Jonah Peretti

It used to be that a human would have to write a BuzzFeed quiz about “Which Fictional Artificial Intelligence Are You?” But now, BuzzFeed writers are using real artificial intelligence tools — from Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT — to help craft the site’s famous quizzes. Investors love the idea. Not all of BuzzFeed's employees are quite sure about it, though. Recode’s Peter Kafka talks to BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti about the new technology, which one of this show’s producers used to go on a virtual Valentine’s Day date with Henry Cavill where they attended “a secret rave at his dad’s law firm.”Featuring: Jonah Peretti (@peretti), CEO of BuzzFeedHost: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at RecodeMore to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonah Peretti, Co-founder and CEO of BuzzFeed, shares his insights into navigating the turbulent digital media landscape. He discusses the surprising shutdown of BuzzFeed News and the necessity to pivot toward new opportunities in the creator economy. Peretti emphasizes the importance of optimism in entrepreneurship and the role of generative AI in shaping future content. He reflects on media challenges, the emotional impact of change on staff, and the potential for collaboration between independent creators and traditional outlets.

Jonah Peretti, CEO and founder of BuzzFeed, shares insights on his vision for a new social media platform aiming to foster positivity online. He discusses the concept of SNARF—emotion-driven viral content—and its impact on user experience. The conversation dives into the sensationalism in media, tracing its historical roots and questioning AI's role in content quality. Peretti reveals plans for 'Island', a community-centric platform designed to counter negativity. He also reflects on BuzzFeed's evolution into a creator-driven platform amidst strategic shifts.

In this engaging conversation, Jonah Peretti, CEO of BuzzFeed and herald of the 'Anti-Snarf' manifesto, dives deep into the evolution of social media. He shares insights on the shift from genuine connection to algorithm-driven manipulation, highlighting the addictive nature of platforms today. Jonah discusses BuzzFeed's ambitious pivot toward becoming a social network focused on positivity and user-generated content, while reflecting on the challenges of sustaining meaningful engagement in the current digital landscape.

It’s our first four-way pod, featuring BuzzFeed founder Jonah Peretti, Gawker founder Nick Denton, and Semafor founder (and former editor-in-chief of the recently shuttered BuzzFeed News) Ben Smith, who wrote a book about them both. Peter Kafka talks to all of them in conjunction with Smith’s new book “Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral.” What lessons did Smith learn from Peretti and Denton’s mistakes? If Disney offers to buy you out for hundreds of millions of dollars, should you take it? And is TikTok our last, best hope?Featuring: Jonah Peretti (@peretti), Founder of BuzzFeedNick Denton (@nicknotned), Founder of GawkerBen Smith, (@semaforben), Editor-In-Chief of SemaforHost: Peter Kafka (@pkafka), Senior Editor at RecodeMore to explore: Subscribe for free to Recode Media, Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape.About Recode by Vox: Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices