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.
176
Why TikTok Went Silent
As TikTok and UMG argue over whether TikTok is a music platform or not, artists are left in the dark.
19 min
177
Google’s Scam Obituary Problem
What happens when your loved one’s death becomes funeral clickbait?
25 min
178
The Supreme Court Takes on Content Moderation
Does the First Amendment prevent social media companies from moderating their content—or defend their right to?
25 min
179
Alabama’s IVF Mess
How legal personhood for embryos will make having children harder.
24 min
180
The Coasts are Sinking
As sea levels rise, the ground below us sinks.
16 min
181
Apple Vision Pro: The Ultimate Surveillance Dev...
When you look through these smart goggles, they look back—and can tell what you’re seeing.
25 min
182
Warfare Enters the A.I. Era
How an invasion became an innovation hub for private tech companies - and the future of war.
24 min
183
Breaking Up with Dating Apps
You can’t put a price on love—or your user base will swipe left on you.
22 min
184
The NFL’s Concussion Settlement Farce
Nearly a decade after a “landmark” settlement, former players are still struggling to get the help they’re ostensibly entitled to.
26 min
185
Streaming Is Cable Now
The ad-free binge wasn’t the future, turns out, and now it’s gone.
27 min
186
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
187
Why Is Everybody Sick?
No, you're not imagining it.
19 min
188
Are You Ready for the A.I. Election?
Don’t trust your ears; just count the fingers.
22 min
189
Have Algorithms Ruined Our Culture?
"Filterworld" makes the case that algorithms, not people, decide what we like.
32 min
190
The Great British Library Hack
How a cultural institution became the target of a ransomware attack.
24 min
191
Is Your Car Tracking You?
She was fleeing her abusive partner—but their car was telling him exactly where she was.
19 min
192
Boeing’s Max Mess
A door flew off at 16,000 Feet. But Boeing's problems are bigger than just that.
31 min
193
Tesla's Cybertruck Problem
Is it safe for anyone?
21 min
194
Why the New York Times Sued OpenAI
Media are determined not to make the same mistake this time.
25 min
195
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
196
America’s Killer Car Problem | 2023 In Review
U.S. infrastructure doesn't prioritize the lives of pedestrians. Why?
33 min
197
Stephen King Is Just as Confused About Blue Che...
A meltdown over its subscription service reveals Twitter’s wheels coming off.
31 min
198
Can Hybrid Cars Save Us?
Are hybrids a bridge to fully electric vehicles, or a dead end?
24 min
199
The Case Against CLEAR
What place does a private company have in a mandatory government service?
22 min
200
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