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

When you’re getting out of an Uber, Tesla’s unintuitive door handle can embarrass you. In an emergency, getting out of the car quickly can be the difference between life and death. Guest: Dana Hull, Bloomberg News reporter covering Tesla and Elon Musk  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

Why would Donald Trump rush to announce that Tylenol is a potential cause of autism, a claim unsupported by the research? Guest: Dan Diamond, White House 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. Podcast production by Evan Campbell, and Patrick Fort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re hunting for a job, the odds are increasingly likely you’ll have an interview with an artificial intelligence “recruiter.” And why not? It’s also increasingly likely you’ll be working with A.I. anyway.  Guest: Danielle Abril, technology-in-the-workplace 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

TikTok—which was supposed to be banned again on Wednesday but, again, isn’t—may be legal once more. The Trump administration says it’s meeting with Xi Jinping Friday to finalize the agreement, which may involve—get this—a wealthy Trump-supporting tech mogul.  Guest: Nitish Pahwa, staff writer for business and tech at Slate. This episode is member-exclusive. Listen to it now by subscribing to Slate Plus. By joining, not only will you unlock exclusive episodes of What Next TBD—you’ll also access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Charlie Kirk murder demonstrated, law enforcement, the government, and media all need more internet fluency. But their reactions in the wake of the murder don’t seem to be moving towards a better understanding.  Guest:  Ryan Broderick, reporter on online culture, author of the newsletter Garbage Day. 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

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.