People vs Algorithms

This is shaping up to be a TikTok election where relatability is at a premium. The successful rollout of the Harris-Walz ticket is moving authenticity from loudly telling the truths others dare not to something softer and more familiar. Plus: the recalibration of remote work, AI backlash and the difficulty of deciding level of spending on content as the weight of many publisher models shifts to indirect monetization paths.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
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• 04:18 Political Campaign Strategies
• 13:00 Generational Shifts and Voting Patterns
• 19:20 The Future of Media and Technology
• 31:07 Prediction Markets and Media
• 35:46 Media Products and Betting Data
• 38:16 The Future of Remote Work
• 40:33 AI and Its Ethical Implications
• 42:42 Peter Thiel on Joe Rogan's Podcast
• 45:19 The Role of VCs in Politics
• 49:20 Good Product

This week, we discuss conversations vs interviews, why social networking has been replaced by algorithmic content, YouTube’s pivotal role in the emerging media space, and why the Olympics were a great media product.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 00:59 Introduction
• 04:22 Diving into the Elon Musk and Donald Trump Conversation
• 11:59 Bias in Media and Algorithms
• 19:33 Mr. Beast Controversy
• 23:35 YouTube's Role in Content Regulation
• 25:38 The Evolution of Social Networks
• 31:06 The Future of Media and Streaming
• 38:17 Good Product

A federal judge has ruled Google a monopoly for locking up distribution with Apple. We discuss the percent and likely impact. Also, memes as the media format of the moment, as they become how big events like the Olympics and presidential election become participatory. Meanwhile, YouTube is becoming modern TV.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 01:13 Google Declared a Monopoly
• 02:08 Historical Parallels with Microsoft
• 05:00 Apple's Role and Strategic Decisions
• 06:47 Google's Financial Strategies
• 10:55 The Evolution of Paid Search
• 19:39 The Role of Memes in Modern Media
• 30:09 Authenticity and Political Tactics
• 33:15 Twitter's Advertising Struggles
• 41:11 Media Landscape and Axios Layoffs
• 48:16 AI in Media and SearchGPT Review
• 56:10 YouTube's Dominance and Content Trends

OpenAI is readying a new search engine, Meta is pushing further into search with Llama, Perplexity is cutting deals with publishers. This week, we look to what the future of search looks like. Plus: why Nike ended up in Wall Street’s doghouse, why Tucker Carlson is a podcast star, and why Pulp Fiction still works.

• Nike: An Epic Saga of Value Destruction
• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 01:07 Discussing the Future of Search
• 04:05 Challenges and Opportunities in Search
• 09:03 Vertical Search and AI Overviews
• 11:16 Google's Exclusive Deals and Market Shifts
• 19:04 The Future of News and Subscription Models
• 24:05 The Rise of Media Personalities
• 28:18 Media Brands vs. Individual Personalities
• 30:04 Challenges for Legacy Media Brands
• 38:04 Nike's Digital Marketing Dilemma
• 44:48 Good Product

This week, we’re joined by Joe Marchese, operating and build partner at Human Ventures and veteran media exec. We discuss why the obsession with performance marketing has created incentives for many intermediaries to focus on giving the appearance of being responsible for a sale rather than actually contributing to the sale, and how that’s led to short-term approaches that skips the basics of building lasting brands. Plus: What the meting of Kamala Harris says about the direction of news and political campaigns, why Netflix points to a shrinking TV ad market and the perils of operating content and commerce businesses as part of one company.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 00:00 Introduction
• 06:09 Netflix vs. Apple TV: The Future of Streaming
• 16:51 The Meme Election
• 24:42 The Role of AI in Media and Advertising
• 35:59 The Evolution of Content Creation Tools
• 38:07 The Cookiepocalypse and Ad Tech Cynicism
• 40:31 Performance Media and Brand Building
• 44:37 Content and Commerce: The Houdinki Case Study
• 51:32 The Future of Digital Media and Monetization
• 58:56 Media Investments and Optimism
• 01:01:00 Good Product

The assassination attempt on Donald Trump was a stress test for the Information Space, and a reminder of just how much the media has changed. You had mainstream news outlets jockeying with individuals holding forth with a collection of expertise, conspiracies, jokes, memes and partisan potshots. Some of it was informative, some of it was hilarious, some of it was infuriating, and much of it was… entertaining? We unpack yet another crazy plot twist and look forward to what it means as the media business girds for what looks very likely to be a return to power of Donald Trump and an ascendent political movement that’s to a large degree successfully vanquished the packaged news media.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:50 Personal Media Consumption Experiences
• 04:13 The Evolution of Media and Information
• 08:08 Trump's Influence on Media and Politics
• 15:13 The Future of Media in a Polarized World
• 26:23 Trump's Media Mastery and Political Impact
• 38:34 Tech's Political Landscape
• 42:44 Big Tech vs. Small Tech
• 44:26 The Role of Media in Politics
• 49:55 The Rise of YouTube as a Podcast Platform
• 53:58 The Evolution of Digital Advertising
• 01:03:51 Good Product

The tidal wave of crap is a reality in the Information Space. This week, we discuss the rules of winning in the Information Space, including why it helps to get into fights, present as authoritative and authentic, and above all else to be willing to be shameless.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 00:00 Introduction
• 03:00 Threads and Social Media Dynamics
• 06:16 The Rise of Authenticity
• 11:17 Traditional Media's Role
• 16:19 AI and Productivity
• 32:41 The Role of Hyperbole and Conspiracy Theories
• 34:20 The New Rules of the Information Space
• 42:53 The Importance of Podcasts in Modern Media
• 52:56 Good Product

In this July 4th episode, Alex, Brian and Troy chat about whether life will ever get back to 'normal,' Threads vs. X, gamer saints and AI dogs.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

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• 00:00 Holiday Podcast Kickoff
• 00:59 Media Industry: Past, Present, and Future
• 02:55 The Canonized Gamer Boy
• 04:20 The Rise of Viral Fame
• 05:54 Threads vs. X: The Social Media Debate
• 07:41 The Future of Social Media
• 09:08 AI and Surveillance in Everyday Life
• 19:56 The Changing Landscape of War
• 22:16 FigmaCon and the Future of Design
• 24:42 Music Industry's Battle with AI
• 27:12 The Future of Publishing and Media
• 34:15 The Role of Legacy Media
• 38:05 Embracing Change in Media
• 40:31 Summertime Recommendations

Troy and Brian discuss the realist mood in Cannes, the key to good brand events, why hotels need a good playlist and Perplexity serving as an AI boogeyman.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Skip to topic:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 04:17 Media Memberships and Loyalty
• 06:48 Hospitality and Technology
• 12:22 Events and Differentiation
• 14:55 Cannes Observations and Reflections
• 18:01 Media Industry Dynamics
• 27:15 Exploring with AI in Paris and London
• 32:30 The Rise of Perplexity and Content Theft
• 36:33 Publishers vs. AI Crawlers
• 41:27 The Future of Media and Distribution
• 46:24 Good Product

Apple has entered the AI fray with a compelling view of using it to remove friction that gets in the way of people want to get things done. The issue arises for those who create that friction by serving as intermediaries.

• Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter
• Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter
• Alex Schleifer's Universal Entities
• Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on Twitter

Skip to topic:

• 00:39 Introduction to People vs. Algorithms
• 04:23 Apple's WWDC Highlights
• 10:29 Privacy and Trust in Tech
• 27:30 Microsoft's Rewind Feature Controversy
• 33:33 The Enduring Relevance of the Phone
• 38:45 Advertising Trends and Challenges
• 48:11 The War on the Inbox
• 53:57 Sleep and Technology