What Next: TBD | Tech, power, and the...

Every Friday, 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.

Technology
Tech News
Business News
1
The Next Round of the Union Fight
Post-pandemic labor movements were losing momentum, but wins in the auto and film industries have put wind back in the sails.
17 min
2
Reddit’s IPO Gamble
Will the public upvote it?
24 min
3
When Private Equity Gets in to Health Care
What’s something expensive that people have no choice but to buy?
26 min
4
Is TikTok Cooked This Time?
Why does this issue snap a dysfunctional Congress into bipartisan agreement?
22 min
5
Instagram’s Pedophile Problem
Pedophiles are flooding the accounts of child influencers on Instagram. Who is to blame — and who can make them stop?
30 min
6
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
7
Google’s Scam Obituary Problem
What happens when your loved one’s death becomes funeral clickbait?
25 min
8
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
9
Alabama’s IVF Mess
How legal personhood for embryos will make having children harder.
24 min
10
The Coasts are Sinking
As sea levels rise, the ground below us sinks.
16 min
11
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
12
Warfare Enters the A.I. Era
How an invasion became an innovation hub for private tech companies - and the future of war.
24 min
13
Breaking Up with Dating Apps
You can’t put a price on love—or your user base will swipe left on you.
22 min
14
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
15
Streaming Is Cable Now
The ad-free binge wasn’t the future, turns out, and now it’s gone.
27 min
16
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
17
Why Is Everybody Sick?
No, you're not imagining it.
19 min
18
Are You Ready for the A.I. Election?
Don’t trust your ears; just count the fingers.
22 min
19
Have Algorithms Ruined Our Culture?
"Filterworld" makes the case that algorithms, not people, decide what we like.
32 min
20
The Great British Library Hack
How a cultural institution became the target of a ransomware attack.
24 min
21
Is Your Car Tracking You?
She was fleeing her abusive partner—but their car was telling him exactly where she was.
19 min
22
Boeing’s Max Mess
A door flew off at 16,000 Feet. But Boeing's problems are bigger than just that.
31 min
23
Tesla's Cybertruck Problem
Is it safe for anyone?
21 min
24
Why the New York Times Sued OpenAI
Media are determined not to make the same mistake this time.
25 min
25
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