People vs Algorithms

Troy Young, Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer

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. Get our newsletters: https://www.peoplevsalgorithms.com/ https://www.therebooting.com/ www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

  1. Age of Extremes

    1D AGO

    Age of Extremes

    This week: Trump’s war on the media expands and intensifies; AI doomers vs AI maximalists; and Anonymous Banker on what’s behind the Puck-Air Mail deal. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:31 Welcome * 01:10 Trump's War On Media & Free Speech * 24:25 AI Doomerism * 36:00 Puck-Air Mail Deal With AB * 46:05 TBPN * 52:56 Good Product * 01:00:33 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

    1h 1m
  2. The Media Singularity

    SEP 12

    The Media Singularity

    We talk about how fandom now powers news, why comedians have turned into pundits, and how combat dynamics are incentivized by the feed. We also explore the blurring of media and politics, from Charlie Kirk’s rise as both activist and media brand to Sam Altman’s combative interview with Tucker Carlson. Along the way, we debate whether niche formats like link dumps and newsletters offer an antidote, and what happens to publishing economics as Google admits the open web is in decline. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:46 Welcome * 02:43 Charlie Kirk Killing * 12:54 The Great Media Singularity * 30:25 Google Says Open Web Is Dying * 40:00 Publishers Getting Paid * 48:21 Apple Announcement * 55:48 Rupert Got What He Wanted * 58:15 Good Product * 01:00:03 Good Conversation * 01:02:43 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

    1h 3m
  3. Everything is Fine (Really)

    SEP 5

    Everything is Fine (Really)

    Troy surveys the media landscape and finds a rich buffet of options and many admittedly smaller models that are working just fine, notwithstanding the gloom that shrouds large swathes of institutional media. Perhaps a sign of the times: renewed interest in niche print titles, particularly ones that cater to the affluent and can play a convening role. Alex laments Google's great escape from a structural antitrust remedy. Anonymous Banker weighs in on the logic behind Paramount buying The Free Press and why other Substack deals are coming. Plus: The case for $100 chicken nuggets topped with caviar box at the US Open, padel's rise and AI creativity's ick factor. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:32 Welcome * 02:19 Everything is Fine * 22:45 Vogue * 28:21 Google * 40:12 J.Crew AI Models * 42:57 US Open With AB * 55:34 Paddle vs Pickle * 01:00:07 Where's the money going AB? * 01:05:55 Good Product * 01:11:12 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

    1h 12m
  4. The Trough of Disillusionment

    AUG 29

    The Trough of Disillusionment

    Plus: the demise of cultural criticism, publishers embracing apps again, and an activist investor taking on The New York Times. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:33 Welcome * 01:02 AI & Coffee * 19:39 Re-brands * 28:13 Decline Of Cultural Criticism * 36:39 Apps Are Back * 50:54 NYT Activist Investor * 55:54 Good Product * 01:04:29 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

    1h 5m
  5. Getting Mad At Toasters

    AUG 22

    Getting Mad At Toasters

    We start with Charlie Warzel’s essay in The Atlantic, “AI Is a Mass-Delusion Event”, a sober reframing of where we are with AI right now. Pablos insists LLMs are “average engines,” not wisdom machines—good at language, terrible at judgment. Stop anthropomorphizing. These are tools that make daily processes cheaper, faster, or more efficient. Drop illusions of creativity or sentience. From there, we shift to the next disruption wave: hard tech. Pablos sketches self‑sailing wind cargo ships, space‑based solar that beams power down, and small borehole nuclear reactors. He argues hyperscalers’ compute demands will inadvertently fast‑track clean energy. We finish on media. Why Michael Wolff’s perfectly framed summertime Amagansett Instagram missives find beautiful tension reframing sharp political commentary as a kind of lifestyle content. Good media always finds new intersectionality. Enjoy these last wonderful weeks of summer. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:36 Welcome * 03:48 AI, what is it good for? * 21:16 Is AI conscious or not? * 25:14 What's next in tech innovation? * 35:24 Is it worth the investment? * 39:52 Exciting or Scary Tech * 42:44 The Force of Media * 55:47 Good Product 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

    1h 8m
  6. AI Is Not Your Friend

    AUG 15

    AI Is Not Your Friend

    Plus: the case for media cooperatives and aperitivo, and why running agencies inside publishers is tough. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:31 Welcome * 01:41 Summer Stories * 02:30 Food 52 * 13:17 Newsette * 15:46 GenZ vs AOL * 18:07 GPT 5 * 20:16 Chatbots vs Loneliness * 32:30 Travel Log: Italy * 35:41 Media Co-ops * 42:28 Good Product * 46:26 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

    47 min
  7. Performative Intelligence

    AUG 8

    Performative Intelligence

    We explore how new tools like Snipd and AI chat bots promise frictionless access to knowledge, but may be trading comprehension for convenience. Along the way: the slow death of the open web, the rise of moral disgust with AI-generated culture, and the parallel media worlds being built by tech and alternative voices. At the center of it all is a question: are we getting smarter, or just better at pretending we are? * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:35 Intro * 05:12 Welcome * 08:30 Quick Hits: Google Traffic * 15:43 Processing Information * 37:27 Moral Disgust With AI * 46:44 Parallel Media Worlds * 54:42 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

    56 min
  8. Winners Take All

    AUG 1

    Winners Take All

    These aren’t companies operating in a different industry than media; they’re different universes. They’re hoarding compute, restarting nuclear reactors, and offering $1 billion pay packages to AI superstars—while laying off hired help. Meanwhile, The New York Times gets over $20 million a year from Amazon in an AI licensing deal that almost no other publisher can touch. The superintelligence economy is starting to look like the ultimate winners-take-all system. We also debate whether the American Eagle Sydney Sweeney ad campaign was designed to provoke, Astronomer’s quick turnaround to make lemonade out of its CEO and HR head’s Coldplay dalliance and why AI models are inevitable but won’t be like what we saw in the Guess campaign in Vogue. * 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 Twitter Chapters: * 00:00 Open * 00:50 Welcome * 04:36 Vox Media * 15:08 NY Times Deal * 20:01 Meta Returns * 28:04 Superintelligence * 47:02 Advertising & New Path To Attention * 01:05:12 Good Product * 01:15:27 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

    1h 16m
See All (153)

4.6
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

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. Get our newsletters: https://www.peoplevsalgorithms.com/ https://www.therebooting.com/ www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

Information

  • Creator
    Troy Young, Brian Morrissey, Alex Schleifer
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Troy Young
  • Show Website
    People vs Algorithms

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