This week, Alex has a hard stop, AB is lost in Tokyo, and Brian and Troy go deep on sovereignty — who has it, who’s lost it, and whether it’s even possible to get it back for publishers and everyone else downstream of Big Tech.They debate whether Substack-style independence represents true sovereignty or just a different kind of dependency; ad tech’s extractive economics, and why “agentic ad buying” won’t fundamentally change a usurious system; and how OpenAI’s march toward becoming the next Google signals another era of centralization.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:24 Welcome* 06:35 How do publishers reclaim sovereignty?* 22:29 AdTech* 40:00 OpenAI In Browser Wars* 57:57 Good Product* 01:04:02 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com
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1:04:59
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1:04:59
Going Post-Truth
This week, we talk about how the information space rewards vibes over verification, the second-order effects of video swallowing social media, and how institutions lost the narrative war to influencers, memelords, and politicians who understand that truth is optional so long as the narrative is upheld.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:28 Welcome* 01:49 Old Internet Is Truly Dead* 06:44 Authentic Media Relationships* 10:11 The “Social” In Media* 20:16 AI In Commerce* 23:03 OpenAI Is A Better Google* 32:28 Who wants fake?* 35:33 Anemoia* 38:19 What is our next reality?* 49:51 Rapping “Fat” Troy* 50:21 AB On Rich People & Media Companies* 56:17 Hasan Piker Shock Collar* 01:00:12 Good Product* 01:01:40 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com
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1:02:34
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1:02:34
It’s Cool to Be Human
This week, we talk about Anthropic’s humanist branding, the fading idea of cool in a fractured culture, and why Gen Z’s nostalgia for the analog world might be the real rebellion. Plus: Anonymous Banker joins to break down why the math behind Paramount buying The Free Press for $150 million includes “free severance” as it will push out many CBS News workers.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:29 Welcome* 00:58 Listener Feedback* 07:32 Milan Aesthetics* 11:46 Taste vs Slop* 21:51 Gen Z Nostalgia* 27:28 Claude’s “Brand Residency”* 29:23 Can AI be cool?* 36:45 The Free Press Deal* 48:21 Good Product* 52:25 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com
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53:17
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53:17
Alex Was Right
Sora 2’s selfie-movies, Meta’s Vibes, and OpenAI’s Pulse point to shorter, agentic, video-first habits—and a shrinking role for text. Even The New York Times is saying newsletters are too wordy and need more video.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:21 Welcome* 03:09 Aux Bons Crus* 07:42 Gen Z & Find My* 09:18 Sora 2 & Vibes* 20:43 Pulse* 23:57 AI In Commerce* 30:46 NYT World Newsletter* 37:18 People Inc. Acquired FeedFeed* 39:40 New Creator Tools On YouTube* 46:07 CloudFlare Metadata Signals* 50:57 Good Product* 56:33 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com
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57:25
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57:25
A Good Racket
Plus: the evolving role of communications officers in the information wars, OpenAI’s new Pulse, Kimmel’s comeback, and the New York Times’ super app ambitions.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young’s People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey’s The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer’s Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:42 Gaming in Japan* 08:02 CCO Role In The Information Space* 13:48 Kimmel Comeback* 21:51 Good Racket* 41:00 New York Times’ Super App* 45:59 ChatGPT Pulse* 55:16 Good Product* 01:01:08 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com
Uncovering patterns of change in media, culture, and technology, each week media veterans Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer and Troy Young break down stuff that matters.
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