Decoder with Nilay Patel

Latest Episodes:

GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke says the AI industry needs competition to thrive Aug 19, 2024

Show notes

Today I’m talking with Thomas Dohmke, the CEO of GitHub. GitHub is the platform for managing code – but since 2018, it’s also been owned by Microsoft. We talk a lot about how independent GitHub really is inside of Microsoft — especially now that Microsoft is all-in on AI, and Gitbhub Copilot is one of the biggest AI product success stories that exists right now. But his perspective on AI is pretty refreshing: It’s clear there’s still a long way to go.

Links:

Original GitHub landing page | Wayback Machine
Introducing Entitlements | GitHub Blog
ashtom (Thomas Dohmke) | GitHub
The developers suing over GitHub Copilot got dealt a major blow in court | The Verge
GitHub Copilot can now help start a project with AI | The Verge
GitHub users can mess around with different AI models | The Verge
GitHub’s AI-powered Copilot will help you write code for $10 a month | The Verge
Google DeepMind co-founder joins Microsoft as CEO of its new AI division | The Verge

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23986019

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's next for the controversial 'child safety' internet bill Aug 15, 2024

Show notes

There’s a major internet speech regulation currently making its way through Congress, and it has a really good chance of becoming law. It’s called KOSPA: the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, which passed in the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support late last month. At a high level, KOSPA could radically change how tech platforms handle speech in an effort to try and make the internet safer for minors.

It’s a controversial bill, with a lot going on. To break it all down, I invited on Verge senior policy reporter Lauren Feiner, who’s been covering these bills for months now, to explain what’s happening, what these bills actually do, and what the path forward for this legislation looks like.

Links:

Senate passes the Kids Online Safety Act | The Verge
The teens lobbying against the Kids Online Safety Act | The Verge
How the Kids Online Safety Act was dragged into a political war | NYT
House Republicans won’t bring up KOSA in its current form | Punchbowl News
Why a landmark kids online safety bill is still deeply divisive | NBC News
Why Sen. Schatz thinks child safety bills can trump the First Amendment | Decoder
Child safety bills are reshaping the internet for everyone | The Verge
Online age verification is coming, and privacy is on the chopping block | The Verge

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Replika CEO Eugenia Kuyda says it’s okay if we end up marrying AI chatbots Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m talking with Replika founder and CEO Eugenia Kuyda, and I will just tell you right away, we get all the way to people marrying their AI companions, so get ready. It’s a ride.

Replika’s basic pitch is pretty simple: what if you had an AI friend? The company offers avatars you can curate to your liking that pretend to be human, so they can be your friend, your therapist, or even your date. That’s a lot for a private company running an iPhone app, and Eugenia and I talked a lot about the consequences of this idea and what it means for the future of human relationships.

Links:

The AI boyfriend business is booming | Axios
Speak, Memory | The Verge
Your new AI Friend is almost ready to meet you | Verge
What happens when sexting chatbots dump their human lovers | Bloomberg
AI chatbot company Replika restores erotic roleplay for some users — Reuters
Replika’s New AI App Is Like Tinder but With Sexy Chatbots — Gizmodo
Replika’s new AI therapy app tries to bring you to a zen island — The Verge
Replika CEO: AI chatbots aren’t just for lonely men | Fortune
Gaze Into the Dystopian Hell of Bots Dating Bots | Slate

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23980789

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

DOJ antitrust chief is ‘overjoyed’ after Google monopoly verdict Aug 08, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m talking to Jonathan Kanter, the assistant attorney general for antitrust at the United States Department of Justice. This is Jonathan’s second time on the show, and it’s a bit of an emergency podcast situation. On Monday, a federal court issued a monumental decision in the DOJ’s case against Google, holding that Google Search and the text ads in search are monopolies.

The court hasn’t decided on the penalties for all this yet — that process is scheduled to start next month. But it’s the biggest antitrust win against a tech company since the Microsoft case from two decades ago. I wanted to know what Jonathan thought of the ruling, what it means for the law, and most importantly, what remedies he’s going to seek to try and restore competition in search.

Links:

Judge rules that Google ‘is a monopolist’ in US antitrust case | The Verge
All the spiciest parts of the Google antitrust ruling | The Verge
Now that Google is a monopolist, what’s next? | The Verge
DOJ’s Kanter says the antitrust fight against Big Tech is just beginning | Decoder
The DOJ Antitrust Division isn’t afraid to go to court | The Verge
The US government is gearing up for an AI antitrust fight | The Verge

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23979725

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Booking CEO Glenn Fogel wants you to take out your travel frustrations on AI chatbots Aug 05, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m talking with Glenn Fogel, the CEO of Booking Holdings, which owns a large portfolio of familiar travel brands: OpenTable, Kayak, and Priceline, as well as its largest subsidiary, Booking.com. This episode is pure Decoder bait all the way through — from Booking’s structure, to competition with hotels and airlines increasingly going direct to consumer, even to how European regulation affects competition with Google. Oh, and of course, how Booking is incorporating AI; Glenn has some fascinating thoughts there.

Glenn really got into it with me — there’s a lot going on in this space, and it’s interesting because there are so many players and so much competition across so many of the layers, even among Booking’s own subsidiaries. I think we probably could have gone twice as long.

Links:

The oral history of travel’s greatest acquisition | Skift
Long-term travel looks like a strong growth industry, says Booking’s Glenn Fogel | CNBC
Ryanair wins screen-scraping case against Booking.com | Airways
Aggregation Theory | Stratechery
A Call for Embracing AI—But With a ‘Human Touch’ | Time
Booking.com launches new AI Trip Planner | Booking
Priceline releases new AI platform and ‘Penny’ chatbot | Skift

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23976178

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge and is part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Amanda Rose Smith. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

AI has a climate problem — but so does all of tech Aug 01, 2024

Show notes

Every time we talk about AI, we get one big piece of feedback that I really want to dive into: how the lightning-fast explosion of AI tools affects the climate. AI takes a lot of energy, and there’s a huge unanswered question as to whether using all that juice for AI is actually worth it, both practically and morally.

It’s messy and complicated and there are a bunch of apparent contradictions along the way — so it’s perfect for Decoder. Verge senior science reporter Justine Calma joins me to see if we can untangle this knot.

Links:

This startup wants to capture carbon and help data centers cool down | The Verge
Google’s carbon footprint balloons in its Gemini AI era | The Verge
Taking a closer look at AI’s supposed energy apocalypse | Ars Technica
AI is exhausting the power grid. Tech firms are seeking a miracle | WaPo
AI Is already wreaking havoc on global power systems | Bloomberg
What do Google’s AI answers cost the environment? | Scientific American
AI is an energy hog | MIT Tech Review
Microsoft’s AI obsession is jeopardizing its climate ambitions | The Verge
The answer to AI’s energy needs could be blowing in the wind | The Verge
AI already uses as much energy as a small country | Vox

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Callie Wright and Amanda Rose Smith. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber wants your next mouse to last forever Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m talking with Hanneke Faber, the CEO of Logitech. Hanneke’s still pretty fresh to the role: She joined the company last October, after former CEO Bracken Darrell left following the pandemic boom and subsequent economic slowdown that halted Logitech’s growth. Hanneke, who comes from Unilever and Procter & Gamble, is new to the world of consumer electronics.

So we talked about the structural changes she’s already making at Logitech, and the changes she intends to make in the future. It sounds like some Logitech products, like its smart home doorbells and cameras, are not long for this world. You’ll also hear Hanneke talk about a concept called the “forever mouse” — a mouse you buy once and upgrade over time with new software features — features that of course might carry a subscription fee. Subscription mice! It’s a lot.

Links:

How Logitech bet big on work from home | Decoder
Logitech CEO Bracken Darrell is leaving for another job | The Verge
Webcams have become impossible to find, and prices are skyrocketing | The Verge
Logitech appoints Hanneke Faber as new CEO | Reuters
Logitech’s new low-profile keyboard fits Cherry MX keycaps | The Verge
Logitech’s Meta Quest stylus helps artists work in 3D | The Verge
Logitech targets faster growth via education, health and AI | Reuters
Logitech wants you to press its new AI button | The Verge
Logitech’s best gaming mouse just got better | The Verge
Logitech’s articulating arm webcam launches on Indiegogo | The Verge

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23970888

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Supreme Court ruling that could kill net neutrality Jul 25, 2024

Show notes

The Supreme Court has just taken on the entire idea of the US administrative state — and the Court is winning. Earlier this month, a conservative majority overturned a longstanding legal principle called Chevron deference. The implications are enormous for every possible kind of regulation — and net neutrality looks poised to be the first victim. Verge editor Sarah Jeong joins me to explain why.

Links:

Transcript:

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe says too many carmakers are copying Tesla Jul 22, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m talking with Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. RJ was on the show last September when we chatted at the Code Conference, but the past 10 months have seen a whirlwind of change throughout the car industry and at Rivian in particular. This year alone, the company unveiled five new models in its lineup and also just announced a $5 billion joint venture with Volkswagen. We got into all that and more.

If you’re a Decoder listener, you’ve heard me talk to a lot of car CEOs on the show, but it’s rare to talk to a car company founder, and RJ was game to talk about basically anything — even extremely minor feature requests I pulled from the forums. It’s a fun one.

Links:

Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe isn't scared of the Cybertruck | Decoder
VW will invest up to $5 billion in Rivian as part of new EV joint venture | The Verge
Rivian blazed a trail with its adventure EVs — can it stay on top? | The Verge
Rivian R2 revealed: a $45,000 electric off-roader for the masses | The Verge
Rivian surprises with R3 and R3X electric SUVs | The Verge
Rivian puts its Georgia factory plans on pause | The Verge
Rivian’s R1 vehicles are getting a gut overhaul | The Verge
Rivian R1S review: king of the mountain | The Verge
Rivian’s long, narrow road to profit | WSJ
Tesla’s Share of U.S. Electric Car Market Falls Below 50% | NYT

Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23965790

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happened to the metaverse? Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

This week I’m talking to Matthew Ball, who was last on the show in 2022 to talk about his book “The Metaverse: How it Will Revolutionize Everything.” It’s 2024 and it’s safe to say that has not happened yet. But Matt’s still on the case — in fact he just released an almost complete update of the book, now with the much more sober title, “Building the Spatial Internet.”

Matt and I talked a lot about where the previous metaverse hype cycle landed us, and what there is to learn from these boom and bust waves. We talked about the Apple Vision Pro quite a bit; if you read or watched my review when it came out, you’ll know I think the Vision Pro is almost an end point for one set of technologies. I wanted to know if Matt felt the same and what needs to happen to make all of this more mainstream and accessible.

Links:

Fully revised and updated edition to the “The Metaverse” | W.W. Norton
Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not | The Verge
Apple’s Vision Pro: five months later | Vergecast
Is the metaverse going to suck? A conversation with Matthew Ball | Decoder
Interviewing Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth on the Metaverse, VR/AR, AI | Matthew Ball
Interviewing Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and author Neal Stephenson | Matthew Ball
An Interview with Matthew Ball about Vision Pro and the state of gaming | Stratechery
Tim Sweeney explains how the metaverse might actually work | The Verge
Fortnite is winning the metaverse | The Verge
Is the Metaverse Just Marketing? | NYT

Credits:

Decoder is a production of The Verge, and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Callie Wright. Our supervising producer is Liam James.

The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected