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

Since March, white-collar offices in major cities across the United States have stood empty. Now, with growing evidence that the workforce is equally effective at home, companies and designers are starting to rethink the office—what it looks like, what it’s used for, and if it’s really needed at all.But this wholesale reimagining of office life comes at a cost. How will the severe reduction of commuters transform American cities?Guests:John Capobianco, principal at IA Interior ArchitectsHannah Hackathorn, principal at UnispaceEllen Baer, BID president, Hudson Square Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Responding to protests around the country, the New York City Council passed the POST Act: Public Oversight of Surveillance Technology last week. The bill will require the NYPD to reveal the extent of their surveillance technology deployed within the city. For the first time, New Yorkers will get a clear picture of the technology being employed to watch and trace them. Experts say to expect the worst.Guest: Ángel S. Díaz, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In March, when schools across the country shut down, few people could have guessed that students wouldn’t return until the fall. Schools weren’t equipped to deploy remote-learning curricula, technology was in short supply, and most parents weren’t free to guide their children through lessons during the day.Three months later, little has changed. And all that time out of the classroom has taken a toll on students. Can they recover in time for the fall?Guest: Dana Goldstein, national correspondent at the New York Times HostLizzie O’Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, three of the leading developers of facial-recognition technology announced they would stop, or at least pause, selling this technology to police. The decision stems from evidence of racial bias inherent in these tools. For the researchers who first uncovered the deep-seated issues with these tools, it’s a watershed moment. Will facial-recognition technology continue to grow unchecked? Or will this week’s announcements result in lasting change?Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Guest: Deb Raji, technology fellow at the AI Now Institute.HostLizzie O’Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the midst of the pandemic, protests and police lockdowns, restaurants are turning increasingly to delivery apps like DoorDash and Grubhub to stay afloat. But with shady tactics, soaring fees, and deep-seated flaws with the business model of the entire industry, delivery startups may do more harm than good.Guest: Ranjan Roy, CEO at the Edge Group and writer of Margins newsletterSlate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now.HostLizzie O’Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, after years of inaction, Twitter fact checked President Trump’s tweets for the first time. Six words were added below the original text, directing readers to outside articles refuting his claims.Two days later, the president signed an executive order that aims to change the nature of online speech, and the platforms that host it.Guest: Casey Newton, Silicon Valley editor at the Verge HostLizzie O’Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the coronavirus shut down manufacturing across California in March and April, Elon Musk only wanted one thing: to start making cars again.So when local government officials in Alameda County got in his way, Musk took the fight public, and won.Guest: Kara Swisher, co-host of the Pivot podcast.HostLizzie O’Leary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every week, it feels like some new piece of coronavirus information dominates the headlines. Mysterious symptoms, changing government directives. This constant trickle of updates can quickly turn into a flood.How should normal people interpret this deluge of data?Guest: Emily Oster, professor of economics at Brown University and co-founder of COVID-Explained. HostLizzie O’Leary   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday, New York City announced that it would provide 140,000 free antibody tests to residents who want to know if they have been exposed to the coronavirus. And New York isn’t alone: large-scale antibody testing is ramping up around the country.But with faulty tests flooding the market and questions about whether a positive test really confers immunity are antibody tests really worth the bother?Guests: Shannon Palus, staff writer for Slate, and Dr. Natalie E. Dean, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the world’s largest tech companies posted their quarterly earnings. And—unlike most other companies in the world—things aren’t looking so bad. With the global economy reeling, and people sheltering indoors, the tech giants have an opportunity to reshape the way we live. Don’t expect them to wait on the sidelines.Guest: Elizabeth Dwoskin, Silicon Valley correspondent at the Washington Post Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices