In this engaging conversation, Paul Ford, CEO of Postlight and tech visionary, shares his insights on why we should remain optimistic about the future of technology. He discusses the transformative impact of the web and the importance of ethical considerations in tech innovation. Paul reflects on the balance between creativity and corporate influence, emphasizing the charm of smaller online communities that foster genuine connection. He also tackles the ongoing narratives surrounding climate action and sustainable investment in tech. Join him for a hopeful exploration of building a better digital world!
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question_answer ANECDOTE
What is Code?
Paul Ford's "What is Code?" unexpectedly became a pop culture moment.
Millions of people sought an explanation of programming.
insights INSIGHT
Tech vs. Liberal Arts
Tech culture lacks introspection compared to liberal arts traditions, hindering self-critique.
Startups prioritize financial success, creating conflict when these two worlds collide.
insights INSIGHT
Democratizing Web
The web's initial democratizing power stemmed from its open access, enabling anyone to publish content.
This ease of publishing fostered a sense of equality among early web users.
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The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power
Shoshana Zuboff
In this book, Shoshana Zuboff provides a comprehensive analysis of surveillance capitalism, a new economic order where corporations accumulate vast wealth and power by predicting and controlling human behavior. Zuboff details how this form of capitalism, originating in Silicon Valley, has spread into every economic sector, creating 'behavioral futures markets' where predictions about our behavior are bought and sold. She argues that this system, free from democratic oversight, poses significant threats to democracy, freedom, and human future, and urges readers to take action to protect their autonomy in the digital world.
1984
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George Orwell
Published in 1949, '1984' is a cautionary tale by George Orwell that explores the dangers of totalitarianism. The novel is set in a dystopian future where the world is divided into three super-states, with the protagonist Winston Smith living in Oceania, ruled by the mysterious and omnipotent leader Big Brother. Winston works at the Ministry of Truth, where he rewrites historical records to conform to the Party's ever-changing narrative. He begins an illicit love affair with Julia and starts to rebel against the Party, but they are eventually caught and subjected to brutal torture and indoctrination. The novel highlights themes of government surveillance, manipulation of language and history, and the suppression of individual freedom and independent thought.
This week on the interview episode of The Vergecast, editor of cheif of The Verge Nilay Patel sits down with CEO of Postlight Paul Ford.
Paul Ford co-founded Postlight in 2015 and is a writer, product strategist, educator, programmer, and software consultant.
If you read a lot of tech writing, you probably know Paul’s name. In 2015, Ford wrote an entire issue of Bloomberg’s Business Week titled “What is code?” which colorfully explained how programming works on the web for people who don’t do it. Recently, he wrote a piece in Wired about how we should still be hopeful and excited about tech and what it can still do for us.
Theres a lot of negative conversation about tech lately — regulating huge companies, what Facebook and Amazon are doing wrong — but from someone who builds things for the web, Paul brings an optimistic look at how tech can positively and creatively impact our lives in a fun and exciting way.
Paul comes in to talk about his hopefulness, his piece in Wired, the state of building stuff for the web, and how people think about tech today.
The Vergecast 
