Misinformation Nation
Tech Created Our Toxic Political Landscape, and Only Tech Can Fix It
No matter who wins on Election Day, Americans will continue to dwell in incompatible media bubbles until Silicon Valley addresses its algorithm problem.
By Nick Bilton
Tech
Amazon’s New Kindle Is an Antidote to Our Shrinking Attention Spans
The colorized e-reader is a counterrevolutionary product in a marketplace littered with AI algorithms and social media apps that leave you feeling more depleted than fulfilled.
By Nick Bilton
Tech
Elon Musk’s “Dark MAGA” Conversion Could Spell Election Chaos
Once seen as a real-life Iron Man, the Tesla chief has morphed into a total Trump fanboy—and admits he’ll be “f--ked” if the former president loses. Will he use X to throw a wrench in the works if Harris wins?
By Nick Bilton
All Bets Are On
From Trump Convictions to Assassination Attempts: How Prediction Markets Have Turned American Politics Into a Casino
Start-ups like Polymarket and PredictIt want to let people put their money where their mouth is. But offering Vegas-style odds tied to real-world events could also have dangerous real-world consequences.
By Jacob Silverman
fill-in-the-blank Elon Musk
Cards Against Humanity Sues Elon Musk’s SpaceX “With Great Vengeance and Furious Anger” For Trespassing
“He figured he could just dump his shit all over our gorgeous plot of land without asking,” the company wrote. “We said, ‘Go fuck yourself, Elon Musk. We’ll see you in court.’”
By Katie Herchenroeder
excerpt
“Are You Saying No to Elon Musk?”: Scenes from the Slash-and-Burn Buyout of Twitter
In an excerpt from their new book, Character Limit, Kate Conger and Ryan Mac detail how Musk’s “goons” instilled fear and uncertainty among the rank and file, while his inner circle employed hardball tactics in a touch-and-go transaction.
By Kate Conger and Ryan Mac
AI Agita
Dizzying Deepfakes and Personalized Propaganda: Welcome to the AI Election
Digital deception is already muddying the waters of the 2024 election cycle. But if you think it’s bad now, just wait until the tech starts drawing on your biodata and browsing history, exploiting your biggest fears and deepest desires.
By Nick Bilton
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Poker Pros, Crypto Kings, and Tech Titans: Nate Silver’s Guide to “The River”
In an excerpt of his new book, On the Edge, the statistician explains why “Riverians”— with their penchant for data, free speech, and unfettered capitalism—are steeped in a political power struggle against the Democratic-aligned “Village” elites.
By Nate Silver
Inside the Hive
How the “PayPal Mafia” Paved Trump’s Way in Silicon Valley
Veteran venture capitalist Roger McNamee unpacks why heavy hitters like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen are saying goodbye to the Democratic Party—and how their libertarian fantasies are “misaligned” with the public’s interests.
By Brian Stelter
2024 Election
Why Silicon Valley Elites Have Trump Fever All Over Again
Years after breaking with the former president, billionaires like Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen are now crawling back to protect what they value most: their bottom lines.
By Nick Bilton
Boys and Their Toys
Inside California’s Freedom-Loving, Bible-Thumping Hub of Hard Tech
Many cities have aspired to be the next Silicon Valley. But here in El Segundo—home to an upstart, male-dominated defense tech enclave—the founders are defining themselves in opposition to it. “This is not ‘San Francisco lite,’” says one, “or ‘San Francisco plus a little bit of hardware.’”
By Zoë Bernard
2024 Election
Hollywood and Silicon Valley Are Out of Patience With Bidenworld: “I Genuinely Hope He Loses”
The president’s staunch refusal to step aside has roiled leaders in two historical bastions of Democratic support. “They are selfish, selfish people,” one tech founder says of Biden’s circle, “who have chosen their job over country.”
By Nick Bilton
Sports
“It Was Astonishing”: How NBC Convinced Al Michaels to Embrace His AI Voice for Olympics Coverage
The network will use an artificial clone of the legendary broadcaster’s voice to narrate its daily recaps of the summer event. “It was not only close,” he says of the technology, “it was almost 2% off perfect.”
By Tom Kludt
Big Tech
Apple’s AI Approach Is a Welcome Break From the Industry Arms Race
The tech giant took some heat this week for its “uninspired” foray into AI, but a more measured pace is just what Silicon Valley needs.
By Nick Bilton
Inside the Hive
“It’s the Wild West”: Why Silicon Valley’s AI Race Could Leave the Media in Tatters
Wired global editorial director Katie Drummond and Axios senior media reporter Sara Fischer discuss whether news publishers are saving their necks—or signing their own death wish—by playing ball with companies like OpenAI.
By Brian Stelter
Elon Musk Reportedly Asked a SpaceX Employee, on Multiple Occasions, to “Have His Babies”
And she wasn’t the last employee he offered his sperm to!
By Bess Levin
WallStreetBets, GameStop, and the “Swirl of Distrust” That’s Electrifying the Stock Market
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Nathaniel Popper traces the origins of an unprecedented financial saga—and explains how it’s given rise to a new class of retail investors that are keeping institutional investors on their toes: “They very much realize the power of this young online world.”
By Jon Skolnik
Trump Tries TikTok
Donald Trump Joined TikTok on Saturday and Already Has Millions of Followers
The GOP presumptive nominee posted a 13-second video, just days after being convicted by a NY jury on 34 felony counts.
By Katie Herchenroeder
Why Congress’s AI Plan Was Doomed From the Start
Lawmakers took a year of study to avoid repeating the same mistakes they made with social media. But their report suggests they've once again fallen behind the industry they say they want to regulate.
By Eric Lutz
Money Talks
How Venture Capitalists Are Using Podcasts to Lure in Founders
Instead of performing the usual courtship rituals, newcomers and veterans alike are tapping into their audio fame to land the next unicorn. “The product becomes the people,” says one venture insider. “It’s a very different way of looking at the world.”
By Andrew Zucker
inside the hive
Why Black Twitter Isn’t Fleeing Elon Musk’s X
A new docuseries on Hulu explores the history and cultural impact of Black Twitter.
By Brian Stelter