"Econ 102" with Noah Smith and Erik Torenberg What Replaces Twitter? With Noah Smith & Chris Best, CEO of Substack
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Jun 21, 2025 
Chris Best, CEO of Substack, joins to discuss the transformative role of AI in news media. He envisions Substack as a new breaking news hub amidst Twitter's decline. The conversation delves into the rise of independent voices and the impact of AI on content creation, including live blogging. Best addresses the evolving landscape of media platforms like TikTok and explores the geopolitical nuances of U.S.-China relations. He emphasizes the need for strong alliances to navigate global challenges while enhancing American competitiveness.
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AI's Impact on Media Creation
- AI will transform media by automating content creation even to the extent of generating AI versions of individual writers.
- This could result in people consuming AI-generated versions of themselves or others explaining the world back to them.
Shift to Independent Voices
- The collapse of old media has led to a rise in independent voices somewhat consolidated on big internet platforms.
- However, these platforms use attention-exploitative models that ultimately harm users' focus and societal health.
Twitter's Breaking News Decline
- Twitter historically served as a crucial breaking news platform relying on live updates by specialists and citizen journalists.
- This function has declined with the rise of algorithmic feeds and platform changes, creating an opportunity for Substack to fill the void.