Big Take

Copyright: 2024 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia

Latest Episodes:

What OpenAI’s Scarlett Johansson Dustup Reveals About AI May 29, 2024

Show notes

Generative AI is back in the news – and not for a good reason. First, OpenAI made headlines after the voice it introduced as part of its latest GPT update sounded eerily like Scarlett Johansson. Then, Google’s newly-introduced “AI Overview” feature started returning some questionable results – like that eating rocks might be good for you, or that cheese can help prevent cavities.

On today’s Big Take, host David Gura speaks to Bloomberg AI reporter Rachel Metz and Bloomberg Opinion columnist Dave Lee to get to the bottom of just what’s been happening in the world of generative AI – and what these latest headlines mean for the way we’re all getting our information now and in the future.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will the World’s Biggest Nuclear Power Plant Get a Restart? May 28, 2024

Show notes

All of Japan's 54 nuclear reactors were shut down after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. As the country's energy needs soar, debate is heating up over whether to bring the world’s largest nuclear plant back online.

On today’s episode of The Big Take Asia, host K. Oanh Ha speaks to Bloomberg reporter Shoko Oda about her visit to the Kashiwazaki Kariwa plant and the challenges to rebooting it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google’s Moonshot Factory Falls Back to Earth May 27, 2024

Show notes

Google’s “moonshot” factory, dubbed “X,” encouraged researchers, engineers and developers to dream big for years – no project was too ambitious or too expensive. But recently there’s been a shift. With the tech boom in the rearview mirror, tightening budgets and the rising popularity of ChatGPT, Google has turned its focus away from chasing longshot inventions to expanding its search engine business and AI operations.

In today’s episode, Bloomberg’s Julia Love tells host Sarah Holder what this means for Google and tech innovation at large.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apartheid’s Long Shadow Hangs Over South Africa’s Election May 24, 2024

Show notes

South Africa is at a turning point. Thirty years after Nelson Mandela rose to power on a platform of equality, peace, and prosperity, the party he headed is facing serious challengers.
In the country’s May 29th election, the African National Congress Party, or ANC, looks poised to lose its outright majority. In today’s episode, host Sarah Holder is joined by Johannesburg-based economic and government affairs reporter Ntando Thukwana to discuss why voters are souring on the ANC – something once unthinkable for the party that lifted the country out of apartheid.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Man Who Ended Password Sharing at Netflix May 22, 2024

Show notes

Netflix is the biggest paid subscription streaming service in the world. But two years ago, its dominance was in question after it reported its first subscriber decline in over a decade. So the company did something radical: it cracked down on password sharing. The man behind the move? Well, he’s now one of the most powerful people in Hollywood.

Meet Greg Peters, the co-CEO of Netflix. Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw recently sat down with Peters for his first major print profile. He tells host David Gura about Peters’ bold plan to transform Netflix and the way all of us watch everything from TV shows to sports.

Listen to the Big Take podcast every week day and subscribe to our daily newsletter

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What Does China’s Economic Slowdown Mean For the Communist Party? May 21, 2024

Show notes

After four decades of unparalleled gains in income and wealth, China’s 1.4 billion have been hit by a series of blows: a real estate collapse, a trade war with the US, and a crackdown on entrepreneurs have stalled the country’s prosperity engine.

On today’s episode of The Big Take Asia, host K. Oanh Ha dives into how China’s slowing economy is affecting people on the ground, and how Beijing is responding to that shift. Ha talks to Bloomberg correspondent Rebecca Choong Wilkins in Hong Kong and Bloomberg’s Chief Economist Tom Orlik.
Read more: ‘Are You Better Off?’ Asking Reagan’s Question in Xi’s China

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What the Death of Iran’s President Means for Global Relationships May 20, 2024

Show notes

The deaths of Iran’s president and foreign minister in a helicopter crash were followed by a declaration of an official mourning period ahead of a new election.
It also has led to new speculation about who is poised to succeed Iran’s supreme leader, which could have regional and global ramifications.
On today’s episode, hosts David Gura and Sarah Holder discuss the fallout of the president’s death with Bloomberg’s Middle East, Europe and Africa news director Rosalind Mathieson and national security editor Nick Wadhams.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Stock Market After GameStop (Again) May 17, 2024

Show notes

The meme stock era, led by Keith Gill, aka “Roaring Kitty,” seemed to have come and gone — until this week, when he reemerged on social media. It was enough to send shares in GameStop and AMC on a wild ride again, conjuring memories of 2021’s meme stock mania.
So what’s really going on? On today’s episode, Bloomberg’s Money Stuff columnist Matt Levine schools us in Meme Financial Markets — and breaks down for host David Gura what these wild moves mean for anyone interested in putting money in the stock market.
Read more: GameStop Is Back!?

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Restaurants That Don’t Want to Break Up With Gas Stoves May 15, 2024

Show notes

After Berkeley, California, became the first city in the US to ban natural gas in new buildings in 2019, it gained an unlikely opponent: the California Restaurant Association. The industry group sued the city, and kicked off a four-year-plus legal battle that ended with the city backing down. But when Bloomberg’s Ben Elgin started following the money, he found evidence that raised questions about where the association got its support.

In today’s episode, host Sarah Holder speaks with Elgin about the fight against California gas bans and how gas companies are planning to leverage that victory nationally.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rise of Modi, Part 2: How India’s Leader Came Back From the Brink May 14, 2024

Show notes

In 2002, Narendra Modi was facing the biggest political crisis of his career. But in the aftermath of riots that left more than 1,000 people dead – most of them Muslims – he saw an opportunity to turn his fortunes around. He would go on to become one of the most powerful leaders India has seen in decades.

Host K. Oanh Ha, Bloomberg’s Sudhi Ranjan Sen and author Nilanjan Mukhophadyay trace how Modi and his government have been able to transform India into one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.