Casey Newton

In the fifth episode of the Platformer podcast, Brookings senior fellow Molly Kinder argues that the AI jobs debate is stuck in a useless seesaw between apocalypse and denial — and that the real danger lies in the "messy middle," where AI doesn't kill most jobs but concentrates its damage on some of the most coveted careers in America. Her rule of thumb: if you can do your job locked in a closet with a computer, you're probably in trouble. Platformer's Casey Newton talks to the author of "The Messy Middle" about why white-collar workers will feel AI before blue-collar workers do, whether AI is about to reverse the 50-year boom in knowledge work, how the jobs that were safest during COVID became the riskiest in the AI era, why de-skilling could quietly turn $85,000 jobs into minimum-wage ones, why cutting everyone a UBI check would destroy the labor market, and what targeted policies — from a workforce reinvestment fund to wage insurance — might actually manage the transition. Kinder also breaks some news: after three years leading Brookings' research on AI and work, she reveals — on her last day at the think tank — that she's launching a new organization devoted to solving, not just studying, the AI jobs problem. Plus, Platformer fellow Ella Markianos joins at the top of the show to discuss this week's news about AI and jobs. Sponsored by Atlassian Rovo | Become an AI-native team with Rovo. https://www.atlassian.com/rovo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the fourth episode of the Platformer podcast, labor economist Kathryn Anne Edwards makes the case that the AI jobs panic is overblown — and that the real threat to workers isn't the technology, but a government that refuses to fix the social safety net. She also flatly rejects Sam Altman's vision of a permanently unemployed "idle class," which she calls not just wrong but classist. Platformer's Casey Newton talks to the Bloomberg Opinion columnist and co-host of the Optimist Economy podcast about why economists can't — and shouldn't bother to — pin down exactly how many jobs AI will destroy, whether the recent wave of AI-blamed layoffs is real or just "AI-washing," what's actually squeezing entry-level workers, what she tells new grads who can't find a first job, why writing everyone a UBI check isn't a panacea, and whether Washington will ever build the safety net we already know how to build. Edwards also explains why the closest thing we've seen to an "AI rapture" already happened — in the spring of 2020, when half of the leisure and hospitality industry lost their jobs in three weeks — and how the economy managed to claw its way back. Plus, Platformer fellow Ella Markianos joins at the top of the show to discuss the chipmakers handing out massive bonuses, as workers at Samsung and TSMC win a bigger share of the AI boom. Who else should we have on this show? Let us know at casey@platformer.news. Sponsored by Atlassian Rovo | Become an AI-native team with Rovo. https://www.atlassian.com/rovo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the third episode of the Platformer podcast, Claude Code creator Boris Cherny explains how he's automating his own job. He hasn't written a line of code in more than six months, and thinks the title "software engineer" could start to disappear as soon as this year. Platformer's Casey Newton talks to the inventor of the fastest-growing AI coding tool in the world about what Cherny actually means when he says coding is "solved," why he predicts companies will need both far fewer engineers and far more of them, what he tells new computer science grads about where to build a career now, and whether all this added productivity will ever let anyone work less. (Hint: so far, it just means doing more). Cherny also explains the surprise that keeps upending his own predictions: the people getting the most out of AI tools are increasingly electricians, doctors, and carpenters rather than professional engineers. Plus, Platformer fellow Ella Markianos joins at the top of the show to discuss a new Microsoft study on AI and jobs. Disclosure: Casey's fiancé works at Anthropic. Who else should we have on this show? Let us know at casey@platformer.news. Sponsored by Atlassian Rovo | Become an AI-native team with Rovo. https://www.atlassian.com/rovo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of the Platformer podcast, Google SVP James Manyika makes a bet: AI is not going to wipe out half of white-collar jobs in the next two years, no matter what the AI CEOs keep telling you. Platformer's Casey Newton talks to one of tech's most credentialed thinkers on AI and the economy about why labor markets move slower than the technology, what the "missed use" of AI means for countries the boom risks leaving behind, and what really keeps him up at night about AI and work (hint: it's not job loss). Plus: Platformer fellow Ella Markianos brings us a fresh survey of economists on what *they* think will happen with AI and jobs. Read the newsletter here: https://www.platformer.news/james-manyika-google-ai-jobs-io-2026/ Who else should we have on this show? Let us know at casey@platformer.news. Sponsored by Atlassian Rovo | Become an AI-native team with Rovo. https://www.atlassian.com/rovo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(02:19) - The Death of the Tech Conference (23:27) - Dimon Launches Deregulation Blitz (27:49) - 𝕏 Timeline Reactions (01:16:29) - Casey Newton, an American technology journalist and founder of the Platformer newsletter, discusses his investigation into a viral Reddit post alleging unethical practices by food delivery companies, which was later revealed to be a hoax. He details his initial belief in the post's plausibility, his communication with the purported whistleblower, and the red flags that emerged during their interactions. Newton reflects on the challenges posed by AI-generated content in journalism and emphasizes the need for enhanced vigilance and fact-checking in the digital age. (01:33:44) - Alex Epstein is an author and energy commentator best known for The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, where he argues that affordable, reliable energy is essential to human flourishing. He is the founder of the Center for Industrial Progress and a frequent speaker on energy policy, climate, and economics. (02:09:09) - Jamie Siminoff, founder of Ring, discusses his extensive experience at CES, highlighting his journey from personally constructing early booths to now showcasing professionally built exhibits. He reflects on his 2013 "Shark Tank" appearance, noting that despite initial rejection, Ring evolved into a leading home security company with over 100 million cameras deployed globally. Siminoff emphasizes the integration of AI in Ring's products to enhance user experience by reducing unnecessary alerts and improving the relevance of notifications. (02:31:04) - Jake Paul is an American professional boxer, influencer, and actor who began his career on Vine and YouTube before transitioning into boxing. In the conversation, Paul discusses his venture capital firm, Anti Fund, co-founded with Geoffrey Woo, emphasizing their founder-first approach and commitment to providing value beyond capital, such as expertise in distribution and marketing. He also highlights their investment in OpenAI's SORA project, where they contributed to the platform's functionality and launch strategy, leveraging their social media experience to enhance user engagement. (02:49:14) - Matt Pavelle, co-founder and CEO of Doctronic, has over 25 years of experience in building startups, including the e-commerce unicorn Moda Operandi. In the conversation, he discusses Doctronic's AI-powered healthcare platform, which has conducted over 20 million consultations for 2 million patients, offering free AI interactions and access to licensed doctors across all 50 states. He highlights the platform's ability to provide timely medical advice, noting that users engage with the system multiple times a month, and shares that in Utah, Doctronic's AI is legally authorized to renew prescriptions without doctor oversight. (03:06:29) - David Senra is the creator and host of the Founders podcast, where he distills lessons from biographies of history’s most successful entrepreneurs. He’s known for his intense focus on long-term thinking, obsession with craft, and the habits that drive exceptional founders. Lulu Cheng is a venture capitalist and writer known for sharp analysis on technology, startups, and ambition. She has worked in both investing and operating roles and is widely followed for her candid commentary on founder psychology, power, and the realities of building companies. TBPN.com is made possible by: Ramp - https://Ramp.com AppLovin - https://axon.ai Cognition - https://cognition.ai Console - https://console.com CrowdStrike - https://crowdstrike.com ElevenLabs - https://elevenlabs.io Figma - https://figma.com Fin - https://fin.ai Gemini - https://gemini.google.com Graphite - https://graphite.com Gusto - https://gusto.com/tbpn Labelbox - https://labelbox.com Lambda - https://lambda.ai</p

Trump's TikTok deal looks like classic crony capitalism as well as open theft. But China has bigger fish to fry with trade than its TikTok algorithm—which led Congress last year to ban the app in the U.S. Meanwhile, Silicon Valley thinks they're building a machine god with AI, but we really may be heading into catastrophe. Plus, the armed invasion of Chicago, Sam Altman seems disconnected from reality, and Tim Cook's pathetic bending over for backwards for Trump. Casey Newton joins Tim Miller. show notes Casey's Platformer newsletter Casey's "Hard Fork" podcast JVL's emergency 'Triad' on Chicago Tim's 'Bulwark Take' on DHS using Zach Bryan's music in a propaganda video Tucker's interview with Sam Altman Go to https://www.american-giant.com and get 20% off your first order with promo code BULWARK. Thanks to American Giant for sponsoring the show!

Myke talks to Casey Newton about his workflow for running Platformer, from idea capture to writing and publishing, and how he balances reporting with access to some of the most powerful people in tech. This episode of Cortex is sponsored by: Nexos.ai : All-in-one AI platform for enterprises. Get a 14 day free trial now. Squarespace : Save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain using code CORTEX. Fitbod : Get stronger, faster with a fitness plan that fits you. Get 25% off your membership. Factor : Healthy, fully-prepared food delivered to your door. Use code cortex50off Guest Starring: Stephen Hackett and Casey Newton Links and Show Notes: Get Moretex – More Cortex, with no ads. Submit Feedback 🎗Relay for St. Jude – Donate Today Platformer What really happened at Basecamp - by Casey Newton Capacities What I learned about productivity this year – Platformer Google Docs Ghost Why Platformer is leaving Substack – Platformer Ghost Todoist My dinner with Altman – Platformer Casey Newton (@crumbler) – Threads Hard Fork Podcast Sam Altman upstages the critics – Platformer Notion Installer Newsletter | The Verge Casey's Homescreen Bear Balatro Notion Calendar Relay for St. Jude - Donate Today Relay for St. Jude Podcastathon 2025 - YouTube Streaming live from 12pm to 12am US Eastern time on September 19, 2025

On the bad side, we have copyright infringement, exploitation, and misinformation; on the good side, we have its uses for brainstorming, editing work, and combating loneliness. On both sides, everyone is freaking out about AI — but are we freaking out about it for the right reasons? Casey Newton joins us to make the pitch that whatever you think, AI is not “crypto 2.0.” Everyone, in every generation, needs to take it seriously. Our guest Casey Newton is a tech journalist who founded and writes for the Platformer newsletter ( https://www.platformer.news/ ) and co-hosts the Hard Fork podcast ( https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork/ ). Want even more Panic World content? Like ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to the Garbage Day Discord? Sign up for a membership at: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld . Sponsors Audio Maverick , a new nine-part documentary about one of the most visionary figures in radio, Himan Brown. Out now wherever you listen to podcasts. Want to sponsor Panic World? Ad sales & marketing support by Multitude, hit them up here: ⁠ http://multitude.productions⁠. Credits - Host: Ryan Broderick - Producer: Grant Irving - Engineer: Rebecca Seidel - Researcher: Adam Bumas - Business Manager: Josh Fjelstad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casey Newton is the author of Platformer and co-host of Hard Fork. He joins Big Technology Podcast for our annual predictions episode. Tune in to hear Newton analyze 2024's major developments in AI, debate whether AI agents will take off in 2025, and explore what might happen to companies like Apple, Google, and OpenAI in the coming year. We also cover quantum computing breakthroughs, self-driving car expansion, and what a potential Trump presidency could mean for tech antitrust. Hit play for an insightful look at where technology is headed in 2025. --- Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice. For weekly updates on the show, sign up for the pod newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/6901970121829801984/ Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack? Here’s 40% off for the first year: https://tinyurl.com/bigtechnology Questions? Feedback? Write to: bigtechnologypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, I’m talking with Casey Newton, the founder and editor of the Platformer newsletter and co-host of the Hard Fork podcast. Casey is also a former editor here at The Verge and was my co-host at the Code Conference last year. Most importantly, Casey and I are also very close friends, so this episode is a little looser than usual. I wanted to talk to Casey for a few reasons. One, the media industry overall is falling apart, with huge layoffs at almost every media organization you can think of happening weekly, but small newsletters seem to be a bright spot. So I wanted to talk about how Platformer started, how Casey got it to where it is, and how much farther he thinks it can go. And then, I wanted to talk about Substack. It’s the newsletter platform Paltformer used to call its home, but content moderation problems — including its decision to allow Nazis to monetize on the platform — have pushed away a number of its customers, including Platformer. This episode goes deep, but it’s fun — Casey is just one of my favorite people, and he is not shy about saying what he thinks. Links: Can Substack CEO Chris Best build a new model for journalism? — The Verge Substack launches its Twitter-like Notes — The Verge Substack Has a Nazi Problem — The Atlantic Substack says it will remove Nazi publications from the platform --- Platformer Substack keeps the Nazis, loses Platformer — The Verge Why Platformer is leaving Substack — Platformer The Messenger to close after less than a year — The New York Times Do countries with better-funded public media also have healthier democracies? — Nieman Lab AI is killing the old web, and the new web struggles to be born — The Verge The Biden deepfake robocall Is only the beginning — WIRED Transcript: https://www.theverge.com/e/23823565 Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Today’s episode was produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and was edited by Callie Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stanford’s Evelyn Douek and Alex Stamos are joined by Casey Newton of Platformer and Hard Fork to talk about his decision to move his newsletter off of Substack. Casey explains his decision here: Why Platformer is leaving Substack And talks about it on his podcast here: Why Casey Left Substack Moderated Content is produced in partnership by Stanford Law School and the Cyber Policy Center. Special thanks to John Perrino for research and editorial assistance. Like what you heard? Don’t forget to subscribe and share the podcast with friends!

Casey Newton writes the Platformer newsletter. Kevin Roose is a technology columnist for The New York Times . Together they co-host the podcast Hard Fork . CN: “People actually like to be a little bit confused. They like listening to things where people are talking about things they don’t quite understand, which was very counterintuitive to me. I think a lot of editor-types would scoff at, but I’ve come around.” KR: “We can revisit subjects and we do. We can change our minds. Print pieces feel so permanent, they feel so definitive. Podcasts, we can just sort of say, ‘I don't know what to make of this, ask me again in a month.’” Show notes: @CaseyNewton @kevinroose cnewton.org kevinroose.com Newton on Longform Roose on Longform Longorm Podcast #337: Casey Newton Longform Podcast #81: Kevin Roose Newton and Roose’s Hard Fork archive Newton’s Platformer archive Roose’s New York Times archive 3:00 Newton’s Verge archive 7:00 “Elon’s X Machina, Crypto Orbs, and a Visit to Google’s Robot Lab” (Newton and Roose • New York Times • July 2023) 12:00 Huberman Lab (Andrew Huberman • Huberman Lab • 2023) 14:00 Rabbit Hole (Roose • New York Times • 2020) 25:00 Futureproof (Roose • Random House • 2022) 29:00 “ChatGPT Transforms a Classroom and Is ‘M3GAN’ Real?” (Newton and Roose • New York Times • Jan 2023) 29:00 “Dario Amodei, C.E.O. of Anthropic, on the Paradoxes of A.I. Safety and Netflix’s ‘Deep Fake Love Story’” (Newton and Roose • New York Times • July 2023) 31:00 “Google C.E.O. Sundar Pichai on Bard, A.I. ‘Whiplash’ and Competing with ChatGPT” (Newton and Roose • New York Times • March 2023) 31:00 “Mr. Altman Goes to Washington and Casey Goes on This American Life” (Newton and Roose • New York Times • May 2023) 44:00 “Aided by A.I. Language Models, Google’s Robots Are Getting Smart” (Roose • New York Times • July 2023) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices