What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the...
Every Friday and Sunday, Slate’s popular daily news podcast What Next brings you TBD, a clear-eyed look into the future. From fake news to fake meat, algorithms to augmented reality, Lizzie O’Leary is your guide to the tech industry and the world it’s creating for us to live in.
26
Streaming Is Cable Now
The ad-free binge wasn’t the future, turns out, and now it’s gone.
27 min
27
The Taylor Swift Deepfake Saga
If you don’t have a Swiftie-sized fan base to moderate the internet for you, good luck.
23 min
28
Why Is Everybody Sick?
No, you're not imagining it.
19 min
29
Are You Ready for the A.I. Election?
Don’t trust your ears; just count the fingers.
22 min
30
Have Algorithms Ruined Our Culture?
"Filterworld" makes the case that algorithms, not people, decide what we like.
32 min
31
The Great British Library Hack
How a cultural institution became the target of a ransomware attack.
24 min
32
Is Your Car Tracking You?
She was fleeing her abusive partner—but their car was telling him exactly where she was.
19 min
33
Boeing’s Max Mess
A door flew off at 16,000 Feet. But Boeing's problems are bigger than just that.
31 min
34
Tesla's Cybertruck Problem
Is it safe for anyone?
21 min
35
Why the New York Times Sued OpenAI
Media are determined not to make the same mistake this time.
25 min
36
Who’s Afraid of A.I.? | 2023 In Review
Real harm from A.I. doesn’t have to look like Skynet—it’s already happening.
30 min
37
America’s Killer Car Problem | 2023 In Review
U.S. infrastructure doesn't prioritize the lives of pedestrians. Why?
33 min
38
Stephen King Is Just as Confused About Blue Che...
A meltdown over its subscription service reveals Twitter’s wheels coming off.
31 min
39
Can Hybrid Cars Save Us?
Are hybrids a bridge to fully electric vehicles, or a dead end?
24 min
40
The Case Against CLEAR
What place does a private company have in a mandatory government service?
22 min
41
Shein’s Newest Offering? An IPO
Shein has already faced criticism over its labor practices and environmental impact. What will it mean if the company goes public?
24 min
42
Musk's War on Free Speech
He may not like what you have to say—and he'll file frivolous lawsuits to discourage you from saying it.
28 min
43
Spotify Unwrapped
2023 wraps up…with layoffs.
24 min
44
They See You When You’re Shopping
Holiday shopping is upon us. Is it too late to expect a little privacy and control over your data online?
28 min
45
A Moral War for A.I.
What Sam Altman's return to OpenAI means for the industry's future.
31 min
46
The Race (Back) to the Moon
The world is competing to make the longest ice run ever.
21 min
47
Where Scams Are Born
A corridor of shady casinos in remote parts of Asia are fueling a global “scamdemic.”
26 min
48
Inside OpenAI's Implosion
Sam Altman is out—or is he?—oh yeah, he is. Wait or..?
28 min
49
Bedbugs Are Back, Baby!
How do you feel about Thanksgiving travel now?
22 min
50
How Deepfake Porn Infected a School
Once an image is on the internet, it’s out of your control—just ask the girls at Westfield High.
21 min