People vs Algorithms

This week on People vs. Algorithms, we unpacked London’s charm, the shifting dynamics of media and search, and why Google’s dominance feels both indispensable and fragile. Troy and I contrasted American and British publishing cultures—bigger isn’t always better, as UK publishers adapt to constraints with scrappy innovation. Search’s transformation, fueled by AI and shifts in Google’s strategy, dominated our discussion. While it offers consumers better tools, publishers are left scrambling, questioning their survival amid frictionless AI-driven content.

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The election in many ways confirmed what many had suspected: the information space has superceded and subsumed the traditional media world. Traditional media is now just one node, and perhaps more alarmingly its influence – and ability to persuade – has drastically declined.

We talk in this episode about the implications of this shift, particularly with the spotlight now on what’s being called the manosphere, a chaotic loose confederation of podcasters and YouTubers who have seemingly broken through to be a key node of persuasion for young men. Plus: Is CNN fixable?

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“Deliver something nobody else is delivering,” advises Milk Street’s Christopher Kimball. The media veteran, who created Cooks Country and America’s Test Kitchen, joins the show to discuss why media needs to go back to basics to build lasting brands or be left behind as digital flotsam in an algorithmic feed.

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This week, we discuss how to turn the ship at two very different companies facing different challenges: CNN and Google. At CNN, former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson is looking to reinvent the still very profitable broadcaster into a more nimble, digitally focused operation as its viewership and cultural importance fade. Google is facing its biggest threat yet in the form of AI and signs with Gemini AI image search that there might just be something to those complaints about a “woke culture.” Plus: nostalgia for websites, invisible paywalls and Substack’s next chapter.

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Topics:

• 00:00 Opening Banter and Homework Check
• 00:05 Diving Into Mark Thompson's Memo and Corporate Speak
• 01:20 Introducing People vs. Algorithms
• 01:49 The Challenges at CNN and Google
• 02:29 CNN's Transformation and Strategy Discussion
• 07:13 Exploring the Impact of AI and Invisible Paywalls
• 11:38 The Future of Publishing and Websites
• 17:08 Debating the Role of Websites in Media Today
• 27:52 Substack's Strategy and the Future of Content Creation
• 33:32 Reimagining CNN's Strategy in the AI Era
• 45:27 Exploring Perplexity's Innovations and Potential
• 46:57 The Future of News: AI and Media Evolution
• 47:14 Navigating the Challenges of Legacy Media in the Digital Age
• 49:01 The Blurred Lines of Modern Media Brands
• 57:17 The Dilemma of Independence in the Media Landscape
• 58:57 Google's Leadership and Innovation Challenges
• 01:00:14 The Cultural and Structural Issues at Google
• 01:14:53 Redefining Product Management in Tech
• 01:17:04 The Essence of Good Content: Vice and Beyond
• 01:22:18 Closing Thoughts and Future Engagements

Today Brian and Troy discuss media, products, and how they come together. Lots of talk of fast food, fast fashion, and fast takes on todays media landscape.

Links:

The People vs Algorithm Newsletter

The Rebooting Newsletter

The Rebooting Podcasts

Universal Entities