TechStuff

Jen Statsky is a comedian, writer, and producer who’s worked on some of TV’s biggest comedies like The Good Place, Parks & Recreation and Broad City. Most recently, she’s been behind the scenes as one of the co-creators of the hit show Hacks. Jen sits down with Karah to talk about how writing and producing for TV has changed in the face of accelerating AI, the “second-screening” phenomenon, and the optimization of streaming services.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Jargon, a Family and Tech columnist at the Wall Street Journal, dives into the increasing sophistication of imposter scams, particularly those driven by generative AI technologies. She discusses how scammers exploit emotions to enhance their deceit, making them more believable than ever. The conversation also touches on the effects of tariffs on tech companies and the playful introduction of Tinder's AI-powered dating game, illustrating the evolving intersection of technology and personal interactions.

Reid Hoffman, a prominent entrepreneur and co-founder of LinkedIn, discusses the brighter side of AI development, highlighting themes from his latest book, Superagency. He emphasizes the necessity of viewing AI positively to enhance human capabilities. Hoffman categorizes perspectives on AI into various mindsets, underscoring the importance of steering conversations towards beneficial outcomes. He also navigates the ethical implications of technology, advocating for a balanced approach between innovation and regulation in the evolving tech landscape.

How do LLMs solve math problems? This week in the News Roundup, Oz and Karah explore what AI models could mean for the fashion industry, the humble-but-mighty device our modern world depends on, and what Anthropic’s researchers learned about the inner workings of their LLM. On TechSupport, The Washington Post’s technology reporter Gerrit De Vynck explains the state of the AI race and how some of tech’s biggest companies are vying for position.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zak Brown is the CEO of McLaren Racing, the second-oldest Formula 1 team. When he joined in 2016, McLaren was in a difficult spot — lagging behind in race wins, sponsorships, and morale. Brown set out to transform the team by elevating their in-house racing technology and fostering active collaboration. He led the team to win the F1 Constructors’ Championship last year, their first one after more than 25 years. In this episode, Oz visits McLaren's headquarters to speak with Brown about how the team made their comeback, and what they’re doing to keep their edge this season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What even is a crypto mixer? This week in the News Roundup, Oz and Karah dig into potential Slack-enabled corporate espionage, the recall of a Kim K-beloved product and the group chat that broke the internet. On TechSupport, The Washington Post’s technology columnist Geoffrey Fowler discusses 23andMe’s financial woes and what it means for the genetic data of the roughly 15 million people who bought DNA testing kits from the company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is the first episode of a new podcast called Levittown. It’s a real-life horror story for the AI generation. In this six-part series from Bloomberg, Kaleidoscope and iHeartPodcasts, reporters Olivia Carville and Margi Murphy take listeners from the quiet suburbs of New York to as far as New Zealand and into the darkest corners of the internet. Where tech moves faster than the law, and it’s up to everyday people to hold back a rising tide of explicit deepfakes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do you calm down a chatbot? This week in the News Roundup, Oz and producer Eliza Dennis dig into the book that Meta doesn’t want you to read, chatbot reactions to stressful stimuli, and the new home of Pokémon Go data. On TechSupport, 404 Media’s Joseph Cox discusses a tool with surprising data scraping capabilities that is used by US agencies like ICE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astro Teller is Alphabet’s Captain of Moonshots. He oversees projects at X – the moonshot factory behind innovations like Waymo and Google Brain. To celebrate X’s 15 years of pushing boundaries, Astro Teller decided to take listeners inside the factory. On The Moonshot Podcast, inventors and entrepreneurs behind breakthrough technologies reflect on their projects, both the highs and the lows. Teller sits down with Oz to discuss the process of experimentation, the importance of accepting failure and the future of innovation at Alphabet’s X.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eliza Dennis, a producer of the show and tech trends expert, joins Azim Azhar, founder of the Exponential View newsletter, to discuss the exciting rise of 'vibecoding' and its implications for software development and hiring in Big Tech. They explore how AI can transform recruitment, enhancing candidate interactions through innovative tools like Interview Coda. The conversation also touches on the intense competition in AGI development between the U.S. and China, emphasizing the rapid advancements that could redefine the tech landscape.