Hard Fork • The New York Times

Dive into the latest episode of "Hard Fork" where hosts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton dissect Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, examine the European Union's Digital Markets Act, and evaluate Apple's Vision Pro mixed reality glasses alongside tech columnist Joanna Stern's insights. The discussion begins with Musk's allegations against OpenAI, as he challenges the company's shift towards a profit-driven model and its partnership with Microsoft, questioning the integrity of OpenAI's commitment to open-source AI and the status of their alleged artificial general intelligence (AGI) development.

The episode then shifts to tackle the EU's new regulations aimed at big tech giants. Roose and Newton explore the implications of the Digital Markets Act on companies like Apple and Google, particularly focusing on the mandatory changes to Apple's iOS ecosystem and the industry's mixed reactions to the legislation. They wrap up with an in-depth look at the Apple Vision Pro glasses, weighing Stern's practical experience against the product's innovative features and current limitations, and speculate on its future development. "Hard Fork" offers listeners a balanced analysis of the intersection of technology, policy, and product innovation.

Dive into the complex world of online content moderation in the latest episode of Hard Fork, where speakers Kevin Roose, Casey Newton, Kara Swisher, and Daphne Keller dissect the nuanced arguments surrounding the power of social media giants and their control over public discourse. Explore the battleground where the rights of platforms to moderate content is pitted against accusations of unjust censorship, and consider the possible ramifications of Supreme Court decisions on the enforcement of contentious laws from Florida and Texas.

Amidst this legal tussle, veteran tech journalist Kara Swisher shares insights from her memoir "Burn Book," reflecting on her journey from optimism to skepticism about the internet's future under Silicon Valley's reign. The interconnectedness of the First Amendment and Section 230 forms a key point of discussion, as the episode provides a window into how evolving communication systems could reshape legal precedents, challenging traditional interpretations or adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape.

Dive into the ongoing conversation about AI dreams turning into reality with "Hard Fork," where speakers including Kevin Roose, Casey Newton, and Demis Hassabis discern the present and peek into the future of artificial intelligence. In this episode, the CEO of DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, shares insights on the progress toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and sets an intriguing timeline for its emergence, aligning with the company's original foresight. He speaks to the necessity of significant innovations to push beyond the boundaries of current AI systems and suggests that we are potentially a decade away from witnessing AGI.

Amidst the discussion on AI's accelerated evolution, Hassabis delves into the ramifications of its widespread adoption, balancing the immense potential benefits in sectors like drug design and medicine against the possible societal risks. He champions international cooperation in AI's expansive field to address public debates and geopolitical tensions, underscoring his commitment to a worldwide collaborative effort. In a nuanced dialogue about the future that AI holds for humanity, Hassabis urges the adoption of ethical guidelines and robust safety protocols to guarantee that the development of AI is both responsible and inclusive, ensuring its benefits are universally shared.

Step into the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence with "Hard Fork," as Kevin Roose and Casey Newton delve into the intricacies of AI chatbots, the semiconductor arms race powering AI's future, the brewing legal battles over copyrighted content, and the looming threat AI answer engines pose to online publishing. Roose begins by noting the transformation of AI chatbots from intriguing conversationalists to reliable, if plainer, digital assistants. Chatbots' charm might be waning, but their utility is surging, catalyzing a debate over the delicate balance between personality and purpose in automated interactions.

Meanwhile, Roose illuminates the fierce competition for advanced semiconductor chips, reporting an industry-wide sprint among tech giants to secure the bedrock of AI development. As geopolitical maneuvers reshape where and how these chips are produced, Roose discusses the pivotal strategies on the table, including the ownership of chip manufacturing to ensure AI autonomy. Explore these unfolding narratives on "Hard Fork," where Roose and Newton, alongside guest Aravind Srinivas, dissect the intersecting challenges and possibilities at the heart of AI's transformative journey through our world and the web.

In the latest episode of "Hard Fork," Kevin Roose, Casey Newton, and Erin Griffith delve into the complexities of Silicon Valley's shifting landscape. As Adobe's high-profile bid to acquire Figma falters under regulatory pressures, they discuss the broader implications for future tech mergers. The regulatory pushback sets a precedent for enhanced scrutiny on deals that may stifle competition, calling into question the viability of buyouts as a growth strategy for major tech firms. The episode dissects the impact on Figma’s employees and the tech startup exit strategy, underscoring the need for big tech to possibly shift focus towards internal innovation.

The conversation continues as "Hard Fork" unpacks Google's strategic decision to rebrand its AI offerings under "Gemini," emphasizing the company's commitment to embedding AI into its services. The demise of "Bard" and the introduction of "Gemini Ultra AI" signal Google's deeper push into AI integration across its products. Moreover, the show addresses the repercussions of Universal Music Group's withdrawal of its licensing from TikTok, sparking a discussion on the balance of power between record labels and social media platforms dependent on music content. As TikTok faces the music, "Hard Fork" explores the potential cultural shift towards non-copyrighted music, providing a fresh take on the evolving music landscape within digital social spaces.