Rephonic
Artwork for Better Offline
Openai
Generative AI
Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia
Microsoft
Tech Industry
Venture Capital
Anthropic
Consumer Electronics Show
Chatgpt
Google
Data Centers
Meta
Softbank
Sam Altman
Robotics
Technology
Oracle
Silicon Valley
CES 2025

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 an... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes247Founded2 years ago
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Technology

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Latest Episodes

In this week’s Better Offline, Ed talks with computer science professor and writer Cal Newport about AI companies “doom trolling” consumers using scary stories about conscious computers, and how we need to make fun of the scare-mongering and ridicule... more

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In a special exclusive episode of Better Offline, Ed Zitron digs into the audited financials of OpenAI from 2024 and 2025.

Companion newsletter: www.wheresyoured.at/exclusive-openai-financials/

Save $10 off a year of my premium newsletter: https:/... more

YouTube

Tech's hyper-growth era is ending, with online 100 million new people getting online between 2022 and 2023, and almost every major web platform seeing a decline in growth since 2021. In this episode, Ed Zitron walks you through how tech's decline is ... more

In this week's Better Offline monologue, Ed Zitron runs you through how the “does AI have ROI?” debate is coming at the worst possible time for two companies that can’t afford to slow down thanks to their $1.1 trillion in compute commitments.

Newsle... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Burke
Returning GamersNexus contributor
GamersNexus
Episode: AI Versus The PC Industry With GamersNexus
Cory Doctorow
Writer, activist, and Clarion West instructor; founder/longtime advocate for digital rights
Electronic Frontier Foundation (past)
Episode: CZM Rewind: Cory Doctorow and Ed Zitron on Enshittification and the Rot Economy
Cal Newport
Commsci professor and commentator
Boston College (assumed based on common bio)
Episode: Cal Newport on Mythos and Anthropomorphization
Adam Becker
Author of More, Everything Forever; journalist and astrophysicist
Author/Journalist
Episode: More, Everything, Forever With Adam Becker
Ronan Farrow
Correspondent from The New Yorker who co-authored a major piece on Sam Altman
The New Yorker
Episode: Investigating Altman With Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz
Andrew Marantz
Writer for The New Yorker with background on tech and big tech reporting
The New Yorker
Episode: Investigating Altman With Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz
Paul Kedrosky
Economist
Independent economist
Episode: The Reality of AI Economics With Paul Kedrosky
Rebecca Ungarino
Barron's reporter on gambling and Wall Street
Barron's
Episode: Prediction Markets with Rebecca Ungarino and Nick Devor
Nick Devor
Barron's reporter on gambling industry and Wall Street
Barron's
Episode: Prediction Markets with Rebecca Ungarino and Nick Devor

Host

Ed Zitron
Host of Better Offline; tech industry veteran with a focus on accountability and scrutiny of AI, big tech, and venture-backed narratives.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 2.7k ratings
  • EZ is refreshing

    EZ says all the stuff everyone is “secretly” thinking in tech if they have half a brain or do math or communicate with other humans. Much appreciated EZ.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MattMcLaren88
    United States6 days ago
  • Brilliant

    Brilliant analyses Ed, thank you for sharing your findings.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Obi-IBANkanobi
    Germany16 days ago
  • Rationale voice is a clown show world

    I enjoy Ed’s approach to scrutinizing the claims of the tech industry, especially AI. I’m glad there’s a rationale voice in those world to call out all the AI hypesters! PS I find it amusing that some episodes start with AI advertising.

    I do wish he were a bit more pragmatic though as there are a lot of folks who can probably benefit from his information (since he’s one of the only ones sharing this) but may be put off by some of his attacks against people instead of ideas (like attacking all m... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    RHM444
    United States25 days ago
  • Skepticism is good but the repetitiveness gets old

    I have to use LLMs as part of my work, and understand the technology pretty well, as far as any skeptically minded generalist computer idiot can. Honestly, the tools are not as terrible as what is done to force them down our throats, or the lies told in service of promoting them. I respect Ed's perspective, and it's fun to listen to the occasional rant, but hearing the same message repeated in the extremely similar words from episode to episode gets tiresome. We need critical thinking, we need s... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    sdmouton
    United Statesa month ago
  • Better not talk to people who don’t agree with you

    Ed sort of falls apart when he talks to people who don’t agree with him. So long as he’s on here or the Tech Report he’s fine but when he talks to an informed AI expert his ad hominem attacks and sarcastic comebacks (which he repeats day after day “Really Jensen?!!”) etc show him to be a light weight. Check out Karen Hao instead she’s actually done the work.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bunny Cub
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Critics note the host's aggressive style but acknowledge the provocative, thought-provoking analysis.
Some praise the guest diversity and depth of industry context.
Listeners appreciate the data-driven skepticism and willingness to challenge hype around AI.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Cal Newport on Mythos and Anthropomorphization
Q: What is your take on the media's coverage of AI and Mythos in particular?
The media tends to push a narrative of inevitability and dramatic breakthroughs, but often relies on directionally true statements rather than carefully verified facts. This fuels fear and fatigue rather than a productive understanding of what AI can actually do today and what its limitations are.
The Reality of AI Economics With Paul Kedrosky
Q: So your recent work on AI, particularly the data center and economic side, what actual economic effects have you seen from AI?
There isn't a clean productivity lift yet; what you see is a shift in non-residential fixed investment toward data centers and GPUs, with Nvidia playing a central hub role. The broader economy shows mixed signals, and the real macro effect may come from investment patterns and debt structures rather than straightforward productivity gains.
Investigating Altman With Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz
Q: Why did you decide to cover Sam Altman and OpenAI in this way?
We wanted to place all relevant facts in one place, examine the trajectory from nonprofit beginnings to profit-oriented actions, and show how different stakeholders received and interpreted the same events.
Working In The Dot Com Bubble ft. Matt Rosoff
Q: What was the aftermath like post .com bubble?
The burst had significant effects, with many losing their jobs and retail traders being wiped out.
Working In The Dot Com Bubble ft. Matt Rosoff
Q: Was there any kind of AI dissent?
Yes, there were concerns about fraud and regulation, but not much outright skepticism that the internet would take off.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Better Offline

What is Better Offline about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A sharp, opinionated tech-focused program that consistently challenges the profitability and public narratives around AI, big tech, and venture-backed hype. Across episodes, the host and guests dissect the economic incentives, governance, and societal impact of Silicon Valley's growth-at-all-costs mindset, often pairing data-driven critique with provocative storytelling and bold takes. Noteworthy aspects include frequent fielding of insider anecdotes, policy-oriented angles on antitrust and regulation, and a confrontational, unapologetic delivery that appeals to listeners seeking a candid counterpoint to tech industry cheerleading. The show often features guests from technology policy, journalism, and industry critique, making it a potentia... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Better Offline?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Better Offline:

1. Tech Won't Save Us
2. It Could Happen Here
3. Kill The Computer
4. Weird Little Guys
5. Behind the Bastards

How many episodes of Better Offline are there?

Better Offline launched 2 years ago and published 247 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Better Offline?

Recent guests on Better Offline include:

1. Steve Burke
2. Cory Doctorow
3. Cal Newport
4. Adam Becker
5. Ronan Farrow
6. Andrew Marantz
7. Paul Kedrosky
8. Rebecca Ungarino

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