Transportation reporter Andy Hawkins shares insights on the current shift in the electric vehicle industry, spotlighting the slowing pace of EV production and the renewed interest in robotaxis. He discusses why legacy automakers are struggling to adapt, especially against the backdrop of rising competition from Chinese manufacturers. Meanwhile, Evan Prodromou reveals updates on the ActivityPub protocol and the evolution of the fediverse, discussing platforms like Mastodon and Bluesky, and sharing thoughts on the future of decentralized social networking.
The electric vehicle market is experiencing a downturn due to shifting governmental policies and struggling companies like Nikola, leading to skepticism about sustained demand.
A renewed focus on robotaxis is evident, with companies like Uber and Lyft pivoting strategies despite previous technological challenges and failures in full autonomy.
The Fediverse is expanding with developments in the ActivityPub protocol, promoting decentralized interactions while highlighting the need for sustainable business models in social networking.
Deep dives
Shift in Electric Vehicle Trends
The podcast discusses the current dynamics in the electric vehicle (EV) market, noting that there appears to be a decline in interest and sales of EVs. This shift correlates with a previous surge in support due to favorable government policies, which have now changed, leading to uncertainty in the market. Companies like Nikola, which demonstrated significant issues including fraudulent behavior, have struggled, culminating in bankruptcy. This environment suggests a reliance on positive governmental influence for the success of EVs, raising questions about the actual market demand for electric vehicles beyond regulatory support.
The Robo-Taxi Resurgence
A return to the focus on robo-taxis is highlighted, with platforms like Waymo gaining renewed attention amidst stalled progress in full autonomy promises from car manufacturers. The conversation centers around the contradictory nature of the market's optimism for robo-taxis, despite past failures and challenges in the tech. Key players pivoting back to this domain include Uber and Lyft, indicating a shift in strategy and renewed investment in autonomous vehicles. The discussion emphasizes that while mechanical and technological issues persist, the potential for integration with existing ride-sharing models could lead to eventual successful implementations.
ActivityPub and the Fediverse Expansion
The podcast delves into the underlying infrastructure of the Fediverse, particularly focusing on the ActivityPub protocol, which is designed to enable social networking across diverse platforms. Recent developments indicate efforts to incorporate new features like encrypted messaging, geo-social interactions, and groups into ActivityPub, highlighting the protocol's flexibility and responsiveness to community needs. The ongoing work aims to strengthen the cross-communication between platforms such as Mastodon and Threads, enabling richer user experiences. As the Fediverse expands, the challenges of maintaining interoperability while encouraging innovation become critical themes in the discourse around social media.
Blue Sky and Competitive Dynamics
Interest in Blue Sky, which functions as a competitor to ActivityPub protocols, is tackled, revealing concerns over its potential impact on the broader social networking landscape. While Blue Sky offers a centralized approach, ActivityPub promotes decentralized interactions among independent platforms. The podcast points out that the presence of multiple protocols may cause fragmentation, yet also emphasizes opportunities for platforms to engage without losing their individuality. The overall sentiment suggests a need for collaboration among varying social models to facilitate interconnectedness in the digital landscape.
Business Models in the Fediverse
The exploration of business models supporting the Fediverse centers around the need for alternative monetization strategies amidst traditional ad-supported frameworks. While some networks are successful under an ad-centric model, concerns arise regarding the sustainability and ethical implications of such models in a decentralized space. Subscription models and direct support are highlighted as viable alternatives for creators within the Fediverse to build personalized relationships with their audience. Ultimately, this leads to a broader conversation about creating sustainable revenue streams without compromising the values that originally drew users to decentralized social media platforms.
Robotaxis: in. EVs: Out? The Verge's Andy Hawkins joins the show to talk about the goings-on in the transportation industry, including the reasons car makers are slowing down on EV production (but not giving up entirely) and why suddenly everyone's back in on robotaxis. Then, The Social Web Foundation's Evan Prodromou tells us what's new with the fediverse. We talk about Bluesky, Threads, Mastodon, and the increasingly ambitious plans for the ActivityPub protocol. Finally, we talk through some feedback on last week's episode about the pricing of the iPhone 16E, and how the way you buy your phone changes the way you feel about its price.