chatbot therapists reflects his social engineering mindset and market power.
- This vision risks dystopia as AI lacks professional ethics inherent to human therapists.
AI Hype vs. Reality
- AI hype exceeds current practical impact, partly fueled by massive tech investment.
- Companies must promote AI as transformative to justify costly bets and maintain confidence.
Uber's Success Is Financial
- Uber succeeded mainly through subsidized pricing to crush competitors, not technological innovation.
- Tech discussions often mask financial market plays rather than genuine innovation.