Better Offline
Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Better Offline is a weekly show exploring the tech industry’s influence and manipulation of society - and interrogating the growth-at-all-costs future that tech’s elite wants to build.
Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes and scams of everyone from cryptocurrency scumbags to the greediest of the venture capital elite. Tech industry veteran Ed Zitron and a dynamic coterie of guests will help listeners understand the who, how and why of how tech’s most powerful players are changing the world - for better or for worse.
Combining narrative-form storytelling, one-on-one interviews and panel-based discussions, Better Offline cuts through the buzzwords and obfuscation of the tech industry, investigating and evaluating the schemes and scams of everyone from cryptocurrency scumbags to the greediest of the venture capital elite. Tech industry veteran Ed Zitron and a dynamic coterie of guests will help listeners understand the who, how and why of how tech’s most powerful players are changing the world - for better or for worse.
Episodes
Mentioned books
10 snips
Sep 6, 2024 • 37min
How Google Cheated Their Way To Billions
Discover how Google allegedly manipulated its search and advertising dominance to profit at the expense of advertisers. Explore the implications of a recent court ruling declaring Google a monopoly and what this means for the future of competition. Delve into the restrictive contracts that limit innovation among tech giants and examine the impact of Google's control on small businesses. The conversation touches on broader industry stagnation and the vital need for change in the tech landscape.
10 snips
Sep 4, 2024 • 34min
How Monopolies Are Making Tech Worse
A federal judge has declared Google a monopoly, raising alarms over its impact on the tech landscape. The discussion highlights how big tech monopolies stifle innovation and manipulate markets, affecting daily life. Insights into recent antitrust rulings reveal the need for transparency in search and advertising practices. Furthermore, the conversation critiques how corporate culture within these giants breeds stagnation, hindering employee morale and limiting opportunities for creativity. Dive into the troubling relationship between monopolies and consumer experiences.
14 snips
Aug 28, 2024 • 58min
Matt Stoller Explains Monopolies
Matt Stoller, an author and Research Director at the American Economic Liberties Project, dives into the pervasive issue of monopolies in America. He explains how these monopolies, especially in the tech sector, can cripple small businesses, inflate prices, and stifle competition. The conversation explores the political nature of monopolies, their impact on democracy, and the historical evolution of corporate power. Stoller also discusses the challenges and legal implications surrounding tech giants like Google and the urgent need for regulatory action.
12 snips
Aug 21, 2024 • 1h 28min
Algorithms and Oligopolies with Thomas Germain
Thomas Germain, a BBC correspondent focused on big tech, shares insights on the urgent need to break up tech monopolies. He discusses government actions against giants like Google and the impact of antitrust measures on innovation. Germain highlights the consumer frustrations stemming from algorithm-driven content and the decline of genuine online creativity. He also dives into Google’s recent coupon controversy and the complexities of AI's role in shaping modern advertising, emphasizing the importance of corporate accountability in the tech landscape.
20 snips
Aug 16, 2024 • 43min
Big Tech Is The Enemy of Innovation
Ed Zitron, an expert on tech innovation, discusses the stagnation of big tech firms and their lack of genuine innovation in the AI space. He critiques their focus on short-term profits over sustainable development, warning that this could lead to their downfall. Zitron highlights a growing disillusionment with generative AI, questioning its real benefits amid corporate greed. He calls for a cultural shift in the tech industry to foster true creativity and accountability, urging listeners to engage in pressing global issues beyond AI.
8 snips
Aug 14, 2024 • 41min
How The AI Bubble Bursts
Ed Zitron, a tech industry expert, delves into the troubling signs of the AI market downturn. He discusses the shaky foundations of generative AI, highlighting the heavy investments from giants like Microsoft and the unsustainable finances of major players. Zitron points out the complications arising from tech delays and competitive pressures, drawing parallels to the crypto collapse. The conversation navigates the risk of industry consolidation and raises critical questions about the future viability of the AI sector amid skepticism and financial strain.
110 snips
Aug 7, 2024 • 1h 53min
Enzittification with Cory Doctorow & Brian Merchant
Cory Doctorow, a prominent writer and digital rights activist, joins forces with Brian Merchant, an insightful author on tech's societal implications. They delve into how monopolistic practices have stifled innovation in the tech industry today. The duo connects the historical Luddite fight for worker rights to modern tech critiques, discussing the ethical dilemmas of generative AI and its detrimental effects on artists. They advocate for grassroots movements and effective regulation to reclaim user agency and combat corporate dominance.
20 snips
Jul 31, 2024 • 1h 51min
The State of Tech Journalism with Kylie Robison and Mike Isaac
Kylie Robison, a tech journalist from The Verge, and Mike Isaac, a New York Times writer, delve into the current state of tech journalism. They discuss the hype around generative AI and its implications for sustainability, highlighting the failures of tech journalism in managing expectations. The duo shares amusing anecdotes while critiquing the diminishing excitement in the industry. The conversation also touches on the need for accountability in tech failures and the challenge of producing authentic narratives that resonate with everyday users.
50 snips
Jul 24, 2024 • 33min
Rot Economics with MIT's Daron Acemoglu
Daron Acemoglu, MIT economist, discusses the impact of tech on economics, generative AI's limitations, automation in customer service, future of AI, a rock and roll con, and social responsibility in tech companies.
23 snips
Jul 22, 2024 • 30min
CrowdStruck
The podcast discusses the catastrophic impact of the CrowdStrike situation on global IT systems, highlighting the interconnected risks of IT outages. It delves into the consequences of prioritizing growth over solid security practices and reflects on the toxic culture in Silicon Valley where stability is sacrificed for profit. The narrative emphasizes the importance of valuing employees and investing in infrastructure to prevent failures.
