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

Slate Podcasts
Elon Musk
Trump Administration
Donald Trump
Artificial Intelligence
Openai
Tiktok
Cryptocurrency
Meta
Social Media
Mental Health
Tesla
Department Of Government Efficiency
Google
Data Centers
Doge
Misinformation
Silicon Valley
Climate Change
Biden Administration
Spacex

Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes667Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for What Next: TBD

Latest Episodes

Is artificial intelligence a blessing to all humanity, or a demon sent to lead us astray from God’s path? MAGA is choosing between two extremes.

Guest: Kiera Butler, national correspondent for Mother Jones.

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This very online administration is facing push back from Iran in their own home territory: the world of insipid memes, A.I. videos, and online mockery.

Guest: Ali Breland, staff writer for the Atlantic.

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Back in the depths of the pandemic, what was an actor to do? Ben McKenzie started looking into cryptocurrency—and his research yielded both a book and a new documentary. The works are both non-fiction, which is more than McKenzie can say for crypto. more

If you had as much trouble getting along with other humans as Sam Altman does, you too might be eager to issue in the artificial intelligence revolution.

Guest: Andrew Marantz, staff writer for the New Yorker. 

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Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ali Breland
Writer at The Atlantic
The Atlantic
Episode: Iran's Memes Are Winning
Ben McKenzie
Director of Everyone Is Lying to You for Money
McKenzie's documentary project
Episode: Everyone Is Lying to You For Money
Jacob Silverman
Co-author of the book and co-researcher on the documentary
Book author
Episode: Everyone Is Lying to You For Money
Andrew Marantz
Staff writer at The New Yorker
The New Yorker
Episode: Who is Sam Altman Anyway?
Sam Altman
CEO of OpenAI
OpenAI
Episode: Why OpenAI Bought a Talk Show
Greg Lavallee
Chief Technology Officer at Slate
Slate
Episode: TBD Tries... Vibe Coding
Clive Thompson
Contributing writer for The New York Times, author
New York Times
Episode: TBD Tries... Vibe Coding
Tracy Alloway
Co-host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast
Bloomberg News
Episode: Why Everyone Is Freaking Out About Private Credit
Summer Lee
Congresswoman representing Pennsylvania's 12th District, focus on civil rights and AI policy
United States Congress
Episode: How to Rein in ICE and A.I.

Host

Lizzie O'Leary
Lizzie O'Leary is the host of the series, guiding listeners through discussions that analyze technology's role in shaping modern society, emphasizing ethical considerations and societal impacts.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 357 ratings
  • Just advert after advert

    Tried to bear it but I’m out

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Flash0983
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Too much ads

    Sick

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    FuuuuuuckThisGame
    United States2 years ago
  • I love this podcast, but …

    It’s played in What Next? also, so I decided to unsubscribe, so I wouldn’t have the same episode show up on my feed. Lizzie O’Leary is awesome. I used to enjoy hearing her in Marketplace. I’m happy to here her again

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    semipenguin
    United States2 years ago
  • Shallow summaries of tech issues filled with ads

    There is a huge demand for deep dive podcasts into the hot topic tech issues like AI and the Metaverse etc. This podcasts taps exactly into that but fails miserably. After summarizing an issue, which basically takes the entire episode because of all the ads (funded by the same companies they critique i.e. Apple), they end each episode with a “ok so what does this all mean?” segment. Except this segment lasts 30 sec followed by more ads and then the podcast ends.

    So if you are looking for dee... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Samd199
    United States2 years ago
  • OMG… now I realize why trump will get re-elected

    Generally enjoy the show, but just listened to

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    bluebill987
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

There is criticism regarding the frequency and nature of advertisements present in episodes, which can detract from the listening experience.
The host's interviewing style is consistently praised for being informative and thought-provoking, helping to navigate through intricate issues.
Some comments highlight the depth of coverage on complex tech topics, while others feel that more nuanced perspectives could enhance the content.
Listeners appreciate the engaging discussions and the timely insights into technological advancements and ethics.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#156
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#194
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#138
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#182
France/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#119
Hong Kong/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#156
China/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why OpenAI Bought a Talk Show
Q: Okay, so for people who are not in Silicon Valley all the time, what is TBPN? Can you just describe it for a normie?
TBPN started as a three-hour daily show by two founders who created a platform for in-depth tech discussion and entertainment, appealing to a highly engaged, online tech audience. It evolved into a distinctive format with light-hearted, self-aware branding, and a gap in mainstream media coverage of tech personalities and startup culture. The OpenAI acquisition raises whether such a show can keep its unique voice while being owned by a major tech company.
Iran's Memes Are Winning
Q: Why do these memes work, and what makes Iran effective in this space?
They mimic the language and formats that people already understand and engage with online, using culturally familiar tropes like diss tracks and popular memes to frame geopolitical narratives, while leveraging the internet's multi-audience nature.
Iran's Memes Are Winning
Q: When did the trolling contest begin, and what kicked it off?
It began with the Trump administration flexing after strikes, and Iran responding through Explosive Media, rolling out a meme-driven campaign that framed Trump in a way that resonated with online communities.
Who is Sam Altman Anyway?
Q: What led to Altman being fired and then rehired at OpenAI, and what does the reporting say about the events?
The reporting indicates a complex mix of governance tensions, power dynamics, and internal disagreements, with Ilya Sutskever and others pushing for leadership changes amid concerns about control and the direction of AI development, though the exact sequence and motivations are nuanced and interpreted differently by sources.
Who is Sam Altman Anyway?
Q: Can you give me a flavor of who had concerns about Altman and what those concerns were?
The concerns ranged from questions about his truthfulness and consistency across different audiences to fears that he prioritized power and speed over safety, with documents and interviews suggesting a pattern of behavior that made some insiders worry about trust and decision-making.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About What Next: TBD

What is What Next: TBD about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast offers a critical exploration of contemporary issues at the intersection of technology and society. Frequent topics include artificial intelligence, data privacy, and technology's impact on politics and daily life. Discussions range from the ethical implications of AI and major tech advancements to the role of digital platforms in shaping public discourse. Unique elements include guest interviews with industry experts and thought leaders, providing listeners with deeper insights into the implications of rapidly evolving tech trends. It's particularly noteworthy for its focus on accountability in the tech sector and its interpretation of current events through a technological lens, appealing to listeners who are both tech enthus... more

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Which podcasts are similar to What Next: TBD?

These podcasts share a similar audience with What Next: TBD:

1. What Next | Daily News and Analysis
2. Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts
3. Slate News
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Political Gabfest

How many episodes of What Next: TBD are there?

What Next: TBD launched 8 years ago and published 667 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 What Next: TBD?

Recent guests on What Next: TBD include:

1. Ali Breland
2. Ben McKenzie
3. Jacob Silverman
4. Andrew Marantz
5. Sam Altman
6. Greg Lavallee
7. Clive Thompson
8. Tracy Alloway

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