Business, Spoken
2,340 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★ - 16 ratingsGet in-depth coverage of current and future trends in technology, and how they are shaping business, entertainment, communications, science, politics, and society.
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Episodes
Silicon Valley Rethinks the (Home) Office
May 18, 2020 06:10 - 12 minutesSome tech companies are adjusting to the pandemic with new WFH perks and even letting employees ditch their commutes forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Facebook's AI for Hate Speech Improves. How Much Is Unclear
May 15, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesThe company says algorithms flagged almost 90 percent of the hate speech it removed in the first quarter. But it doesn't report how much slipped through. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You Can Now Attend VR Meetings—No Headset Required
May 14, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesVirtual-reality workspace startup Spatial is offering a free version for users. All you need is a web browser. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Watson's Creator Wants to Teach AI a New Trick: Common Sense
May 13, 2020 06:10 - 12 minutesDavid Ferrucci built a computer that mastered Jeopardy. Since then, he's been attacking a more challenging task. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Year the Internet Thought I Was MacKenzie Bezos
May 12, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesAfter the billionaire announced she would give away her fortune, Google’s algorithm decided the best way to reach her was by contacting me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
He Helped Build Facebook Messenger. Now He’s Building an Army of Voters
May 11, 2020 06:10 - 13 minutesMobilize was the leading events platform for Democrats before the pandemic. Now its organizing is entirely virtual—and it’s getting creative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Is There a Constitutional Right to Make Robocalls?
May 08, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesMeeting via conference call for the first time ever this week, the Supreme Court considers a case about our phones. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Covid-19 Pandemic Shows the Virtues of Net Neutrality
May 07, 2020 06:16 - 9 minutesNetwork speeds are holding up despite the crush of internet traffic. Freed from rules, broadband providers have cut investment in their systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In a Tough Month, This Instagram-Friendly Cereal Startup Eats Cake
May 06, 2020 06:10 - 11 minutesWith the country on lockdown, even digital brands are hurting. But some companies say business is better than ever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A New Chatbot Tries a Little Artificial Empathy
May 05, 2020 06:10 - 6 minutesA bot created by Facebook aims to make conversation with people more natural, though it also could enable better fakes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Cubicle Is Back. Blame (or Thank) the Coronavirus
May 04, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesAs businesses reopen, social distancing rules will lead to new partitions between workspaces, reminiscent of the fabric-clad dividers of the 1980s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The US Supreme Court Rules That Laws Can’t Be Paywalled
May 01, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesThe ruling over Georgia's official law code sets an important precedent that will help secure the right to publish other legally significant public documents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Pandemic Creates New Challenges for Crisis Counselors
April 30, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesTherapists and hotline workers who work with abuse victims now must take calls from home, increasing their risk for isolation and emotional burnout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Georgia's Governor Lets Businesses Reopen. Some Say No Thanks
April 29, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesConcerned about the health of employees and customers, owners of businesses permitted to reopen Friday are staying closed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Delivery Companies Hand Out Safety Gear—with Mixed Results
April 28, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesSome gig workers say their supplies were low-quality or arrived damaged, as shortages continue for items like masks and sanitizer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why Farmers Are Dumping Milk, Even as People Go Hungry
April 27, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesAbout half of the nation's food is typically consumed in group settings like restaurants and schools. Quickly rerouting the supply chain isn't easy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When Government Fails, Makers Come to the Rescue
April 24, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesNeed masks and face shields? You got it. A network of tinkerers comes in handy when lives are on the line and the authorities are asleep at the wheel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The US and China Want a Divorce, but Neither Can Afford One
April 23, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesFor all the talk of moving production and supply chains out of China, governments and companies lack the trillions that would be needed as they battle the pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Instacart Workers Are Still Waiting for Those Safety Supplies
April 22, 2020 06:10 - 11 minutesInstacart promised it would provide masks and sanitizer kits weeks ago. Now the company claims the delay is by design. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Influencer Economy Hurtles Toward Its First Recession
April 21, 2020 06:10 - 10 minutesFaced with a pandemic on the one hand and slashed budgets on the other, some industry insiders say it’s time for influencing to evolve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Venture-Backed Startups Debate the Ethics of Taking US Loans
April 20, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesSome investors are urging their portfolio companies to leave government assistance for restaurants and hairdressers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How the Pandemic Has Reshaped One City's Restaurants
April 17, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesIn the struggle to stay afloat, independent eateries in Portland, Oregon, are adapting their workflows, their menus, and their business plans to serve customers under lockdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
French Regulator Says Google Must Pay to Link to News Sites
April 16, 2020 06:10 - 5 minutesDespite the EU's new copyright directive, Google has so far refused to pay fees in order to send sites traffic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
When School Is Online, the Digital Divide Grows Greater
April 15, 2020 06:10 - 10 minutesMost US schools are closed, with instruction shifting to the internet. That's a problem for millions of people without reliable broadband, including 20 percent of rural students. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This Pandemic Is a 'Fork in the Road' for Gig Worker Benefits
April 14, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesAs Covid-19 keeps people indoors, delivery and other contract workers are more visible than ever—making this a pivotal time for them to secure basic rights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
T-Mobile Swallows Sprint, Leaving 3 US Cellphone Giants
April 13, 2020 09:54 - 6 minutesConsumer advocates fear that the deal will lead to reduced competition and higher prices. But regulators and a federal judge let it proceed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bernie Sanders Is Out—but He Transformed Campaigning For Good
April 10, 2020 06:10 - 12 minutesOver the course of two presidential campaigns, Sanders showed how effective a digital-first movement could be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The JavaScript Framework That Puts Web Pages on a Diet
April 09, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesSvelte, created by a graphics editor for the New York Times, has attracted a following among programmers who want their pages to load faster. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Delivery Apps Offer Restaurants a Lifeline—at a Cost
April 08, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesSocial distancing rules have reduced many eateries to delivery and take out. But apps like Uber Eats exact a 25 percent toll on their shrinking revenue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Wearable for Opioid Patients Gets Retooled for Covid-19
April 07, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesIt alerts staff when a patient’s condition changes, allowing people to be sent home and monitored remotely. Two hospital systems will begin testing it this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Decades of Offshoring Led to a Mask Shortage in a Pandemic
April 06, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesUS companies have shifted production overseas, especially to China. We got cheaper products. But now we can't make vital health care supplies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Energy-Saving AI Is Coming for Your Office Thermostat
April 03, 2020 06:10 - 6 minutesUC Berkeley's Costas Spanos thinks you should track your workers and hand over the lights and temperature controls to artificial intelligence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Facebook Could Help Journalism by Making News Easier to Find
April 02, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesThe social media giant gave $100 million to help local news during the pandemic, but still makes you hunt for trusted sources. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Warren Campaign Is Gone—but Its Tech May Live On
April 01, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesThe team developed its own software to coordinate volunteers and synthesize voter data. Now, it’s posting the code to GitHub. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amazon's New 'Essential Items' Policy Is Devastating Sellers
March 31, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesDue to Covid-19, Amazon is only accepting certain supplies at its warehouses. Small businesses are already feeling the pinch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The Threat of Covid-19 Disrupts the Disrupters
March 30, 2020 06:10 - 10 minutesAccelerators like Y-Combinator have had online programs, but the pandemic might force even its elite core program to go entirely remote for the first time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
While Many Restaurants Struggle, Here's How One Is Thriving
March 27, 2020 06:10 - 10 minutesThe food service industry is facing pandemic-related layoffs and closings, but tech-savvy chef Eric Rivera is using online platforms to keep his business in the black. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
We're Not Going to Run Out of Food—so Don't Panic Shop
March 26, 2020 06:10 - 6 minutesFood producers, distributors, and warehouse operators say supplies are plentiful, so long as stores can be restocked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
A Beach Town Wrestles With Cutting Its Economic Lifeline
March 25, 2020 06:10 - 7 minutesHealth officials want to close beaches crowded with spring breakers to slow the spread of coronavirus. Local businesses fear the financial impact. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Coronavirus Disrupts Social Media’s First Line of Defense
March 24, 2020 06:10 - 11 minutesFacebook, Twitter, and YouTube all announced this week that thousands of content moderators are being sent home—leaving more of our feeds in the hands of machines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Go Ahead, Stream All You Want. The Internet Is Fine—for Now
March 23, 2020 06:14 - 6 minutesNetflix is slowing streams in Europe in an effort to preserve bandwidth amid the pandemic. But US providers seem to be holding up to the surge in usage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Coronavirus Exposes Workers to the Risks of the Gig Economy
March 20, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesDrivers for Uber and Lyft in Seattle say demand for rides has plummeted, and they have few workplace benefits to fall back on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Bill Gates Has Left the Board Room
March 19, 2020 06:22 - 6 minutesMicrosoft's founder has been slowly inching away from his company. Now Gates has stepped down from the board seat he held for 44 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Google Will Make a Coronavirus Site—but Not Like Trump Said
March 18, 2020 06:15 - 7 minutesGoogle and the White House are working together now, but they're still not describing the same website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Buy One of These Fonts—Then Decide If It's Your Type
March 17, 2020 06:10 - 8 minutesDigestive is a peculiar font. Its ornate, wiggly letters make it look a bit like calligraphy by aliens from outer space. But Digestive isn't just unusual in how it looks. It's also unusual in how it was sold. Thanks to Future Fonts, a platform for selling fonts that are still works-in-progress, Digestive was already gracing magazine covers, concert posters, and even perfume boxes, before designer Jérémy Landes considered it finished. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/...
Python Is More Popular Than Ever
March 16, 2020 10:10 - 4 minutes - 2.09 MBNarrators read our favorite written stories. You can listen to them anywhere, including on your smart speaker. Play for audio versions of WIRED's Business stories, including the latest on blockchain, crypto, startups, telecoms, national affairs, and tech culture.
Big Data Promises Better Deals. But for Whom?
March 13, 2020 06:10 - 9 minutesThe announcement earlier this week that Intuit, the financial software giant, would be buying the personal finance company Credit Karma for $7 billion was striking. The tech industry is under more antitrust scrutiny than ever; just a few weeks ago, the Federal Trade Commission announced a broad inquiry into the past decade of acquisitions by the five biggest tech giants, with a focus on mergers that kill off budding rivals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NYC’s Crackdown on Illegal Airbnb Empires Has a New Target
March 11, 2020 06:10 - 10 minutesOn Thursday, 18 stories above the streets of Manhattan, the rooftop bar of one of the more than a dozen Marriott hotels in Midtown played host to an unusual crowd. Some were Airbnb hosts, others repped the burgeoning homesharing startup scene, most were wannabe rental empire titans—all were members of New York City’s booming short-term rental industry interested in learning how to turn their Airbnb side hustle into a hospitality superbrand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoic...
Amazon Pulled Over 1 Million Items Capitalizing on Coronavirus
March 10, 2020 06:10 - 5 minutesAmazon is cracking down on third-party merchants who violate its policies while selling items related to the new coronavirus disease known as Covid-19. Following reports by WIRED and others of price gouging and misleading claims, the retail giant confirmed it had removed or blocked over one million products that falsely advertised to defend against or cure the illness, as well as tens of thousands of items—such as face masks—that were listed for inflated prices. Learn more about your ad choic...
Being Happy at Work Is Simply Not Enough
March 09, 2020 06:10 - 29 minutesThis story is part of a collection of pieces on how we work today, from video conferencing to using productivity apps for off-label purposes to appeasing our robot overlords. When J. Lo and Shakira put on their “provocative” performance during the Super Bowl halftime show in January, was it an act of female empowerment or a demeaning objectification? Just kidding. People will never agree on that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices