What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the future

Laura Reiley, a writer for the Cornell Chronicle and mother of Sophie, shares her heartbreaking journey after her daughter's suicide. The discussion dives into Sophie’s vibrant life masked by deep mental health struggles and the troubling role of AI in her last days. They explore how Sophie confided in ChatGPT, raising ethical questions about technology's role in mental health. Reiley emphasizes the dangers of relying on AI for emotional support and calls for urgent responsible tech development, underscoring the need for human intervention in crisis situations.

Craig Silverman, a seasoned journalist and co-founder of Indicator, dives into the alarming prevalence of graphic violence on social media, exploring the aftermath of a violent incident involving Charlie Kirk. He discusses how such imagery has become normalized, examining its chilling impacts on society. The conversation touches on the rise of right-wing media and the challenges of content moderation amidst evolving platform policies. Silverman also warns of the manipulative use of graphic content in shaping public narratives, urging listeners to navigate this digital landscape thoughtfully.

Ryan Felton, a Wall Street Journal reporter specializing in the automotive industry, dives into the looming shutdown of electric vehicle tax credits and its impact on sales and consumer demand. He discusses the vibrant Colorado car dealership scene and how state incentives are currently appealing to buyers. Felton also highlights the challenges faced by automakers, including rising competition, evolving emissions regulations, and shifts in consumer preferences as they strategize towards affordable EVs amidst a turbulent market.

Ed Zitron, author of the newsletter Where’s Your Ed At and host of Better Offline, dives into the bubbling concerns surrounding artificial intelligence investments. He critiques the inflated valuations in the AI sector, drawing eerie parallels to the burst of the dot-com bubble. Zitron discusses the financial sustainability challenges faced by companies like OpenAI and examines the skepticism growing around their profitability. He also questions whether the current excitement in AI is truly transformative or merely an overhyped trend in technology.

In this discussion, Alex Barasch, culture editor at The New Yorker, dives into A24's remarkable rise from indie roots to a powerhouse in cinema, exploring their latest venture, A24 Labs, which aims to integrate AI into filmmaking. He highlights the studio's unique approach that prioritizes filmmaker creativity, fostering deep connections with audiences. Tensions arise as A24 balances its innovative ambitions with the concerns of established directors, raising questions about the future of creativity in an age of technology.

The playlists of dozens of high-level government officials and tech executives were suddenly broadcast to the world on a website called “the Panama Playlists.” But the information wasn’t taken by sophisticated hackers infiltrating any mainframes—it was all already publicly available. Guest: Mike Isaac, New York Times Silicon Valley correspondent.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump has proposed cutting $2.5 billion from the National Cancer Institute, which in addition to cuts to the National Institutes of Health and research universities almost makes you wonder: whose side is he on in the fight against cancer?  Guest: Angus Chen, cancer reporter for STAT news Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two weeks ago, a gunman fired over 500 bullets at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention building in Atlanta. Between the anti-public health rhetoric coming from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the top, personnel cuts and firings, and now a literal shooting, many employees are reaching their breaking point.     Guest: Lauren Weber, health science accountability reporter for the Washington Post. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The scam du jour arrives via a text message, offering you a job. What happens when you accept? Guest: Alex Sammon, Slate features writer.  Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jensen Huang, cofounder of NVIDIA, finds himself president of a $4 trillion company, at the forefront of A.I. technology, and, consequently, something of an international diplomat, as he charms President Trump and negotiates to sell his powerful chips to China.  Guest: Amrith Ramkumar, reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Washington covering tech and crypto policy. Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, Ethan Oberman, Patrick Fort, and Elena Schwartz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices