Pivot

Latest Episodes:

Biden Wins the Debt Deal, and AI Extinction Jun 02, 2023

Show notes

Elizabeth Holmes goes to prison, the Sackler family escapes liability, and Twitter's valuation drops even lower. Also, Congress votes to raise the debt ceiling, but did Speaker McCarthy get floored? Leading AI scientists and entrepreneurs warn of possible extinction. Kara and Scott weigh the odds.

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How worried—or excited—should we be about AI? Recode Media with Peter Kafka May 30, 2023

Show notes

AI is amazing… or terrifying, depending on who you ask. This is a technology that elicits strong, almost existential reactions. So, as a Memorial Day special, we're running an episode of Recode Media with Peter Kafkathat digs into the giant ambitions and enormous concerns people have about the very same tech.

First up: Joshua Browder (@jbrowder1), a Stanford computer science dropout who tried to get an AI lawyer into court.

Then: Microsoft's CTO Kevin Scott (@kevin_scott) pitches a bright AI future.

Plus: hype-deflator, cognitive scientist and author Gary Marcus (@GaryMarcus) believes in AI, but he thinks the giants of Silicon Valley are scaling flawed technology now—with potentially dangerous consequences.

Subscribe for free to Recode Media to make sure you get the whole series: https://bit.ly/3IOpWuB

Pivot will return on Friday!

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The Twitter DeSaster and the Surgeon General’s Social Media Warning May 26, 2023

Show notes

Meta will sell Giphy in an antitrust loss, and the man who ran a Twitter account tracking Elon Musk’s private jet is now tracking Ron Desantis. Also, the latest in the culture wars: A Florida school has limited access to Amanda Gorman’s poetry, and Target will remove some Pride merch after a backlash. Plus, Governor Ron DeSantis announced his presidential run on Twitter Spaces… and it didn’t go quite as planned. And the Surgeon General warns that social media may be harmful to young users. Then, a listener question on HBO Max rebranding to Max.

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Disney’s Billion Dollar Punch, AppGPT, and Guest Chasten Buttigieg May 23, 2023

Show notes

The EU deals Meta a record-breaking fine, Jeffrey Epstein reportedly attempted to blackmail Bill Gates, and the debt ceiling is looming closer. Also, Disney is cancelling plans to build a complex in Florida. Kara and Scott discuss ChatGPT and Apple’s AI efforts. Friend of Pivot Chasten Buttigieg joins to discuss coming of age as a young gay man in the Midwest, and the continuing challenges to LGBTQ life in America.

You can find @Chasten on Twitter, and “I Have Something to Tell You: For Young Adults” here.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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Supreme Court Saves Social Media, Montana Bans TikTok, and Sam Altman Wants AI Regulation May 19, 2023

Show notes

EU regulators say 'game on' for the Microsoft-Activision deal, WeWork's CEO is stepping down, and the latest call for AI regulation is coming from inside the house. Kara and Scott discuss the weak plan to ban TikTok in Montana. And Elon Musk continues to Elon Musk, saying he’s willing to lose money to say what he wants to say. Also, a prediction about the writer's strike.

Listen to On with Kara Swisher's episode, "Will Elon Musk Turn Twitter Into Yahoo Mail?" here.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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A New Chief Twit, CNN Fallout, and Senator Mark Warner May 16, 2023

Show notes

Kara and Scott discuss Taylor Swift's economic impact, and why there are troubles at Disney Plus and Netflix. Meanwhile, over at Twitter: a new CEO, and a censorship controversy. Also, the Trump Town Hall stirs up internal politics at CNN. Our Friend of Pivot, Senator Mark Warner, stops by to talk TikTok, AI, and the Kids Online Safety Act.

You can find Senator Mark Warner at @MarkWarner on Twitter.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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Trump's Town Hall, Santos Charged, and STFU with Dan Lyons May 12, 2023

Show notes

Tucker Carlson says he's moving to Twitter, Google cuts a deal with the New York Times, and the Biden administration might make airlines pay their customers. Kara and Scott unpack the Trump verdict and CNN town hall, and the charges against Representative George Santos. Friend of Pivot Dan Lyons talks about his book STFU, and why we talk too much.

Find Dan Lyons on Twitter, and check out STFU here.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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Debt Ceiling, Trump Town Hall, and Guest Claire Hughes Johnson May 09, 2023

Show notes

Kara and Scott talk about the coronation, CNN's Trump town hall, and Elizabeth Holmes. Also, Twitter is bleeding blue checks, and Tucker Carlson reportedly spoke to Elon Musk about his next moves. Then, which party will come out ahead in the debt ceiling negotiations? And, Friend of Pivot Claire Hughes Johnson to talk about what managers get wrong.

You can find Claire on Twitter at @chughesjohnson, and can buy “Scaling People: Tactics for Management and Company Building” here.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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Regulating AI, Culture Wars at the School Play, and Guest Anne Applebaum on Ukraine May 05, 2023

Show notes

Kara and Scott on interest rates, new Airbnb features, and the text that got Tucker Carlson fired. AI CEOs are headed to the White House as the FTC puts the industry in its crosshairs, and Scott redefines LLM. Plus: the growing movement to censor kids' theater programs. Today's Friend of Pivot is Anne Applebaum, staff writer at The Atlantic, with the latest on Ukraine.

You can find Anne on Twitter at @anneapplebaum, and can read her cover story here.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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J.P. Morgan's First Republic Deal, Twitter v. Bluesky, and Friend of Pivot Joelle Emerson May 02, 2023

Show notes

Kara and Scott discuss the recent warnings from one of the “Godfathers of AI,” as well as the potential writers' strike. Then, J.P Morgan keeps getting bigger with its latest acquisition: First Republic. Elon Musk says Twitter will let media publishers charge for articles. Also, does anybody have a Bluesky referral code? And we’re joined by Friend of Pivot, Joelle Emerson, to break down how recent layoffs have affected corporate diversity.

You can find Joelle at @joelle_emerson on Twitter.

Send us your questions! Call 855-51-PIVOT or go to nymag.com/pivot.

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