9 chapters across the catalog
A report by Ted Koppel features technology critic Nicholas Carr discussing how the internet and social media are diminishing human attention spans. The hosts compare the quick-hit nature of TikTok to "digital crack," contrasting it with the "cocaine high" of traditional television. They note that the average time spent on a single digital segment is now only 10 to 20 seconds.
Kim Iverson reports on the viral trending of the term "mass formation psychosis" following an interview between Joe Rogan and Dr. Robert Malone. Search results on Google were allegedly manipulated, with the search engine displaying disclaimers about "reliable sources" while other sites labeled the term a far-right buzzword. The segment highlights the difficulty of finding objective information on mainstream search engines compared to alternatives like DuckDuckGo.
The hosts analyze how the KGB used Dr. Jacob Segal to provide a "scientific" face to the AIDS disinformation campaign. They discuss the "reverse engineering" of news amplification, where stories move from small outlets to the mainstream. The segment touches on the difficulty of "sanitizing" modern platforms like YouTube and Google.
An exploration of how human bias is programmed into artificial intelligence, leading to "algorithmic bias." Examples cited include Nikon cameras failing to recognize Asian faces and Google Photos misidentifying Black people. Mo points out the irony of tech companies funding anti-racism museums while their own products exhibit technical flaws that are often labeled as systemic racism.
Associate executive producers are recognized, with some recommending media like Snowfall and Kill the Messenger. Technical advice is provided to a listener regarding podcast apps, recommending Overcast for Apple users and cautioning against the unreliability of Spotify and Google Podcasts. Listeners are also encouraged to engage with the show's YouTube channel to boost the algorithm.
A news segment highlights the confusion among some members of the public who believe the coronavirus is linked to Corona beer. Google searches for "beer virus" spiked, leading the beer's parent company to halt production temporarily. The hosts use this as a data point to illustrate how easily the public can be misinformed through simple word association.
Reports from Detroit and China discuss the disinfection and destruction of paper currency to stop the virus. The hosts argue that Silicon Valley and the Chinese government are using the crisis to push for a cashless society, which facilitates better social credit monitoring and financial control.
Kanye West publicly declared his support for Donald Trump during a 2016 concert in Sacramento, California. During a 17-minute rant, West also accused Google and Facebook of lying to the public before abruptly ending the show. This event led to West's hospitalization for what was officially described as exhaustion and mental health issues.
Maya Shankar, who headed Obama's Social and Behavioral Science Team, now works for Google, further integrating nudging tactics into big tech. Social media platforms use "trending" topics as a nudge mechanism to validate specific narratives, such as the "Charlottesville Lie" or claims that Tulsi Gabbard is a Russian asset. The hosts describe encountering automated bots on Twitter designed to reinforce these political memes and suppress dissenting views.
