Mo News Interview: News, AI and The Future Of Truth with the Atlantic's Nick Thompson
Nov 3, 2025
Nick Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former editor of Wired, dives into the urgent issues of misinformation and AI's impact on journalism. He discusses the decline of trust in media and the ethical challenges posed by deepfakes and AI-driven content. Nick shares insights on The Atlantic's proactive deal with OpenAI and the need for fair compensation for creators. He also connects his ultramarathon running to leadership in media, emphasizing discipline and resilience, while reflecting on the balancing act of reporting responsibly amidst sensitive information.
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Open Source Is Shifting Power
- Frontier models currently favor U.S. proprietary systems, while Chinese open-source models are rapidly gaining global downloads.
- Open-source offerings may become dominant lanes despite big-company advantages.
Support Responsible Open Source
- Encourage American open-source AI development to keep models aligned with democratic values and foster competition.
- Avoid over-regulation that picks winners and props up incumbents by raising compliance costs.
Double-Edged AI Future
- Nick fears concentrated power, widened inequality, and humans becoming less capable relative to AI.
- He also sees AI's potential to solve major scientific and civic problems if directed well.
