Decoder with Nilay Patel

Afleveringen

1. Bill Gates says to prepare for 20 years of ‘tumultuous’ AI disruption

   22 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 17 min

   Afspelen
   My guest today is Bill Gates, co-founder and former CEO of Microsoft and chairman of the Gates Foundation. You may have noticed Bill in the news more lately — he’s been on something of a tour for the past few months talking about AI risk, and how crucial it is that we start taking this seriously. Lees meer

   So I was excited to sit down with him and really dig into this subject. I came with many questions, about AI policy, the technical aspects of alignment, and what it means for future generations that we’re building something this disruptive and potentially dangerous.

   Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.

   Links:

   The turbulent AI era is here. The choices we make now are critical. | Bill Gates

   "OG" Bill Gates returns to wage war on AI risks | Axios

   Bill Gates’s blunt warning on AI | The Ezra Klein Show

   Ben Horowitz criticizes Bill Gates, Anthropic over AI safety | All-In Pod

   Does Anthropic think Claude is alive? Define ‘alive’ | The Verge

   Microsoft AI CEO says Anthropic is making AI risks worse | Decoder

   Bill Gates has a good feeling about AI | The Verge (2024)

   The risks of AI are real but manageable | Bill Gates (2023)

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2. JB Pritzker thinks AI could help us live to 100 — or threaten us like nukes

   19 oktober 2026 · 59 min

   Afspelen
   Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, has a lot of thoughts about AI, tech, and privacy. Those issues are driving a big and maybe kind of unexpected political realignment — and with the midterms coming up next month, and early voting already underway in a lot of places, the stakes are pretty high right now. And as he notes, some problems are just collective action problems that require a government. We can’t solve everything one at a time, or even one state at a time. Lees meer

   And of course, I had to ask him: Are the Bears gonna stay in Illinois?

   Links:

   How ordinary Utahns fought the biggest data center in the world | The Verge

   New York Gov. Kathy Hochul thinks AI should be ‘less evil’ | Decoder

   YouTube CEO: ‘We’re focused on internal safety efforts’ | CNN

   Pritzker signs landmark AI regulation bill | Capitol News Illinois

   Pritzker establishes AI Cabinet amid calls for regulation | NPR Ilinois

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by [TK EDITOR]. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.

   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

3. Why Elon Musk wants to sell you cell service

   17 oktober 2026 · 54 min

   Afspelen
   My guest today is Walter Piecyk, a telecom analyst at LightShed Partners, and we’re discussing SpaceX’s plan to become a major wireless carrier. Last week, the company agreed to buy a big chunk of low-band spectrum in its bid to build “the world’s most advanced mobile network.” Lees meer

   So I wanted to dig into whether SpaceX can pull this off, why Walt thinks the existing telecoms have fumbled their response to Starlink’s growing threat, and what happens when Elon Musk’s rocket company jumps headfirst into a business everyone loves to hate.

   Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.

   Links:

   SpaceX announces plan to become a ‘major mobile carrier’ | The Verge

   SpaceX has a plan. Do the telcos? | LightShed Partners

   EchoStar offloads satellite spectrum to SpaceX for $17 billion | The Verge

   FCC Grants SpaceX Approval for 15,000 Direct-to-Device Satellites | Via Satellite

   AT&T CEO says Elon Musk's SpaceX phone strategy not "viable" | Axios

   SpaceX Sends Telecom Providers a Shot Across the Bow | WSJ

   Verizon: No to an MVNO with Starlink | Fierce Network

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Eileen Felix. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

4. Benn Jordan thinks the surveillance problem is much bigger than Flock

   15 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 2 min

   Afspelen
   Today, I’m talking with Benn Jordan, musician, YouTuber, researcher, and investigative journalist. In the last couple of years, Benn has become a high-profile face in the creator and media spaces for his work investigating Flock Safety, the maker of automatic license plate readers and the software that powers them. Lees meer

   Benn recently testified in front of Congress at a hearing dedicated to Flock and other ALPR systems. So of course I wanted to dig into all of that with Benn, not just because of his role as a Flock critic, but because he’s also become in some ways the face of a new front in the broader debate about surveillance and privacy.

   Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.

   Links:

   Benn Jordan testifies in front of Senate | Benn Jordan (YouTube)

   Flock values their privacy. Oh well | Benn Jordan (YouTube)

   We Hacked Flock Safety Cameras in under 30 Seconds | Benn Jordan (YouTube)

   Lawmakers introduce multiple laws to curb Flock | 404 Media

   The fight over Flock and other ALPRs | The Verge

   Sanders, AOC, Merkley propose bill to ban Flock cameras | Politico

   Cities terminate Flock contracts at record pace in August | Ars Technica

   Flock to cut several hundred jobs amid backlash | Reuters

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

5. Rewind: Ronan Farrow on Sam Altman’s ‘unconstrained’ relationship with the truth

   12 oktober 2026 · 1 uur

   Afspelen
   Hey everybody, it’s Nilay. We’re off today for the holiday, and we’ll be back this Thursday with new episodes. In the meantime, we wanted to revisit a conversation from earlier this year I had with investigative journalist and New Yorker contributor Ronan Farrow, all about the in-depth feature on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman he co-authored with Andrew Marantz. Lees meer

   The conversation holds up remarkably well, and I think it tells us a lot about the current moment, as calls for meaningful federal AI oversight have ground to a halt yet again. Enjoy.

   Links:

   Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted? | The New Yorker

   Ronan Farrow on Sam Altman’s ‘unconstrained’ relationship with the truth | Decoder

   Does AI need an antitrust exemption so it doesn’t kill everyone? | Decoder

   Inside the suddenly explosive world of AI safety | The Verge

   Here’s what AI leaders are saying about Trump’s new safety plan | The Verge

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder is produced by Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. The show is edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

6. Another billionaire thinks he can fix Warner Bros.

   10 oktober 2026 · 46 min

   Afspelen
   Acquiring Warner Bros. never goes well for anyone. AOL failed, AT&T failed, and Discovery failed — although it did succeed in flipping the assets to David Ellison’s Skydance. Lees meer

   So I’m talking to Peter Kafka, Business Insider chief correspondent and host of Channels, to see if Skydance has a chance at succeeding where nobody else has yet. Spoiler alert: Peter doesn’t think Skydance has a clear business plan, either. But he’s got some really good guesses about what might come next.

   Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.

   Links:

   CNN boss remains as Paramount, WBD merge into Skydance | The Verge

   Skydance CEOs: Layoffs will be coming | Variety

   Ynon Kriez, the new Skydance co-CEO | Business Insider

   Skydance sets leadership across games, experiences | Variety

   Paramount settles lawsuit blocking $110B WBD merger | The Verge

   Larry Ellison’s big dumb gift to his large adult son | The Verge

   Weiss’ ratings wipeout | Status

   Decoder is a Signal Awards finalist in the Business category! You can vote to help us win her.

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

7. OpenAI has a Muse problem

   8 oktober 2026 · 45 min

   Afspelen
   My guest today is Hayden Field, The Verge’s senior AI reporter, and we're discussing the new wave of consumer friendly AI agents. AI enthusiasts have been using agents for a minute now, but the launch of Meta’s Muse, OpenAI’s Dots, and XAI’s Grok Bot has brought easy to use agents to millions. Lees meer

   Muse, notably, is free, while Dots is not, and you’ll hear Hayden and me get into why Meta, which still doesn't have a frontier model of its own, might have a meaningful edge here because it's much better at making and distributing consumer products. And wrapped up in this heated agent race are a lot of really big ideas — about AI capability, privacy, and trust.

   Read the full interview transcript on The Verge.

   Links:

   OpenAI’s new agent is a shot at Meta — but can it compete with free? | The Verge

   The AI Tamagotchis are coming | The Verge

   Muse escapes containment | 404 Media

   Meta’s Muse AI sent a YouTuber’s address to a stranger | The Verge

   It’s sinister that Meta’s Muse AI mascot is so cute | The Verge

   Muse sure looks a lot like OpenClaw | The Verge

   Decoder is a Signal Awards finalist in the Business category! You can vote to help us win here.

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

8. Adam Schiff on AI regulation, free speech, and impeaching Trump one more time

   5 oktober 2026 · 58 min

   Afspelen
   California Sen. Adam Schiff sits on a bunch of the committees that do tech and AI oversight, so I really wanted to ask him about how we might regulate anything related to the tech industry at this moment in time. Lees meer

   He started our conversation by talking about the self-dealing and corruption present all through our politics now — right against the backdrop of President Trump gathering AI CEOs to the White House to pinky-swear they'll try to keep AI safe.

   Read the ⁠full interview transcript on The Verge.⁠

   Links:

   How tech will self-police AI safety under Trump deal | The Verge

   Supreme Court ruling kneecaps federal regulators | The Verge

   Does AI need an antitrust exemption so it doesn’t kill everyone? | Decoder

   Flock, Axon dodge Senate hearing | CNBC

   Trump admin illegally blacklisted Anthropic, court rules | The Verge

   Decoder is a Signal Awards finalist in the Business category! You can vote to help us win here.

   Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Eileen Felix. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9. The AI warnings are getting louder

   3 oktober 2026 · 36 min

   Afspelen
   Hey everybody, it’s Nilay. We’ve got a little bonus drop for you today — I was recently interviewed about AI safety by Shumita Basu for Apple News In Conversation, and I enjoyed the conversation so much I asked if we could share it with you all. Lees meer

   We’ve actually got a few bonus drops coming up this month; we’ve been having a lot of great conversations lately, and we want to get them out to you on the news cycle. And of course, nothing is moving as fast as the AI safety news cycle. So enjoy this one, and we’ll see you next time.

   Links:

   Apple News In Conversation | Apple Podcasts

   Inside the suddenly explosive world of AI safety | The Verge

   Here’s what AI leaders are saying about Trump’s new safety plan | The Verge

   One company is at the center of a wave of rogue AI attacks | The Verge

   Microsoft AI CEO says AI threats are real, and Anthropic is making it worse | Decoder

   Does AI need an antitrust exemption so it doesn’t kill everyone? | Decoder

   Subscribe to The Verge⁠ to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

   Credits:

   Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

   Decoder is produced by Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. The show is edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

   The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10. How Utah locals fought Kevin O'Leary's AI data center

    1 oktober 2026 · 45 min

    Afspelen
    Today I’m talking with Josh Dzieza, a longtime features writer here at The Verge, about a massive data center in Utah that does not exist, might never exist, and yet has already completely reshaped the politics of the entire state. Lees meer

    Josh just published a major feature this week on the struggling Stratos data center project in Utah backed by Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary. So I invited Josh on the show to discuss what’s happening inside the AI industry’s infrastructure boom, inside the bipartisan backlash to data centers, and how the tech industry is running into the one obstacle it can’t seem to spend its way out of: local democracy.

    Read the ⁠full interview transcript on The Verge⁠.

    Links:

    The People of Utah vs. Kevin O'Leary | The Verge

    Adams — burdened by data center fallout — ousted by voters | Salt Lake Tribune

    ‘Shark Tank’ star sued by opponents he claimed were foreign agents| NYT

    Fox News apologizes for airing O’Leary claims about data centers | The Hill

    Kevin O’Leary agrees to downsize massive Utah data center | The Verge

    The biggest data center ever is becoming a huge problem in Utah | The Verge

    America's data center future is Loudoun County's past | The Verge

    The left and right agree on one thing: no data centers | Decoder

    Decoder is a Signal Awards finalist in the Business category! You can vote to help us win ⁠here⁠.

    Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder!

    Credits:

    Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.

    Decoder’s producers are Greg Ott, Kate Cox, and Nick Statt. This episode was edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane.

    The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alle 984 afleveringen →