Clay Shirky

Clay Shirky, an author and social media theorist, dives into the looming possibility of a TikTok ban in the U.S. He discusses national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership and the complex dynamics of U.S.-China tech relations. Shirky also examines the implications for creators and the broader cultural landscape, questioning the effectiveness of targeting TikTok in addressing surveillance issues. The conversation touches on the potential Supreme Court challenges and the balancing act between freedom of speech and data privacy.

Clay Shirky, vice provost for AI and technology in education at NYU and writer on tech’s social impacts, talks about AI-generated student papers and why writing trains deep learning. He explores productive struggle, how professors can redesign assessments, and when AI is a helpful study aid versus a shortcut that erodes hard-won skills.

Clay Shirky, American technology writer, discusses The Shirky Principle, where organizations maintain problems for which they offer solutions. The podcast explores examples in products, suggests ways to avoid the principle, and emphasizes its visibility in others. Topics include cognitive surplus, data vs. information, knowledge vs. wisdom, and challenges in business innovation.