People vs Algorithms

This week, we’re joined by Joe Marchese, operating and build partner at Human Ventures and veteran media exec. We discuss why the obsession with performance marketing has created incentives for many intermediaries to focus on giving the appearance of being responsible for a sale rather than actually contributing to the sale, and how that’s led to short-term approaches that skips the basics of building lasting brands. Plus: What the meting of Kamala Harris says about the direction of news and political campaigns, why Netflix points to a shrinking TV ad market and the perils of operating content and commerce businesses as part of one company. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction06:09 Netflix vs. Apple TV: The Future of Streaming16:51 The Meme Election24:42 The Role of AI in Media and Advertising35:59 The Evolution of Content Creation Tools38:07 The Cookiepocalypse and Ad Tech Cynicism40:31 Performance Media and Brand Building44:37 Content and Commerce: The Houdinki Case Study51:32 The Future of Digital Media and Monetization58:56 Media Investments and Optimism01:01:00 Good Product

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump was a stress test for the Information Space, and a reminder of just how much the media has changed. You had mainstream news outlets jockeying with individuals holding forth with a collection of expertise, conspiracies, jokes, memes and partisan potshots. Some of it was informative, some of it was hilarious, some of it was infuriating, and much of it was… entertaining? We unpack yet another crazy plot twist and look forward to what it means as the media business girds for what looks very likely to be a return to power of Donald Trump and an ascendent political movement that’s to a large degree successfully vanquished the packaged news media. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction02:50 Personal Media Consumption Experiences04:13 The Evolution of Media and Information08:08 Trump's Influence on Media and Politics15:13 The Future of Media in a Polarized World26:23 Trump's Media Mastery and Political Impact38:34 Tech's Political Landscape42:44 Big Tech vs. Small Tech44:26 The Role of Media in Politics49:55 The Rise of YouTube as a Podcast Platform53:58 The Evolution of Digital Advertising01:03:51 Good Product

The tidal wave of crap is a reality in the Information Space. This week, we discuss the rules of winning in the Information Space, including why it helps to get into fights, present as authoritative and authentic, and above all else to be willing to be shameless.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction03:00 Threads and Social Media Dynamics06:16 The Rise of Authenticity11:17 Traditional Media's Role16:19 AI and Productivity32:41 The Role of Hyperbole and Conspiracy Theories34:20 The New Rules of the Information Space42:53 The Importance of Podcasts in Modern Media52:56 Good Product

In this July 4th episode, Alex, Brian and Troy chat about whether life will ever get back to 'normal,' Threads vs. X, gamer saints and AI dogs.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Holiday Podcast Kickoff00:59 Media Industry: Past, Present, and Future02:55 The Canonized Gamer Boy04:20 The Rise of Viral Fame05:54 Threads vs. X: The Social Media Debate07:41 The Future of Social Media09:08 AI and Surveillance in Everyday Life19:56 The Changing Landscape of War22:16 FigmaCon and the Future of Design24:42 Music Industry's Battle with AI27:12 The Future of Publishing and Media34:15 The Role of Legacy Media38:05 Embracing Change in Media40:31 Summertime Recommendations

Troy and Brian discuss the realist mood in Cannes, the key to good brand events, why hotels need a good playlist and Perplexity serving as an AI boogeyman.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction04:17 Media Memberships and Loyalty06:48 Hospitality and Technology12:22 Events and Differentiation14:55 Cannes Observations and Reflections18:01 Media Industry Dynamics27:15 Exploring with AI in Paris and London32:30 The Rise of Perplexity and Content Theft36:33 Publishers vs. AI Crawlers41:27 The Future of Media and Distribution46:24 Good Product

Apple has entered the AI fray with a compelling view of using it to remove friction that gets in the way of people want to get things done. The issue arises for those who create that friction by serving as intermediaries.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:39 Introduction to People vs. Algorithms04:23 Apple's WWDC Highlights10:29 Privacy and Trust in Tech27:30 Microsoft's Rewind Feature Controversy33:33 The Enduring Relevance of the Phone38:45 Advertising Trends and Challenges48:11 The War on the Inbox53:57 Sleep and Technology

Technology acts as a compressor. AI is the latest pressure point. This week, we look at compression in software development, marketing and publishing. We then go into the difficult challenge of change management at the Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:53 Mailbag02:41 The Decline of Blockbuster and Rise of Netflix05:14 The Future of Software and AI's Impact10:29 AI in Marketing and Customer Support28:26 Navigating Change in Media Organizations32:05 Digital Transformation in Media35:34 The Decline of Traditional Newspapers38:09 Strategies for Media Reinvention47:36 The Role of Unions in Media49:57 Good Product56:52 Closing Remarks

In this episode Brian, Troy, and Alex talk about AI hallucinations, and how they mirror human misperceptions. Troy believes the open web and traditional media will still hold value, while Alex thinks AI and platforms like Google and social media will take over. They also touch on the future of ad-supported AI services and SEO, Vivek Ramaswamy’s anti-BuzzFeed campaign and a genius idea about electing presidents.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Spicy Takes00:54 AI Hallucinations: The Human Aspect01:49 The Future of AI and Media02:44 Debate: Is the Web Dead?04:45 The Role of Media Brands in the AI Era12:17 Advertising and AI: A New Economy14:29 The Impact of AI on Content Discovery20:30 Legal and Ethical Considerations22:57 The Future of Media and AI Integration27:46 Union Pressures and Performance Reviews30:02 The Future of Media and Open Web34:46 Buzzfeed and Media Outsiders41:26 The Role of AI in Leadership44:46 Good Product49:29 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

What do tech and media look like in five years? Plus: Sam Altman as slippery character and AI comes to search and devices.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Introduction01:28 Sam Altman and Scarlett Johansson Controversy06:43 Microsoft's AI Integration in Hardware13:39 Google AI and the Future of Search20:32 Speculations on AI's Long-Term Effects33:21 Five Years into the Future: A Thought Exercise40:39 AI Redefines Hardware44:50 Advertising in the AI Era50:05 Media Consumption Trends57:36 Good Product01:03:53 Podcast Reflections

Brian, Alex, and Troy get into the new AI updates from OpenAI and Google. They unpack how these big changes might shake up industries like media and advertising, and what that means for our daily tech interactions.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Catching Up and Studio Updates00:46 Introduction to People vs. Algorithms00:59 The AI Revolution: Predictions and Impacts03:00 Reflecting on Last Week's Episode and Media Sustainability09:16 Exploring the New Era of AI and Its Implications11:15 The Potential and Challenges of Advanced AI Interfaces19:14 The Future of Education, Work, and Technology25:05 Universal Basic Compute and Societal Impacts28:27 The Social Media Backlash and GPT-4's Impact30:19 Reflecting on Past Tech Hype: From TCP/IP to the iPhone32:34 The Future of Computing and the Internet38:19 Navigating the Shift: Strategies for Media and Tech Companies43:32 The Role of AI and Social Media in the Future46:56 Creative Missteps: The Controversial Apple Ad50:41 The Evolution of Streaming and Live Content54:34 Good Product

Jess Sibley, CEO of Time, joins Brian and Troy to discuss adapting Time to today’s digital challenges. Jess shares her strategies for navigating algorithm changes and AI, shifting Time’s focus from consumer to business-oriented models, and the implications for digital content and monetization.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterSkip to topic:00:00 Guest Introduction01:13 Navigating the Chaos in Search and AI's Impact on Publishing01:27 Modernizing Legacy Brands and the Shift from B2C to B2B02:42 The Evolution of Media and Google's Algorithm Changes05:49 Exploring Revenue Diversification and the Future of Publishing12:33 The Impact of AI and Search on Media Strategies21:54 Time's Transformation and Strategic Partnerships27:54 The Role of Time Magazine in a Digital Age32:19 Time Studios and Future Media Projects35:15 The Benioffs' Leadership at Time41:54 Exclusive Insights: High-Profile Interviews and Media Impact49:07 Navigating the Media Landscape: Strategy and Culture at Time54:12 Addressing Brand Safety in Journalism01:00:18 The Future of Time: Trust, Impact, and Audience Engagement01:02:42 Good Product: The Significance of AirPods and Music

Brian, Troy, and Alex discuss the commercialization of the internet and the impact of AI on media. They explore big media-tech partnerships, the evolving role of AI in content distribution, and the potential benefits and challenges AI brings to our digital lives.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Opening Banter and Personal Updates02:46 AI Negotiations and Media Deals: A Deep Dive09:14 The Future of Media and Content Creation19:29 Navigating the World of AI Products and Market Trends26:34 Reflections on AI Device Launches and Market Impact35:53 Google's AI Ambitions and the Pixel Phone37:57 AI's Role in Customer Service and Its Ethical Implications40:31 AI's Influence on Advertising and Branding43:17 The Fediverse: A New Approach to Social Media and Content Distribution58:49 Navigating the Overload of Email Newsletters01:03:49 Good Product Recommendations and Cultural Commentary

Omnicom digital chief Jonathan Nelson joins the show to discuss why ad agencies, forever under threat, will adapt to AI. We go into Omnicom's purchase of Flywheel Digital, a software company for digital commerce -- a further sign that the next phase of what we used to call the internet will be defined by commerce rather than advertising.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Opening Banter and Warm-Up00:31 Introduction to 'People vs. Algorithms' Podcast01:33 The Future of Magazines and Ad Agencies in the AI Era03:57 Navigating the Digital and Media Landscape: Insights and Anecdotes22:04 Navigating Media, Identity, and the Outlaw Mentality36:54 The Dawn of Digital Agencies and Banner Ads39:21 Evolution of Advertising: From Novelty to Foundation43:52 The Future of Advertising: AI, Ethics, and Consumer Impact50:52 Navigating the Media Landscape: Relationships and Technology55:15 The Role of Websites and Consumer Behavior Online57:36 Reflections on Advertising, Technology, and Career Advice01:09:04 Concluding Thoughts on AI, Ethics, and the Future of Advertising

In this episode Alex, Brian and Troy dive into topics like how AI is changing advertising, the ways tech meets human needs, and the big shifts society might see because of tech. They chat about everything from AI taking over creative jobs to why we still need a human touch in things like art.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Exploring Polycules and Regional Acceptance00:59 Welcome to People vs. Algorithms: Unpacking Media and Tech01:09 Insights from the Possible Conference: Marketing and AI's Future04:44 The Impact of AI on Advertising and Creativity06:59 AI's Role in Advertising: A Deep Dive14:20 The Future of Advertising Agencies in the AI Era17:27 The Quirks of Product Marketing and Consumerism19:22 The Humane Product Launch: A Case Study in Failure25:28 Exploring the Limits of AI in Personal and Professional Services30:46 The Debate Over AI in Our Lives: Convenience vs. Human Connection33:20 The Dystopian and Utopian Views of AI's Future41:22 The Socio-Economic Implications of AI and Technology47:46 Navigating the Digital Age: Truth, Trust, and Technology54:57 Yahoo's Evolution and the Future of Digital Platforms01:00:12 Closing Thoughts and Listener Feedback

In this episode Brian, Troy, and Alex dive into AI mishaps in Teslas, muse over BuzzFeed's AI pivot, and ponder the future of creativity in tech. They chat about navigating power in the digital age, laugh at media's latest shenanigans, and champion the underdog entrepreneurs shaking things up. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Tesla's Autopilot Update01:02 Introducing People Vs. Algorithms05:32 BuzzFeed's AI Pivot and the Future of Media22:19 AI's Impact on Creativity and the Music Industry26:30 The New York Times Embraces AI for Audio Articles33:09 Diving into the Concept of Power36:11 The Journey to Gaining Power: Personal Stories and Advice43:10 Understanding Power in the Context of Career and Entrepreneurship49:31 AI's Influence on Power Dynamics and Organizational Structures54:24 Reflecting on Media, AI, and the Future of Content Creation59:47 Good Product Recommendations

With Alex still on vacation, Axios senior media reporter Sara Fischer joins Troy and Brian to break down the current state of the media business, including why TikTok is winning, the death of aggregation as a competitive advantage, why social media is a major reason women’s sports is one of the hottest segments, The New York Times as an extensible model and the future of print magazines as marketing pieces.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Brooklyn, Miami or Washington?01:10 Introducing 'People vs. Algorithms': A Deep Dive into Media Trends02:37 The Power of Distinctive Journalism in Today's Media05:39 The Evolution of News Consumption and the Rise of TikTok07:41 The Future of Media: Between Eras and the AI Influence10:00 The Art of Distinctive Reporting in the Digital Age12:51 Exploring the Success of The New York Times and Other Media Giants21:22 The Rise of Women's Sports and the Impact of Social Media25:52 The Ongoing Battles in the Media Industry34:04 The Shift in Media Brand Strategies36:20 The Evolution of Legacy Media and New Upstarts39:25 Navigating the Complexities of Media Business Models52:35 Exploring the Future of Reddit and Other Platforms56:17 Beyonce's New Album: A Cultural Phenomenon

Emily, Brian and Troy delve into the complex world of influencers and celebrities as they navigate public scrutiny and fame in the digital age. They explore the societal impact of extensive phone use and the rise of influencers creating their own brands. Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 An Unforgettable Trip to the Grenadines: The Start of an Influencer's Journey01:12 Introducing 'People vs. Algorithms': A Deep Dive into Media, Tech, and Culture01:17 Emily Sundberg's Unique Blend of Business and Culture in 'Feed Me'02:31 Exploring the Complex World of Influence and Celebrity08:11 The Intricacies of Being an Influencer and the Impact on Personal Identity16:01 The Huberman Controversy: A Case Study in Celebrity and Accountability30:52 The Future of Celebrity: Microdramas and the New Age of Public Scrutiny38:19 The Unpreparedness of Rising Influencers41:57 The Personal Touch in Building a Brand47:06 Exploring the Future of Work and Influence53:27 Navigating the Complexities of a Digital Career01:03:13 The Impact of Technology on Society and Personal Life01:06:48 The Good Product Corner

In this episode of 'People vs. Algorithms,' hosts Brian Morrissey, Troy Young, and Alex Schleifer engage in a wide-ranging discussion on how algorithms shape our cultural landscape, the future of AI in content creation, and the consequences of a digitally dominated world. They share insights from the Game Developer Conference about the optimism among independent studios and discuss the ramifications of algorithmic sameness across media. The episode features a detailed conversation with Kyle Chayka, a writer at the New Yorker and author of 'Filterworld,' centering on how algorithms are flattening culture and what it means for creators and consumers alike.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Kicking Off at the Game Developer Conference06:42 The Future of AI in Gaming: Opportunities and Challenges08:40 Navigating the Complexities of AI Ethics and Open Source Debates19:49 The Middle Management Dilemma: Efficiency vs. Human Touch27:33 Listener Questions: The Future of Learning and AI's Role34:01 The Digital Dilemma: Navigating Education and Work in a Tech-Driven World34:48 Rethinking Education: A Vision for the Future35:08 Introducing Kyle: A Deep Dive into Algorithms and Culture35:48 The Impact of Algorithms on Culture and Individuality38:41 Exploring the Future: The Role of Algorithms in Shaping Our World43:02 The Algorithmic Influence: From Consumption to Creation47:29 Navigating the Algorithmic Landscape: Personal Experiences and Strategies51:36 The Future of Culture in the Age of Algorithms55:59 The Personal and Professional Impact of Living Online59:01 Envisioning a Future Beyond Algorithmic Feeds01:06:28 Exploring Good Products

As Alex says, the ground is shifting more and faster than it has in some time in the tech world, which usually means gaping craters are opened to swallow up media companies. We discuss the Reddit IPO, X apparently pivoting to video – we recorded this prior to Don Lemmon announcing he wouldn’t be launching his show on X after an apparently disastrous interview with Elon Musk pissed off Musk, go figure – and the effort to ban TikTok.We also have a guest this week. Tony Stubblebine joined us to discuss where Medium fits in the information space. We talked to Tony about how Medium aims to be the place for expert content, why journalism is apparently expensive to produce because journalists have to learn about the stuff they cover, and the frequent misalignment of incentives in the media business, particularly ones reliant on advertising.Submit a question or comment for the show here: https://memo.fm/pva/Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics: 00:00 Introducing the Voicemail Feature: A New Way to Engage01:44 Welcome to People vs. Algorithms: Unpacking Media and Tech Shifts02:06 Deep Dive into Reddit's IPO and the Future of Social Platforms02:44 Exploring Medium's Journey and Its Place in the Digital World04:29 Listener Engagement and the Future of Podcasting05:18 Analyzing Reddit's Strategy and Its Impact on the Digital Landscape16:17 X Pivoting to Video19:46 The Controversial Debate: The Potential TikTok Ban25:20 Apple's Strategy and the Shifting Tech Landscape32:21 Medium's New Direction Under CEO Tony Stubblebine40:44 Evaluating Medium's Pivot to Subscription and Target Author Strategy41:26 The Power of Expert Content in the Digital Age43:03 The Debate Over Text vs. Video Content44:05 The Importance of Writing in an Evolving Internet44:55 Addressing Changing Consumer Habits and Content Consumption48:56 The Future of Twitter and Social Media Platforms50:36 Exploring Federation and Content Distribution Strategies51:37 Navigating Negotiations with AI Companies55:17 The Potential and Challenges of Reddit's IPO58:13 The Role of Medium in Independent Expert Content Creation59:39 Reflecting on the State of Professional Media01:08:33 Closing Thoughts and Future Directions01:11:12 The Impact of Advertising on Business and Culture

This week, we discuss how to turn the ship at two very different companies facing different challenges: CNN and Google. At CNN, former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson is looking to reinvent the still very profitable broadcaster into a more nimble, digitally focused operation as its viewership and cultural importance fade. Google is facing its biggest threat yet in the form of AI and signs with Gemini AI image search that there might just be something to those complaints about a “woke culture.” Plus: nostalgia for websites, invisible paywalls and Substack’s next chapter.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Opening Banter and Homework Check00:05 Diving Into Mark Thompson's Memo and Corporate Speak01:20 Introducing People vs. Algorithms01:49 The Challenges at CNN and Google02:29 CNN's Transformation and Strategy Discussion07:13 Exploring the Impact of AI and Invisible Paywalls11:38 The Future of Publishing and Websites17:08 Debating the Role of Websites in Media Today27:52 Substack's Strategy and the Future of Content Creation33:32 Reimagining CNN's Strategy in the AI Era45:27 Exploring Perplexity's Innovations and Potential46:57 The Future of News: AI and Media Evolution47:14 Navigating the Challenges of Legacy Media in the Digital Age49:01 The Blurred Lines of Modern Media Brands57:17 The Dilemma of Independence in the Media Landscape58:57 Google's Leadership and Innovation Challenges01:00:14 The Cultural and Structural Issues at Google01:14:53 Redefining Product Management in Tech01:17:04 The Essence of Good Content: Vice and Beyond01:22:18 Closing Thoughts and Future Engagements