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.
201
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
202
Streaming Is Cable Now
The ad-free binge wasn’t the future, turns out, and now it’s gone.
27 min
203
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
204
Why Is Everybody Sick?
No, you're not imagining it.
19 min
205
Are You Ready for the A.I. Election?
Don’t trust your ears; just count the fingers.
22 min
206
Have Algorithms Ruined Our Culture?
"Filterworld" makes the case that algorithms, not people, decide what we like.
32 min
207
The Great British Library Hack
How a cultural institution became the target of a ransomware attack.
24 min
208
Is Your Car Tracking You?
She was fleeing her abusive partner—but their car was telling him exactly where she was.
19 min
209
Boeing’s Max Mess
A door flew off at 16,000 Feet. But Boeing's problems are bigger than just that.
31 min
210
Tesla's Cybertruck Problem
Is it safe for anyone?
21 min
211
Why the New York Times Sued OpenAI
Media are determined not to make the same mistake this time.
25 min
212
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
213
America’s Killer Car Problem | 2023 In Review
U.S. infrastructure doesn't prioritize the lives of pedestrians. Why?
33 min
214
Stephen King Is Just as Confused About Blue Che...
A meltdown over its subscription service reveals Twitter’s wheels coming off.
31 min
215
Can Hybrid Cars Save Us?
Are hybrids a bridge to fully electric vehicles, or a dead end?
24 min
216
The Case Against CLEAR
What place does a private company have in a mandatory government service?
22 min
217
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
218
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
219
Spotify Unwrapped
2023 wraps up…with layoffs.
24 min
220
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
221
A Moral War for A.I.
What Sam Altman's return to OpenAI means for the industry's future.
31 min
222
The Race (Back) to the Moon
The world is competing to make the longest ice run ever.
21 min
223
Where Scams Are Born
A corridor of shady casinos in remote parts of Asia are fueling a global “scamdemic.”
26 min
224
Inside OpenAI's Implosion
Sam Altman is out—or is he?—oh yeah, he is. Wait or..?
28 min
225
Bedbugs Are Back, Baby!
How do you feel about Thanksgiving travel now?
22 min