TechTank

Brookings Institution

TechTank is a biweekly podcast from The Brookings Institution exploring the most consequential technology issues of our time. From artificial intelligence and racial bias in algorithms, to Big Tech, the future of work, and the digital divide, TechTank takes abstract ideas and makes them accessible. Moderators Dr. Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West speak with leading technology experts and policymakers to share new data, ideas, and policy solutions to address the challenges of our new digital world.

Sign up to receive the TechTank newsletter for more research and analysis from the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings.

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#49 in the Top 100 tech All time chart

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Top 10 TechTank Episodes

Best episodes ranked by Goodpods Users most listened

Taylor Lorenz on Gen Z, Influencer Culture, and the Future of Social Media

TechTank

12/13/21 • 32 min

How have teens, the most tech-savvy population of all, been navigating the internet, rife with the spread of misinformation, algorithmic discrimination and more? On TechTank, Samantha Lai will be joined by Taylor Lorenz, technology reporter for the New York Times and affiliate at the Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, to discuss how young people use the internet and why it matters.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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In the U.S.A.’s tech-driven economy, is enough being done to protect consumer choice and privacy?

TechTank

11/15/21 • 42 min

There is much public debate about whether big tech giants, airlines, and even cable providers are monopolists that maximize shareholder profit at the expense of consumers and workers. Is enough being done to protect consumer privacy and choice? On this episode, guest host Bill Baer is joined by Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, to discuss the FTC’s efforts to promote competition, protect consumer privacy, and challenge unfair and deceptive business practices.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which U.S. Cities Are Poised for AI Growth?

TechTank

09/08/21 • 28 min

As the AI economy grows, there is tremendous variation across local and regional economies in how

well-positioned cities are. Some metropolitan areas have tremendous assets and lots of AI-related

activity while others see little activity. Those variations raise interesting questions about which places

are doing well, why, and what other communities can do to boost technology innovation in their local

economies. To learn more, Darrell West is joined by Mark Muro and Sifan Liu, co-authors of a new paper

entitled “AI Cities: The Geography of the AI Economy.”

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What life in space teaches astronauts about solving challenges on planet Earth

TechTank

10/18/21 • 28 min

On this episode of TechTank, veteran NASA astronaut Nicole Stott joins host Darrell West to discuss space tourism, the future of space exploration, and her new book, “Back to Earth: What Life in Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission to Protect It.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online behavioral advertising can be discriminatory, so what’s the plan to fix this?

TechTank

10/04/21 • 41 min

On social media, advertisers can use online tools to target people of color in housing, banking, and employment, resulting in limits to the opportunities available to them, and even violations of their civil rights. In this episode, host Nicol Turner Lee is joined by Jinyan Zang, Harvard Kennedy School fellow, and Dominique Harrison of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies to discuss new research on Facebook’s ad model and proposals to remedy such biases.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why schools still need a remote option to mitigate COVID-19

TechTank

09/20/21 • 46 min

As the new school year begins, COVID cases are on the rise again – this time hitting K-12 students, especially those who are unvaccinated and under 12, placing them at risk of hospitalizations and dangerous complications. School closures may once again be imminent if the virus is not better controlled. But students without reliable access to the internet will be left behind once again, and unable to access remote classes and the resources necessary for them to continue their education. Have we closed the digital divide for students since the first wave of the pandemic? And what do schools need to do to ensure that technology is complementing traditional education?

Brookings TechTank co-host Nicol Turner Lee is joined by Jon Valant, Amina Fazlullah, and Alejandro Roark to discuss these important questions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What lies ahead for the US-China tech race?

TechTank

11/01/21 • 32 min

The US’s relationship with China has grown complicated over the years, with increasing tensions on issues ranging from trade and commerce to technology innovation and national security. On this episode of TechTank, host Darrell West is joined by Tom Wheeler and David Simpson to talk about the state of the US-China tech race, and what to expect going forward.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will Biden’s broadband infrastructure plan address rural poverty while closing the digital divide?

TechTank

08/23/21 • 45 min

The bipartisan infrastructure plan championed by President Biden and passed by the U.S. Senate aims to close America’s racial and rural broadband gaps. What local challenges lie ahead in the deployment of these resources? And what else can policymakers, industry, and civil society do to support these unconnected communities? Host Nicol Turner Lee dives into these issues and more with the Children’s Defense Fund’s Oleta Fitzgerald; Joe Kapp from the National Center for Resources Development, and Barry Toser of Declaration Networks Group.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why State Unemployment Insurance Programs Failed Workers During The COVID-19 Pandemic

TechTank

08/09/21 • 34 min

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government enacted a relief package designed to help Americans cope with the pandemic and resulting economic downturn. However, inadequate unemployment insurance programs left many people in need without help. To understand the challenges, Darrell West and Annelies Goger discuss the poor performance of unemployment insurance programs due to IT infrastructure, government procurement and inadequate data collection.

You can listen to the episode and subscribe to the TechTank podcast on Apple, Spotify, or Acast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Build Back Better with Telehealth

TechTank

11/29/21 • 38 min

The COVID-19 pandemic has facilitated the unprecedented growth of telehealth. What should

lawmakers keep in mind to create an equitable and inclusive healthcare system for all? On this episode

of TechTank, Brookings researcher and guest host Samantha Lai is joined by Nicol Turner Lee and Niam

Yaraghi to discuss these important questions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FAQ

How many episodes does TechTank have?

TechTank currently has 70 episodes available.

What topics does TechTank cover?

The podcast is about News, Tech, Future, Policy, Podcasts, Technology, Politics and Race.

What is the most popular episode on TechTank?

The episode title 'Taylor Lorenz on Gen Z, Influencer Culture, and the Future of Social Media' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on TechTank?

The average episode length on TechTank is 40 minutes.

How often are episodes of TechTank released?

Episodes of TechTank are typically released every 14 days.

When was the first episode of TechTank?

The first episode of TechTank was released on Aug 4, 2020.

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