Tech Won't Save Us

Nastasia Hadjadji, a French journalist, discusses Emmanuel Macron's 'startup nation' policies, the dismantling of France's welfare state, and the consequences of creating national tech champions. Topics include Macron aiding Uber, attracting the crypto industry, police surveillance, erosion of public services, algorithmic surveillance, and precarious labor conditions.

Victor Pickard, Professor of Media Policy and Political Economy, joins the show to discuss the crisis in news media and the need for structural alternatives. Topics include the decline of local newspapers, the negative effects of commercialization, the influence of libertarian ideas on media, and the impact of the 1996 Telecommunications Act. They also explore challenges for independent publications and the importance of reinvesting in public infrastructure for journalism and democracy.

Eric Silver discusses Spotify's attempt to dominate podcasting, the challenges faced by the podcast industry, the incorporation of video into podcasting, the impact of the ad market, the shift in podcasting content, and the financial expenses of podcast production.

Timnit Gebru, founder of the Distributed AI Research Institute, discusses AI hype, the influence of tech companies on regulation, and tech's connection to Israel's military campaign in Gaza. They cover topics such as discriminatory AI systems, labor exploitation, OpenAI drama, and the involvement of tech companies in military contracts.

Paris Marx is joined by Vincent Bevins to discuss the mass protests of the 2010s, the role that social and traditional media played in them, and why the horizontalism of those movements ultimately didn’t work.Vincent Bevins is a longtime foreign correspondent who has worked for the Washington Post, Financial Times, and LA Times. He’s the author of The Jakarta Method and If We Burn: The Mass Protest Decade and the Missing Revolution.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation and produced by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.Also mentioned in this episode: Read excerpts from If We Burn in The Guardian and In These Times. Vincent mentioned the work of Charles Tilley, Cihan Tuğal, Evgeny Morozov, and Andrey Mir. Support the show

Naomi Klein joins the podcast to discuss the problems of personal branding on social media, the left's response to the pandemic creating an opening for the right, and the fight over the roots of Western society. They explore the concept of the mirror world, the shift towards right-wing ideologies and conspiracy theories, the role of technology in radicalization, and the importance of alternative narratives.

In this episode, the guests discuss the biggest stories of 2023, the AI hype, science fiction's influence on the future, the worst villains in the tech industry, and what to expect in 2024. They also cover topics such as the impact of ketamine use in Silicon Valley, the limitations of AI and automation, Disney's use of stable diffusion in artwork, and the fantastical world of Silicon Valley. The episode concludes with a discussion on the differing reactions to problematic behavior by Kanye West and Elon Musk, and predictions for the future of space programs, social media, and the crypto market.

Paris Marx is joined by Astra Taylor to discuss how capitalism creates insecurity to sustain itself, the way tech is used to make us more insecure, and what it will take to change that.Astra Taylor is a writer, filmmaker, and political organizer. She’s the author of The Age of Insecurity and co-founder of the Debt Collective. Her next book Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea, written with Leah Hunt-Hendrix, comes out in March. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.  The podcast is produced by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.  Also mentioned in this episode: Astra wrote about the Insecurity Machine for Logic Magazine and the Dads of Tech for The Baffler. Find excerpts from The Age of Insecurity in The New York Times and The Walrus. Become a supporter on Patreon to join our giveaway. Support the show

Émile Torres joins to discuss effective accelerationism in Silicon Valley, its connection to TESCREAL ideologies, the divide in the AI industry, and long-termism's influence. They explore rationalism, cult dynamics, and utopian motivations, as well as the risks and divisions within effective accelerationism.

Investigative journalist Tim Schwab joins Paris Marx to debunk the myth of Bill Gates as a 'good billionaire' and scrutinizes the influence of the Gates Foundation. They discuss Gates' questionable actions, his impact on other tech billionaires, the colonial model of the Gates Foundation, and critique his approach to philanthropy and focus on metrics and data. They also explore the power dynamics and financial implications of the Gates Foundation, highlighting the need for regulation and growing movements challenging their approach.