Marketplace Tech

Marketplace Tech

Marketplace

Monday through Friday, Marketplace demystifies the digital economy in less than 10 minutes. We look past the hype and ask tough questions about an industry that’s constantly changing.

If AI writes code, is coding still crucial for kids to learn?

If AI writes code, is coding still crucial for kids to learn?

For years, coding has been thought of as a useful skill for children to learn. It’s integrated into computer science classes and a number of organizations are dedicated to helping kids code. But now, AI tools can write code themselves. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Monica McGill of the Institute for Advancing Computing Education about what the expanding capabilities of artificial intelligence mean for coding as a necessary — or not so necessary — skill.

Feb 26, • 8:11

How will Australia’s teen social media ban work?

How will Australia’s teen social media ban work?

Last year, Australia passed a measure that would ban children under 16 from using social media. That’ll be a big shift: About 80% of Australian kids between the ages of 8 and 12 used social media in 2024, according to a report from Australia’s online safety regulator. The government is now working on the details of how to implement what many are calling one of the strictest age restriction policies in the world. The BBC’s Naomi Rainey reports on the difficulties of enforcing the ban and the impa

Feb 25, • 8:44

Satellites provide internet access and a lot more, but the skies are getting crowded

Satellites provide internet access and a lot more, but the skies are getting crowded

Satellite internet has been around for decades. But in just the past six years, the number of satellites orbiting the planet has grown dramatically. Many belong to Starlink, a unit of SpaceX whose satellites are in low Earth orbit. And it’s expected to get even busier up there with Amazon’s Project Kuiper launching thousands of new satellites. Joe Supan of CNET recently wrote about this. He told Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes about the race to claim a piece of space and the risk of high-tech deb

Feb 24, • 11:08

Bytes: Week in Review — deep cuts at AI agency, DOGE sued again and pulling the plug on the Ai Pin

Bytes: Week in Review — deep cuts at AI agency, DOGE sued again and pulling the plug on the Ai Pin

Another lawsuit hits the Department of Government Efficiency from privacy rights advocates concerned about Americans’ personal data. And another wearable — the Ai Pin — bites the dust. But first, layoffs by the federal government are continuing, including, reportedly, at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, which is part of the Commerce Department. This is a federal laboratory that’s been around since 1901 whose mission is to promote U.S. innovation and competition. And p

Feb 21, • 11:25

Responsible ways to use AI for government efficiency

Responsible ways to use AI for government efficiency

The Washington Post reported earlier this month that representatives of DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — gained access to sensitive data at the Department of Education and fed it into AI software. This has raised red flags over whether it violates federal privacy law. We reached out to DOGE for comment, but didn’t hear back. But there are ways to use AI to improve efficiency without raising privacy concerns. Marketplace’s Stephanie Hughes spoke with Kevin Frazier, co

Feb 20, • 9:43

The cost of losing government webpages and public data

The cost of losing government webpages and public data

404: Page Not Found. That error message has become a more common sight on government websites. Many — reportedly thousands — of federal government webpages were recently taken down, ranging from Census Bureau research on depression among LGBT adults to Food and Drug Administration guidance for making clinical trials more diverse.  These erasures come after President Donald Trump signed executive orders cracking down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and what he calls gender ideolog

Feb 19, • 11:17

When venture capital collides with the nation’s capital

When venture capital collides with the nation’s capital

Venture capitalists have been welcomed into the Donald Trump administration, and their presence is growing. People who’ve been in the business of backing startups have been tapped to run the Office of Personnel Management and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Another, David Sacks, is the White House artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency czar. Even the vice president, JD Vance, spent time making venture deals before he moved into politics. Sarah Kunst, founder and managing director

Feb 18, • 8:50

Are we ready for ‘grief-tech’?

Are we ready for ‘grief-tech’?

An industry is emerging that uses AI to build chatbots of people who’ve died. “Five years ago I would have said that most people would still find it kind of creepy. But then ChatGPT hit,” said Carl Orman, a Swedish researcher and author who has spent the past 10 years studying the ethics of the digital afterlife. “It’s not implausible that over the next decade or so, interacting with chatbots impersonating real humans becomes just as common as having a video call an

Feb 17, • 7:05

Bytes: Week in Review — AI talks at Paris summit, Apple launches health study and BuzzFeed’s social media plans

Bytes: Week in Review — AI talks at Paris summit, Apple launches health study and BuzzFeed’s social media plans

On this week’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” we’ll talk about Apple launching a new health research study and BuzzFeed starting a new social media platform. But first, the U.S. is pushing back against global AI regulation. This week there was a kind of who’s who of AI and government at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly said there should be rules for this technology and that AI cannot be the Wild West. But the country that

Feb 14, • 14:58

Will DeepSeek disrupt American AI’s first-mover advantage?

Will DeepSeek disrupt American AI’s first-mover advantage?

There’s a concept in business called the first-mover advantage. Basically, it means that if you’re the first company with a successful product in a new market, you have the opportunity to dominate the market and fend off rivals. But that advantage can be short-lived. Take Netscape Navigator, the first popular commercial web browser. Microsoft entered the field with Internet Explorer, and it wasn’t long before Navigator crashed. In AI chatbots, two of the first movers are OpenAI and Anthropic. Bu

Feb 13, • 10:02

The AI boom is carving space for the data centers economy

The AI boom is carving space for the data centers economy

Data centers are filled with servers, basically a bunch of beefed-up computers stacked on top of each other in buildings that can be as big as warehouses. So they need a lot of electricity. And there are more of those projects in the works. For example, Meta has said it’s planning to build out at least one data center that’s going to be so big it could cover a good chunk of Manhattan. Wall Street Journal tech reporter Meghan Bobrowsky explained to Hughes what kinds of companies are benefi

Feb 12, • 8:07

AI pressures professions to accept artificial expertise 

AI pressures professions to accept artificial expertise 

About 1 in 4 U.S. jobs requires an occupational license, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Licensing requirements differ by state and can apply to everyone from barbers to lawyers. The general idea, of course, is to keep unqualified workers out. But technology, and specifically artificial intelligence, is making inroads. Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a law professor at Vanderbilt University, is also author of the new book “The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed t

Feb 11, • 11:34

The complicated business of changing digital map names and boundaries

The complicated business of changing digital map names and boundaries

Geography has been part of President Trump’s agenda. His first day on the job, he signed an executive order changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and Denali, the highest peak in North America, will now go back to being called Mount McKinley.Private companies that make maps — analog or digital — don’t have to follow suit but at least one is. Google said in a post on X that it has long had a practice of applying name changes from official government sources. So, once the

Feb 10, • 9:33

Bytes: Week in Review — Google’s AI policy pivot, OpenAI teams up with California colleges, and robotaxis arrive in Austin

Bytes: Week in Review — Google’s AI policy pivot, OpenAI teams up with California colleges, and robotaxis arrive in Austin

On this week’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” we’ll explore OpenAI’s inroads in higher education. Plus, how passengers can get on a waitlist to hail a driverless car in Austin, Texas. But first, a look at how Google is changing its approach to artificial intelligence. In 2018, the company published its “AI principles,” guidelines for how it believed AI should be built and used. Google originally included language that said it would not desig

Feb 7, • 14:31

The case for a comprehensive federal law to oversee AI

The case for a comprehensive federal law to oversee AI

Congress considered 158 bills that mention artificial intelligence over the past two years, according to a count by the Brennan Center for Justice. But zero comprehensive AI laws have been passed. There has been movement by states, however. In Tennessee, for example, the ELVIS Act, which protects voices and likenesses from unauthorized use by AI, became law in March. In Colorado, a law that takes effect in 2026 requires developers of high-risk AI systems to protect consumers from algorithm-base

Feb 6, • 10:22

A veteran of Reagan’s “Star Wars” has doubts about Trump’s “Iron Dome”

A veteran of Reagan’s “Star Wars” has doubts about Trump’s “Iron Dome”

Among President Donald Trump’s many executive orders is one calling for a “next-generation missile defense shield.” The White House calls this the Iron Dome for America. The order says it should defend against all sorts of missile attacks and include “space-based interceptors” that could potentially act as both sensors and weapons. It reminded retired Air Force Maj. Gen. Robert Latiff of a Ronald Reagan-era program he worked on: the Strategic Defense Initiative, or SDI, known

Feb 5, • 9:20

Artificial ingredient: Cooking up new snacks with aid of AI 

Artificial ingredient: Cooking up new snacks with aid of AI 

One of the more hopeful scenarios for how artificial intelligence could affect jobs is that it would take over more of the boring grunt work and free up humans for loftier pursuits. Mondelez, the company behind many of America’s favorite snacks, like Oreo cookies, Sour Patch Kids candy and Ritz crackers, is trying to do just that — using AI to speed up innovation for food scientists and give their taste buds a break. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Wall Street Journal

Feb 4, • 8:32

Reimagining the long-term alignment of human and AI advancements

Reimagining the long-term alignment of human and AI advancements

Artificial general intelligence, or AGI, has long been the holy grail of innovation — a synthetic intelligence with all the capabilities of a human mind or more. Recent advances in AI have many predicting we could be closer to achieving it than we’re ready for. It’s a reality that preoccupied the late diplomat Henry Kissinger before he died last year at 100 years old. He collaborated with Eric Schmidt, formerly at Google, and Craig Mundie, formerly at Microsoft, on the new book &#822

Feb 3, • 13:29

Bytes: Week in Review — DeepSeek, chip tariffs, and an attempt to get kids off social media

Bytes: Week in Review — DeepSeek, chip tariffs, and an attempt to get kids off social media

Everyone was obsessed with the new white whale of the AI world this week. We’ll get into it on today’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, Trump floats tariffs on semiconductors from overseas. And a bipartisan Senate bill to ban kids from social media is getting another look. But first, back to that DeepSeek drama. The Chinese AI company took the world and the markets by storm with claims that its class-leading large language model was built at a fraction of the cost of Silicon Valle

Jan 31, • 13:40

Trump renews interest in crypto “meme coins”

Trump renews interest in crypto “meme coins”

President Donald Trump’s return to the White House has been seen by many as a boost for cryptocurrency. During the campaign, he made several crypto-friendly pledges and recently made a splash when he launched his own “meme coin” shortly before the inauguration. The Trump token reached a nearly a $15 billion valuation, though it has since fallen quite a bit. But it continues to provoke questions, like, is it a conflict of interest for a high-ranking official? What the heck is a meme coin anyway

Jan 30, • 11:06

How Trump’s executive order on online free speech could upend content moderation

How Trump’s executive order on online free speech could upend content moderation

Amid all the executive orders signed by President Donald Trump during his first week in office came a promise to “restore freedom of speech” and end federal censorship. Keen observers may note that freedom of speech is protected by the Constitution. But the order seems to have something more specific in mind. It calls out what it characterizes as the Biden administration’s pressure campaign on social media companies to “moderate, deplatform, or otherwise suppress speech under the guise of comba

Jan 29, • 13:53

“Superagency” explores how AI can enhance human potential to new heights

“Superagency” explores how AI can enhance human potential to new heights

There’s no shortage of bullish voices on artificial intelligence among the titans of tech. But even many of the leading evangelists, in addition to prevailing pop culture narratives, tend to strike a note of impending doom when envisioning the future of the technology. Reid Hoffman wants us to consider the alternative. He’s the co-founder of LinkedIn, and a founding investor and former board member of OpenAI before he branched into other ventures, like Inflection AI. And his new book “Superagen

Jan 28, • 12:45

At Davos, rich and powerful now comfortable with power of AI

At Davos, rich and powerful now comfortable with power of AI

Last week’s annual gathering of the rich and powerful at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, was a bit overshadowed by the inauguration of Donald Trump in the U.S. The president made a virtual appearance at the conference, delivering a speech that hit on several of his recurring themes: tariffs, inflation and artificial intelligence. AI has been a big topic at the summit for several years. But the way it was treated this year felt different, according to Reed Albergotti, tech edito

Jan 27, • 9:32

Bytes: Week in Review — The Stargate project, Trump meme coins, and the TikTok flip-flop

Bytes: Week in Review — The Stargate project, Trump meme coins, and the TikTok flip-flop

There’s been quite a firehose of news this week, but we’re going to distill some of it into a nice, tall glass for you on today’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” We’ll dig into why some crypto insiders are upset with President Donald Trump over his preinaugural meme coins. Plus, the latest in the TikTok ban rollback and how Congress might respond. But first, amid the flurry of executive orders the president signed during his first week in office, he announced the Stargate project, a pr

Jan 24, • 13:28

As LA blazes rage, even firefighters turn to Watch Duty

As LA blazes rage, even firefighters turn to Watch Duty

Getting fast, comprehensive and accurate information is crucial during emergencies like the devastating wildfires still raging in the Los Angeles area. And over the last two terrifying weeks, one app has become the place to find it: Watch Duty. Operated by a nonprofit, the app was launched in 2021 to track wildfires in Northern California and now provides coverage for more than 20 states. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with David Merritt, Watch Duty’s chief technology officer, about

Jan 23, • 12:16

How one college is leveraging AI for educators and students

How one college is leveraging AI for educators and students

The explosion of artificial intelligence tools like chatbots has rocked the education world in the last couple years. It’s spurred efforts to prohibit, detect or otherwise build guardrails around these powerful new tools. Some educators, though are embracing them, and Colby College is doing it on an institutional level. Four years ago, before most of the public had ever heard about large language models, this private liberal arts college in Maine established a cross-disciplinary institute for AI

Jan 22, • 11:28

Trump’s election syncs up with tech backlash against gloom and guilt

Trump’s election syncs up with tech backlash against gloom and guilt

There’s been a lot of doom and gloom in the tech sector in recent years — the feeling that so many of the advances in internet connectivity, social media and now artificial intelligence might have caused more harm than good, increasing the need for at least caution in the industry and even, possibly, government intervention. But lately a backlash to the backlash has been brewing among techno-optimists. Their movement is called effective accelerationism, a play on the effective altruism communi

Jan 21, • 29:29

Biden pushed back on Big Tech’s power, and Trump found a few new friends

Biden pushed back on Big Tech’s power, and Trump found a few new friends

It’s Inauguration Day, and a veritable who’s who of tech are in attendance for the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States. The massive presence of tech leaders, overtly supporting or just making nice with Trump, represents a stunning reversal from his first term. Today, we’re looking back at what happened in between. President Joe Biden was often seen as taking an adversarial approach to the tech industry.

Jan 20, • 8:10

Bytes: Week in Review — TikTok shutdown, Biden’s AI policies and Zuckerberg asks Trump for a favor

Bytes: Week in Review — TikTok shutdown, Biden’s AI policies and Zuckerberg asks Trump for a favor

On this week’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes,” we’ll dive into President Joe Biden’s executive order on artificial intelligence plus a request Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made to President-elect Donald Trump. But first, tech news site The Information reported that TikTok plans to completely shut down its app in the U.S. on Sunday and will instead direct users to a website where they can read about the platform’s ban. According to that reporting, TikTok will allow American us

Jan 17, • 11:25

California’s wildfire detection tech was no match for the Palisades fire

California’s wildfire detection tech was no match for the Palisades fire

California relies on a variety of tools to stop and mitigate wildfires, some as low-tech as dumping giant buckets of seawater on the flames. But on the higher-tech side is a new, AI-powered monitoring system called ALERTCalifornia, which was developed at the University of California, San Diego. It’s designed to speedily detect and report wildfires using a network of over 1,000 cameras and sensors. The developers say the network detected over 1,200 blazes across the state during the 2023 fire s

Jan 16, • 12:06

Donors need protection too as wildfire misinformation and scams emerge

Donors need protection too as wildfire misinformation and scams emerge

As fires burn in Los Angeles, many people are going online to find ways to support people who have been temporarily or permanently displaced by the disaster. But like we’ve seen in the aftermath of recent hurricanes and floods, bad actors are spreading misinformation and financial scams. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Steve Grobman, chief technology officer at the cybersecurity firm McAfee, to learn more.

Jan 15, • 10:37

How AI chatbots are turning the tables on scammers

How AI chatbots are turning the tables on scammers

Scam calls about fake warranty renewals, non-existent credit card bills and more are still a global problem. But some companies and telecommunication providers are turning to AI chatbots to intercept the calls before they ever reach a real person. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino recently spoke with Dali Kaafar, founder and CEO of Apate AI, an Australia-based company creating these chatbots, about how his company is designing these bots to scam the scammers.

Jan 14, • 11:47

Will AI replace call center workers?

Will AI replace call center workers?

Since large language model chatbots hit the scene a few years ago, there’s been a lot of speculation about which jobs they might disrupt most. A lot of bets were on customer service. And recent data show they are becoming more common in the space. A Salesforce survey found a 42% increase in the share of shoppers who turned to AI-powered chatbots for customer service during the 2024 holiday shopping season compared to the previous year. But as AI becomes more powerful and more human-like, w

Jan 13, • 7:24

Bytes: Week in Review — Meta’s users take over fact checks, YouTubers sue PayPal and highlights from CES

Bytes: Week in Review — Meta’s users take over fact checks, YouTubers sue PayPal and highlights from CES

CES wraps up in Las Vegas this week. That’s the annual convention where some of the most cutting-edge consumer tech is unveiled. And while we still don’t have a prototype for Rosey, the housecleaning robot from “The Jetsons,” we’ll get into some of the big robot reveals for today’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, YouTubers are taking PayPal to court. A class-action suit alleges that the payments company is messing with their commissions on affiliate links. But first, Meta made bi

Jan 10, • 12:32

Meta pivots to community fact-checking ahead of Trump term

Meta pivots to community fact-checking ahead of Trump term

This week, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerburg announced some big changes to content moderation strategy. The parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp will no longer be contracting with third-party fact-checkers from the media and nonprofits as it has since 2016. Instead, Meta will follow the lead of X under Elon Musk and rely on crowd-sourced Community Notes to provide additional context on posts. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with David Gilbert, a reporter at Wired who cov

Jan 9, • 12:05

A Dutch port demonstrates how  automation in the industry could work

A Dutch port demonstrates how automation in the industry could work

U.S. ports could be facing another strike as the deadline looms next Wednesday to settle a union contract for 45,000 dockworkers on the East and Gulf coasts. A major sticking point has been automation. Proponents argue that technology can make ports cleaner and more efficient; critics point to lost jobs, high costs and mixed productivity results. While the cost-benefit analysis of port automation is complicated, there are places where the model appears to be succeeding, like Rotterdam in the Ne

Jan 8, • 5:39

Why 2025 may be the year of small AI

Why 2025 may be the year of small AI

By now you probably know the term “large language model.” They’re the systems that underlie artificial intelligence chatbots like ChatGPT. They’re called “large” because typically the more data you feed into them — like all the text on the internet — the better those models perform. But in recent months, there’s been chatter about the prospect that ever bigger models might not deliver transformative performance gains. Enter small language models. MIT Technology Review recently listed the systems

Jan 7, • 11:36

With OpenAI seeking profits, activist seeks payback to the public

With OpenAI seeking profits, activist seeks payback to the public

A battle is brewing over the restructuring of OpenAI, the creator of pioneering artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT. It was founded as a nonprofit in 2015 with the goal of developing AI to benefit humanity, not investors. But advanced AI requires massive processing power, which gets expensive, feeding into the company’s decision to take on major investors. Recently, OpenAI unveiled a plan to transition into a for-profit public benefit corporation. That plan has drawn objections from the lik

Jan 6, • 15:21

Bytes: Week in Review — Trump’s bid to delay TikTok ban, OpenAI’s advances and a tech prediction for 2025

Bytes: Week in Review — Trump’s bid to delay TikTok ban, OpenAI’s advances and a tech prediction for 2025

OpenAI closed the year with a bang, announcing a new, powerful AI model called o3. It could mark a significant step toward artificial general intelligence — an advanced form of AI that can learn or understand anything a human can. Plus, we’re mulling another tech prediction for 2025 — will AI assistants actually make our lives easier this year? But first, President-elect Donald Trump asked the Supreme Court to put the TikTok ban on hold so he might negotiate a deal to save the app in the United

Jan 3, • 12:51

Not all AI is, well, AI

Not all AI is, well, AI

Artificial intelligence and promises about the tech are everywhere these days. But excitement about genuine advances can easily veer into hype, according to Arvind Narayanan, computer science professor at Princeton who along with PhD candidate Sayash Kapoor wrote the book “AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference.” He says even the term AI doesn’t always mean what you think.

Jan 2, • 13:54

Not all AI is, well, AI

Not all AI is, well, AI

Artificial intelligence and promises about the tech are everywhere these days. But excitement about genuine advances can easily veer into hype, according to Arvind Narayanan, computer science professor at Princeton who along with PhD candidate Sayash Kapoor wrote the book “AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t, and How to Tell the Difference.” He says even the term AI doesn’t always mean what you think.

Jan 2, • 13:54

Not all screen time is created equal (rerun)

Not all screen time is created equal (rerun)

This episode originally aired on August 19th, 2024. Six years ago, Apple introduced a new feature on iPhones and iPads: The Screen Time Report. The feature promised to empower users to manage their device time and balance the things that are really important. But is it actually doing that? Caroline Mimbs Nyce, a staff writer at The Atlantic, recently wrote about why she thinks Screen Time is the worst feature Apple has ever made. She told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that it sometimes fee

Jan 1, • 9:29

Not all screen time is created equal (rerun)

Not all screen time is created equal (rerun)

This episode originally aired on August 19th, 2024. Six years ago, Apple introduced a new feature on iPhones and iPads: The Screen Time Report. The feature promised to empower users to manage their device time and balance the things that are really important. But is it actually doing that? Caroline Mimbs Nyce, a staff writer at The Atlantic, recently wrote about why she thinks Screen Time is the worst feature Apple has ever made. She told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that it sometimes fee

Jan 1, • 9:29

Futurist forecasts convergence of key technologies into “living intelligence”

Futurist forecasts convergence of key technologies into “living intelligence”

2024 was all about the artificial intelligence boom. That was true for Wall Street and Silicon Valley, but also the case on a wider, more practical level, with AI becoming increasingly visible in our schools, offices and social media feeds. AI advances are sure to remain a massive part of the tech economy, but in the coming year, we could see more sci-fi-like tech becoming reality, according to futurist Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with

Dec 31, 2024 • 12:52

Futurist forecasts convergence of key technologies into “living intelligence”

Futurist forecasts convergence of key technologies into “living intelligence”

2024 was all about the artificial intelligence boom. That was true for Wall Street and Silicon Valley, but also the case on a wider, more practical level, with AI becoming increasingly visible in our schools, offices and social media feeds. AI advances are sure to remain a massive part of the tech economy, but in the coming year, we could see more sci-fi-like tech becoming reality, according to futurist Amy Webb, CEO of the Future Today Institute. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with

Dec 31, 2024 • 12:52

How content creators profit from rage-baiting

How content creators profit from rage-baiting

Have you ever found yourself angry or outraged at a piece of content on social media? A disgusting recipe or shocking opinion? It could be intentional. Social media influencer Winta Zesu freely admits that she provokes for profit — and made $150,000 last year by posting content meant to elicit “hate comments.” She’s part of a growing group of online creators making rage-bait content, where the goal is simple: record videos, produce memes and write posts that make other users viscerally angry, t

Dec 30, 2024 • 6:25

How content creators profit from rage-baiting

How content creators profit from rage-baiting

Have you ever found yourself angry or outraged at a piece of content on social media? A disgusting recipe or shocking opinion? It could be intentional. Social media influencer Winta Zesu freely admits that she provokes for profit — and made $150,000 last year by posting content meant to elicit “hate comments.” She’s part of a growing group of online creators making rage-bait content, where the goal is simple: record videos, produce memes and write posts that make other users viscerally angry, t

Dec 30, 2024 • 6:25

How China’s EV market could endure higher tariffs

How China’s EV market could endure higher tariffs

It’s fair to say China dominates in electric vehicle sales. The country is the world’s biggest consumer of electric cars and has dozens of automakers competing in the space. Last year, Chinese companies sold about 9.5 million EVs and plug-in hybrid cars. But the industry faces mounting trade pressures. The Biden administration imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese EVs which President-elect Donald Trump is expected to continue. Meanwhile the European Union recently raised tariffs up to 45%, citing co

Dec 27, 2024 • 9:37

Yelp helped change the game for online reviews

Yelp helped change the game for online reviews

As we close out the year and look ahead at 2025, we wanted to mark an anniversary of sorts: 20 years ago, the online review site Yelp was launched — the name reportedly a mashup of “help” and “Yellow Pages.” In the two decades since the site launched, the website has changed the business of online reviews and our relationship to review culture, even has fake review continue being generated.

Dec 26, 2024 • 6:48

Yelp helped change the game for online reviews

Yelp helped change the game for online reviews

As we close out the year and look ahead at 2025, we wanted to mark an anniversary of sorts: 20 years ago, the online review site Yelp was launched — the name reportedly a mashup of “help” and “Yellow Pages.” In the two decades since the site launched, the website has changed the business of online reviews and our relationship to review culture, even has fake review continue being generated.

Dec 26, 2024 • 6:48

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting (rerun)

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting (rerun)

This episode originally aired Sept. 23, 2024. You might say online gambling has been on a winning streak since a Supreme Court decision in 2018 cleared the way for states to allow sports betting. It’s now legal in 30 states and its influence is hard to miss: Online sportsbook companies like DraftKings and FanDuel are on billboards, commercials even college campuses, many of which have made deals with sports betting companies. Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined” podcast,

Dec 25, 2024 • 12:23

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting (rerun)

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting (rerun)

This episode originally aired Sept. 23, 2024. You might say online gambling has been on a winning streak since a Supreme Court decision in 2018 cleared the way for states to allow sports betting. It’s now legal in 30 states and its influence is hard to miss: Online sportsbook companies like DraftKings and FanDuel are on billboards, commercials even college campuses, many of which have made deals with sports betting companies. Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined” podcast,

Dec 25, 2024 • 12:23

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts (rerun)

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts (rerun)

This episode is a rerun and originally aired Sept. 11, 2024. Over the last couple of years, the tech industry has slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them in recruiting and other departments working to improve diversity. Companies like Meta and Google, which earlier set ambitious hiring and investment goals, have pulled resources from those efforts. As a result, many nonprofit groups set up to train and recruit underrepresented workers are struggling to stay afloat. One prominent pers

Dec 24, 2024 • 12:17

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts (rerun)

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts (rerun)

This episode is a rerun and originally aired Sept. 11, 2024. Over the last couple of years, the tech industry has slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them in recruiting and other departments working to improve diversity. Companies like Meta and Google, which earlier set ambitious hiring and investment goals, have pulled resources from those efforts. As a result, many nonprofit groups set up to train and recruit underrepresented workers are struggling to stay afloat. One prominent pers

Dec 24, 2024 • 12:17

A look back at 20 years of podcasting

A look back at 20 years of podcasting

Raise your hand if you kind of forgot where the word podcast comes from. The now-catchall term for digital audio shows goes back to the Apple iPod. And it’s been almost two decades now since Apple helped bring podcasts mainstream by adding them to iTunes. “We’re going to list thousands of podcasts and you’ll be able to click on them, download them for free, and subscribe to them right in iTunes,” said then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the 2005 Worldwide Developers Conference. So, what was the busines

Dec 23, 2024 • 12:46

A look back at 20 years of podcasting

A look back at 20 years of podcasting

Raise your hand if you kind of forgot where the word podcast comes from. The now-catchall term for digital audio shows goes back to the Apple iPod. And it’s been almost two decades now since Apple helped bring podcasts mainstream by adding them to iTunes. “We’re going to list thousands of podcasts and you’ll be able to click on them, download them for free, and subscribe to them right in iTunes,” said then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs at the 2005 Worldwide Developers Conference. So, what was the busines

Dec 23, 2024 • 12:46

Bytes: Week in Review — SCOTUS to hear TikTok case, Congress unveils AI roadmap, and the year ahead for robotaxis

Bytes: Week in Review — SCOTUS to hear TikTok case, Congress unveils AI roadmap, and the year ahead for robotaxis

The House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence released a lengthy report this week that doesn’t recommend any specific policies or bills. We’ll also look ahead at what the new year could bring the robotaxi business. But first, the TikTok ban is heading to the Supreme Court. A federal appeals court last week upheld the law that would ban the short-form video app if its Chinese owners don’t sell it by Jan. 19. TikTok asked the court to weigh in, and this week SCOTUS agreed. Lily Jamali, tech corr

Dec 20, 2024 • 17:00

The good and bad of AI voice cloning

The good and bad of AI voice cloning

Voice cloning is becoming easier, faster and more convincing. Artificial Intelligence makes it possible to change the age of an actor’s voice, translate words into any language, and replace a voice lost through illness. But it’s also increasingly being used by criminals to impersonate a loved one, extort money or compromise bank accounts. It’s changing how we communicate with each other and how we trust each other. And experts say we’re already at the point where AI voice cloning can be used fo

Dec 19, 2024 • 7:00

The good and bad of AI voice cloning

The good and bad of AI voice cloning

Voice cloning is becoming easier, faster and more convincing. Artificial Intelligence makes it possible to change the age of an actor’s voice, translate words into any language, and replace a voice lost through illness. But it’s also increasingly being used by criminals to impersonate a loved one, extort money or compromise bank accounts. It’s changing how we communicate with each other and how we trust each other. And experts say we’re already at the point where AI voice cloning can be used fo

Dec 19, 2024 • 7:00

The entrepreneur who wants to buy TikTok

The entrepreneur who wants to buy TikTok

About 170 million U.S. users could be TikTokless as soon as Jan. 19. Early this month, a federal appeals court upheld a law that could ban the very popular short-form video app unless its Chinese owners agree to sell it. They have a willing buyer, though, in billionaire Frank McCourt, who has assembled a consortium of investors ready to put down more than $20 billion. He’s the founder of the internet reform initiative Project Liberty. You may also know him as a real estate developer who

Dec 18, 2024 • 12:16

Nuclear power needs to build up its workforce so it can power up clean energy

Nuclear power needs to build up its workforce so it can power up clean energy

The artificial intelligence boom and its hunger for electricity has brought a surge of interest in nuclear power. Microsoft, for instance, made a deal to restart the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, while Google and Amazon have invested in companies developing small, modular reactors. The Joe Biden administration’s Department of Energy aims to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, but the sector will need a lot more workers to make that happen. By some estimates there’s a gap of more

Dec 17, 2024 • 9:48

Nuclear power needs to build up its workforce so it can power up clean energy 

Nuclear power needs to build up its workforce so it can power up clean energy 

The artificial intelligence boom and its hunger for electricity has brought a surge of interest in nuclear power. Microsoft, for instance, made a deal to restart the Three Mile Island plant in Pennsylvania, while Google and Amazon have invested in companies developing small, modular reactors. The Joe Biden administration’s Department of Energy aims to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, but the sector will need a lot more workers to make that happen. By some estimates there’s a

Dec 17, 2024 • 9:48

The download on Trump 2.0 and tech

The download on Trump 2.0 and tech

As we approach President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, questions are coming up about how his second administration might deal with tech. A lot has changed in the industry and its relationship to the former president since his first go-round. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Reed Albergotti, tech editor at the news site Semafor, to help us decode some of the signals, starting with artificial intelligence and the man Trump has named as his AI czar, venture capitalist

Dec 16, 2024 • 12:07

The download on Trump 2.0 and tech

The download on Trump 2.0 and tech

As we approach President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next month, questions are coming up about how his second administration might deal with tech. A lot has changed in the industry and its relationship to the former president since his first go-round. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Reed Albergotti, tech editor at the news site Semafor, to help us decode some of the signals, starting with artificial intelligence and the man Trump has named as his AI czar, venture capitalist

Dec 16, 2024 • 12:07

Bytes: Week in Review — Investments flow into health tech, FDA approves modifying AI medical devices, and California’s AI insurance claim law

Bytes: Week in Review — Investments flow into health tech, FDA approves modifying AI medical devices, and California’s AI insurance claim law

There’s been a lot of discussion about health insurance over the last week. And one practice could be seeing more oversight: the use of artificial intelligence in coverage decisions. Plus, the FDA issues final guidance for makers of AI-enabled medical devices so they can now update their software after approval. And it was a good year for health tech startups — after a not-so-good year in 2023 — especially for those with the letters “AI” attached to their business. Our regular contributor Christ

Dec 13, 2024 • 15:17

Bytes: Week in Review — Investments flow into health tech, FDA approves modifying AI medical devices, and California’s AI insurance claim law

Bytes: Week in Review — Investments flow into health tech, FDA approves modifying AI medical devices, and California’s AI insurance claim law

There’s been a lot of discussion about health insurance over the last week. And one practice could be seeing more oversight: the use of artificial intelligence in coverage decisions. Plus, the FDA issues final guidance for makers of AI-enabled medical devices so they can now update their software after approval. And it was a good year for health tech startups — after a not-so-good year in 2023 — especially for those with the letters “AI” attached to their business. Our regular

Dec 13, 2024 • 15:17

Could AI and fintech help you get a bank loan?

Could AI and fintech help you get a bank loan?

Some low-income consumers have trouble qualifying for loans, due to a variety of reasons — lacking the required paperwork, or the documentation banks require for loan applications.  Marketplace’s Nancy Marshall-Genzer explores whether AI could be used to help consumers access traditional banking systems.

Dec 12, 2024 • 6:50

Could AI and fintech help you get a bank loan?

Could AI and fintech help you get a bank loan?

Some low-income consumers have trouble qualifying for loans, due to a variety of reasons — lacking the required paperwork, or the documentation banks require for loan applications.  Marketplace’s Nancy Marshall-Genzer explores whether AI could be used to help consumers access traditional banking systems.

Dec 12, 2024 • 6:50

Consumer agency seeks to limit data sales, combat “digital surveillance”

Consumer agency seeks to limit data sales, combat “digital surveillance”

As consumers, we leave trails of personal data all over the internet. And collecting and selling it is big business. Sensitive information, like our Social Security numbers, incomes and credit scores, are often sold by so-called data brokers to the highest bidder. Sometimes that’s a bank, sometimes it’s a scammer. This month, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a rule that would crack down on the practice. It would bar companies from selling sensitive data or ho

Dec 11, 2024 • 14:13

Consumer agency seeks to limit data sales, combat “digital surveillance”

Consumer agency seeks to limit data sales, combat “digital surveillance”

As consumers, we leave trails of personal data all over the internet. And collecting and selling it is big business. Sensitive information, like our Social Security numbers, incomes and credit scores, are often sold by so-called data brokers to the highest bidder. Sometimes that’s a bank, sometimes it’s a scammer. This month, the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a rule that would crack down on the practice. It would bar companies from selling sensitive data or hold them to t

Dec 11, 2024 • 14:13

How police are experimenting with AI

How police are experimenting with AI

The push to integrate artificial intelligence — like large language models — in the workplace is hitting almost every industry these days. And that includes policing. Reporter James O’Donnell with MIT Technology Review got an inside look at the ways in which many departments are experimenting with the new technology when he visited the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police conference back in October. O’Donnell attended to see how artificial intelligence was being discussed. He sa

Dec 10, 2024 • 11:09

How police are experimenting with AI

How police are experimenting with AI

The push to integrate artificial intelligence — like large language models — in the workplace is hitting almost every industry these days. And that includes policing. Reporter James O’Donnell with MIT Technology Review got an inside look at the ways in which many departments are experimenting with the new technology when he visited the annual International Association of Chiefs of Police conference back in October. O’Donnell attended to see how artificial intelligence was being discussed. He sa

Dec 10, 2024 • 11:09

AI use surges in law firms, report says, creating an hourly billing paradox

AI use surges in law firms, report says, creating an hourly billing paradox

One of the industries that is adopting artificial intelligence tools the fastest is the legal field. A recent report from the legal tech company Clio showed almost 80% of legal professionals are using AI in some way in their practice, up from about 30% last year. Joshua Lenon, a lawyer in residence at Clio, told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino the profession is particularly ripe for tech disruption.

Dec 9, 2024 • 12:38

AI use surges in law firms, report says, creating an hourly billing paradox

AI use surges in law firms, report says, creating an hourly billing paradox

One of the industries that is adopting artificial intelligence tools the fastest is the legal field. A recent report from the legal tech company Clio showed almost 80% of legal professionals are using AI in some way in their practice, up from about 30% last year. Joshua Lenon, a lawyer in residence at Clio, told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino the profession is particularly ripe for tech disruption.

Dec 9, 2024 • 12:38

Bytes: Week in Review – OpenAI’s military deal, Intel CEO resigns and Amazon’s new carbon capture project

Bytes: Week in Review – OpenAI’s military deal, Intel CEO resigns and Amazon’s new carbon capture project

The CEO of Intel resigned this week, likely with a push from the company’s board. We’ll take a look at the landscape for U.S. chip manufacturing on today’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, Amazon is trying to make good on its net zero carbon emission pledges with a pilot to capture carbon at one of its data centers. But first, OpenAI announced this week it’s partnering with a military technology startup called Anduril. It’s just the latest AI company to get into the defense business. Marketpl

Dec 6, 2024 • 13:54

Bytes: Week in Review – OpenAI’s military deal, Intel CEO resigns and Amazon’s new carbon capture project

Bytes: Week in Review – OpenAI’s military deal, Intel CEO resigns and Amazon’s new carbon capture project

The CEO of Intel resigned this week, likely with a push from the company’s board. We’ll take a look at the landscape for U.S. chip manufacturing on today’s “Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, Amazon is trying to make good on its net zero carbon emission pledges with a pilot to capture carbon at one of its data centers. But first, OpenAI announced this week it’s partnering with a military technology startup called Anduril. It’s just the latest AI company to get into the defense business. Marketpl

Dec 6, 2024 • 13:54

“AI pimping” accounts are exploding on social media

“AI pimping” accounts are exploding on social media

We talk a lot about how the internet is filling up with AI content. And, of course, that includes the sort guaranteed to generate clicks and dollars: the adult variety. Platforms like Instagram have seen an explosion in sexy AI-generated influencers, and the people running those accounts sometimes steal content from real creators and mash them up with AI. The practice is called “AI pimping,” Jason Koebler, co-founder of 404 Media, told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino.

Dec 5, 2024 • 13:48

“AI pimping” accounts are exploding on social media

“AI pimping” accounts are exploding on social media

We talk a lot about how the internet is filling up with AI content. And, of course, that includes the sort guaranteed to generate clicks and dollars: the adult variety. Platforms like Instagram have seen an explosion in sexy AI-generated influencers, and the people running those accounts sometimes steal content from real creators and mash them up with AI. The practice is called “AI pimping,” Jason Koebler, co-founder of 404 Media, told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino.

Dec 5, 2024 • 13:48

Why Google’s “smart city” failed

Why Google’s “smart city” failed

The Quayside development on Toronto’s waterfront was supposed to be the shining example of a tech-optimized smart city, an urban environment reinvented “from the internet up,” as it was described by Sidewalk Labs. That was a sister company to Google, which won a government bid in 2017 to modernize the 12 acres of former dockland. There would be robotaxis, heated sidewalks, adaptive traffic lights and lots of data collection. But in 2020, Sidewalk Toronto suddenly shut down bef

Dec 4, 2024 • 13:40

Why Google’s “smart city” failed

Why Google’s “smart city” failed

The Quayside development on Toronto’s waterfront was supposed to be the shining example of a tech-optimized smart city, an urban environment reinvented “from the internet up,” as it was described by Sidewalk Labs. That was a sister company to Google, which won a government bid in 2017 to modernize the 12 acres of former dockland. There would be robotaxis, heated sidewalks, adaptive traffic lights and lots of data collection. But in 2020, Sidewalk Toronto suddenly shut down before a single ribbo

Dec 4, 2024 • 13:40

Generative AI is impacting jobs across sectors, report finds

Generative AI is impacting jobs across sectors, report finds

Ever since ChatGPT hit the scene a couple years ago, there’s been a nagging sense of dread for many: what will this mean for jobs? Well, new research from Imperial College London finds a shift already underway. Between July 2021 and July 2023, the report found freelance job postings for writing and coding decreased by about 20%. There was also a slowdown in freelance jobs for visual art. And it’s happening more quickly than past technological disruptions, Ozge Demirci, one of the coauthors of th

Dec 3, 2024 • 11:37

Generative AI is impacting jobs across sectors, report finds

Generative AI is impacting jobs across sectors, report finds

Ever since ChatGPT hit the scene a couple years ago, there’s been a nagging sense of dread for many: what will this mean for jobs? Well, new research from Imperial College London finds a shift already underway. Between July 2021 and July 2023, the report found freelance job postings for writing and coding decreased by about 20%. There was also a slowdown in freelance jobs for visual art. And it’s happening more quickly than past technological disruptions, Ozge Demirci, one of the coauthors of th

Dec 3, 2024 • 11:37

The year of “AI slop”

The year of “AI slop”

The internet has been overrun by AI content. The weirdly glowing and inadvertently surreal airbrushed images, the generic and oddly formal sentences peppered with factual errors and distracting phrases like “as of my last knowledge update.” So much of social media content these days has the unmistakable stench of “AI slop,” hastily spit out by image generators or chatbots to get a few likes. And while the phenomenon might seem harmless or sometimes even charming, the AI slop takeover of the int

Dec 2, 2024 • 12:09

The year of “AI slop”

The year of “AI slop”

The internet has been overrun by AI content. The weirdly glowing and inadvertently surreal airbrushed images, the generic and oddly formal sentences peppered with factual errors and distracting phrases like “as of my last knowledge update.” So much of social media content these days has the unmistakable stench of “AI slop,” hastily spit out by image generators or chatbots to get a few likes. And while the phenomenon might seem harmless or sometimes even charming, the AI slop takeover of the int

Dec 2, 2024 • 12:09

Bytes: Week in Review — Intel’s big grant, ChatGPT turns two and AI’s scaling problem

Bytes: Week in Review — Intel’s big grant, ChatGPT turns two and AI’s scaling problem

OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT turns two years old tomorrow. So how has it changed the tech industry and what’s next for the company? We’ll get into it in today’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, we look into rumblings that improvements in AI have slowed, raising questions about whether we’ve hit a wall when it comes to training more advanced AI systems. But first, the Commerce Department finalized nearly $7.9 billion in subsidies for Intel. It&

Nov 29, 2024 • 15:19

How one school in Ireland is trying to curb phone use among kids

How one school in Ireland is trying to curb phone use among kids

A survey by nonprofit organization Common Sense Media shows 42% of children in the U.S. have a phone by the age of 10. And numbers like this are causing concern for educators, including a group of headteachers in Greystones, a town in Ireland. That group was so worried by the increased levels of anxiety among children using smartphones and social media that last year they asked parents to sign a voluntary pledge to delay buying cellphones for their children until at least the age of 11. The BBC’

Nov 28, 2024 • 6:21

How one school in Ireland is trying to curb phone use among kids

How one school in Ireland is trying to curb phone use among kids

A survey by nonprofit organization Common Sense Media shows 42% of children in the U.S. have a phone by the age of 10. And numbers like this are causing concern for educators, including a group of headteachers in Greystones, a town in Ireland. That group was so worried by the increased levels of anxiety among children using smartphones and social media that last year they asked parents to sign a voluntary pledge to delay buying cellphones for their children until at least the age of 11. The BBC’

Nov 28, 2024 • 6:21

Why Netflix is doing live TV

Why Netflix is doing live TV

A 58-year-old Mike Tyson may have come up short in his ballyhooed comeback match against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. But Netflix emerged as a big winner, boasting 108 million viewers for the Nov. 15 spectacle, the most streamed sporting event in history. Unfortunately for viewers, Netflix’s livestream of the fight suffered buffering and lag problems. It wasn’t a great start for the platform, which will be livestreaming some much-anticipated NFL games on Christmas Day. But the streaming serv

Nov 27, 2024 • 11:32

Why Netflix is doing live TV

Why Netflix is doing live TV

A 58-year-old Mike Tyson may have come up short in his ballyhooed comeback match against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. But Netflix emerged as a big winner, boasting 108 million viewers for the Nov. 15 spectacle, the most streamed sporting event in history. Unfortunately for viewers, Netflix’s livestream of the fight suffered buffering and lag problems. It wasn’t a great start for the platform, which will be livestreaming some much-anticipated NFL games on Christmas Day. But the streaming serv

Nov 27, 2024 • 11:32

When political misinformation is an unwelcome guest at the holiday table

When political misinformation is an unwelcome guest at the holiday table

It’s an interesting time for many in the U.S. Some people feel great about President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House, while others don’t. This week, people from both sides are sitting down together for Thanksgiving dinner. And while it’s one thing to ignore a family member’s social media posts or online rants, that can be a bit more challenging face-to-face, sometimes leading to awkward conversations about beliefs, truth and misinformation. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke to Wh

Nov 26, 2024 • 11:24

To EV, or not to EV

To EV, or not to EV

The push for electric vehicle adoption got a bit more uncertain with the election of Donald Trump. While reports of “EV death” have been greatly exaggerated, sales growth has slowed, and carmakers have pulled back on aggressive targets. Now, it seems Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino may be part of that trend. She recently spoke with Jack Stewart, a former Marketplace reporter and the man who convinced her to buy an EV, about her decision to trade in her EV for a gas-powered car.

Nov 25, 2024 • 14:38

Bytes: Week in Review — DOJ vs. Google, a bid to undercut internet safety, and X users flock to Bluesky

Bytes: Week in Review — DOJ vs. Google, a bid to undercut internet safety, and X users flock to Bluesky

The social media app Bluesky is flying high this week as users disenchanted with Elon Musk’s X flee that platform post-election. That’s just one of the topics for today’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” We’ll also get into Big Tech’s big-money lobbying effort to slow down a federal bill aimed at protecting kids online. But first, the latest in the potential Google breakup. This week, the Department of Justice proposed forcing the company to sell its Chrome browser. It’s one possible re

Nov 22, 2024 • 15:12

Bytes: Week in Review — DOJ vs. Google, a bid to undercut internet safety, and X users flock to Bluesky

Bytes: Week in Review — DOJ vs. Google, a bid to undercut internet safety, and X users flock to Bluesky

The social media app Bluesky is flying high this week as users disenchanted with Elon Musk’s X flee that platform post-election. That’s just one of the topics for today’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” We’ll also get into Big Tech’s big-money lobbying effort to slow down a federal bill aimed at protecting kids online. But first, the latest in the potential Google breakup. This week, the Department of Justice proposed forcing the company to sel

Nov 22, 2024 • 15:12

The algorithm behind health insurance denials

The algorithm behind health insurance denials

Some of the biggest health insurers in the country are turning to an algorithm to help determine if a medical claim will be approved. That’s according to a recent investigation led by ProPublica into EviCore, a contractor used to outsource prior approval requests for much of the insurance industry. The investigation found that EviCore tweaks an algorithm to increase the likelihood those claims will be denied, which means lower costs for insurers but more patients losing access to potentially lif

Nov 21, 2024 • 12:06

The algorithm behind health insurance denials

The algorithm behind health insurance denials

Some of the biggest health insurers in the country are turning to an algorithm to help determine if a medical claim will be approved. That’s according to a recent investigation led by ProPublica into EviCore, a contractor used to outsource prior approval requests for much of the insurance industry. The investigation found that EviCore tweaks an algorithm to increase the likelihood those claims will be denied, which means lower costs for insurers but more patients losing access to potentially lif

Nov 21, 2024 • 12:06

In the era of AI, photos aren’t what they used to be

In the era of AI, photos aren’t what they used to be

Remember the old mantra from the early days of social media, “pics or it didn’t happen”? For more than a century, photographic evidence was about as close to a physical representation of the real world as we’ve had. But, thanks to new AI-powered photo editing tools – like the one now available on Google’s newest Pixel phones – anyone can create convincing pics of things that didn’t happen. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Sarah Jeong, a features editor at The Verge, who recently wrot

Nov 20, 2024 • 9:40

In the era of AI, photos aren’t what they used to be

In the era of AI, photos aren’t what they used to be

Remember the old mantra from the early days of social media, “pics or it didn’t happen”? For more than a century, photographic evidence was about as close to a physical representation of the real world as we’ve had. But, thanks to new AI-powered photo editing tools – like the one now available on Google’s newest Pixel phones – anyone can create convincing pics of things that didn’t happen. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Sarah Jeong, a features editor at The Verge, who recently wrot

Nov 20, 2024 • 9:40

SpaceX engineered cheaper space flight, but startups are entering the market

SpaceX engineered cheaper space flight, but startups are entering the market

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk to co-lead a new Department of Government Efficiency. And the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who is also the owner of X, does have a record of wringing efficiencies out of his businesses. But the move raises many questions, like should someone whose companies benefit from federal dollars have a hand in making budget decisions? SpaceX alone has secured about $15.4 billion in federal contracts over the last decade, helping it become the dominant player i

Nov 19, 2024 • 12:50

SpaceX engineered cheaper space flight, but startups are entering the market

SpaceX engineered cheaper space flight, but startups are entering the market

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk to co-lead a new Department of Government Efficiency. And the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who is also the owner of X, does have a record of wringing efficiencies out of his businesses. But the move raises many questions, like should someone whose companies benefit from federal dollars have a hand in making budget decisions? SpaceX alone has secured about $15.4 billion in federal contracts over the last decade, helping it become the dominant player i

Nov 19, 2024 • 12:50

The dangers of designing AI chatbots to be human-like

The dangers of designing AI chatbots to be human-like

Advancements in artificial intelligence have made it possible for the technology to mimic humans in ever-more convincing ways. But even far less sophisticated tools than today’s chatbots have been shown in research to trick our brains, in a sense, into projecting human thought processes and emotions onto these systems. It’s a cognitive failure that can leave people open to deception and manipulation, which makes the increasingly human-like technologies proliferating in our daily lives particular

Nov 18, 2024 • 13:22

The dangers of designing AI chatbots to be human-like

The dangers of designing AI chatbots to be human-like

Advancements in artificial intelligence have made it possible for the technology to mimic humans in ever-more convincing ways. But even far less sophisticated tools than today’s chatbots have been shown in research to trick our brains, in a sense, into projecting human thought processes and emotions onto these systems. It’s a cognitive failure that can leave people open to deception and manipulation, which makes the increasingly human-like technologies proliferating in our daily live

Nov 18, 2024 • 13:22

Bytes: Week in Review — SV takes DC, bitcoin’s historic rally and Reddit’s revenue rockets

Bytes: Week in Review — SV takes DC, bitcoin’s historic rally and Reddit’s revenue rockets

It’s been almost eight months since Reddit went public, and since then, the platform known as the front page of the internet has been going gangbusters. We’ll get into why on this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, crypto surges to new highs in the wake of the election. But first up, Silicon Valley is going to Washington. This week, President-elect Donald Trump tapped his favorite tech CEO, Elon Musk, as the co-lead of a new Department of Government Efficiency along with Vive

Nov 15, 2024 • 14:46

Bytes: Week in Review — SV takes DC, bitcoin’s historic rally and Reddit’s revenue rockets

Bytes: Week in Review — SV takes DC, bitcoin’s historic rally and Reddit’s revenue rockets

It’s been almost eight months since Reddit went public, and since then, the platform known as the front page of the internet has been going gangbusters. We’ll get into why on this week’s “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Plus, crypto surges to new highs in the wake of the election. But first up, Silicon Valley is going to Washington. This week, President-elect Donald Trump tapped his favorite tech CEO, Elon Musk, as the co-lead of a new Department of Governm

Nov 15, 2024 • 14:46

Apple will reportedly face EU fine under new competition law

Apple will reportedly face EU fine under new competition law

Apple is reportedly facing a fine from the European Union, and it could be a hefty one. It’s the first Big Tech company to be slapped with a financial penalty under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which went into effect last year. The law, aimed at spurring competition in digital markets, requires Big Tech companies designated as “gatekeepers” to change policies that lock consumers into their products. Like, say, the walled garden of the Apple App Store. EU regulators ruled that Apple violated the

Nov 14, 2024 • 12:28

Apple will reportedly face EU fine under new competition law

Apple will reportedly face EU fine under new competition law

Apple is reportedly facing a fine from the European Union, and it could be a hefty one. It’s the first Big Tech company to be slapped with a financial penalty under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, which went into effect last year. The law, aimed at spurring competition in digital markets, requires Big Tech companies designated as “gatekeepers” to change policies that lock consumers into their products. Like, say, the walled garden of the Apple App Store. EU regulators ruled that Apple violated the

Nov 14, 2024 • 12:28

It’s not too late to change the future of AI

It’s not too late to change the future of AI

Gary Marcus is worried about AI. The professor emeritus at NYU doesn’t count himself a luddite or techno-pessimist. But Marcus has become one of the loudest voices of caution when it comes to AI. He’s chronicled some of the funniest and most disturbing errors made by current tools like ChatGPT, calling out the many costs – both human and environmental – of an industry that continues to accrete money and power. In his new book “Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works fo

Nov 13, 2024 • 12:44

It’s not too late to change the future of AI

It’s not too late to change the future of AI

Gary Marcus is worried about AI. The professor emeritus at NYU doesn’t count himself a luddite or techno-pessimist. But Marcus has become one of the loudest voices of caution when it comes to AI. He’s chronicled some of the funniest and most disturbing errors made by current tools like ChatGPT, calling out the many costs – both human and environmental – of an industry that continues to accrete money and power. In his new book “Taming Silicon Valley: How We Can Ensure That AI Works for Us,” Marcu

Nov 13, 2024 • 12:44

Understanding free speech in the online age

Understanding free speech in the online age

Do the free speech protections guaranteed by the First Amendment apply to online discourse? What if that online discourse spreads misinformation? Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Nadine Farid Johnson, policy director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, about how we should understand the right to free speech in the internet era.

Nov 12, 2024 • 11:19

Understanding free speech in the online age

Understanding free speech in the online age

Do the free speech protections guaranteed by the First Amendment apply to online discourse? What if that online discourse spreads misinformation? Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Nadine Farid Johnson, policy director at the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, about how we should understand the right to free speech in the internet era.

Nov 12, 2024 • 11:19

For parents, school phone bans connect to many issues

For parents, school phone bans connect to many issues

This fall, California became the latest state to adopt a law banning cellphone use in schools. The Golden State joins more than a dozen that have imposed restrictions as alarm grows about the potentially harmful effects of smartphone use on students’ learning and mental health. Support for these policies spans the political spectrum. But one important constituency sometimes has a hard time adjusting: parents. Kathryn Jezer-Morton, a columnist for The Cut, wrote about the challenges of dis

Nov 11, 2024 • 13:12

For parents, school phone bans connect to many issues

For parents, school phone bans connect to many issues

This fall, California became the latest state to adopt a law banning cellphone use in schools. The Golden State joins more than a dozen that have imposed restrictions as alarm grows about the potentially harmful effects of smartphone use on students’ learning and mental health. Support for these policies spans the political spectrum. But one important constituency sometimes has a hard time adjusting: parents. Kathryn Jezer-Morton, a columnist for The Cut, wrote about the challenges of disconnec

Nov 11, 2024 • 13:12

Bytes: Week in Review — What a second Trump presidency could mean for the tech sector

Bytes: Week in Review — What a second Trump presidency could mean for the tech sector

The president-elect is also a former president who’s been a fixture in national politics for the last decade. But predicting what Donald Trump might have in mind for the tech industry in his second term based on that history, well, that’s a tough call. Trump has, at times, had strong words for some tech titans, cozied up to others, and pushed for — and then against — a TikTok ban. His first administration initiated several antitrust cases against tech companies, but Trump recently expressed skep

Nov 8, 2024 • 11:48

Bytes: Week in Review — What a second Trump presidency could mean for the tech sector

Bytes: Week in Review — What a second Trump presidency could mean for the tech sector

The president-elect is also a former president who’s been a fixture in national politics for the last decade. But predicting what Donald Trump might have in mind for the tech industry in his second term based on that history, well, that’s a tough call. Trump has, at times, had strong words for some tech titans, cozied up to others, and pushed for — and then against — a TikTok ban. His first administration initiated several antitrust cases against tech companies, but Trump recently expressed skep

Nov 8, 2024 • 11:48

Patience for learning wanes as students make AI a habit

Patience for learning wanes as students make AI a habit

It has been almost two years since ChatGPT burst onto the scene and made teachers’ lives a whole lot harder. A report from Common Sense Media this fall showed that 70% of teenage students used artificial intelligence for school or fun. But a majority of those students’ parents and teachers were unaware. Leila Wheless, a seventh- and eighth-grade English teacher in North Carolina, asked her students how they use the technology.

Nov 7, 2024 • 14:06

Patience for learning wanes as students make AI a habit

Patience for learning wanes as students make AI a habit

It has been almost two years since ChatGPT burst onto the scene and made teachers’ lives a whole lot harder. A report from Common Sense Media this fall showed that 70% of teenage students used artificial intelligence for school or fun. But a majority of those students’ parents and teachers were unaware. Leila Wheless, a seventh- and eighth-grade English teacher in North Carolina, asked her students how they use the technology.

Nov 7, 2024 • 14:06

AI’s appetite for electric power fuels interest in nuclear option

AI’s appetite for electric power fuels interest in nuclear option

The thing about the artificial intelligence boom is that the tech needs a lot of electricity. One estimate from Goldman Sachs suggests that largely because of AI, data centers will use 160% more electricity by 2030. It’s got Big Tech fired up about an option that’s never really been the cool kid of the clean energy class: nuclear power. Microsoft made a deal to restart the Three Mile Island plant, while Google and Amazon are investing in new types of reactors. It’s stirring something of a “nucl

Nov 6, 2024 • 15:36

AI’s appetite for electric power fuels interest in nuclear option

AI’s appetite for electric power fuels interest in nuclear option

The thing about the artificial intelligence boom is that the tech needs a lot of electricity. One estimate from Goldman Sachs suggests that largely because of AI, data centers will use 160% more electricity by 2030. It’s got Big Tech fired up about an option that’s never really been the cool kid of the clean energy class: nuclear power. Microsoft made a deal to restart the Three Mile Island plant, while Google and Amazon are investing in new types of reactors. It’s stirring something of a “nucl

Nov 6, 2024 • 15:36

Misinformation to guard against on Election Day

Misinformation to guard against on Election Day

It’s Election Day and even though the campaign may be over, the battle over misinformation is not. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Derek Tisler, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, about some of the misleading online narratives voters should expect to see and how to deal with them. This conversation is part of “Marketplace Tech’s” limited series “Decoding Democracy.” Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel.

Nov 5, 2024 • 15:26

Misinformation to guard against on Election Day

Misinformation to guard against on Election Day

It’s Election Day and even though the campaign may be over, the battle over misinformation is not. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Derek Tisler, counsel at the Brennan Center for Justice, about some of the misleading online narratives voters should expect to see and how to deal with them. This conversation is part of “Marketplace Tech’s” limited series “Decoding Democracy.” Watch the full episode on our YouTube channel.

Nov 5, 2024 • 15:26

Internet freedom takes a hit during global elections, report finds

Internet freedom takes a hit during global elections, report finds

In case you forgot, we’ve got Election Day tomorrow. But it was also a big year for elections in the rest of the world. About half of the global population is voting in national elections in 2024, and in many countries people have encountered shut down internet, blocked websites or manipulated content online, according to a recent report from the nonprofit Freedom House. Allie Funk leads Freedom House’s technology and democracy initiative, and she told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino this is

Nov 4, 2024 • 13:54

Internet freedom takes a hit during global elections, report finds

Internet freedom takes a hit during global elections, report finds

In case you forgot, we’ve got Election Day tomorrow. But it was also a big year for elections in the rest of the world. About half of the global population is voting in national elections in 2024, and in many countries people have encountered shut down internet, blocked websites or manipulated content online, according to a recent report from the nonprofit Freedom House. Allie Funk leads Freedom House’s technology and democracy initiative, and she told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Ca

Nov 4, 2024 • 13:54

Bytes: Week in Review — Apple Intelligence arrives, AI writes Google’s code, and AI medical transcription tool hallucinates

Bytes: Week in Review — Apple Intelligence arrives, AI writes Google’s code, and AI medical transcription tool hallucinates

An AI transcription tool used in health care has been found to frequently hallucinate things no one ever said, including making up medications. That’s just one of the topics for today’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review. Plus, we’ll get into what we learned from this week’s Big Tech earnings, including Google saying that it’s using AI to generate about 25% of its code. But first, it’s been a busy week for Apple. The company launched some of its new Apple Intelligence features and released i

Nov 1, 2024 • 16:40

Bytes: Week in Review — Apple Intelligence arrives, AI writes Google’s code, and AI medical transcription tool hallucinates

Bytes: Week in Review — Apple Intelligence arrives, AI writes Google’s code, and AI medical transcription tool hallucinates

An AI transcription tool used in health care has been found to frequently hallucinate things no one ever said, including making up medications. That’s just one of the topics for today’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review. Plus, we’ll get into what we learned from this week’s Big Tech earnings, including Google saying that it’s using AI to generate about 25% of its code. But first, it’s been a busy week for Apple. The company launched some of its new Apple

Nov 1, 2024 • 16:40

Why AI is Hollywood’s favorite monster

Why AI is Hollywood’s favorite monster

For almost a century, people have been going to the movies to get freaked out by fictional depictions of artificial intelligence. Back in 1968, there was Hal 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The 1980s gave us Skynet in “The Terminator.” And these days, movies about rogue bots are more popular than ever. Films like 2022’s “M3GAN” and this summer’s “AfrAId” seem to be channeling our worst fears about the intelligent technology increasingly embedded in our daily lives.

Oct 31, 2024 • 10:04

Why AI is Hollywood’s favorite monster

Why AI is Hollywood’s favorite monster

For almost a century, people have been going to the movies to get freaked out by fictional depictions of artificial intelligence. Back in 1968, there was Hal 9000 in “2001: A Space Odyssey.” The 1980s gave us Skynet in “The Terminator.” And these days, movies about rogue bots are more popular than ever. Films like 2022’s “M3GAN” and this summer’s “AfrAId” seem to be channeling our worst fears about the intelligent technology increasingly embedded in our daily lives. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty

Oct 31, 2024 • 10:04

AI labels on digital political ads might backfire on candidates, research shows

AI labels on digital political ads might backfire on candidates, research shows

We are in the midst of the first major U.S. election of the generative AI era. The people who want to win your vote have easy access to tools that can create images, video or audio of real people doing or saying things they never did — and slap on weird appendages or other make-believe effects along with targeted slogans. But the potential to deceive has led about two dozen states to enact some form of regulation requiring political ads that use artificial intelligence to include a label. So how

Oct 30, 2024 • 10:17

AI labels on digital political ads might backfire on candidates, research shows

AI labels on digital political ads might backfire on candidates, research shows

We are in the midst of the first major U.S. election of the generative AI era. The people who want to win your vote have easy access to tools that can create images, video or audio of real people doing or saying things they never did — and slap on weird appendages or other make-believe effects along with targeted slogans. But the potential to deceive has led about two dozen states to enact some form of regulation requiring political ads that use artificial intelligence to include a label. So how

Oct 30, 2024 • 10:17

Illicit, sexually explicit deepfakes are becoming a problem in schools

Illicit, sexually explicit deepfakes are becoming a problem in schools

We know from various studies that young people are, unsurprisingly, using generative AI tools like chatbots and image generators, sometimes for homework, sometimes for fun and sometimes for malicious purposes. A recent survey from the Center for Democracy and Technology found that artificial intelligence is being used among high school students to create nonconsensual, illicit imagery — in other words, sexually explicit deepfakes. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Elizabeth Laird,

Oct 29, 2024 • 11:43

Illicit, sexually explicit deepfakes are becoming a problem in schools

Illicit, sexually explicit deepfakes are becoming a problem in schools

We know from various studies that young people are, unsurprisingly, using generative AI tools like chatbots and image generators, sometimes for homework, sometimes for fun and sometimes for malicious purposes. A recent survey from the Center for Democracy and Technology found that artificial intelligence is being used among high school students to create nonconsensual, illicit imagery — in other words, sexually explicit deepfakes. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Elizabeth Laird,

Oct 29, 2024 • 11:43

Voice-over artists allege an AI company cloned their voices in lawsuit

Voice-over artists allege an AI company cloned their voices in lawsuit

With tech now able to clone voices in minutes, many people in creative industries are worried about what this could mean for their livelihoods. The BBC’s Ben Derico looks at what this AI revolution has meant for voice actors who claim to have had their likeness copied by an AI voice-generating company.

Oct 28, 2024 • 7:17

Voice-over artists allege an AI company cloned their voices in lawsuit

Voice-over artists allege an AI company cloned their voices in lawsuit

With tech now able to clone voices in minutes, many people in creative industries are worried about what this could mean for their livelihoods. The BBC’s Ben Derico looks at what this AI revolution has meant for voice actors who claim to have had their likeness copied by an AI voice-generating company.

Oct 28, 2024 • 7:17

Bytes: Week in Review — A fraying tech “bromance,” Claude’s new skills and a robotics boom

Bytes: Week in Review — A fraying tech “bromance,” Claude’s new skills and a robotics boom

The next big thing in Silicon Valley might just be an old-fashioned concept: humanoid robots that can mimic our physical abilities. Developments in AI are triggering renewed interest in the robotics industry. And Anthropic’s latest Claude model can control a computer on its own, which could have implications for the future of work. But first, is the “best bromance in tech” starting to sour? That’s how OpenAI CEO Sam Altman once described his company’s partnership with Microsoft, but recently the

Oct 25, 2024 • 16:05

Bytes: Week in Review — A fraying tech “bromance,” Claude’s new skills and a robotics boom

Bytes: Week in Review — A fraying tech “bromance,” Claude’s new skills and a robotics boom

The next big thing in Silicon Valley might just be an old-fashioned concept: humanoid robots that can mimic our physical abilities. Developments in AI are triggering renewed interest in the robotics industry. And Anthropic’s latest Claude model can control a computer on its own, which could have implications for the future of work. But first, is the “best bromance in tech” starting to sour? That’s how OpenAI CEO Sam Altman once described his company’s partnership with Microsoft, but

Oct 25, 2024 • 16:05

Apple answers the call for iPhone repairability

Apple answers the call for iPhone repairability

There’s a movement to make it possible to repair our gadgets ourselves instead of having to send them back to the company that makes them or, you know, just get a new one. The “right to repair” movement in consumer electronics has made real gains in recent years. Several states, like California, New York and Oregon, have passed legislation requiring it. And it looks like Apple’s newest iPhone — the 16 — has made strides in that department. Marketplace’s Meghan McCa

Oct 24, 2024 • 9:30

Apple answers the call for iPhone repairability

Apple answers the call for iPhone repairability

There’s a movement to make it possible to repair our gadgets ourselves instead of having to send them back to the company that makes them or, you know, just get a new one. The “right to repair” movement in consumer electronics has made real gains in recent years. Several states, like California, New York and Oregon, have passed legislation requiring it. And it looks like Apple’s newest iPhone — the 16 — has made strides in that department. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Kyle Wie

Oct 24, 2024 • 9:30

On Instagram, politics is the new taboo

On Instagram, politics is the new taboo

A content creator who goes by the username Mrs. Frazzled recently noticed something strange happening on her Instagram account. With more than 370,000 followers, her videos sometimes score millions of views. Except, it seems, when she talks about the election. Mrs. Frazzled sensed she was being shadowbanned by Instagram, so Geoffrey Fowler, a tech columnist at The Washington Post, investigated. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Fowler about what he found.

Oct 23, 2024 • 13:48

On Instagram, politics is the new taboo

On Instagram, politics is the new taboo

A content creator who goes by the username Mrs. Frazzled recently noticed something strange happening on her Instagram account. With more than 370,000 followers, her videos sometimes score millions of views. Except, it seems, when she talks about the election. Mrs. Frazzled sensed she was being shadowbanned by Instagram, so Geoffrey Fowler, a tech columnist at The Washington Post, investigated. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Fowler about what he found.

Oct 23, 2024 • 13:48

How tech is boosting the turnout of disabled voters

How tech is boosting the turnout of disabled voters

Trying to vote when your disabled can present a series of obstacles but technology can help, even if integrating technology into our election system has its risks. Back in 2020, several states changed their voting rules with more mail-in, early, and remote voting options which increased turnout among disabled voters. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently spoke with Michelle Bishop, voter access and engagement manager at the National Disability Rights Network, about finding the right balance of t

Oct 22, 2024 • 10:27

How tech is boosting the turnout of disabled voters

How tech is boosting the turnout of disabled voters

Trying to vote when your disabled can present a series of obstacles but technology can help, even if integrating technology into our election system has its risks. Back in 2020, several states changed their voting rules with more mail-in, early, and remote voting options which increased turnout among disabled voters. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently spoke with Michelle Bishop, voter access and engagement manager at the National Disability Rights Network, about finding the right balance of t

Oct 22, 2024 • 10:27

How Big Tech is courting Big Oil

How Big Tech is courting Big Oil

Artificial intelligence, according to its boosters, could help us unlock solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, like climate change. But in the meantime, it’s become a key tool for fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron to maximize the extraction of emissions-producing oil and gas. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to freelance reporter Karen Hao, who recently wrote in The Atlantic about how Microsoft has actively courted the fossil fuel industry.

Oct 21, 2024 • 14:15

How Big Tech is courting Big Oil

How Big Tech is courting Big Oil

Artificial intelligence, according to its boosters, could help us unlock solutions to some of the world’s toughest problems, like climate change. But in the meantime, it’s become a key tool for fossil fuel companies like Exxon Mobil and Chevron to maximize the extraction of emissions-producing oil and gas. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to freelance reporter Karen Hao, who recently wrote in The Atlantic about how Microsoft has actively courted the fossil fuel industry.

Oct 21, 2024 • 14:15

Bytes: Week in Review — SpaceX vs. California, and AI crawlers and VC dollars

Bytes: Week in Review — SpaceX vs. California, and AI crawlers and VC dollars

Web crawlers scan and catalog sites all over the internet and, in the AI era, use that data to train chatbots. We’ll talk about why The New York Times is trying to put a stop to crawlers from the AI company Perplexity. We’ll also discuss the record share of venture capital dollars flowing into the AI sector and the difficulty of attracting investment for startups without those two magic letters. Plus, the ups and downs of SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carin

Oct 18, 2024 • 14:50

Bytes: Week in Review — SpaceX vs. California, and AI crawlers and VC dollars

Bytes: Week in Review — SpaceX vs. California, and AI crawlers and VC dollars

Web crawlers scan and catalog sites all over the internet and, in the AI era, use that data to train chatbots. We’ll talk about why The New York Times is trying to put a stop to crawlers from the AI company Perplexity. We’ll also discuss the record share of venture capital dollars flowing into the AI sector and the difficulty of attracting investment for startups without those two magic letters. Plus, the ups and downs of SpaceX, owned by Elon Musk. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with

Oct 18, 2024 • 14:50

Why presidential candidates are embracing podcast interviews

Why presidential candidates are embracing podcast interviews

Vice President Kamala Harris sat for her first interview on Fox News Wednesday as the Democratic presidential candidate continued her media blitz ahead of the November election. And while it’s generating plenty of headlines, these kinds of big interviews just don’t hold the power they used to, according to Nick Quah, a podcast and culture critic at New York Magazine who’s been following the candidates’ interviews on the alternative media circuit. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Q

Oct 17, 2024 • 14:24

Why presidential candidates are embracing podcast interviews

Why presidential candidates are embracing podcast interviews

Vice President Kamala Harris sat for her first interview on Fox News Wednesday as the Democratic presidential candidate continued her media blitz ahead of the November election. And while it’s generating plenty of headlines, these kinds of big interviews just don’t hold the power they used to, according to Nick Quah, a podcast and culture critic at New York Magazine who’s been following the candidates’ interviews on the alternative media circuit. Marketplace’s Megh

Oct 17, 2024 • 14:24

After years of missed deadlines, Tesla enters the robotaxi race

After years of missed deadlines, Tesla enters the robotaxi race

After years of hype, Tesla finally debuted a robotaxi called the Cybercab last week. CEO Elon Musk has been making and breaking promises about Tesla’s autonomous vehicle for years. So, did the debut of the Cybercab finally deliver? Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor for The Verge, tells Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino what the Cybercab unveiling means for Musk and for Tesla.

Oct 16, 2024 • 13:31

After years of missed deadlines, Tesla enters the robotaxi race

After years of missed deadlines, Tesla enters the robotaxi race

After years of hype, Tesla finally debuted a robotaxi called the Cybercab last week. CEO Elon Musk has been making and breaking promises about Tesla’s autonomous vehicle for years. So, did the debut of the Cybercab finally deliver? Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor for The Verge, tells Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino what the Cybercab unveiling means for Musk and for Tesla.

Oct 16, 2024 • 13:31

A deluge of online misinformation obscures FEMA disaster relief efforts

A deluge of online misinformation obscures FEMA disaster relief efforts

Online misinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and about the relief response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have surged in recent weeks, including false narratives of aid being withheld from victims for their political beliefs and aid being stolen by undocumented immigrants. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Ethan Porter, professor of media, public affairs and political science at George Washington University, about why there’s been so much misinformation about the

Oct 15, 2024 • 9:21

A deluge of online misinformation obscures FEMA disaster relief efforts

A deluge of online misinformation obscures FEMA disaster relief efforts

Online misinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and about the relief response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency have surged in recent weeks, including false narratives of aid being withheld from victims for their political beliefs and aid being stolen by undocumented immigrants. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Ethan Porter, professor of media, public affairs and political science at George Washington University, about why there’s been so much misinformati

Oct 15, 2024 • 9:21

TikTok creators don’t want a ban

TikTok creators don’t want a ban

TikTok has a lot going on legally these days. Last week, it saw a fresh round of lawsuits alleging the short-form video app harms children. And then there’s the federal law that could ban the app if ByteDance, its China-based owner, doesn’t divest by January. TikTok has sued to block that law. Oral arguments in TikTok Inc. v. Merrick Garland were heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in September. The company is joined by eight TikTok creators as plaintiffs in t

Oct 14, 2024 • 11:42

TikTok creators don’t want a ban

TikTok creators don’t want a ban

TikTok has a lot going on legally these days. Last week, it saw a fresh round of lawsuits alleging the short-form video app harms children. And then there’s the federal law that could ban the app if ByteDance, its China-based owner, doesn’t divest by January. TikTok has sued to block that law. Oral arguments in TikTok Inc. v. Merrick Garland were heard in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in September. The company is joined by eight TikTok creators as plaintiffs in t

Oct 14, 2024 • 11:42

Bytes: Week in Review — Breaking up Google, TikTok troubles and the “Godfather of AI” gets a Nobel Prize

Bytes: Week in Review — Breaking up Google, TikTok troubles and the “Godfather of AI” gets a Nobel Prize

TikTok is facing yet another legal challenge. This week, attorneys general from 13 states plus Washington, D.C., sued the short-form video app, alleging that it harms children. We’ll be digging into the latest lawsuits on today’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” our roundup of the week’s top tech headlines. Like the so-called Godfather of AI who is sharing the Nobel Prize in physics. Plus, the U.S. government is weighing what to do about Google after its search business was ruled a mono

Oct 11, 2024 • 13:19

Bytes: Week in Review — Breaking up Google, TikTok troubles and the “Godfather of AI” gets a Nobel Prize

Bytes: Week in Review — Breaking up Google, TikTok troubles and the “Godfather of AI” gets a Nobel Prize

TikTok is facing yet another legal challenge. This week, attorneys general from 13 states plus Washington, D.C., sued the short-form video app, alleging that it harms children. We’ll be digging into the latest lawsuits on today’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” our roundup of the week’s top tech headlines. Like the so-called Godfather of AI who is sharing the Nobel Prize in physics. Plus, the U.S. government is weighing what to do about Google after its search business was ruled a mono

Oct 11, 2024 • 13:19

Some of the walls around Meta’s Threads app are coming down

Some of the walls around Meta’s Threads app are coming down

The new kid on the block of social media, Meta’s Threads, hit 200 million active users in August. When it launched in the summer of 2023 as a rival to the platform formerly known as Twitter, Meta said the app would eventually be integrated into the so-called fediverse. This “federated universe” is the most prominent example of a decentralized social network in which users can join any affiliated platform and interact with content from all the others. Recently, Meta took some steps to integrate

Oct 10, 2024 • 10:59

Some of the walls around Meta’s Threads app are coming down

Some of the walls around Meta’s Threads app are coming down

The new kid on the block of social media, Meta’s Threads, hit 200 million active users in August. When it launched in the summer of 2023 as a rival to the platform formerly known as Twitter, Meta said the app would eventually be integrated into the so-called fediverse. This “federated universe” is the most prominent example of a decentralized social network in which users can join any affiliated platform and interact with content from all the others. Recently, Meta took some steps to integrate

Oct 10, 2024 • 10:59

Do paid data-removal services pay off?

Do paid data-removal services pay off?

A lot of personal data – stuff like your home address, phone number, marital status and more – is out there on the internet. Anyone can buy it from sites like Whitepages, PeopleFinders or Intelius, which aggregate data from public records and social media. You can contact each of these “people search” sites and request they take down your information, but it’s a bit of a game of whack-a-mole. Naturally, a whole industry of data-removal services has sprung up. For a price, they promise to do the

Oct 9, 2024 • 8:19

Do paid data-removal services pay off?

Do paid data-removal services pay off?

A lot of personal data – stuff like your home address, phone number, marital status and more – is out there on the internet. Anyone can buy it from sites like Whitepages, PeopleFinders or Intelius, which aggregate data from public records and social media. You can contact each of these “people search” sites and request they take down your information, but it’s a bit of a game of whack-a-mole. Naturally, a whole industry of data-removal services has sprung up. For a price, they promise to do the

Oct 9, 2024 • 8:19

A “village” of hackers is beefing up election security

A “village” of hackers is beefing up election security

Until about a decade ago, independent cybersecurity researchers in the U.S. weren’t allowed to examine voting machines for potential vulnerabilities. But that ban was essentially lifted in 2015. Two years later, DEF CON — one of the largest hacker conventions — decided to invite hackers, cybersecurity researchers and election officials to find those flaws during its annual Voting Village event. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Catherine Terranova, executive director of Voting Village, ab

Oct 8, 2024 • 8:33

A “village” of hackers is beefing up election security

A “village” of hackers is beefing up election security

Until about a decade ago, independent cybersecurity researchers in the U.S. weren’t allowed to examine voting machines for potential vulnerabilities. But that ban was essentially lifted in 2015. Two years later, DEF CON — one of the largest hacker conventions — decided to invite hackers, cybersecurity researchers and election officials to find those flaws during its annual Voting Village event. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Catherine Terranova, executive director of Voting Village, ab

Oct 8, 2024 • 8:33

The quest to discover the creator of bitcoin

The quest to discover the creator of bitcoin

It’s been more than 15 years since the digital currency bitcoin was launched, going from a fringe phenomenon in the dark corners of the internet to an asset traded on Wall Street. But the identity of bitcoin’s creator, known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, has remained a mystery wrapped in a cryptographic enigma. Now, investigative filmmaker Cullen Hoback may have cracked the case. His last HBO series “Into the Storm” uncovered the origins of the QAnon conspiracy theory. In his new documentar

Oct 7, 2024 • 13:39

The quest to discover the creator of bitcoin

The quest to discover the creator of bitcoin

It’s been more than 15 years since the digital currency bitcoin was launched, going from a fringe phenomenon in the dark corners of the internet to an asset traded on Wall Street. But the identity of bitcoin’s creator, known by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, has remained a mystery wrapped in a cryptographic enigma. Now, investigative filmmaker Cullen Hoback may have cracked the case. His last HBO series “Into the Storm” uncovered the origins of the QAnon conspiracy theory. In his new documentar

Oct 7, 2024 • 13:39

Bytes: Week in Review — OpenAI’s valuation doubles, biotech investment grows and a prescription giant is acquired

Bytes: Week in Review — OpenAI’s valuation doubles, biotech investment grows and a prescription giant is acquired

Investors are once again pouring money into biotechnology startups. But this time, it feels different from the heyday of 2021. We’ll be digging into the latest data for today’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” our roundup of the week’s top headlines, including some you might have missed. We’ll also talk about a private equity deal with the country’s biggest digital pharmacy platform. But first, OpenAI closes a historic funding round. The maker of ChatGPT raised another $6.6 billion — va

Oct 4, 2024 • 13:32

Bytes: Week in Review — OpenAI’s valuation doubles, biotech investment grows and a prescription giant is acquired

Bytes: Week in Review — OpenAI’s valuation doubles, biotech investment grows and a prescription giant is acquired

Investors are once again pouring money into biotechnology startups. But this time, it feels different from the heyday of 2021. We’ll be digging into the latest data for today’s Marketplace “Tech Bytes: Week in Review,” our roundup of the week’s top headlines, including some you might have missed. We’ll also talk about a private equity deal with the country’s biggest digital pharmacy platform. But first, OpenAI closes a historic funding round. The maker of ChatGPT raised another $6.6 billion — va

Oct 4, 2024 • 13:32

The AI-crypto power struggle

The AI-crypto power struggle

All those fancy artificial intelligence systems need a lot of data centers to run, and those data centers need a lot of energy. One estimate from the Electric Power Research Institute suggests that current data center electricity consumption in the U.S. will more than double by 2030, making up about 9% of all energy use. But the AI sector is coming up against the big energy-hungry tech innovation of yesteryear: crypto mining. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Reuters reporter Laila

Oct 3, 2024 • 11:09

The AI-crypto power struggle

The AI-crypto power struggle

All those fancy artificial intelligence systems need a lot of data centers to run, and those data centers need a lot of energy. One estimate from the Electric Power Research Institute suggests that current data center electricity consumption in the U.S. will more than double by 2030, making up about 9% of all energy use. But the AI sector is coming up against the big energy-hungry tech innovation of yesteryear: crypto mining. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Reuters reporter Laila

Oct 3, 2024 • 11:09

In most voting precincts, no-tech ballot counting is a nonstarter

In most voting precincts, no-tech ballot counting is a nonstarter

Today we’re talking about voting tech and the push in some areas to move away from machines and go back to hand counting ballots. A legal battle is brewing in Georgia over a new rule requiring ballots be hand counted on election night to ensure the tally matches electronic records. Arizona has added a similar requirement. The issue has become particularly mired in misinformation in recent years, with some election deniers questioning the security of the tech used in our elections. While some ma

Oct 2, 2024 • 13:16

In most voting precincts, no-tech ballot counting is a nonstarter

In most voting precincts, no-tech ballot counting is a nonstarter

Today we’re talking about voting tech and the push in some areas to move away from machines and go back to hand counting ballots. A legal battle is brewing in Georgia over a new rule requiring ballots be hand counted on election night to ensure the tally matches electronic records. Arizona has added a similar requirement. The issue has become particularly mired in misinformation in recent years, with some election deniers questioning the security of the tech used in our elections. While some ma

Oct 2, 2024 • 13:16

What do generative AI and social media have in common? A lack of regulation.

What do generative AI and social media have in common? A lack of regulation.

This week, we’re talking about how teenagers are using artificial intelligence tools like chatbots and image generators, often without the knowledge of their parents and teachers, according to a recent report from the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Monday we heard about that research from Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of the group. And now we want to home in on a specific piece of what he said: “If you look back at the advent of social media, about 20 years ago, we pretty much blew the regulatory

Oct 1, 2024 • 11:26

What do generative AI and social media have in common? A lack of regulation.

What do generative AI and social media have in common? A lack of regulation.

This week, we’re talking about how teenagers are using artificial intelligence tools like chatbots and image generators, often without the knowledge of their parents and teachers, according to a recent report from the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Monday we heard about that research from Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of the group. And now we want to home in on a specific piece of what he said: “If you look back at the advent of social media, about 20 years ago, we pretty much blew the regulatory

Oct 1, 2024 • 11:26

Parents, educators are unaware how their students use generative AI, report finds

Parents, educators are unaware how their students use generative AI, report finds

As soon as ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, it became clear that artificial intelligence was going to send massive shockwaves through education. And, as with any new technology, young people were likely to adopt it more quickly. Well, now we have some data about that phenomenon. A new report from the non-profit Common Sense Media shows seven in 10 teenagers from ages 13-18 are using generative AI in some way. And Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, told Marketplace’s Meg

Sep 30, 2024 • 11:06

Bytes: Week in Review — X’s transparency report, Sam Altman’s “Intelligence Age” and Meta’s celebrity chatbots

Bytes: Week in Review — X’s transparency report, Sam Altman’s “Intelligence Age” and Meta’s celebrity chatbots

It’s perhaps not a big surprise, but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a very optimistic take on what his company’s technology could mean for the world. He shared his vision of a near future transformed by ever-advancing artificial intelligence systems in a much-discussed blog post earlier this week. Plus, Meta revealed more of its AI plans at its big developer conference including another go at celebrity chatbots. But first, X, formerly Twitter, finally released a new transparency report. It’s the firs

Sep 27, 2024 • 13:43

Commercial space travel is risky business

Commercial space travel is risky business

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission made history this month with the first-ever commercial spacewalk. It seems space travel is no longer reserved for highly trained government astronauts, but increasingly open to anyone with the funds (and the courage) to try it. But before we all go strapping on our spacesuits, Chris Impey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, says we need to be clear-eyed about the risks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Impey about those risks and the

Sep 26, 2024 • 14:04

Commercial space travel is risky business

Commercial space travel is risky business

SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn mission made history this month with the first-ever commercial spacewalk. It seems space travel is no longer reserved for highly trained government astronauts, but increasingly open to anyone with the funds (and the courage) to try it. But before we all go strapping on our spacesuits, Chris Impey, a professor of astronomy at the University of Arizona, says we need to be clear-eyed about the risks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Impey about those risks and the

Sep 26, 2024 • 14:04

Inside the data center capital of the world

Inside the data center capital of the world

The infrastructure that enabled Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom is not located in California, but rather in northern Virginia. How did the region become the data center capital of the world? And what does it mean for tech companies, the local economy and residents? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino has the story.

Sep 25, 2024 • 5:58

Inside the data center capital of the world

Inside the data center capital of the world

The infrastructure that enabled Silicon Valley’s artificial intelligence boom is not located in California, but rather in northern Virginia. How did the region become the data center capital of the world? And what does it mean for tech companies, the local economy and residents? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino has the story.

Sep 25, 2024 • 5:58

VoteFlare’s mission to upgrade voter communication

VoteFlare’s mission to upgrade voter communication

There have been a lot of rumors and misinformation recently about voter registration and voter list maintenance, adding confusion to what experts say are secure processes. And while election officials regularly update voter lists, it’s become increasingly important that individuals also keep their voter registration information up to date. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently spoke with Josh Visnaw,  project manager at a Harvard University initiative called VoteFlare, about the challenges of m

Sep 24, 2024 • 8:55

VoteFlare’s mission to upgrade voter communication

VoteFlare’s mission to upgrade voter communication

There have been a lot of rumors and misinformation recently about voter registration and voter list maintenance, adding confusion to what experts say are secure processes. And while election officials regularly update voter lists, it’s become increasingly important that individuals also keep their voter registration information up to date. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently spoke with Josh Visnaw,  project manager at a Harvard University initiative called VoteFlare, about the challenges of m

Sep 24, 2024 • 8:55

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting

You might say online gambling has been on a winning streak since a Supreme Court decision in 2018 cleared the way for states to allow sports betting. It’s now legal in 30 states and its influence is hard to miss: online sportsbook companies like DraftKings and FanDuel are on billboards, commercials even college campuses, many of which have made deals with sports betting companies. Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined” podcast, recently covered this topic on her show and sh

Sep 23, 2024 • 12:54

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting

How teenagers can get hooked on sports betting

You might say online gambling has been on a winning streak since a Supreme Court decision in 2018 cleared the way for states to allow sports betting. It’s now legal in 30 states and its influence is hard to miss: online sportsbook companies like DraftKings and FanDuel are on billboards, commercials even college campuses, many of which have made deals with sports betting companies. Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined” podcast, recently covered this topic on her show and sh

Sep 23, 2024 • 12:54

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Senate weighs AI regulation, Instagram launches teen accounts and AirPods aid the hard of hearing

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Senate weighs AI regulation, Instagram launches teen accounts and AirPods aid the hard of hearing

This week, Meta announced teen accounts with a slew of new safety features. We’ve also got Apple news to talk about — no, not the latest iPhones or watches, but new functionality for AirPods that basically turns them into hearing aids. First, though, are we ready for artificial general intelligence, or AGI, that could match or exceed human capabilities? It could be a mere one to three years away, according to testimony at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee Tuesday. A number of AI insiders spoke, in

Sep 20, 2024 • 15:12

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Senate weighs AI regulation, Instagram launches teen accounts and AirPods aid the heard of hearing

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Senate weighs AI regulation, Instagram launches teen accounts and AirPods aid the heard of hearing

This week, Meta announced teen accounts with a slew of new safety features. We’ve also got Apple news to talk about — no, not the latest iPhones or watches, but new functionality for AirPods that basically turns them into hearing aids. First, though, are we ready for artificial general intelligence, or AGI, that could match or exceed human capabilities? It could be a mere one to three years away, according to testimony at a Senate Judiciary subcommittee Tuesday. A number of AI insiders spoke, in

Sep 20, 2024 • 15:12

Polling response rates are dropping. AI chatbots could be the solution.

Polling response rates are dropping. AI chatbots could be the solution.

In this tense election year, polling is top of mind. But collecting polling data has become harder. It often relies on people actually answering the phone and then speaking frankly to a pollster, both of which are becoming less common. The result has been data that is less predictive, and repeated misses in recent elections have made the public much more skeptical. Polling, it seems, needs an update for the digital age. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Bruce Schneier, lecturer at the

Sep 19, 2024 • 11:33

Polling response rates are dropping. AI chatbots could be the solution.

Polling response rates are dropping. AI chatbots could be the solution.

In this tense election year, polling is top of mind. But collecting polling data has become harder. It often relies on people actually answering the phone and then speaking frankly to a pollster, both of which are becoming less common. The result has been data that is less predictive, and repeated misses in recent elections have made the public much more skeptical. Polling, it seems, needs an update for the digital age. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Bruce Schneier, lecturer at the

Sep 19, 2024 • 11:33

An appeals court heard arguments on TikTok’s ban-or-sale case. What’s next?

An appeals court heard arguments on TikTok’s ban-or-sale case. What’s next?

A federal appeals court heard arguments Monday in a case that pits the First Amendment against national security. TikTok sued to block a bipartisan-backed law that will ban the Chinese-owned app in the U.S. by January 19 — unless it finds a U.S. buyer. This week, the government argued the app gives China access to Americans’ sensitive data, as well as the ability to spread propaganda. While TikTok argued it’s been unfairly singled out and that a sale isn’t the only way to address security conce

Sep 18, 2024 • 11:39

An appeals court heard arguments on TikTok’s ban-or-sale case. What’s next?

An appeals court heard arguments on TikTok’s ban-or-sale case. What’s next?

A federal appeals court heard arguments Monday in a case that pits the First Amendment against national security. TikTok sued to block a bipartisan-backed law that will ban the Chinese-owned app in the U.S. by January 19 — unless it finds a U.S. buyer. This week, the government argued the app gives China access to Americans’ sensitive data, as well as the ability to spread propaganda. While TikTok argued it’s been unfairly singled out and that a sale isn’t the only way to address security conce

Sep 18, 2024 • 11:39

States step in to regulate digital replicas

States step in to regulate digital replicas

The bipartisan NO FAKES Act, aimed at regulating deepfakes created with the aid of artificial intelligence, moved forward in the House of Representatives last week after it was introduced in the Senate in July. But in the absence of federal rules, several states have already stepped in. Last month, California became the third to back legislation regulating digital replicas. The home of Hollywood follows Tennessee, which earlier this year passed a ban on unauthorized deepfakes known as the ELVI

Sep 17, 2024 • 10:33

States step in to regulate digital replicas

States step in to regulate digital replicas

The bipartisan NO FAKES Act, aimed at regulating deepfakes created with the aid of artificial intelligence, moved forward in the House of Representatives last week after it was introduced in the Senate in July. But in the absence of federal rules, several states have already stepped in. Last month, California became the third to back legislation regulating digital replicas. The home of Hollywood follows Tennessee, which earlier this year passed a ban on unauthorized deepfakes known as the ELVI

Sep 17, 2024 • 10:33

Telegram-linked ads on Meta platforms may promote illegal activity, report finds

Telegram-linked ads on Meta platforms may promote illegal activity, report finds

Late last month, the CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram was arrested in France. Authorities there have charged Pavel Durov with being complicit in illegal activities conducted on the platform due to a lack of content moderation. A recent report from the research group Cybersecurity for Democracy shows some of that activity is finding its way onto other platforms. Senior Fellow Yaël Eisenstat looked at advertisements on Meta platforms that linked back to Telegram, and found that a majori

Sep 16, 2024 • 11:10

Telegram-linked ads on Meta platforms may promote illegal activity, report finds

Telegram-linked ads on Meta platforms may promote illegal activity, report finds

Late last month, the CEO of the encrypted messaging app Telegram was arrested in France. Authorities there have charged Pavel Durov with being complicit in illegal activities conducted on the platform due to a lack of content moderation. A recent report from the research group Cybersecurity for Democracy shows some of that activity is finding its way onto other platforms. Senior Fellow Yaël Eisenstat looked at advertisements on Meta platforms that linked back to Telegram, and found that a majori

Sep 16, 2024 • 11:10

Bytes: Week in Review — Google on trial, underwater data centers and how AI spurred a celebrity endorsement

Bytes: Week in Review — Google on trial, underwater data centers and how AI spurred a celebrity endorsement

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our weekly review of some of the big stories making headlines in tech. First: No, you’re not having déjà vu all over again. Google really is back in court this week for its second antitrust trial of the year. Plus, a startup in Silicon Valley wants to make AI data centers more sustainable by putting them underwater in the San Francisco Bay, but regulators have questions. And Taylor Swift announced she is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in this year’s

Sep 13, 2024 • 15:24

Bytes: Week in Review — Google on trial, underwater data centers and how AI spurred a celebrity endorsement

Bytes: Week in Review — Google on trial, underwater data centers and how AI spurred a celebrity endorsement

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our weekly review of some of the big stories making headlines in tech. First: No, you’re not having déjà vu all over again. Google really is back in court this week for its second antitrust trial of the year. Plus, a startup in Silicon Valley wants to make AI data centers more sustainable by putting them underwater in the San Francisco Bay, but regulators have questions. And Taylor Swift announced she is endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in this year’s

Sep 13, 2024 • 15:24

Crypto emerges as a funding powerhouse in the election

Crypto emerges as a funding powerhouse in the election

The cryptocurrency industry has been fairly quiet recently, with the scandals around the bankruptcy of crypto exchange FTX and its former chief executive, Sam Bankman-Fried, fading from the headlines. But behind the scenes, the industry has become a bit of a power player in the 2024 elections — funding political ads, endorsing House and Senate candidates and raising millions of dollars, according to a recent report from the nonprofit group Public Citizen. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino sp

Sep 12, 2024 • 10:49

Crypto emerges as a funding powerhouse in the election

Crypto emerges as a funding powerhouse in the election

The cryptocurrency industry has been fairly quiet recently, with the scandals around the bankruptcy of crypto exchange FTX and its former chief executive, Sam Bankman-Fried, fading from the headlines. But behind the scenes, the industry has become a bit of a power player in the 2024 elections — funding political ads, endorsing House and Senate candidates and raising millions of dollars, according to a recent report from the nonprofit group Public Citizen. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino sp

Sep 12, 2024 • 10:49

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts

Over the last couple of years, the tech industry has slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them in recruiting and other departments working to improve diversity. Companies like Meta and Google, which earlier set ambitious hiring and investment goals, have pulled resources from those efforts. As a result, many nonprofit groups set up to train and recruit underrepresented workers are struggling to stay afloat. One prominent person in the field is Lisa Mae Brunson, founder of the nonprofi

Sep 11, 2024 • 12:08

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts

Big Tech’s pivot away from diversity efforts

Over the last couple of years, the tech industry has slashed hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of them in recruiting and other departments working to improve diversity. Companies like Meta and Google, which earlier set ambitious hiring and investment goals, have pulled resources from those efforts. As a result, many nonprofit groups set up to train and recruit underrepresented workers are struggling to stay afloat. One prominent person in the field is Lisa Mae Brunson, founder of the nonprofi

Sep 11, 2024 • 12:08

The threat posed by rumors of noncitizen voting

The threat posed by rumors of noncitizen voting

Among the trends of mis- and disinformation spreading ahead of the 2024 election is the narrative that large groups of noncitizens are illegally voting. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently spoke with Danielle Lee Tomson, a research manager with the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, about how this narrative is affecting the November election. This conversation is part of “Marketplace Tech’s” limited series “Decoding Democracy.” Watch the full episode on our YouTube ch

Sep 10, 2024 • 12:09

The threat posed by rumors of noncitizen voting

The threat posed by rumors of noncitizen voting

Among the trends of mis- and disinformation spreading ahead of the 2024 election is the narrative that large groups of noncitizens are illegally voting. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently spoke with Danielle Lee Tomson, a research manager with the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public, about how this narrative is affecting the November election. This conversation is part of “Marketplace Tech’s” limited series “Decoding Democracy.” Watch the full episode on our YouTube ch

Sep 10, 2024 • 12:09

SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue

SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue

On Friday, a Boeing Starliner spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station to return to Earth without its crew. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stayed behind due to uncertainty about the safety of the Boeing craft. The duo will instead hitch a ride back on a SpaceX mission set to arrive at the ISS in February. It’s another win for the Elon Musk-owned company, which has come to dominate rocket launches in the U.S. But NASA’s reliance on SpaceX now is a bit of a reversa

Sep 9, 2024 • 11:52

SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue

SpaceX comes to NASA’s rescue

On Friday, a Boeing Starliner spacecraft undocked from the International Space Station to return to Earth without its crew. NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore stayed behind due to uncertainty about the safety of the Boeing craft. The duo will instead hitch a ride back on a SpaceX mission set to arrive at the ISS in February. It’s another win for the Elon Musk-owned company, which has come to dominate rocket launches in the U.S. But NASA’s reliance on SpaceX now is a bit of a reversa

Sep 9, 2024 • 11:52

Bytes: Week in Review —  the X ban, Apple’s AI and airplane Wi-Fi gets upgraded

Bytes: Week in Review —  the X ban, Apple’s AI and airplane Wi-Fi gets upgraded

If you’re an Apple fan, you probably didn’t miss the speculation surrounding the upcoming iPhone 16 launch event next week. Many expect the tech giant to reveal more about how its artificial intelligence will be integrated into its new hardware. We’ll be digging into that on this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review. Plus, airlines are upgrading their Wi-Fi, so you might be able to take a Zoom meeting on your six-hour flight. But first, Elon Musk’s satellite internet p

Sep 6, 2024 • 14:09

Bytes: Week in Review —  the X ban, Apple’s AI and airplane Wi-Fi gets upgraded

Bytes: Week in Review —  the X ban, Apple’s AI and airplane Wi-Fi gets upgraded

If you’re an Apple fan, you probably didn’t miss the speculation surrounding the upcoming iPhone 16 launch event next week. Many expect the tech giant to reveal more about how its artificial intelligence will be integrated into its new hardware. We’ll be digging into that on this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review. Plus, airlines are upgrading their Wi-Fi, so you might be able to take a Zoom meeting on your six-hour flight. But first, Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider has agreed to block El

Sep 6, 2024 • 14:09

A mother’s quest for social media reform

A mother’s quest for social media reform

Warning: This episode mentions suicide. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There seems to be growing momentum for efforts to protect kids from online harm. In June, the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media for children, and more recently the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act with bipartisan support. On the show we’ve heard from lobbyists and advocates on different sides of the issue. Today

Sep 5, 2024 • 12:15

A mother’s quest for social media reform

A mother’s quest for social media reform

Warning: This episode mentions suicide. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). There seems to be growing momentum for efforts to protect kids from online harm. In June, the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for a warning label on social media for children, and more recently the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act with bipartisan support. On the show we’ve heard from lobbyists and advocates on different sides of the issue. Today

Sep 5, 2024 • 12:15

The AI safety bill dividing Silicon Valley

The AI safety bill dividing Silicon Valley

Depending on whom you ask, a bill passed by California lawmakers last week could either save us from imminent AI doom or strangle innovation in Silicon Valley. The bill, SB 1047, is one of the first significant attempts to regulate artificial intelligence in the U.S. It’s supported by some high-profile voices in tech like Elon Musk. But critics say the regulation could stifle growth in Silicon Valley. On the show today, Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is taking a closer look at the arguments

Sep 4, 2024 • 13:59

The AI safety bill dividing Silicon Valley

The AI safety bill dividing Silicon Valley

Depending on whom you ask, a bill passed by California lawmakers last week could either save us from imminent AI doom or strangle innovation in Silicon Valley. The bill, SB 1047, is one of the first significant attempts to regulate artificial intelligence in the U.S. It’s supported by some high-profile voices in tech like Elon Musk. But critics say the regulation could stifle growth in Silicon Valley. On the show today, Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is taking a closer look at the arguments

Sep 4, 2024 • 13:59

Teenagers could be more susceptible to online “dark patterns”

Teenagers could be more susceptible to online “dark patterns”

Dark patterns are everywhere on the web. These are design tricks that manipulate users in some way and prompt them to give up information, money or just more of their time. A recent study from the Federal Trade Commission found three-quarters of all subscription apps and websites use at least one dark pattern, and a majority use multiple such tricks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Yanely Espinal, who covered the topic in this week’s episode of “Financially Inclined.” She said so

Sep 3, 2024 • 8:53

Teenagers could be more susceptible to online “dark patterns”

Teenagers could be more susceptible to online “dark patterns”

Dark patterns are everywhere on the web. These are design tricks that manipulate users in some way and prompt them to give up information, money or just more of their time. A recent study from the Federal Trade Commission found three-quarters of all subscription apps and websites use at least one dark pattern, and a majority use multiple such tricks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Yanely Espinal, who covered the topic in this week’s episode of “Financially Inclined.” She said so

Sep 3, 2024 • 8:53

Have you heard the one about the AI-written comedy routine?

Have you heard the one about the AI-written comedy routine?

Generative artificial intelligence can write essays and solve complicated math problems, but can it tell a decent joke? The BBC’s Megan Lawton says comedians who performed at this year’s fringe festival in Scotland are putting AI to the test.

Sep 2, 2024 • 4:33

Have you heard the one about the AI-written comedy routine?

Have you heard the one about the AI-written comedy routine?

Generative artificial intelligence can write essays and solve complicated math problems, but can it tell a decent joke? The BBC’s Megan Lawton says comedians who performed at this year’s fringe festival in Scotland are putting AI to the test.

Sep 2, 2024 • 4:33

Bytes: Week in Review — Telegram’s CEO arrested, SF startups boom and Meta pivots

Bytes: Week in Review — Telegram’s CEO arrested, SF startups boom and Meta pivots

This week: a report from venture capital firm SignalFire seems to show that despite all its problems, San Francisco is still the place to be for tech startups in the artificial intelligence space. Plus, why Meta is scrapping plans for a superpremium mixed-reality headset and aiming for a lite version instead. But first, the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France has sent shock waves through the tech world. Durov is facing a number of criminal charges. French authorities allege he is liabl

Aug 30, 2024 • 12:44

Bytes: Week in Review — Telegram’s CEO arrested, SF startups boom and Meta pivots

Bytes: Week in Review — Telegram’s CEO arrested, SF startups boom and Meta pivots

This week: a report from venture capital firm SignalFire seems to show that despite all its problems, San Francisco is still the place to be for tech startups in the artificial intelligence space. Plus, why Meta is scrapping plans for a superpremium mixed-reality headset and aiming for a lite version instead. But first, the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France has sent shock waves through the tech world. Durov is facing a number of criminal charges. French authorities allege he is liabl

Aug 30, 2024 • 12:44

With campaign hacks, Iran takes a page from Russia’s playbook

With campaign hacks, Iran takes a page from Russia’s playbook

U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that Iran was behind the recent cyberattack on former President Donald Trump’s election campaign. Using an approach called spear phishing, hackers sent personalized emails to campaign staff containing malware that allowed them to access private information and then leak it. Déjà vu, right? Javed Ali, a former senior counterterrorism official and a professor of practice at the University of Michigan, says Russia created the blueprint for this kind of att

Aug 29, 2024 • 13:41

With campaign hacks, Iran takes a page from Russia’s playbook

With campaign hacks, Iran takes a page from Russia’s playbook

U.S. intelligence officials have confirmed that Iran was behind the recent cyberattack on former President Donald Trump’s election campaign. Using an approach called spear phishing, hackers sent personalized emails to campaign staff containing malware that allowed them to access private information and then leak it. Déjà vu, right? Javed Ali, a former senior counterterrorism official and a professor of practice at the University of Michigan, says Russia created the blueprint for this kind of att

Aug 29, 2024 • 13:41

AI in the election: misinformation machine or meme generator?

AI in the election: misinformation machine or meme generator?

By now you’ve probably heard that generative artificial intelligence has the potential to supercharge the spread of disinformation in this election year. But with 68 days until Election Day, we haven’t seen the kind of widespread AI misinformation campaigns that experts warned about. Instead, as Will Oremus pointed out in a recent analysis for The Washington Post, we’ve seen a whole lot of silly AI-generated memes. He told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that the most recent examples are com

Aug 28, 2024 • 12:22

AI in the election: misinformation machine or meme generator?

AI in the election: misinformation machine or meme generator?

By now you’ve probably heard that generative artificial intelligence has the potential to supercharge the spread of disinformation in this election year. But with 68 days until Election Day, we haven’t seen the kind of widespread AI misinformation campaigns that experts warned about. Instead, as Will Oremus pointed out in a recent analysis for The Washington Post, we’ve seen a whole lot of silly AI-generated memes. He told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that the most recent examples are com

Aug 28, 2024 • 12:22

Court upholds block of California law aimed at protecting kids online

Court upholds block of California law aimed at protecting kids online

The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, passed in 2022, would be among the most sweeping pieces of legislation to protect kids from online harms — if it hadn’t become tangled up in court. The law has two basic requirements: first, that tech companies analyze and report on whether their products are harmful for children; second, that they minimize how much data they collect from those under 18. Earlier this month a federal appeals court found that first part likely violates the First Ame

Aug 27, 2024 • 13:12

Court upholds block of California law aimed at protecting kids online

Court upholds block of California law aimed at protecting kids online

The California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, passed in 2022, would be among the most sweeping pieces of legislation to protect kids from online harms — if it hadn’t become tangled up in court. The law has two basic requirements: first, that tech companies analyze and report on whether their products are harmful for children; second, that they minimize how much data they collect from those under 18. Earlier this month a federal appeals court found that first part likely violates the First Ame

Aug 27, 2024 • 13:12

The loose, undefined guardrails of X’s AI image generator

The loose, undefined guardrails of X’s AI image generator

The social media platform X recently launched a new artificial intelligence feature for premium users: Grok-2, an AI model that can also generate images. And the outputs are a bit less censored than you might see with other similar tools. Experimenters online have been able to generate images of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris brandishing guns, Mickey Mouse smoking a cigarette and some far more disturbing tableaus. Grok claims to avoid images that are pornographic, excessively violent or intende

Aug 26, 2024 • 10:24

The loose, undefined guardrails of X’s AI image generator

The loose, undefined guardrails of X’s AI image generator

The social media platform X recently launched a new artificial intelligence feature for premium users: Grok-2, an AI model that can also generate images. And the outputs are a bit less censored than you might see with other similar tools. Experimenters online have been able to generate images of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris brandishing guns, Mickey Mouse smoking a cigarette and some far more disturbing tableaus. Grok claims to avoid images that are pornographic, excessively violent or intende

Aug 26, 2024 • 10:24

Bytes: Week in Review — Dems’ tech platform, Google’s legal troubles and OpenAI’s newest partnership

Bytes: Week in Review — Dems’ tech platform, Google’s legal troubles and OpenAI’s newest partnership

On today’s show: Google deals with another legal headache. A federal appeals court revived a class-action lawsuit that had been dismissed concerning privacy violations by its Chrome browser. Plus, OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has partnered up with another media brand, Condé Nast. But first, we can’t ignore the biggest happening of the week — the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where the party formally nominated Vice President Kamala Harris for president with the help of big names in

Aug 23, 2024 • 9:20

What it’s like to be a content creator at the DNC

What it’s like to be a content creator at the DNC

New faces are mingling among the party faithful and the swarm of journalists at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week. In a bid to reach younger, more online voters, the DNC invited 200 content creators to cover the convention. One of them is Malynda Hale, who’s been sharing her experience with her more than 50,000 followers on Instagram. Creators like her, she said, have their own part to play at the event. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Hale how it’s been going

Aug 22, 2024 • 8:59

What it’s like to be a content creator at the DNC

What it’s like to be a content creator at the DNC

New faces are mingling among the party faithful and the swarm of journalists at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week. In a bid to reach younger, more online voters, the DNC invited 200 content creators to cover the convention. One of them is Malynda Hale, who’s been sharing her experience with her more than 50,000 followers on Instagram. Creators like her, she said, have their own part to play at the event. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Hale how it’s been going

Aug 22, 2024 • 8:59

New online age-verification tools  could exclude lots of adults

New online age-verification tools could exclude lots of adults

Earlier this year, the U.S. surgeon general called for a warning label minors on social media, and a growing number of states are requiring online age verification for certain sites. Now, many platforms are adding a safeguard that comes with its own set of trade-offs: facial scanning. These systems use artificial intelligence to analyze visual clues, sometimes in conjunction with a government-issued ID, to keep those it deems too young from accessing a site. In the process, they collect all kind

Aug 21, 2024 • 9:59

New online age-verification tools  could exclude lots of adults

New online age-verification tools could exclude lots of adults

Earlier this year, the U.S. surgeon general called for a warning label minors on social media, and a growing number of states are requiring online age verification for certain sites. Now, many platforms are adding a safeguard that comes with its own set of trade-offs: facial scanning. These systems use artificial intelligence to analyze visual clues, sometimes in conjunction with a government-issued ID, to keep those it deems too young from accessing a site. In the process, they collect all kind

Aug 21, 2024 • 9:59

The Chandra X-ray telescope, now 25, offers a more “complete story of what the universe is doing”

The Chandra X-ray telescope, now 25, offers a more “complete story of what the universe is doing”

On July 23, 1999, the Chandra X-Ray Telescope was launched into space aboard the shuttle Columbia, the first such mission to be commanded by a woman astronaut. The Chandra telescope differs from the Hubble telescope, which observes visible light. Or, the James Webb telescope, which captures frequencies in the infrared range. Chandra detects high energy X-rays. But NASA budget constraints could leave the mission going dark in coming years. To learn more about the Chandra Observatory, Marketplace’

Aug 20, 2024 • 11:17

The Chandra X-ray telescope, now 25, offers a more “complete story of what the universe is doing”

The Chandra X-ray telescope, now 25, offers a more “complete story of what the universe is doing”

On July 23, 1999, the Chandra X-Ray Telescope was launched into space aboard the shuttle Columbia, the first such mission to be commanded by a woman astronaut. The Chandra telescope differs from the Hubble telescope, which observes visible light. Or, the James Webb telescope, which captures frequencies in the infrared range. Chandra detects high energy X-rays. But NASA budget constraints could leave the mission going dark in coming years. To learn more about the Chandra Observatory, Marketplace’

Aug 20, 2024 • 11:17

Not all screen time is created equal

Not all screen time is created equal

When Apple introduced its Screen Time report, it promised the feature would  empower users to manage their device time and balance the things that are really important. But is it actually doing that? Caroline Mimbs Nyce, a staff writer at The Atlantic, recently wrote about why she thinks Screen Time is the worst feature Apple has ever made. She told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that it sometimes feels like Screen Time is doing more guilt-tripping than empowering these days.

Aug 19, 2024 • 10:14

Not all screen time is created equal

Not all screen time is created equal

When Apple introduced its Screen Time report, it promised the feature would  empower users to manage their device time and balance the things that are really important. But is it actually doing that? Caroline Mimbs Nyce, a staff writer at The Atlantic, recently wrote about why she thinks Screen Time is the worst feature Apple has ever made. She told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that it sometimes feels like Screen Time is doing more guilt-tripping than empowering these days.

Aug 19, 2024 • 10:14

Bytes: Week in Review — X vs. advertisers, Instagram’s harassment problem, and the food delivery race continues

Bytes: Week in Review — X vs. advertisers, Instagram’s harassment problem, and the food delivery race continues

It’s Friday which means it’s time for Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review. On today’s show, Instagram is known for pretty pictures but a new report shows it lets a lot of ugly and abusive comments remain on the platform. Plus, Door Dash has dominated the food delivery race. Now it looks like Uber may be catching up. But first, the social media platform X relies on advertisers, so why is it going to war with them? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino discusses all of this week’s biggest tech st

Aug 16, 2024 • 15:14

Bytes: Week in Review — X vs. advertisers, Instagram’s harassment problem, and the food delivery race continues

Bytes: Week in Review — X vs. advertisers, Instagram’s harassment problem, and the food delivery race continues

It’s Friday which means it’s time for Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review. On today’s show, Instagram is known for pretty pictures but a new report shows it lets a lot of ugly and abusive comments remain on the platform. Plus, Door Dash has dominated the food delivery race. Now it looks like Uber may be catching up. But first, the social media platform X relies on advertisers, so why is it going to war with them? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino discusses all of this week’s biggest tech st

Aug 16, 2024 • 15:14

Senators advance bipartisan effort to regulate deepfakes

Senators advance bipartisan effort to regulate deepfakes

Last month, senators from both sides of the aisle formally introduced what could become the first U.S. federal law regulating deepfakes. It’s called the No Fakes Act — short for the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act. It comes on the heels of controversies like the one involving the OpenAI voice assistant, which may or may not have sounded a little too much like actress Scarlett Johansson. GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee helped draft the bill, saying: “The No F

Aug 15, 2024 • 8:16

Senators advance bipartisan effort to regulate deepfakes

Senators advance bipartisan effort to regulate deepfakes

Last month, senators from both sides of the aisle formally introduced what could become the first U.S. federal law regulating deepfakes. It’s called the No Fakes Act — short for the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe Act. It comes on the heels of controversies like the one involving the OpenAI voice assistant, which may or may not have sounded a little too much like actress Scarlett Johansson. GOP Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee helped draft the bill, saying: “The No F

Aug 15, 2024 • 8:16

Can AI accurately simulate a human?

Can AI accurately simulate a human?

Generative artificial intelligence has made it possible to mimic someone’s voice and generate a script for that voice in real time. The tech, of course, is already used to scam and defraud people, but what if you just had it make a bunch of calls on your behalf? That’s what journalist Evan Ratliff did for his new podcast, “Shell Game.” He trained AI audio clones, gave them phone numbers and sat back as they took on customer service agents, family members, therapists and even a few scammers. Mar

Aug 14, 2024 • 10:51

Can AI accurately simulate a human?

Can AI accurately simulate a human?

Generative artificial intelligence has made it possible to mimic someone’s voice and generate a script for that voice in real time. The tech, of course, is already used to scam and defraud people, but what if you just had it make a bunch of calls on your behalf? That’s what journalist Evan Ratliff did for his new podcast, “Shell Game.” He trained AI audio clones, gave them phone numbers and sat back as they took on customer service agents, family members, therapists and even a few scammers. Mar

Aug 14, 2024 • 10:51

Remembering a Silicon Valley giant

Remembering a Silicon Valley giant

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube, died last week at the age of 56. As a kid, she wanted to be an artist. As an adult, she discovered the “art of technology.”

Aug 13, 2024 • 5:56

Remembering a Silicon Valley giant

Remembering a Silicon Valley giant

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube, died last week at the age of 56. As a kid, she wanted to be an artist. As an adult, she discovered the “art of technology.”

Aug 13, 2024 • 5:56

Can AI solve fans’ concert ticket woes?

Can AI solve fans’ concert ticket woes?

Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” has shattered records, crashed websites and broken the hearts of fans vying for tickets. The BBC’s Sam Gruet says AI could help fans purchase tickets for a fair price and without the risk of fraud.

Aug 12, 2024 • 5:12

Can AI solve fans’ concert ticket woes?

Can AI solve fans’ concert ticket woes?

Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” has shattered records, crashed websites and broken the hearts of fans vying for tickets. The BBC’s Sam Gruet says AI could help fans purchase tickets for a fair price and without the risk of fraud.

Aug 12, 2024 • 5:12

Bytes: Week in Review — An AI bubble, Olympians’ mental health and controversial ads

Bytes: Week in Review — An AI bubble, Olympians’ mental health and controversial ads

On today’s show: Olympians have taken to social media to celebrate, sometimes to trash talk, but also to discuss their mental health. And Google pulled a controversial Olympics ad featuring its Gemini artificial intelligence tool. But first, what the stock market sell-off could be saying about the AI boom. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino discusses all of this with Christina Farr, author of the health tech newsletter “Second Opinion,” who says there’s growing chatter that AI has gotten a bit

Aug 9, 2024 • 14:33

Bytes: Week in Review — An AI bubble, Olympians’ mental health and controversial ads

Bytes: Week in Review — An AI bubble, Olympians’ mental health and controversial ads

On today’s show: Olympians have taken to social media to celebrate, sometimes to trash talk, but also to discuss their mental health. And Google pulled a controversial Olympics ad featuring its Gemini artificial intelligence tool. But first, what the stock market sell-off could be saying about the AI boom. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino discusses all of this with Christina Farr, author of the health tech newsletter “Second Opinion,” who says there’s growing cha

Aug 9, 2024 • 14:33

Yes, you can place bets on the election (for now)

Yes, you can place bets on the election (for now)

Who will win the election? What will the vote margin be? Will Donald Trump post on X before November? People can place bets on all these real-world questions — and more — on prediction markets. And these online platforms like PredictIt and Polymarket are increasingly being looked to as crystal balls in this chaotic election, promising real-time political insights and the chance to make a few bucks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Chris Cohen, the deputy site editor of GQ, who recent

Aug 8, 2024 • 12:38

Yes, you can place bets on the election (for now)

Yes, you can place bets on the election (for now)

Who will win the election? What will the vote margin be? Will Donald Trump post on X before November? People can place bets on all these real-world questions — and more — on prediction markets. And these online platforms like PredictIt and Polymarket are increasingly being looked to as crystal balls in this chaotic election, promising real-time political insights and the chance to make a few bucks. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Chris Cohen, the deputy site editor of GQ, who recent

Aug 8, 2024 • 12:38

Can an algorithm break antitrust law?

Can an algorithm break antitrust law?

More than 20 years ago, executives at rival auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s were found guilty of coordinating a massive price-fixing scheme. Leaders from the companies held covert meetings, where they set identical commission fees. Today, active antitrust cases show that the ways in which companies might conspire are changing. Algorithms can replace secret meetings, but U.S. regulators say it’s still collusion, whether it’s a human or a bot pulling the strings. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali

Aug 7, 2024 • 11:15

Can an algorithm break antitrust law?

Can an algorithm break antitrust law?

More than 20 years ago, executives at rival auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s were found guilty of coordinating a massive price-fixing scheme. Leaders from the companies held covert meetings, where they set identical commission fees. Today, active antitrust cases show that the ways in which companies might conspire are changing. Algorithms can replace secret meetings, but U.S. regulators say it’s still collusion, whether it’s a human or a bot pulling the strings. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali

Aug 7, 2024 • 11:15

With the internet now a necessity, the digital underclass is still in need

With the internet now a necessity, the digital underclass is still in need

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a photo of two little girls in the parking lot of a California Taco Bell went viral. They were doing their schoolwork on laptops in that inconvenient location because the restaurant provided free Wi-Fi, which they didn’t have at home. The girls came to symbolize the digital underclass that’s emerged since the rise of the internet. There are millions of American kids like them, says Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Her ana

Aug 6, 2024 • 12:20

With the internet now a necessity, the digital underclass is still in need

With the internet now a necessity, the digital underclass is still in need

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, a photo of two little girls in the parking lot of a California Taco Bell went viral. They were doing their schoolwork on laptops in that inconvenient location because the restaurant provided free Wi-Fi, which they didn’t have at home. The girls came to symbolize the digital underclass that’s emerged since the rise of the internet. There are millions of American kids like them, says Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Her ana

Aug 6, 2024 • 12:20

AI is learning how to lie

AI is learning how to lie

Large language models go through a lot of vetting before they’re released to the public. That includes safety tests, bias checks, ethical reviews and more. But what if, hypothetically, a model could dodge a safety question by lying to developers, hiding its real response to a safety test and instead giving the exact response its human handlers are looking for? A recent study shows that advanced LLMs are developing the capacity for deception, and that could bring that hypothetical situation close

Aug 5, 2024 • 11:40

AI is learning how to lie

AI is learning how to lie

Large language models go through a lot of vetting before they’re released to the public. That includes safety tests, bias checks, ethical reviews and more. But what if, hypothetically, a model could dodge a safety question by lying to developers, hiding its real response to a safety test and instead giving the exact response its human handlers are looking for? A recent study shows that advanced LLMs are developing the capacity for deception, and that could bring that hypothetical situation close

Aug 5, 2024 • 11:40

Bytes: Week in Review — Kids’ online safety legislation, Meta’s AI and EV regrets

Bytes: Week in Review — Kids’ online safety legislation, Meta’s AI and EV regrets

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta is expanding AI offerings across its products, even as the company gets rid of AI features that haven’t quite landed with consumers. The bottom line? CEO Mark Zuckerberg says “Meta AI is on track to be the most used AI assistant in the world by the end of the year.”Then, the Wall Street Journal’s senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern shares surprises and regrets on her journey as an electric vehicle owner. But first, this week in Congress, the Se

Aug 2, 2024 • 11:23

Bytes: Week in Review — Kids’ online safety legislation, Meta’s AI and EV regrets

Bytes: Week in Review — Kids’ online safety legislation, Meta’s AI and EV regrets

Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta is expanding AI offerings across its products, even as the company gets rid of AI features that haven’t quite landed with consumers. The bottom line? CEO Mark Zuckerberg says “Meta AI is on track to be the most used AI assistant in the world by the end of the year.”Then, the Wall Street Journal’s senior personal tech columnist Joanna Stern shares surprises and regrets on her journey as an electric vehicle owner. But first, this week in Congress, the Se

Aug 2, 2024 • 11:23

The hidden cost of smart home technology

The hidden cost of smart home technology

There’s always been something aspirational about the term “smart home.” It was coined by a residential builder association here in the U.S. back in the mid-’80s, long before the inventions we now think of as hallmarks of the smart home. Today, 42% of American households with internet own at least one smart home device, according to the market research firm Parks Associates. In her new book, “Threshold: How Smart Homes Change Us Inside and Out,” Heather Suzanne Woods of Kansas State University as

Aug 1, 2024 • 10:01

The hidden cost of smart home technology

The hidden cost of smart home technology

There’s always been something aspirational about the term “smart home.” It was coined by a residential builder association here in the U.S. back in the mid-’80s, long before the inventions we now think of as hallmarks of the smart home. Today, 42% of American households with internet own at least one smart home device, according to the market research firm Parks Associates. In her new book, “Threshold: How Smart Homes Change Us Inside and Out,” Heather Suzanne Woods of Kansas State University as

Aug 1, 2024 • 10:01

A lifesaving medical technology puts some patients on a “bridge to nowhere”

A lifesaving medical technology puts some patients on a “bridge to nowhere”

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, can be a lifesaving technology for patients whose organs have failed. It works, essentially, by performing the functions that a healthy person’s lungs and heart would normally do. While using the machine, many recipients of ECMO treatment can walk, talk, even ride a stationary bike, but they can’t leave the hospital with the machine, nor can they survive without it. In a recent article in The New Yorker, emergency physician and writer Clayton Dalton

Jul 31, 2024 • 10:02

A lifesaving medical technology puts some patients on a “bridge to nowhere”

A lifesaving medical technology puts some patients on a “bridge to nowhere”

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, can be a lifesaving technology for patients whose organs have failed. It works, essentially, by performing the functions that a healthy person’s lungs and heart would normally do. While using the machine, many recipients of ECMO treatment can walk, talk, even ride a stationary bike, but they can’t leave the hospital with the machine, nor can they survive without it. In a recent article in The New Yorker, emergency physician and writer Clayton Dalton

Jul 31, 2024 • 10:02

For data-hungry tech companies, YouTube is a gold mine

For data-hungry tech companies, YouTube is a gold mine

Companies competing in the chatbot wars are using something known in the industry as “the Pile” to train their large language models. It’s a trove of open-source data made up of text scraped from all around the internet, including Wikipedia and the European Parliament. Annie Gilbertson, investigative reporter for Proof News, recently took a deep dive into the Pile and discovered something else: a dataset called “YouTube Subtitles.” Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Gilbertson about her invest

Jul 30, 2024 • 11:41

For data-hungry tech companies, YouTube is a gold mine

For data-hungry tech companies, YouTube is a gold mine

Companies competing in the chatbot wars are using something known in the industry as “the Pile” to train their large language models. It’s a trove of open-source data made up of text scraped from all around the internet, including Wikipedia and the European Parliament. Annie Gilbertson, investigative reporter for Proof News, recently took a deep dive into the Pile and discovered something else: a dataset called “YouTube Subtitles.” Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Gilbertson about her invest

Jul 30, 2024 • 11:41

Does the tech sector need its own regulatory agency?

Does the tech sector need its own regulatory agency?

It’s a rare issue that can bring the political parties together in Congress, and the need to regulate social media companies ranks high on that very short list. Two industry veterans want Congress to create an agency that sets safety and privacy rules for platforms — and enforces them. The status quo, they argue, is like letting airlines fly without Federal Aviation Administration oversight. The idea comes from Anika Collier Navaroli and Ellen Pao. Pao, an attorney and now CEO of Project Inclu

Jul 29, 2024 • 9:55

Does the tech sector need its own regulatory agency?

Does the tech sector need its own regulatory agency?

It’s a rare issue that can bring the political parties together in Congress, and the need to regulate social media companies ranks high on that very short list. Two industry veterans want Congress to create an agency that sets safety and privacy rules for platforms — and enforces them. The status quo, they argue, is like letting airlines fly without Federal Aviation Administration oversight. The idea comes from Anika Collier Navaroli and Ellen Pao. Pao, an attorney and now CEO of Project Inclu

Jul 29, 2024 • 9:55

Bytes: Week in Review — Google cookies, Waymo vandalism and Kamala Harris memes

Bytes: Week in Review — Google cookies, Waymo vandalism and Kamala Harris memes

On the show today: The ascent of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic Party ticket has stirred the KHive. We’ll look at what the Harris memes mean, in case you just fell out of a coconut tree. Plus, why Waymo is suing alleged vandals of its vehicles in San Francisco. We ask, why now? But first, cookies are here to stay — for a while, anyway. Google is backtracking on its plan, announced in 2020, to do away with the files that advertisers use to track us online. Marketplace’s

Jul 26, 2024 • 12:10

Bytes: Week in Review — Google cookies, Waymo vandalism and Kamala Harris memes

Bytes: Week in Review — Google cookies, Waymo vandalism and Kamala Harris memes

On the show today: The ascent of Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the Democratic Party ticket has stirred the KHive. We’ll look at what the Harris memes mean, in case you just fell out of a coconut tree. Plus, why Waymo is suing alleged vandals of its vehicles in San Francisco. We ask, why now? But first, cookies are here to stay — for a while, anyway. Google is backtracking on its plan, announced in 2020, to do away with the files that advertisers use to track us online. Marketplace’s

Jul 26, 2024 • 12:10

Landmark disability law now applies to life online

Landmark disability law now applies to life online

Back in 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, the world’s first comprehensive law for people with disabilities. It was seen as making up for an area in which the Civil Rights Act of 1964 fell short. “The stark fact remains that people with disabilities were still victims of segregation and discrimination, and this was intolerable,” Bush said. Now, the legislation passed at the dawn of the internet age is being adapted to ensure digital access for eve

Jul 25, 2024 • 11:03

Landmark disability law now applies to life online

Landmark disability law now applies to life online

Back in 1990, then-President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, the world’s first comprehensive law for people with disabilities. It was seen as making up for an area in which the Civil Rights Act of 1964 fell short. “The stark fact remains that people with disabilities were still victims of segregation and discrimination, and this was intolerable,” Bush said. Now, the legislation passed at the dawn of the internet age is being adapted to ensure digital access for eve

Jul 25, 2024 • 11:03

How DIY medical testing is changing health care

How DIY medical testing is changing health care

What if receiving a medical diagnosis was as simple as shopping online? The growing home diagnostics industry says it can be. At-home testing was widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more health tech companies also offer DIY kits that test for food allergies, fertility and thyroid function, among other things. Some medical experts are wary of this on-demand model, but health tech investors say it can make health care more accessible. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Chrissy Farr, autho

Jul 24, 2024 • 14:17

How DIY medical testing is changing health care

How DIY medical testing is changing health care

What if receiving a medical diagnosis was as simple as shopping online? The growing home diagnostics industry says it can be. At-home testing was widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, but more health tech companies also offer DIY kits that test for food allergies, fertility and thyroid function, among other things. Some medical experts are wary of this on-demand model, but health tech investors say it can make health care more accessible. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Chrissy Farr, autho

Jul 24, 2024 • 14:17

Lessons to learn from the massive CrowdStrike outage

Lessons to learn from the massive CrowdStrike outage

Last Friday felt like something out of a Y2K nightmare after the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, pushed a software update to all its clients — including health care systems, banks and the federal government — that ended up crashing computer systems worldwide. The fallout is still being felt, particularly in the travel sector, as airliners try to reschedule canceled flights while trying to get everything back to normal. It’s also become something of a reminder that the internet and a lot of th

Jul 23, 2024 • 10:15

Lessons to learn from the massive CrowdStrike outage

Lessons to learn from the massive CrowdStrike outage

Last Friday felt like something out of a Y2K nightmare after the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, pushed a software update to all its clients — including health care systems, banks and the federal government — that ended up crashing computer systems worldwide. The fallout is still being felt, particularly in the travel sector, as airliners try to reschedule canceled flights while trying to get everything back to normal. It’s also become something of a reminder that the internet and a lot of th

Jul 23, 2024 • 10:15

EU regulators request information on Amazon’s algorithms

EU regulators request information on Amazon’s algorithms

Online sales in the U.S. surpassed $14 billion during Amazon Prime Day last week, according to Adobe Analytics. Amazon’s heft and promotional power continue to drive sales, even for rivals, during the shopping jamboree. But in Europe, an important market for the e-commerce giant, lawmakers have become increasingly sensitive to Amazon’s relations with its rivals, as well as its partners and customers. They’ve requested that Amazon hand over information about its product recommendation algorithm

Jul 22, 2024 • 10:18

EU regulators request information on Amazon’s algorithms

EU regulators request information on Amazon’s algorithms

Online sales in the U.S. surpassed $14 billion during Amazon Prime Day last week, according to Adobe Analytics. Amazon’s heft and promotional power continue to drive sales, even for rivals, during the shopping jamboree. But in Europe, an important market for the e-commerce giant, lawmakers have become increasingly sensitive to Amazon’s relations with its rivals, as well as its partners and customers. They’ve requested that Amazon hand over information about its product recommendation algorithm

Jul 22, 2024 • 10:18

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Vance’s Silicon Valley ties, Prime Day injuries and Starbucks bets on EVs

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Vance’s Silicon Valley ties, Prime Day injuries and Starbucks bets on EVs

A new Senate report finds Amazon Prime Day is prime time for warehouse injuries. Plus, Starbucks is teaming up with Mercedes-Benz to supercharge electric vehicle infrastructure. But first, several Silicon Valley billionaires have thrown their support behind former President Donald Trump in his quest to reclaim the White House, thanks in part to his pick for vice president, Sen. J.D. Vance. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Jewel Burks Solomon, a managing partner at Collab Capital, f

Jul 19, 2024 • 13:54

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Vance’s Silicon Valley ties, Prime Day injuries and Starbucks bets on EVs

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Vance’s Silicon Valley ties, Prime Day injuries and Starbucks bets on EVs

A new Senate report finds Amazon Prime Day is prime time for warehouse injuries. Plus, Starbucks is teaming up with Mercedes-Benz to supercharge electric vehicle infrastructure. But first, several Silicon Valley billionaires have thrown their support behind former President Donald Trump in his quest to reclaim the White House, thanks in part to his pick for vice president, Sen. J.D. Vance. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Jewel Burks Solomon, a managing partner at Collab Capital, f

Jul 19, 2024 • 13:54

How to deal with misinformation about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump

How to deal with misinformation about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump

FBI officials are still looking into what motivated the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday. As of this episode, investigators have yet to publicly share any conclusions about his reasons for the attack, which killed a rally attendee and injured the former president and two others. But the lack of information didn’t stop misinformation from flooding online channels. Marketplace’s senior Washington correspondent, Kimberly Adams, speaks with

Jul 18, 2024 • 8:52

How to deal with misinformation about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump

How to deal with misinformation about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump

FBI officials are still looking into what motivated the 20-year-old gunman who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Saturday. As of this episode, investigators have yet to publicly share any conclusions about his reasons for the attack, which killed a rally attendee and injured the former president and two others. But the lack of information didn’t stop misinformation from flooding online channels. Marketplace’s senior Washington correspondent, Kimberly Adams, speaks with

Jul 18, 2024 • 8:52

The complicated reality of school cellphone bans

The complicated reality of school cellphone bans

Pop quiz: What’s a policy supported by political rivals in California and Florida? The answer is banning cellphones in school. Florida is among a handful of states that have restricted mobile devices in the classroom. California has not, though Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed the Legislature to act. The policies are intended to reduce distraction and mitigate addiction and other mental health concerns attributed to phone use. But Liz Kolb, a clinical professor of education at the University

Jul 17, 2024 • 12:24

The complicated reality of school cellphone bans

The complicated reality of school cellphone bans

Pop quiz: What’s a policy supported by political rivals in California and Florida? The answer is banning cellphones in school. Florida is among a handful of states that have restricted mobile devices in the classroom. California has not, though Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed the Legislature to act. The policies are intended to reduce distraction and mitigate addiction and other mental health concerns attributed to phone use. But Liz Kolb, a clinical professor of education at the University of Mic

Jul 17, 2024 • 12:24

The digital surveillance of transgender people

The digital surveillance of transgender people

In recent years, we’ve seen a surge of state laws and policies affecting trans people. Half of states have banned or restricted gender affirming care for minors, with some adding restrictions for adults. The ACLU is tracking more than 500 bills that have been introduced across the country. The enforcement of such laws, as with recent bans on abortion and related reproductive care, have raised concerns about tracking people’s digital footprints. So much of daily life is conducted online, and the

Jul 16, 2024 • 6:42

The digital surveillance of transgender people

The digital surveillance of transgender people

In recent years, we’ve seen a surge of state laws and policies affecting trans people. Half of states have banned or restricted gender affirming care for minors, with some adding restrictions for adults. The ACLU is tracking more than 500 bills that have been introduced across the country. The enforcement of such laws, as with recent bans on abortion and related reproductive care, have raised concerns about tracking people’s digital footprints. So much of daily life is conducted online, and the

Jul 16, 2024 • 6:42

Online speech cases sent back to the lower courts

Online speech cases sent back to the lower courts

Sandwiched between some blockbuster Supreme Court rulings last month came a decision — or more so, a non-decision — that is reverberating through the tech world. NetChoice, big tech’s lobbying arm, challenged a pair of laws in Florida and Texas that sought to restrict how social media platforms moderate content. The high court kicked both cases back to lower courts with some added commentary. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Lauren Feiner, senior policy reporter with the Verge, wh

Jul 15, 2024 • 10:02

Online speech cases sent back to the lower courts

Online speech cases sent back to the lower courts

Sandwiched between some blockbuster Supreme Court rulings last month came a decision — or more so, a non-decision — that is reverberating through the tech world. NetChoice, big tech’s lobbying arm, challenged a pair of laws in Florida and Texas that sought to restrict how social media platforms moderate content. The high court kicked both cases back to lower courts with some added commentary. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Lauren Feiner, senior policy reporter with the Verge, wh

Jul 15, 2024 • 10:02

Bytes: Week in Review — FTC’s latest tech crackdown, Trump’s pro-crypto campaign and Threads turns a year old

Bytes: Week in Review — FTC’s latest tech crackdown, Trump’s pro-crypto campaign and Threads turns a year old

The Republican Party officially adopted former President Donald Trump’s 2024 platform this week. The GOP is now taking a friendly approach to cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, with plans to roll back regulation of both. Plus, Meta’s Threads platform celebrates its one-year anniversary this month. But first, the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on the popular messaging app NGL. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is joined by Natasha Mascarenhas, reporter at The Information, fo

Jul 12, 2024 • 12:53

Bytes: Week in Review — FTC’s latest tech crackdown, Trump’s pro-crypto campaign and Threads turns a year old

Bytes: Week in Review — FTC’s latest tech crackdown, Trump’s pro-crypto campaign and Threads turns a year old

The Republican Party officially adopted former President Donald Trump’s 2024 platform this week. The GOP is now taking a friendly approach to cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence, with plans to roll back regulation of both. Plus, Meta’s Threads platform celebrates its one-year anniversary this month. But first, the Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on the popular messaging app NGL. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is joined by Natasha Mascarenhas, reporter at The Information, fo

Jul 12, 2024 • 12:53

More website links are expiring. Is it a bug or a feature of the internet?

More website links are expiring. Is it a bug or a feature of the internet?

The internet is full of all manner of unsavoriness that is surely corroding our minds and societies. But the kind of rot we’re talking about here is link rot — the disappearance of online content when links turn into “404 Page Not Found.” A recent study from Pew Research suggests almost 40% of all webpages that existed in 2013 are no longer accessible. That includes important government links, citations on Wikipedia and hyperlinks in news articles. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently talked abo

Jul 11, 2024 • 11:48

More website links are expiring. Is it a bug or a feature of the internet?

More website links are expiring. Is it a bug or a feature of the internet?

The internet is full of all manner of unsavoriness that is surely corroding our minds and societies. But the kind of rot we’re talking about here is link rot — the disappearance of online content when links turn into “404 Page Not Found.” A recent study from Pew Research suggests almost 40% of all webpages that existed in 2013 are no longer accessible. That includes important government links, citations on Wikipedia and hyperlinks in news articles. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently talked abo

Jul 11, 2024 • 11:48

Progressive TikTok creators turn against Biden

Progressive TikTok creators turn against Biden

About a third of adults under 30 regularly get their news on TikTok, according to the Pew Research Center. And in this election season, the messages from young, left-leaning creators on the short-form video app are pretty different from last time around. In 2020, a coalition of influencers united to back presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign, and historically high youth turnout helped propel him to a win. But after almost four years of the Biden presidency, the TikTok tide has turned, acc

Jul 10, 2024 • 15:39

Progressive TikTok creators turn against Biden

Progressive TikTok creators turn against Biden

About a third of adults under 30 regularly get their news on TikTok, according to the Pew Research Center. And in this election season, the messages from young, left-leaning creators on the short-form video app are pretty different from last time around. In 2020, a coalition of influencers united to back presidential candidate Joe Biden’s campaign, and historically high youth turnout helped propel him to a win. But after almost four years of the Biden presidency, the TikTok tide has turned, acc

Jul 10, 2024 • 15:39

The making of Sam Altman

The making of Sam Altman

The overnight success of ChatGPT helped turn Sam Altman, CEO of its maker, OpenAI, into one of the most powerful people in tech. At a conference hosted by Bloomberg last summer, Altman was asked why we should trust him with so much power, and in response, Altman said, “You shouldn’t.” And yet, throughout his career, Altman has managed to win the trust of Silicon Valley’s kingmakers with ease. In the latest season of Bloomberg’s podcast “Foundering,” journalist Ellen Huet tries to understand Altm

Jul 9, 2024 • 15:32

The making of Sam Altman

The making of Sam Altman

The overnight success of ChatGPT helped turn Sam Altman, CEO of its maker, OpenAI, into one of the most powerful people in tech. At a conference hosted by Bloomberg last summer, Altman was asked why we should trust him with so much power, and in response, Altman said, “You shouldn’t.” And yet, throughout his career, Altman has managed to win the trust of Silicon Valley’s kingmakers with ease. In the latest season of Bloomberg’s podcast “Foundering,” journalist Ellen Huet tries to understand Altm

Jul 9, 2024 • 15:32

AI concerns stall contract negotiations between game companies and actors

AI concerns stall contract negotiations between game companies and actors

Big-budget video game producers and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union representing voice-over actors and motion-capture stunt workers, have been negotiating a new labor contract since last September. And union leaders say those talks have stalled due to concerns over generative artificial intelligence. (Note: Several Marketplace employees are also represented by SAG-AFTRA under a different contract.) Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Assoc

Jul 8, 2024 • 11:18

AI concerns stall contract negotiations between game companies and actors

AI concerns stall contract negotiations between game companies and actors

Big-budget video game producers and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the union representing voice-over actors and motion-capture stunt workers, have been negotiating a new labor contract since last September. And union leaders say those talks have stalled due to concerns over generative artificial intelligence. (Note: Several Marketplace employees are also represented by SAG-AFTRA under a different contract.) Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Assoc

Jul 8, 2024 • 11:18

Bytes: Week in Review — the most impactful moment, the biggest flub and the most underreported story in tech

Bytes: Week in Review — the most impactful moment, the biggest flub and the most underreported story in tech

We’ve reached the midyear mark for 2024, so for our weekly review show, “Tech Bytes,” we are breaking format and taking stock of the past six months in tech with Maria Curi, tech policy reporter at Axios. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali asked her what she thought was the most underreported story of the last six months. And what was the biggest flub? We’ll get to those, but we’ll start Curi’s pick for the most impactful story of the first half of the year.

Jul 5, 2024 • 15:00

The unstoppable rise of Swedish music tech

The unstoppable rise of Swedish music tech

Streaming giants Spotify and SoundCloud were both founded in Stockholm, and over the past two decades the Swedish capital has developed a reputation as a European hub for companies blending music and innovation. So why does this small Nordic city punch above its weight in music tech, and are start-ups still able to thrive there after a rocky few years for the global economy? The BBC’s Maddy Savage reports.

Jul 4, 2024 • 7:46

The unstoppable rise of Swedish music tech

The unstoppable rise of Swedish music tech

Streaming giants Spotify and SoundCloud were both founded in Stockholm, and over the past two decades the Swedish capital has developed a reputation as a European hub for companies blending music and innovation. So why does this small Nordic city punch above its weight in music tech, and are start-ups still able to thrive there after a rocky few years for the global economy? The BBC’s Maddy Savage reports.

Jul 4, 2024 • 7:46

What do billboards say about a city?

What do billboards say about a city?

For the millions of residents and visitors who commute in and out of the areas daily, billboards in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area have long been a way to see where the state of tech is at the moment — and where it’s headed next.

Jul 3, 2024 • 12:36

What do billboards say about a city?

What do billboards say about a city?

For the millions of residents and visitors who commute in and out of the areas daily, billboards in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area have long been a way to see where the state of tech is at the moment — and where it’s headed next.

Jul 3, 2024 • 12:36

Creating a “joy spiral” to revive San Francisco’s downtown

Creating a “joy spiral” to revive San Francisco’s downtown

Yesterday, we explained San Francisco’s fraught relationship with the tech industry. Tech workers weren’t always welcome in the eyes of many other residents, and when the COVID-19 pandemic began, a lot of them left, taking their dollars with them. But on a recent Thursday evening, organizers of a block party downtown were trying to bring people back. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Manny Yekutiel and Katy Birnbaum about their efforts to revive the city’s downtown.

Jul 2, 2024 • 12:39

Creating a “joy spiral” to revive San Francisco’s downtown

Creating a “joy spiral” to revive San Francisco’s downtown

Yesterday, we explained San Francisco’s fraught relationship with the tech industry. Tech workers weren’t always welcome in the eyes of many other residents, and when the COVID-19 pandemic began, a lot of them left, taking their dollars with them. But on a recent Thursday evening, organizers of a block party downtown were trying to bring people back. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Manny Yekutiel and Katy Birnbaum about their efforts to revive the city’s downtown.

Jul 2, 2024 • 12:39

Is San Francisco in a “doom loop” or a “boom loop”?

Is San Francisco in a “doom loop” or a “boom loop”?

Cities across the country are still trying to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic changed how and where many of us work, leaving big holes in downtown office districts. San Francisco, once teeming with tech workers, is no exception. But few cities have suffered the sustained reputational damage that San Francisco has. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently visited the city to meet with Heather Knight, The New York Times’ San Francisco bureau chief. Knight, who has been covering the city for more tha

Jul 1, 2024 • 10:51

Is San Francisco in a “doom loop” or a “boom loop”?

Is San Francisco in a “doom loop” or a “boom loop”?

Cities across the country are still trying to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic changed how and where many of us work, leaving big holes in downtown office districts. San Francisco, once teeming with tech workers, is no exception. But few cities have suffered the sustained reputational damage that San Francisco has. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently visited the city to meet with Heather Knight, The New York Times’ San Francisco bureau chief. Knight, who has been covering the city for more tha

Jul 1, 2024 • 10:51

Bytes: Week in Review — music biz vs. AI, social media moderation and Nvidia stock woes

Bytes: Week in Review — music biz vs. AI, social media moderation and Nvidia stock woes

In the past week or so, Nvidia’s stock finally encountered the law of gravity — what goes up must eventually come down, at least a little bit. And we look under the hood of artificial intelligence companies that aren’t necessarily making headlines. Plus, the Supreme Court ruled against Republican-led states that accused the federal government of coercing social media companies into suppressing content. But first, major music labels, including Universal, Sony and Warner, are suing two startups th

Jun 28, 2024 • 10:29

Bytes: Week in Review — music biz vs. AI, social media moderation and Nvidia stock woes

Bytes: Week in Review — music biz vs. AI, social media moderation and Nvidia stock woes

In the past week or so, Nvidia’s stock finally encountered the law of gravity — what goes up must eventually come down, at least a little bit. And we look under the hood of artificial intelligence companies that aren’t necessarily making headlines. Plus, the Supreme Court ruled against Republican-led states that accused the federal government of coercing social media companies into suppressing content. But first, major music labels, including Universal, Sony and Warner, are suing two startups th

Jun 28, 2024 • 10:29

The evolution of political messaging into the digital age

The evolution of political messaging into the digital age

It feels like eons ago, but during a town hall on violence in America in 1994, then-President Bill Clinton took to MTV to reach the nation’s youth. Clinton’s openness to MTV and what The New York Times called “other unconventional media” had helped pave his path to the White House two years earlier. Fast-forward to today, and even reluctant politicians use TikTok to reach younger voters — President Joe Biden is no exception. His first post came just ahead of this year’s Super Bowl. We invited Ma

Jun 27, 2024 • 10:08

The evolution of political messaging into the digital age

The evolution of political messaging into the digital age

It feels like eons ago, but during a town hall on violence in America in 1994, then-President Bill Clinton took to MTV to reach the nation’s youth. Clinton’s openness to MTV and what The New York Times called “other unconventional media” had helped pave his path to the White House two years earlier. Fast-forward to today, and even reluctant politicians use TikTok to reach younger voters — President Joe Biden is no exception. His first post came just ahead of this year’s Super Bowl. We invited Ma

Jun 27, 2024 • 10:08

How data generated by everyday apps can incriminate abortion seekers

How data generated by everyday apps can incriminate abortion seekers

This week, we’ve been taking stock of how tech has both helped and harmed Americans trying to get abortions in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After the Dobbs decision, some experts warned consumers that menstrual tracking apps would provide a means of surveilling abortion seekers. There was even a social media campaign on what was then Twitter advising people to delete their period trackers. But it’s turned out that the threat to privacy isn’t limited to thos

Jun 26, 2024 • 11:01

How data generated by everyday apps can incriminate abortion seekers

How data generated by everyday apps can incriminate abortion seekers

This week, we’ve been taking stock of how tech has both helped and harmed Americans trying to get abortions in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. After the Dobbs decision, some experts warned consumers that menstrual tracking apps would provide a means of surveilling abortion seekers. There was even a social media campaign on what was then Twitter advising people to delete their period trackers. But it’s turned out that the threat to privacy isn’t limited to thos

Jun 26, 2024 • 11:01

Protecting abortion patients’ digital data in the post-Roe era

Protecting abortion patients’ digital data in the post-Roe era

After the U.S. Supreme Court took away the federal right to abortion two years ago, telehealth has helped provide ongoing access, including to people in states where abortion is now banned. That was our subject Monday. Now we are looking into apps that link patients with abortion providers. Julie F. Kay, executive director at the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, told Marketplace’s Lily Jamali that digital privacy protections are far from equal across these services.

Jun 25, 2024 • 14:45

Protecting abortion patients’ digital data in the post-Roe era

Protecting abortion patients’ digital data in the post-Roe era

After the U.S. Supreme Court took away the federal right to abortion two years ago, telehealth has helped provide ongoing access, including to people in states where abortion is now banned. That was our subject Monday. Now we are looking into apps that link patients with abortion providers. Julie F. Kay, executive director at the Abortion Coalition for Telemedicine, told Marketplace’s Lily Jamali that digital privacy protections are far from equal across these services.

Jun 25, 2024 • 14:45

Telehealth widens access to abortion care as lawmakers restrict it

Telehealth widens access to abortion care as lawmakers restrict it

Two years ago this week, the Supreme Court ruled that abortions are not constitutionally protected in the U.S., a decision that would draw protests across the country. Since then, 14 states have outlawed abortions. Still, some people in those states have been able to cut through barriers to get abortions via telehealth, according to a recent report from the research project #WeCount. Usually, this requires a virtual visit with a telehealth care provider. The provider assesses the patient and ge

Jun 24, 2024 • 10:33

Telehealth widens access to abortion care as lawmakers restrict it

Telehealth widens access to abortion care as lawmakers restrict it

Two years ago this week, the Supreme Court ruled that abortions are not constitutionally protected in the U.S., a decision that would draw protests across the country. Since then, 14 states have outlawed abortions. Still, some people in those states have been able to cut through barriers to get abortions via telehealth, according to a recent report from the research project #WeCount. Usually, this requires a virtual visit with a telehealth care provider. The provider assesses the patient and ge

Jun 24, 2024 • 10:33

Bytes: Week in Review — Warning labels for social media, Adobe’s hidden fees and a less open OpenAI

Bytes: Week in Review — Warning labels for social media, Adobe’s hidden fees and a less open OpenAI

Big Tech subscription services are once again in the crosshairs of the Federal Trade Commission, nonprofits with links to OpenAI are becoming less transparent, and Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is urging Congress to require warning labels on social media. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali speaks with Paresh Dave, senior writer at Wired magazine, for this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review

Jun 21, 2024 • 13:22

2014: The year that shaped social media

2014: The year that shaped social media

Picture this: The year is 2014. The song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams is playing on every top 100 station, and the Ellen DeGeneres star-studded Oscars selfie has just “broken Twitter.” As all of this is happening, a bunch of content creators in certain corners of social media are about to start making a whole lot of money. Culture reporter Steffi Cao recently wrote in The Ringer that 2014 was the year that shaped the internet we know today. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to her about what happe

Jun 20, 2024 • 10:19

Juneteenth’s viral moment and its future

Juneteenth’s viral moment and its future

Shortly after the Union won the Civil War in 1865, a union major general issued an order: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” June 19, known as Juneteenth, has long been celebrated by African Americans. But in 2020, in the thick of the Covid-19 pandemic and the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd, Juneteenth took the internet by storm. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Brandon O

Jun 19, 2024 • 8:19

Meet the man who combines science, technology and magic to understand proteins

Meet the man who combines science, technology and magic to understand proteins

Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently visited the headquarters of Nautilus Biotechnology to meet with Parag Mallick, the company’s founder and chief scientist, who is also a magician and an associate professor at Stanford University. Since 2016, Mallick and his team have been building a machine that they say will revolutionize biomedicine by unlocking the secrets of the “dark proteome.”

Jun 18, 2024 • 11:11

How to find a mailbox in Sao Paulo’s favelas

How to find a mailbox in Sao Paulo’s favelas

Brazil has densely populated low-income communities living on the outskirts of many cities like Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Ordering online shopping just isn’t an option for residents as these towns don’t have an official address, but that may be changing. The BBC’s Ben Derico reports.

Jun 17, 2024 • 5:59

Bytes: Week in Review — Apple’s AI flex, Uber’s legal loss and X’s hidden “likes”

Bytes: Week in Review — Apple’s AI flex, Uber’s legal loss and X’s hidden “likes”

Ride-hailing company Uber has lost its challenge to the California law that requires gig companies to provide employment rights to workers. We’ll have more about the legal and political saga on this week’s Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review. Also, X — formerly Twitter — has made user “likes” private, marking another change to the platform’s identity and functionality since Elon Musk took over the social media company. But first, they’re calling it Apple Intelligence. That phrase was used abo

Jun 14, 2024 • 13:14

Greater, newer AI models come with environmental impacts

Greater, newer AI models come with environmental impacts

Back in 2020, Microsoft made an ambitious pledge to go carbon negative by 2030. But that plan is encountering some headwinds, according to its latest sustainability report. It showed Microsoft’s carbon emissions have increased by 30% since it made that pledge four years ago and comes a reminder of the significant environmental cost of the AI boom. Just how significant? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino asked Emma Strubell, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University who co-wro

Jun 13, 2024 • 11:54

Disinformation on elections, migration is spreading in Spanish too

Disinformation on elections, migration is spreading in Spanish too

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have been courting Latinos this election season. Relatedly, perhaps, this voting bloc has emerged as a target for disinformation. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Marketplace senior Washington correspondent Kimberly Adams and Roberta Braga, founder and executive director of the Digital Democracy Institute of the Americas, to learn more about Spanish-language disinformation in the 2024 campaign. This conversation is part of “Marketplace T

Jun 12, 2024 • 8:07

California AG: Without federal law, kids’ online safety starts with the states

California AG: Without federal law, kids’ online safety starts with the states

Back in January, a U.S. Senate committee probed executives from Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Discord about social media’s effect on kids. During a heated exchange with Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stood, turned and apologized to families of victims who were sexually exploited on social media platforms. No federal legislation on the issue has become law, but some states are taking the lead. New York just passed two laws aimed at regulating social media, and California Attorne

Jun 11, 2024 • 12:47

Reddit’s CEO on why it’s partnering with OpenAI and Google

Reddit’s CEO on why it’s partnering with OpenAI and Google

The network of online communities known as Reddit has millions of weekly active users. They post on “subreddit” forums like r/WhatShouldICook — a place where people just talk about their dinner plans — and r/ShowerThoughts, where participants share what they’re thinking during routine tasks. The co-founder and CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman, is a fan of r/Daddit, being a father himself. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Huffman at Reddit headquarters in San Francisco, where they talked about t

Jun 10, 2024 • 13:17

Bytes: Week in Review – AI whistleblowers, Facebook’s future, and meme stock backlash

Bytes: Week in Review – AI whistleblowers, Facebook’s future, and meme stock backlash

It’s cornered the market for boomers. Now, Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta hopes to make Facebook once again a favorite social media app for young adults. Plus, the Wall Street Journal reports E*Trade is considering whether to give the boot to user Roaring Kitty, who helped ignite the 2021 meme stock craze. In case you missed it, yes, the craze is back. But first, there’s yet another open letter on AI. This whistleblower letter comes from more than a dozen current and former employees at major AI compani

Jun 7, 2024 • 14:29

Deepfake detectors promise to tell truth from AI-generated fiction. Do they work?

Deepfake detectors promise to tell truth from AI-generated fiction. Do they work?

Telling truth from fiction online has become a lot harder since the AI boom kicked off a year and a half ago. An estimated 40 deepfake detection startups say they have a solution, but so far none can deliver 100% reliable detection. One organization taking on the challenge is TrueMedia.org. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Oren Etzioni, its founder and longtime AI researcher, about what sets his organization’s system apart from the rest.

Jun 6, 2024 • 13:56

The universe is expanding faster than we thought, Webb Space Telescope shows

The universe is expanding faster than we thought, Webb Space Telescope shows

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has been exploring the cosmos for the past three decades, helping scientists understand how fast the universe is expanding and with that, its age. In December 2021, NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope to further that research. The bonus: All those stunning images from outer space. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Adam Riess, a physicist at Johns Hopkins University who shared the 2011 Nobel Prize in physics. He said the Webb telescope has confirmed wha

Jun 5, 2024 • 11:18

Paris braces for a barrage of cyberattacks

Paris braces for a barrage of cyberattacks

The Summer Olympics, which kick off in Paris next month, are set to bring more than 10,000 athletes and an estimated 15 million spectators to the French capital. Officials hope to keep sports at center stage, but behind the scenes, they’re preparing to fend off cyberthreats in high volume. In recent years, several Olympic host cities have faced and managed cyberattacks, but as Antoaneta Roussi, cybersecurity reporter at Politico, tells Marketplace’s Lily Jamali, this year could be worse.

Jun 4, 2024 • 13:01

The dark side of AI in India’s election

The dark side of AI in India’s election

Artificial intelligence has been used to help translate election candidates into hundreds of different languages — but also to create deepfakes of Bollywood stars and spread false news. The BBC’s Arunoday Mukharji reports.

Jun 3, 2024 • 7:13

Bytes: Week in Review — OpenAI’s workplace expansion, data center power woes and the ’80s on TikTok

Bytes: Week in Review — OpenAI’s workplace expansion, data center power woes and the ’80s on TikTok

In the early days of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a chatbot query required about 10 times the electricity of a typical Google search. And as people do more with generative artificial intelligence, we’re going to burn through even more power. Plus, the ’80s are back — on TikTok. A new dance trend is getting Gen X parents to show their Gen Z kids how they danced back in the day, to the tune of Bronski Beat’s “Smalltown Boy.” Also this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that consulting and professional s

May 31, 2024 • 13:56

Potential TikTok ban stirs anxieties in small-business owners

Potential TikTok ban stirs anxieties in small-business owners

A law signed by President Joe Biden last month would force TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or be banned in the United States because of national security worries. And it’s making a lot of small-business owners anxious. We hear their stories.

May 30, 2024 • 8:01

A scientist’s struggle to find the truth behind 3M’s “forever chemicals” problem

A scientist’s struggle to find the truth behind 3M’s “forever chemicals” problem

Sharon Lerner has been reporting on “forever chemicals” for the better part of a decade. These manmade compounds — known as PFAS for short — resist oil, water and heat, take an incredibly long time to break down in nature, and have been used widely in products like Scotchgard, Teflon and firefighting foam. Lerner has focused part of her work on understanding the flow of information inside manufacturers like 3M. By the 1970s, Lerner says, Minnesota-based 3M had established that they were toxic i

May 29, 2024 • 14:09

What to do when combating misinformation gets personal

What to do when combating misinformation gets personal

When it comes to combating election-related misinformation online, sometimes the real world is the best place to start, but it isn’t always easy. On this week’s installment of “Marketplace Tech’s” limited series “Decoding Democracy,” Lily Jamali and senior Washington correspondent Kimberly Adams discuss the personal side of misinformation, take questions from colleagues and hear from experts about best practices for talking with loved ones about this sometimes sensitive topic.

May 28, 2024 • 14:02

A not-so-furry dog to help the visually impaired

A not-so-furry dog to help the visually impaired

A team from the University of Glasgow in Scotland is developing a robot guide dog aimed at helping the visually impaired find their way around. They’re calling the AI-powered device the RoboGuide. The BBC’s Shiona McCallum brings us along on her visit with one of the robodogs and its handler, Dr. Wasim Ahmad.

May 27, 2024 • 5:13

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Online extremism, Section 230, and ScarJo vs. OpenAI

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Online extremism, Section 230, and ScarJo vs. OpenAI

Proceeding without permission is a time-tested practice in some corners of Silicon Valley. Well, it’s not working out so well for OpenAI. Actress Scarlett Johansson said this week the company approached her twice to voice a new AI assistant for ChatGPT-4o. She declined, only to find it had used a voice that sounds “eerily” like hers. Plus, on Capitol Hill, a House subcommittee held a hearing that could decide the future of Section 230, the provision that largely governs the internet today. We’ll

May 24, 2024 • 12:38

NASA scrapped the next phase of its Mars mission. Now what?

NASA scrapped the next phase of its Mars mission. Now what?

Ever since NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars three years ago, it’s been collecting rocks and soil from the red planet. The plan was for NASA to send a robotic spacecraft to Mars to bring those samples back to Earth, but the agency has now scrapped those plans thanks to a ballooning price tag and extensive delays. With no way of getting to Mars on its own, NASA is hoping to hitch a ride with private space companies to finish the mission. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Kenneth Cha

May 23, 2024 • 10:17

A professor tries to turn the tables on Section 230’s web protections

A professor tries to turn the tables on Section 230’s web protections

The internet today is largely governed by 26 words in the Communications Decency Act, signed on Feb. 8, 1996, by then-President Bill Clinton. “Today, with the stroke of a pen, our laws will catch up with our future,” he proclaimed during the signing of the act. The web has changed a bit since then. But Section 230 of that law has not. Today, social media companies routinely use Section 230 to protect themselves from liability over what users post. Now, an internet scholar wants to change that.

May 22, 2024 • 13:39

Why cellphones — and trust — may be affecting polling data

Why cellphones — and trust — may be affecting polling data

There was a time when pollsters went door to door to figure out what people were thinking. Gallup did that for almost 50 years, before switching mostly to telephones by the mid-’80s. Phone polling was cheaper but still reliable. That is, until the cellphone came along. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali asked Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup, about the complexities of reaching people to get their views. His company stopped doing presidential horse-race polling in 2012, but still asks Americans for

May 21, 2024 • 14:19

“Right-to-mine” crypto laws are making their way across the U.S.

“Right-to-mine” crypto laws are making their way across the U.S.

If you drive 45 miles north of Little Rock, Arkansas, you’ll come across a facility packed with thousands of computers trying to “mine” the next bitcoin. The popular cryptocurrency’s value recently shot past $60,000 per bitcoin. Mining those bitcoins is a lucrative operation, and several crypto mining outfits have moved to the state since the passage of the Arkansas Data Centers Act last year, also known as the “right-to-mine” bill. Similar bills giving cryp

May 20, 2024 • 11:13

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Google doubles down on AI, ChatGPT gets chatty and Congress charts a path for AI regulation

Tech Bytes – Week in Review: Google doubles down on AI, ChatGPT gets chatty and Congress charts a path for AI regulation

On this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is calling for a heap of new spending on artificial intelligence research. We’ll look at where the proposed $32 billion annually is likely to go. And some of the biggest players in AI tried to outdo one another this week. OpenAI said it’s giving ChatGPT an upgrade and a personality while Google is trying to remake search with its AI model, Gemini. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Anita Ramaswamy, financial

May 17, 2024 • 11:37

A vital, mostly invisible undersea industry is facing a labor shortage

A vital, mostly invisible undersea industry is facing a labor shortage

The whole digital economy runs through hundreds of thousands of miles of communication cables no bigger than a garden hose, deep on the ocean floor. So what happens when they break? And they do break, about once every other day, thanks to fishing trawlers or natural disasters. That’s when you call a repair crew of engineers, geologists, marine construction specialists and more who often spend months at sea repairing cables. This vital industry is largely invisible and facing some big chal

May 16, 2024 • 9:48

Digital ad spending streams past traditional TV

Digital ad spending streams past traditional TV

This week, media executives have been busy trying to impress advertisers at the annual “upfronts,” where major TV networks showcase their stars, new programs and the potential size of their audiences. It’s a show in its own right. “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon did his version of Beyonce’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” at NBC’s upfront Monday. But this year, Big Tech is looking to cash in. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke about it with Reuters rep

May 15, 2024 • 10:55

Why deepfakes of foreigners are selling goods on Chinese social media

Why deepfakes of foreigners are selling goods on Chinese social media

A couple of weeks ago, Marketplace’s China correspondent Jennifer Pak noticed a video deepfake of the Hollywood actor Chris Evans on social media. The AI-generated Evans explains in Chinese how money is at the root of life’s problems. It’s part of a recent trend on mainland China, where deepfakes of foreigners give advice, discuss politics and sell goods online. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Pak about what’s behind the trend and later, the state of online mi

May 14, 2024 • 11:54

What happened to the “Texas miracle”?

What happened to the “Texas miracle”?

Early in the pandemic, many big tech companies based in Silicon Valley exited California, fleeing the high overhead necessary to do business there. One city — Austin, Texas — was consistently tagged as the top destination. The Texas capital offered lower costs, especially in regard to housing and taxes. Another draw for companies: the state’s more lax approach to regulation. Well, after a massive influx, the “Texas miracle,” with Austin at its epicenter, is losing some of its

May 13, 2024 • 14:15

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Layoffs at Tesla, OpenAI’s deepfake detector and lots of new iPads

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Layoffs at Tesla, OpenAI’s deepfake detector and lots of new iPads

On this week’s Tech Bytes: Week in Review, OpenAI has unveiled its own deepfake detection software and is allowing a small group of disinformation researchers to use it. Speaking of artificial intelligence, Apple this week unveiled a new suite of iPads (just in case you forgot they still make those). The company announced its new iPad Pro will, among other features, run on an AI-powered processing chip. But first, a sales slowdown has hit electric car maker Tesla pretty hard of late. Now,

May 10, 2024 • 13:45

How scammers hijack their victims’ brains

How scammers hijack their victims’ brains

Today’s episode of Marketplace Tech is all about financial scams: how they work, what kinds of technology scammers use, and how to spot a scam before you fall victim to one. We’re passing the microphone to victims of scams to tell their stories and then breaking down how the scammers pulled it off with Marketplace’s Lily Jamali and Selena Larson, staff threat researcher at Proofpoint. Support our nonprofit newsroom today and pick up a fun thank-you gift like our new Shrinkflation mini tote bag o

May 9, 2024 • 18:00

Pinterest CEO wants to build a “more positive version of social media”

Pinterest CEO wants to build a “more positive version of social media”

Pinterest. It’s the platform best known for its viral recipes, fashion forecasts, DIY crafts and ideas for just about any wedding or birthday party theme you could think of. In a sea of outrage and division on social media, Pinterest CEO Bill Ready wants you to think of the platform as a sanctuary of positivity in the online universe. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently sat down with Ready and asked him about how Pinterest has changed since its launch.

May 8, 2024 • 10:52

Millions of Americans could lose home internet access next month

Millions of Americans could lose home internet access next month

Back in the pandemic depths of December 2020, when so many Americans were working, learning and performing essential daily tasks online, the Federal Communications Commission launched an emergency program to help low-income people connect to high-speed internet with a $50-per-month subsidy. That was extended with the Affordable Connectivity Program, which has provided $30 a month for internet service. An estimated 23 million households currently get the subsidy. But they won’t for much lo

May 7, 2024 • 11:19

Rethinking the lifecycle of AI when it comes to deepfakes and kids

Rethinking the lifecycle of AI when it comes to deepfakes and kids

The following content may be disturbing to some listeners. For years, child sexual abuse material was mostly distributed by mail. Authorities used investigative techniques to stem its spread. That got a lot harder when the internet came along. And AI has supercharged the problem. “Those 750,000 predators that are online at any given time looking to connect with minor[s] … they just need to find a picture of a child and use the AI to generate child sexual abuse materials and superimpose the

May 6, 2024 • 9:36

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Walmart health centers, VCs and Bumble

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Walmart health centers, VCs and Bumble

This week: Startups are taking longer to go public or sell to a buyer. What does that say about the state of tech? Also, the dating app Bumble once courted women by letting them make the first move. We’ll explain why Gen Z is prompting Bumble to change things up. But first, discount retail giant Walmart announced this week it is shutting down its telehealth business, as well as its network of low-cost health clinics. There were 51 of those clinics scattered across five states throughout th

May 3, 2024 • 13:17

AI is surpassing humans in several areas, Stanford report says

AI is surpassing humans in several areas, Stanford report says

Just how capable is today’s artificial intelligence at beating humans at their own games? That’s one of the metrics tracked by an annual report put together by the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, or HAI. And its latest AI Index report finds the tech is quickly gaining on humans. According to the report, AI now exceeds human capability not only in areas like simple reading comprehension and image classification, but also in domains that start to approach human logic, like n

May 2, 2024 • 10:43

Can life exist on Europa, Jupiter’s moon?

Can life exist on Europa, Jupiter’s moon?

In October, NASA will launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft, beginning a deep-space mission to one of Jupiter’s moons to determine if it’s capable of supporting life. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently visited NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, where the Clipper was built, to learn more about the mission and see the spacecraft before its shipped off to Cape Canaveral, Florida, later this month.

May 1, 2024 • 11:10

Deepfakes and online misinformation in India’s election

Deepfakes and online misinformation in India’s election

A massive general election is currently underway in India. It’s been described as the “largest democratic exercise in history.” And tech platforms are a big part of it. Many Indian voters get their information online, where misinformation and disinformation can spread quickly. That includes deepfakes of prominent public figures, like Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, spreading false information about who or which political parties they are endorsing. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with R

Apr 30, 2024 • 9:11

Atlas, forefather of humanoid robots, gives way to next generation

Atlas, forefather of humanoid robots, gives way to next generation

Robotics company Boston Dynamics announced this month it is retiring its humanoid robot known as “Atlas.” The 6′, 2,330 lb robot was considered a quantum leap in robotics and was famous for parkour stunts and awkward dance moves. Debuting more than a decade ago in 2013, the Atlas robot was a part of a partnership with the Defense Department. It relied on hydraulic power, using pressurized fluid to generate movement. It could do tasks that can be challenging for humans like lif

Apr 29, 2024 • 10:25

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: The TikTok ban, the end of noncompetes and Sony’s EV

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: The TikTok ban, the end of noncompetes and Sony’s EV

The noncompete clause is dead! American tech workers are poised to benefit from the Federal Trade Commission’s new crackdown on the agreements, which prevent a company’s ex-employees from working for its rivals for a specified time. Also, Tesla’s profits crashed 55%. As electric vehicle sales sputter, we wonder why more players are still speeding into the space. But first, TikTok’s top executive was defiant after the passage of a massive foreign aid package that included

Apr 26, 2024 • 11:11

Inside Amazon’s business tactics and company culture

Inside Amazon’s business tactics and company culture

When Jeff Bezos left Wall Street to start Amazon in 1994, the most common question he got was “What’s the internet?” Fast-forward to today, and Amazon is, of course, the country’s leading online retailer, as well as cloud services provider. In 2022, the company controlled almost 38% of the U.S. e-commerce market. Walmart, its closest competitor, had just over 6%, according to Insider Intelligence. In her new book, “The Everything War,” The Wall Street Journal

Apr 25, 2024 • 8:23

Training for the next crisis with “serious games”

Training for the next crisis with “serious games”

Imagine you’re a national security official tasked with monitoring activity off the coast of your fictitious country. Suddenly, a large tanker ship in your area goes silent. Its location sensor is offline, and it’s not responding to radio communication. What do you do? It’s a question Francesca de Rosa, chief scientist for gaming at the Center for Advanced Preparedness and Threat Response Simulation, poses in the Reliability Game, which she designed. It’s part of a genre

Apr 24, 2024 • 11:53

Why the Ai Pin fell flat

Why the Ai Pin fell flat

A new wearable from tech startup Humane promises to bring an AI assistant to your lapel. It attaches to your jacket, sweater or shirt and operates with voice commands or a digital interface laser projected onto the palm of your hand. It sounds like the stuff of a sci-fi novel, but the reviews so far are not good. The panning of the Ai Pin comes after five years in development, $240 million in funding and partnerships struck with the likes of OpenAI, Microsoft and Salesforce. So, what went wrong?

Apr 23, 2024 • 11:39

When a senior is ill, can an algorithm decide length of care?

When a senior is ill, can an algorithm decide length of care?

Artificial intelligence has become a big part of medicine — reading images, formulating treatment plans and developing drugs. But a recent investigation by Stat News found that some insurers overrely on an algorithm to make coverage decisions for seniors on Medicare Advantage, a Medicare plan offered by private insurers. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Casey Ross, who co-reported the story. He said an algorithm predicted how long patients needed care and coverage was curta

Apr 22, 2024 • 10:19

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Amazon, deepfakes & the creator economy

Tech Bytes — Week in Review: Amazon, deepfakes & the creator economy

On this week’s show, the United Kingdom is cracking down on makers of sexually explicit deepfakes. We’ll look at what penalizing the practice could mean for the victims. Then, the creator economy has the attention of millions of subscribers, but also venture capital. Why content creators like Dude Perfect on YouTube and other startups are attracting so much investment right now. But we begin with Amazon. The e-commerce giant’s Just Walk Out technology lets shoppers scan an app

Apr 19, 2024 • 12:22

How science could disrupt the gin industry

How science could disrupt the gin industry

When you think about gin, what tastes comes to mind? Pine? Maybe citrus or coriander? It can vary quite a bit because unlike some spirits, gin is very lightly regulated. Distillers can throw in all kinds of flavors and call the result “gin” as long it has some minimum requirements. In the U.S., gin is gin as long as the flavor is derived from juniper berries and alcohol by volume is at least 40%. In the European Union, the minimum ABV is 37.5%. But researchers in Edinburgh, Scotlan

Apr 18, 2024 • 7:31

Scientists try to prevent “forever chemicals” from being a forever problem

Scientists try to prevent “forever chemicals” from being a forever problem

When the chemical company DuPont unveiled Teflon in 1946, nonstick pots and pans seemed like a miracle. We now know their coatings contain “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, which don’t break down. These compounds are not only in cookware but in clothing, cosmetics and more — and they contaminate the water millions of us drink. Research shows there’s no safe level of exposure. As the EPA rolls out new limits on PFAS in drinking water, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali asked Tash

Apr 17, 2024 • 9:30

How Arizona is preparing for AI-powered election misinformation

How Arizona is preparing for AI-powered election misinformation

President Joe Biden won Arizona in 2020 by a razor-thin margin, flipping the state blue for the first time in more than 20 years. As a result, Arizona became a hotbed of election misinformation and conspiracy theories, as false claims of a stolen election led to protests outside voting centers, a GOP-backed ballot audit and threats against election workers. Now, with just over 200 days until the 2024 election, experts warn that artificial intelligence could supercharge misinformation and disinf

Apr 16, 2024 • 11:38

The 65-year-old computer system at the heart of American business

The 65-year-old computer system at the heart of American business

The programming language known as COBOL turns 65 this year. We couldn’t help noticing that’s right around retirement age, but COBOL is nowhere near retirement. It remains a mainstay of IT operations at U.S. government agencies, businesses and financial institutions. Yet the programming language, which is older than the Beatles, is no longer taught at most universities. Glenn Fleishman is a freelance tech journalist who has written about this aging slab of digital infrastructure. Marketplace’s L

Apr 15, 2024 • 9:48

Tesla settles Autopilot suit, inflation spooks tech investors and Biden’s CHIPS Act pledges $6.6B for domestic chipmaking

Tesla settles Autopilot suit, inflation spooks tech investors and Biden’s CHIPS Act pledges $6.6B for domestic chipmaking

The Labor Department this week confirmed what a lot of Americans have been feeling: Inflation is kind of sticking around, and higher interest rates are likely to as well. We’ll look at what that means for venture capital, which was already slow to flow. Plus, the Joe Biden administration announced a $6.6 billion deal with Taiwan-based semiconductor maker TSMC to build a third production hub in Arizona. We take a look at the ongoing rollout of the CHIPS and Science Act, which makes it all

Apr 12, 2024 • 12:01

The race to resurrect the dodo

The race to resurrect the dodo

More than 99% of all species that have lived on Earth are now extinct — something humans have certainly had a hand in. There’s now an entire scientific discipline devoted to bringing some of these species back. If you’re picturing those cloning scenes from “Jurassic Park” right now, we get it. But “de-extinction” is not quite that. Beth Shapiro is the chief science officer at Colossal Biosciences, a bioengineering startup working on de-extinction. She explaine

Apr 11, 2024 • 9:03

The rise of AI fashion models

The rise of AI fashion models

AI models are increasingly being used by the fashion industry, as they save time and money. Some models and agencies are fans, but others want to see more protection for the image rights of models. What does it all mean for the fashion industry? The BBC’s Sam Gruet reports.

Apr 10, 2024 • 4:30

The hidden meanings of the AI industry’s favorite words

The hidden meanings of the AI industry’s favorite words

We hear words like “safety” and “transparency” thrown around in the artificial intelligence industry, but they don’t always mean the same things to a tech insider that they do to the rest of us. Luckily, tech journalist Karen Hao wrote a helpful glossary of 50 AI ethics terms to help us make sense of what tech leaders really mean by the words they use. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with her about some of the double meanings on her list.

Apr 9, 2024 • 12:15

Facial recognition part of Israel’s arsenal in Gaza war

Facial recognition part of Israel’s arsenal in Gaza war

It’s been six months of war in the Gaza Strip since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. The destruction and death have been profound, and nearly every aspect of life in the roughly 140-square-mile territory has been upended. The New York Times recently reported that the Israeli military is using facial recognition artificial intelligence to monitor Palestinians in Gaza. The government hasn’t publicly acknowledged it, but reporter Sheera Frenkel spoke to Israeli intelligence officers, m

Apr 8, 2024 • 11:26

The FCC tackles net neutrality, Google commits to voiding billions of data records and Jon Stewart spills about working with Apple

The FCC tackles net neutrality, Google commits to voiding billions of data records and Jon Stewart spills about working with Apple

Google has agreed to destroy billions of browser data records to settle a class action suit alleging that the tech giant misled users about how Chrome tracked them in “Incognito mode.” Plus, “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart reveals that Apple discouraged him from interviewing Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan on his Apple TV+ podcast, “The Problem with Jon Stewart.” It’s a window into the “creative differences” that led to the abrupt end

Apr 5, 2024 • 10:09

Why are fake obituaries cluttering Google — and upsetting loved ones?

Why are fake obituaries cluttering Google — and upsetting loved ones?

Fake obituaries have become an online trend. They exploit tragedy for profit and have raised concerns about the reliability of search engines. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali discussed the problem with reporter Mia Sato of The Verge. Her investigation uncovered a network of websites generating this content using search engine optimization, or SEO, tactics. Sato also covered the story of Brian Vastag, a journalist who experienced this abuse when he read his own fake obituary along with that of his ex-

Apr 4, 2024 • 10:05

Why there’s no TikTok in China

Why there’s no TikTok in China

The Chinese company ByteDance owns two versions of basically the same app. In the U.S. we have TikTok, used by an estimated 170 million people, while in China they have Douyin, home to more than 700 million active users. Despite having the same parent company, TikTok and Douyin function as separate worlds. Now, as TikTok simmers in political hot water, the differences between the two apps are under a microscope. To get to the bottom of what sets these sister apps apart, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali

Apr 3, 2024 • 8:48

Can deepfakes be used for the greater good? 

Can deepfakes be used for the greater good? 

It was an early attempt to use artificial intelligence in the 2024 presidential election: Ahead of January’s New Hampshire primary, a deepfake audio recording of President Joe Biden made it to some voters in the form of a robocall, encouraging them to save their vote. A political consultant named Steve Kramer said he orchestrated that call to show the dangers of deepfakes. Nevertheless, it caused real confusion. And there are a lot of deepfakes out there, including videos, that contend the

Apr 2, 2024 • 6:59

Who benefits from a national AI program?

Who benefits from a national AI program?

Right now, the federal government is piloting its response to Silicon Valley’s AI boom. It’s called the National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource, and it’s supposed to “democratize” access to AI by making gigantic and expensive AI models available to academic researchers. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Sarah Myers West, co-executive director of the AI Now Institute, who is skeptical of the initiative’s goals. As Myers West explains, the issue with the NAIRR is the government can’t

Apr 1, 2024 • 9:56

Florida bars kids from social media, EV charging tips to make your money go farther and AI ambitions at Apple’s developer fest

Florida bars kids from social media, EV charging tips to make your money go farther and AI ambitions at Apple’s developer fest

In this week’s episode of Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review, Lily Jamali chats with Joanna Stern, The Wall Street Journal’s senior personal tech columnist, who takes us on a road trip through New Jersey’s network of Tesla superchargers. Stern recently explored how drivers of non-Tesla electric vehicles can now use these stations via an adapter. It’s part of her larger look into the best ways to save money supercharging your EV. Also this week, we’ll get Stern&#

Mar 29, 2024 • 12:43

Government pressures tech behind the scenes, says former Facebook employee. It’s called jawboning.

Government pressures tech behind the scenes, says former Facebook employee. It’s called jawboning.

It’s something government officials on both sides of the aisle are known to do: pressuring tech platforms to bend to their will, aka jawboning. But the line between persuasion and coercion, or even censorship, can get murky. Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments from two states alleging that the Joe Biden administration illegally coerced social media companies into blocking conservative content. Matt Perault, now with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Center on

Mar 28, 2024 • 11:26

What a privacy organization and Big Tech’s lead lobbying group think about internet regulation

What a privacy organization and Big Tech’s lead lobbying group think about internet regulation

When you look at the lawsuits aimed at blocking attempts to regulate tech, it’s usually not companies like Meta or Snap doing the suing. Oftentimes, it’s a group called NetChoice, which has emerged as Big Tech’s top lobbying force from Capitol Hill to the courts. Today, a conversation with NetChoice General Counsel Carl Szabo and Megan Iorio, senior counsel at the Electronic Privacy Information Center, a nonprofit focused on privacy. They occasionally agree, but very often they

Mar 27, 2024 • 15:54

Africa’s gaming market is expected to top $1 billion in 2024

Africa’s gaming market is expected to top $1 billion in 2024

The number of gamers in Africa has doubled in recent years, but many gaming platforms require users to pay for subscriptions or make in-game purchases. That’s a problem for users who don’t have credit cards, but as the BBC’s Mo Allie reports, some fintech companies think they have a solution.

Mar 26, 2024 • 5:34

Why crypto has made a comeback in the Philippines

Why crypto has made a comeback in the Philippines

Crypto is once again big in the Philippines. It first took off during COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021 with a now-defunct video game called Axie Infinity, where players earned money — often more than minimum wage — through non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Of course, the crypto winter soon followed with the implosion of FTX in 2022, but now crypto is back in a big way on the island nation. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with reporter Eli Tan, who recently visited and wrote about the scen

Mar 25, 2024 • 12:50

Lawsuits, fines and the tech at the heart of it all

Lawsuits, fines and the tech at the heart of it all

When a company pushes false claims about using artificial intelligence in its  business, that’s known informally as “AI washing.” It can feel like everybody’s doing it, but the Securities and Exchange Commission is cracking down on the practice. Plus, is the government’s communication with social media companies persuasion or coercion? The Supreme Court heard arguments this week in yet another case involving online speech. But first, the Department of Justice on Thursday announced that it’

Mar 22, 2024 • 11:55

What it means for nations to have “AI sovereignty”

What it means for nations to have “AI sovereignty”

Imagine that you could walk into one of the world’s great libraries and leave with whatever you wanted — any book, map, photo or historical document — forever. No questions asked. There is an argument that something like that is happening to the digital data of nations. In a lot of places, anyone can come along and scrape the internet for the valuable data that’s the backbone of artificial intelligence. But what if raw data generated in a particular country could be used to benefit n

Mar 21, 2024 • 8:40

AI manipulation and the liar’s dividend

AI manipulation and the liar’s dividend

Marketplace’s Lily Jamali and Kimberly Adams discuss how deepfake images are leading people to second guess everything in the latest episode of our “Decoding Democracy” series.

Mar 20, 2024 • 8:28

What Redditors think about the Reddit IPO

What Redditors think about the Reddit IPO

More than two years after Reddit first announced plans to go public, a share offering is expected to hit the stock market this week. The social network boasts 260 million active weekly users and more than 100,000 active communities, according to its S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Yet in its nearly two-decade history, Reddit has never turned a profit. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Elizabeth Lopatto, senior writer at The Verge, who says not everyone is on boar

Mar 19, 2024 • 10:39

Makers of electric roasters pitch carbon cutting in coffee making

Makers of electric roasters pitch carbon cutting in coffee making

Roasting coffee beans was a market worth over $1 billion globally in 2022, according to Grand View Research, which projects that figure could double by 2030. Traditional roasters, powered by the fossil fuel natural gas, still dominate the market. These machines are big and bulky and kind of look like part of a train. But the makers of more compact electric roasters are piling into the business. And they have an edge, touting themselves as high-tech alternatives that are more environmentally frie

Mar 18, 2024 • 5:40

TikTok faces the hammer, Sam Altman returns to OpenAI’s board, and Waymo’s driverless taxis come to Los Angeles

TikTok faces the hammer, Sam Altman returns to OpenAI’s board, and Waymo’s driverless taxis come to Los Angeles

We’re at the end of the week, which means we’re serving up another episode of Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review. Autonomous vehicle company Waymo has launched its driverless taxi service in Los Angeles. OpenAI has given CEO Sam Altman his board seat back. And a U.S. bill passed by the House of Representatives would force TikTok’s Chinese parent, ByteDance, to sell its stake in the U.S. version of the popular social media platform or be banned from app stores. Paresh Dave,

Mar 15, 2024 • 15:28

What a TikTok ban would mean for free speech and data privacy

What a TikTok ban would mean for free speech and data privacy

On Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives proved they can agree on something. In a bipartisan vote, lawmakers passed a bill that would force TikTok to split from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or face a nationwide ban — the first for a social media app in the U.S. President Biden has signaled he’d sign the bill into law if it passes the Senate. Advocates argue that the Chinese government could use the hugely popular app to collect Americans’ personal data and threaten U.S. secur

Mar 14, 2024 • 11:20

The Biden administration hasn’t had a CTO. Why?

The Biden administration hasn’t had a CTO. Why?

When President Barack Obama took office way back in 2009, he created a new role that promised to bring some tech know-how to his administration. Chief Technology Officer, or CTO, was, of course, a title borrowed from corporate America. Early on, the job focused on things like bringing broadband access to rural parts of the country and modernizing the way the federal government keeps records. President Donald Trump also had a CTO. Well, we are now deep into President Joe Biden’s current ter

Mar 13, 2024 • 10:55

States and schools are learning how to manage AI in education

States and schools are learning how to manage AI in education

It’s been about a year and a half since ChatGPT hit the scene and changed the world of education, leaving teachers scrambling to adjust lesson plans and grading policies. Currently, only a handful of states are providing guidance on how AI should be used in the classroom. Just five have official policies, with about a dozen more in the works. Bree Dusseault at the Center on Reinventing Public Education at Arizona State University has been following all this.

Mar 12, 2024 • 9:35

AI can’t handle the truth when it comes to the law

AI can’t handle the truth when it comes to the law

Almost one in five lawyers are using AI, according to an American Bar Association survey. But there are a growing number of legal horror stories involving tools like ChatGPT, because chatbots have a tendency to make stuff up — such as legal precedents from cases that never happened. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Daniel Ho at Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence about the group’s recent study on how frequently three of the most popula

Mar 11, 2024 • 9:50

EU fines Apple over competition, Change Healthcare cyberattack drags on, and Max will join the crackdown on password sharing

EU fines Apple over competition, Change Healthcare cyberattack drags on, and Max will join the crackdown on password sharing

Late last month, Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth, came under attack by an infamous hacker group called BlackCat. $22 million in ransom later, reportedly paid in bitcoin, and the problem is far from solved. Also this week: Max, previously HBO Max, announces a crackdown on password sharing — maybe it’s time to dust off the old DVD player. But first, Apple on Monday got hit with a massive fine from regulators in Europe. They say the company used its app store dominance to box out mu

Mar 8, 2024 • 12:58

The San Francisco Fed chief says Silicon Valley is thriving, but “in transitional waters”

The San Francisco Fed chief says Silicon Valley is thriving, but “in transitional waters”

More than 260,000 people working in the tech industry were laid off last year, and some CEOs have put at least some of the blame on high interest rates. Policymakers at the Federal Reserve hiked rates at the fastest pace in modern history to beat back inflation. And when rates rise, borrowing money gets more expensive. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali sat down with Mary Daly, president and CEO of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank, to discuss how the tech industry is navigating through this higher

Mar 7, 2024 • 14:22

One year after “all hell broke loose” at Silicon Valley Bank

One year after “all hell broke loose” at Silicon Valley Bank

This week marks the first anniversary of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the largest bank failure in the United States since the 2008 financial crisis. Today, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali revisits the SVB collapse with Anat Admati, an economics professor at Stanford University and co-author of the book “The Banker’s New Clothes.”

Mar 6, 2024 • 10:00

Deepfakes and the 2024 election season

Deepfakes and the 2024 election season

Audio deepfakes have become shockingly convincing in the last few years. A deepfake robocall impersonating President Joe Biden encouraging voters to stay home for the New Hampshire primary was one recent example of how far the technology has advanced. That’s why “Marketplace Tech” is launching a limited series called “Decoding Democracy.” Marketplace’s Lily Jamali will be joined by other Marketplace reporters, experts and researchers to discuss what election

Mar 5, 2024 • 11:22

Spotting tech-driven disinformation isn’t getting easier

Spotting tech-driven disinformation isn’t getting easier

“Misinformation” and “disinformation” are often lumped together. They’re not the same, but they are very much connected. Say you hear that Christmas falls on Dec. 23 this year. If someone told you that thinking it was true, it’s considered misinformation. But when it’s spread with the intent to deceive, that’s disinformation, which can easily be amplified unwittingly by the folks in the first group. Audio and video generated by artificial intellige

Mar 4, 2024 • 11:15

A boost for data privacy policy, Nvidia’s chip shortage  eases and Apple steers away from electric cars

A boost for data privacy policy, Nvidia’s chip shortage eases and Apple steers away from electric cars

It’s Friday, and that means it’s time to dig into some of this week’s tech headlines in “Marketplace Tech Bytes: Week in Review.” Good news for Nvidia, the top chipmaker for artificial intelligence applications. There are signs that the company’s product shortage is finally easing up, as more customers nab chips to power their AI ambitions. Plus, Apple reportedly hits the brakes on plans to create its own electric vehicle. But first, there was significant move

Mar 1, 2024 • 14:13

Voting precincts are steadily moving away from paperless machines

Voting precincts are steadily moving away from paperless machines

“DRE” is the acronym in election-speak. It stands for direct-recording electronic voting machines … the kind that record votes directly into a computer’s memory, often with no paper trail. In an effort to boost security and ensure more reliable counting of ballots across the country, officials have been replacing them with voting machines that produce a paper backup. And there has been noticeable progress on this front. According to a recent report from the nonprofit or

Feb 29, 2024 • 8:08

DOE’s Granholm drives campaign to make EV batteries a U.S. industry

DOE’s Granholm drives campaign to make EV batteries a U.S. industry

A big part of Jennifer Granholm’s job as U.S. secretary of energy involves selling President Biden’s clean energy agenda and convincing Americans that it’s benefiting them. On Monday, she toured a facility near San Francisco operated by the company Cuberg, which is developing a lithium-based battery that’s less flammable than the ones we use today. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali talked with Granholm about how batteries like Cuberg’s fit into the administration’s sweeping

Feb 28, 2024 • 11:26

Will we remember any of the fast-paced “trendbait” slang on TikTok?

Will we remember any of the fast-paced “trendbait” slang on TikTok?

The race to coin new words and phrases is on — on TikTok. They range from “first time cool syndrome,” to “the weekend effect,” and “dinner and couch” friend. Keeping track of all this can feel like a wild goose chase, to use an expression credited to William Shakespeare, who introduced countless words and phrases to the English language. But unlike the Bard’s phrases, TikTok slang doesn’t seem to have much staying power. Marketplace’s Lily J

Feb 27, 2024 • 11:14

How NetChoice became Big Tech’s ally against social media regulation

How NetChoice became Big Tech’s ally against social media regulation

The Supreme Court hears arguments on two state laws Monday — one in Texas and one in Florida — that seek to punish social media platforms over allegations they censor conservative speech. The legal force fighting these state laws is itself a group with conservative leanings called NetChoice, which has emerged as Big Tech’s top political lobbyist. And it’s going after social media crackdowns in blue states too, like the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act, which required that p

Feb 26, 2024 • 14:18

Amazon to join the Dow, VCs steer away from China’s startups, and Rivian’s cold  EV winter

Amazon to join the Dow, VCs steer away from China’s startups, and Rivian’s cold EV winter

It was not that long ago that electric vehicle maker Rivian was drawing comparisons to Tesla. But flagging demand for EVs has not served the company well. Its earnings release this week made that much clear. Also, a look at why American venture capital firms appear to be pulling back from funding startups in China. But first, Amazon has come a long way since it was founded 30 years ago. Its next stop: the Dow Jones Industrial Average. It joins the market indicator Monday. Marketplace’s Lily Jama

Feb 23, 2024 • 13:57

When cellphones fail, landlines are still a lifeline

When cellphones fail, landlines are still a lifeline

AT&T is asking California regulators to be relieved of its obligation to provide basic landline phone service to anyone who wants it. “No customer will be left without voice or 911 service,” AT&T says, but Californians weighing in are, by and large, skeptical. Regina Costa, telecom policy director at the Utility Reform Network, an advocacy group, told Marketplace’s Lily Jamali that having a “carrier of last resort” matters.

Feb 22, 2024 • 10:22

Want to quit your smartphone?

Want to quit your smartphone?

Once a week, many of us get that dreaded screen-time report courtesy of our smartphones. But a recent study found keeping track of our average usage doesn’t actually help us control our screen time all that much. Caught in the loop of screen-time shame like so many of us are, New York Times tech reporter Kashmir Hill decided to actually do something about it. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Hill about her experience breaking up with her iPhone and replacing it with a flip phone, T9 te

Feb 21, 2024 • 12:29

Would you trust a cancer screening by artificial intelligence?

Would you trust a cancer screening by artificial intelligence?

As consumers, we’ve all been subjected to the “upsell,” or pressure to pay a little more for a product that’s slightly better. It’s one thing if you’re buying, say, a car or a piece of clothing. The ethical questions get a lot more complicated in health care. Some providers have started integrating artificial intelligence in diagnostic procedures, including screenings for breast cancer. The tools may be available for an additional cost, and questions about t

Feb 20, 2024 • 9:52

Vibrating suits offer a new way to experience music

Vibrating suits offer a new way to experience music

We often think of music as a mostly auditory experience, but it’s also a physical one, especially for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. Daniel Belquer — a Philadelphia-based technologist, composer and “chief vibrational officer” of Music: Not Impossible — has been studying the relationship between sound and sensation, and how that connection can make music more accessible. “Marketplace Tech” spoke with Belquer about how his vibrating technology is helping people ex

Feb 19, 2024 • 7:09

A $7 trillion chips moonshot, AI-fueled cyberattacks, and Disney’s bet on gaming

A $7 trillion chips moonshot, AI-fueled cyberattacks, and Disney’s bet on gaming

On the show today, Microsoft says groups affiliated with the governments of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea are using AI tools to improve their cyberattacks. Also, Disney is investing $1.5 billion in Epic Games. Can we expect a “Frozen” / Fortnite crossover? We’re not sure yet, but what we can expect is regulatory scrutiny. But first, in Silicon Valley, where software normally gets all the glory, OpenAI’s Sam Altman is reportedly planning a big move into hardware by raising

Feb 16, 2024 • 14:26

How a comprehensive federal privacy law could protect kids online

How a comprehensive federal privacy law could protect kids online

On our show last week, we had Sen. Amy Klobuchar share her take on the recent Senate hearing with tech executives. You remember the one, with the execs, including Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, doing their best to stall in response to searing questions about how to keep kids safe online. Klobuchar told us that hearing may have actually moved the needle on that issue. She stressed to us that such events educate the public and help lawmakers get on-the-record pledges of support for specific bills

Feb 15, 2024 • 14:49

Dating apps can get pretty intimate with your data

Dating apps can get pretty intimate with your data

Cuffing season is that time of year when singles hunker down with someone to keep them warm — temporarily. And Valentine’s Day more or less marks the end of it. So people are about to start flocking back to their dating apps. Adrianus Warmenhoven, cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, told Marketplace’s Lily Jamali that a lot of those apps are eager to vacuum up their personal data.

Feb 14, 2024 • 1:05

In spite of plummeting valuation, 23andMe still aims to pivot into biotech

In spite of plummeting valuation, 23andMe still aims to pivot into biotech

23andMe has seen its valuation plummet from $6 billion to close to zero, with the Nasdaq threatening to delist the company’s stock. Still, company leaders have high hopes for medical research and a pivot to biotech. Rolfe Winkler has been writing about what happened for The Wall Street Journal, and discussed the company’s financial woes and future roadmap with Marketplace’s Lily Jamali.

Feb 13, 2024 • 11:47

For Uvalde families, social media is a tool to share grief and energize advocacy

For Uvalde families, social media is a tool to share grief and energize advocacy

On May 24, it will be two years since 19 children and two teachers were killed in the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Photojournalist Tamir Kalifa has spent much of the last year and a half documenting the lives of the victims’ families and friends in the wake of the tragedy. Last week he was awarded the American Mosaic Journalism Prize for that work. He told Marketplace’s Lily Jamali about how social media is helping the community deal with its grief and bolstering it

Feb 12, 2024 • 11:38

FCC cracks down on AI robocall scams, Meta tightens oversight of AI content and Sen. Klobuchar discusses Section 230 reform

FCC cracks down on AI robocall scams, Meta tightens oversight of AI content and Sen. Klobuchar discusses Section 230 reform

...

Feb 9, 2024 • 15:53

What does it take to protect children online?

What does it take to protect children online?

A week later and we’re still thinking about the hearing that saw half a dozen tech CEOs testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on keeping kids safe online. It left us wondering: Why do lawmakers hold these hearings then fail again and again to pass federal laws to keep Big Tech in check? One thing was clear: The importance of keeping kids safe online is one of the few things that a lot of Democratic and Republican senators agree on. Take for example the SHIELD Act, a bill co-sponsor

Feb 8, 2024 • 12:34

The Department of Energy will track energy used in crypto mining

The Department of Energy will track energy used in crypto mining

The business of minting cryptocurrencies here in the United States is growing bigger by the day. In January 2020, just 3.4% of the world’s bitcoin mining took place here. That figure ballooned to almost 38% in just two years. As we’ve talked about on this show, mining bitcoin and some other cryptocurrencies burns through a lot of electric power. The Energy Information Administration has been interested in tracking this activity, sifting through articles in the media and company repor

Feb 7, 2024 • 10:56

Pumped-storage hydropower could help renewable energy flow

Pumped-storage hydropower could help renewable energy flow

Back in the 1970s, the Tennessee Valley Authority built what remains one of the largest energy storage facilities in the world: a pumped-storage hydropower plant. A pump takes water from the Tennessee River, shoots it up a giant shaft and holds it there until electric power needs peak during the day. At that point, the water is allowed to drain back down, spinning turbines that can generate enough power for a million homes. It’s almost like a gravity-powered battery as big as a cathedral

Feb 6, 2024 • 10:45

Apple’s Vision Pro is finally here. What took so long?

Apple’s Vision Pro is finally here. What took so long?

Last Friday, Apple’s long-awaited contribution to the virtual reality headset market finally hit stores across the U.S. Apple CEO Tim Cook promised the new technology would be nothing short of revolutionary when he unveiled it last summer. But let’s not forget the fate of the Google Glass, the glasses with a built-in display and camera first released by Google in 2013 and formally ended a decade later. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Lance Ulanoff, U.S. editor-in-chief of TechRada

Feb 5, 2024 • 11:31

Tech CEOs grilled by Congress, Microsoft still leads in AI, and Neuralink touts its human brain implant

Tech CEOs grilled by Congress, Microsoft still leads in AI, and Neuralink touts its human brain implant

Companies vying for AI dominance have told us their stories, but this week they showed us their numbers, and there is a clear front-runner. Plus, a court struck down Elon Musk’s $56 billion pay package, but it’s the announcement that his startup Neuralink did its first human brain implant that has us really scratching our heads. First, though, a look back at Wednesday’s Senate hearing that put tech execs, politicians and families affected by online child sex abuse in a room together on Capitol H

Feb 2, 2024 • 14:02

What the “grief tech” industry says about how we navigate loss

What the “grief tech” industry says about how we navigate loss

The universe of industries that make money off dying in this country is extensive, and tech entrepreneurs have managed to insert themselves into various corners of it. That’s all according to culture journalist Mihika Agarwal, who’s been reporting on the grief tech industry — including ghost bots, the chatbots that are supposed to help us process grief. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Agarwal about her reporting.

Feb 1, 2024 • 9:32

The many battles in the lithium and critical minerals revolution

The many battles in the lithium and critical minerals revolution

In 2021, the Biden administration put out a report about gaps in the supply chain for electric vehicles. It estimated global demand for lithium and graphite would grow by more than 4,000% by 2040 if the world were to achieve the climate goals laid out in the Paris accords. These materials, along with copper, nickel and others, are critical to green technologies. And there is a global fight over their supply, one that Reuters correspondent Ernest Scheyder documents in his new book, “The Wa

Jan 31, 2024 • 13:48

More people are buying EVs, but there aren’t enough mechanics to fix them

More people are buying EVs, but there aren’t enough mechanics to fix them

By 2030, there are expected to be up to 11 million hybrid or electric vehicles in the United Kingdom, according to the Local Government Association. But there are currently only around 45,000 mechanics who are qualified to fix and service them. Unless more people sign up to be EV mechanics, drivers in the U.K. might find themselves with an electric car they can’t get fixed or afford to insure. We’ll hear more from BBC reporter Frey Lindsay.

Jan 30, 2024 • 5:51

Why carbon capture isn’t a magic bullet solution to the climate crisis

Why carbon capture isn’t a magic bullet solution to the climate crisis

In rural North Dakota, an old, coal-fired power plant is being retrofitted to capture emissions before they enter the atmosphere and store them underground. $890 million from the 2022 bipartisan infrastructure law will go towards that and two similar projects in California and Texas. Critics take issue with spending taxpayer money to kick the tires on “carbon capture and storage” technology. Among those critics are Catherine McKenna, Canada’s former minister of environment and

Jan 29, 2024 • 11:21

Layoffs continue, Silicon Valley renews romance with Middle East money and why Netflix is retiring its no-ads basic tier

Layoffs continue, Silicon Valley renews romance with Middle East money and why Netflix is retiring its no-ads basic tier

On the show today, Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds have parked a whole lot of money in Silicon Valley. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, for one, spent more than $31 billion on 49 venture deals, up 33% in 2023. Why does the tech industry find it so hard to break up with Middle East money? Plus, Netflix changes up its business model — again. We look at why the streaming giant sees even more ads in its future. But first, job cuts continue across the tech landscape. Even TikTok, wi

Jan 26, 2024 • 11:04

How satellite radar helps scientists map the destruction in Gaza

How satellite radar helps scientists map the destruction in Gaza

The World Court is expected to rule Friday on whether to grant emergency measures to stop the war in Gaza. South Africa has accused Israel of carrying out genocide in the Palestinian enclave. Israel says it’s targeting Hamas militants – not civilians – in response to the deadly Hamas attack of Oct. 7. But more than 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, and according to Corey Scher of the City University of New York and Oregon State University’s Jamon Van Den Hoek,

Jan 25, 2024 • 11:19

The anonymous world of “extreme privacy”

The anonymous world of “extreme privacy”

It’s hard to disappear these days. Everything from renting property and using a credit card to working a job leaves a digital footprint. But just because it’s hard to vanish from the virtual world doesn’t mean people aren’t trying. Some do it out of necessity, to escape violence or persecution. Others do it out of curiosity, pursuing total anonymity just to see how far they can take things. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Hal Triedman, a privacy engineer who recently wrote about the “extrem

Jan 24, 2024 • 11:58

AI reveals unseen human activity across the world’s oceans

AI reveals unseen human activity across the world’s oceans

AI can be used for unsavory things, like any technology. But researchers at the nonprofit Global Fishing Watch have revealed a promising use case — enlisting AI to accurately track human activity on the oceans, according to its new study published in the journal Nature. There’s a lot out there that has long floated under the radar of monitoring systems, including the so-called dark fleets involved in illegal and unregulated fishing. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with David Kroodsm

Jan 23, 2024 • 8:20

Bitcoin has gone mainstream. For crypto, that’s controversial.

Bitcoin has gone mainstream. For crypto, that’s controversial.

It’s been almost two weeks since several investment products tied to bitcoin started trading on old-school financial markets. These bitcoin ETFs have made it easier for everyday investors to place bets on the crypto market, and in the days since federal regulators gave the green light, investors have poured nearly $2 billion into the new bitcoin funds. But probably not the crypto purists, says Joel Khalili, who reports on the industry for Wired. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Kha

Jan 22, 2024 • 8:43

How the C-suite sees AI, what’s next for CRISPR and why health tech needs better marketing

How the C-suite sees AI, what’s next for CRISPR and why health tech needs better marketing

On the show today, the Food and Drug Administration expanded its approval for CRISPR gene-editing therapies. We look at the affordability of these treatments, which can cost well into the millions of dollars. Plus, is bad marketing stunting health tech companies? More on how startups can up their game. But first, at this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, there were 32 scheduled events devoted to AI. When they weren’t comparing private jets, business executives were

Jan 19, 2024 • 15:45

Spot bitcoin investment funds likely to stoke miners’ massive energy use

Spot bitcoin investment funds likely to stoke miners’ massive energy use

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s recent approval of spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds means that for the first time, people can invest in funds that include bitcoin with no crypto wallet required. Demand for the original cryptocurrency is only expected to grow, and bitcoin mining operators are in position to satisfy it. Two years ago, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali visited one in upstate New York. Stacks of computers burned through tons of power to generate new bitcoins, she repo

Jan 18, 2024 • 9:44

The demise of Hyperloop One and the future of high-speed transport

The demise of Hyperloop One and the future of high-speed transport

While Marketplace’s Lily Jamali was at CES last week in Las Vegas, she took her first ride on the Vegas Loop, built by Elon Musk’s the Boring Co. In 2013, Musk floated the concept of a hyperloop as a way for people to travel long distances at superfast speeds via pods in vacuum-sealed tubes. The Vegas Loop, as Lily found out, is not that. Developing actual hyperloop technology is hard and costly. Just ask Hyperloop One, a startup that recently shut down after a decade of trying. Lil

Jan 17, 2024 • 10:11

Could “hydropanels” help solve the water crisis?

Could “hydropanels” help solve the water crisis?

One consequence of climate change is more frequent and severe droughts. And that has water-stressed communities looking for new sources of drinking water. Today, Marketplace’s climate podcast “How We Survive” and host Amy Scott take a look at how technology can help.

Jan 16, 2024 • 4:36

Can robots make us less lonely?

Can robots make us less lonely?

Last year, the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 1 in 3 adults between 50 and 80 years old said they felt isolated. Enter ElliQ, the robot companion created to alleviate loneliness in older adults. She’s programmed to be inquisitive and empathetic and is designed to sit in your home and keep you company. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, about why he thinks a robot is the right tool to address loneliness.

Jan 15, 2024 • 12:42

AI in the workplace, where venture capital will flow and age tech at CES

AI in the workplace, where venture capital will flow and age tech at CES

On the show today, tech investors are among the 100,000-plus people who’ve descended on Las Vegas for this year’s CES. They’re looking for the next big thing in tech and trying to make sure they don’t throw money at the next big dud. Plus, CES showcases the latest in age tech — products meant to make getting older easier, more comfortable and less lonely. But first, artificial intelligence is a big theme at the gathering this year, and the technology is becoming a regular

Jan 12, 2024 • 12:48

Can tech help improve your sleep?

Can tech help improve your sleep?

We’re a few days into CES now, and amid the demos, launches, meeting, greeting, keynotes and all the walking, there’s one thing on a lot of people’s minds: sleep. So, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali stopped by the National Sleep Foundation’s booth to meet some folks there thinking about sleep. She spoke with Biquan Luo, co-founder and CEO of Lumos Tech, whose company makes what looks like a regular sleep mask, but has embedded LED lights. It’s designed to help recalibrate a user’s sl

Jan 11, 2024 • 10:04

At CES, a look down the long road ahead for automotive tech

At CES, a look down the long road ahead for automotive tech

CES is many things — including a gadget fest and a glimpse into the kind of technology we might be using a month or a decade from now. CES also hosts one of the biggest auto shows on the planet, which is why it’s worth noting that General Motors, Ford and Chrysler aren’t here this year. The United Auto Workers strike ended just a few months ago. General Motors, specifically, is still regrouping after the implosion of its robotaxi startup Cruise. Meanwhile, Tesla’s Autopilot dri

Jan 10, 2024 • 10:36

What to watch for at CES

What to watch for at CES

This week, more than 100,000 people from around the world — including staff from “Marketplace Tech” — are gathered in Las Vegas to talk tech at the annual Consumer Electronics Show. CES this year features more than 4,000 exhibitors, from small startups to tech giants like Amazon, Intel and Sony. There’s so much to see in so little time, so Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, which runs CES, about what to watch for at this y

Jan 9, 2024 • 6:10

Women still hold just a third of clean energy jobs, Fuller Project says

Women still hold just a third of clean energy jobs, Fuller Project says

Last June, President Joe Biden flew to Silicon Valley to tout the massive federal investment in clean energy made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act. For a long time though, women have been largely shut out of clean tech jobs. And an investigation by the nonprofit newsroom The Fuller Project, reported by Kate Gammon, found that last year, women filled just 32% of green energy jobs, up just 1 percentage point since 2008. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with senior editor Aaron Glantz

Jan 8, 2024 • 7:55

Tesla updates driver assistance software, Apple’s rocky start to the year and the personal tech to keep an eye on in 2024

Tesla updates driver assistance software, Apple’s rocky start to the year and the personal tech to keep an eye on in 2024

On the show today, shares of Apple touched a seven-week low this week after Barclays downgraded the company. What does the dreaded “sell” rating say about expectations for the Cupertino tech giant? Plus, telling AI from reality might get easier in 2024 thanks to tools that can help with that, and a preview of other personal tech to watch for in the year ahead. But first, Tesla CEO Elon Musk set an ambitious goal at the beginning of 2023 — sell 2 million electric vehicles by the end of the year.

Jan 5, 2024 • 13:17

Is Big Tech using philanthropy to influence universities?

Is Big Tech using philanthropy to influence universities?

A former Harvard misinformation researcher named Joan Donovan recently filed a whistleblower complaint against the university. In it, she accused officials of bowing to tech giant Meta when she was ousted from her position following a $500 million donation from the charity of Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Harvard denies Donovan’s accusations, but the fallout spotlights the influence Big Tech can have on academic institutions. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Katie Paul, director of the Tech Tran

Jan 4, 2024 • 11:11

The ins and outs of reporting on Facebook

The ins and outs of reporting on Facebook

For reporters covering Facebook, getting the real story has only become harder since the release of the “The Facebook Files” in 2021. The Wall Street Journal series, based on documents provided by whistleblower Frances Haugen, exposed the inner workings of the company now known as Meta, from its lax rules for VIPs to internal research on Instagram’s impact on teens. Jeff Horwitz, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, writes about the challenge of covering the company in his new book “Broken Co

Jan 3, 2024 • 11:28

Using the internet to connect users to queer-owned spaces around the world

Using the internet to connect users to queer-owned spaces around the world

Growing up a closeted child in the rural Midwest, Charlie Sprinkman always hoped he could one day connect with others in the queer community. Now, as an adult, he lives in Portland, Oregon, where he manages a team at a consumer packaged goods company. In his spare time, he combines skills from his day job with a knack for tech to put queer-owned businesses that he’s visited across the U.S. onto a digital map he’s created, called Everywhere Is Queer. What started as a small project la

Jan 2, 2024 • 5:01

For many, AI is a religious experience (rerun)

For many, AI is a religious experience (rerun)

Artificial intelligence can feel abstract, so we’ve come to depend on certain narratives to try and make sense of it all. Some of the language we use to describe AI and our interactions with it is rooted in religious ideas. Are you bracing for the apocalypse? Have you been blessed by the algorithm or consulted with a Robo Rabbi lately? The deification of AI, whether it’s done consciously or not, is something Beth Singler studies as a professor of digital religions at the University of Zurich in

Jan 1, 2024 • 10:45

What happened to the Metaverse?

What happened to the Metaverse?

It wasn’t all that long ago when “the Metaverse” was being pushed hard in certain corners of the Big Tech universe. What was it? It wasn’t always clear — something about a virtual but realistic place where, we were told, we’d be hanging out with friends, holding office meetings and even buying property. Fast forward to today and not many people are talking about it much anymore. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Ed Zitron, writer and CEO of EZPR about what

Dec 29, 2023 • 9:47

Crypto comes to the classroom

Crypto comes to the classroom

Next year marks 15 years since Bitcoin’s launch. 15 years is a drop in the bucket in historical terms, but literally a lifetime for teenagers. Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace’s “Financially Inclined” podcast, has been talking to teenagers about crypto and she says they have so many questions. She spoke with Marketplace’s Lily Jamali about how teachers are trying to figure out how to handle crypto-curious students.

Dec 28, 2023 • 10:26

RIP, Netflix DVD

RIP, Netflix DVD

In 2023, we said goodbye to a service you might not have known was still around — DVD delivery from Netflix, now a giant in streaming. With a collection of more than 100,000 titles available for delivery in those red, paper envelopes, the DVD service retained some utility even years into the company’s transition. But Netflix pulled the plug on the service in September. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Slate writer and editor Sam Adams about what we lost with its demise.

Dec 27, 2023 • 8:37

Preserving Indigenous cultures and languages with the help of AI

Preserving Indigenous cultures and languages with the help of AI

Growing up on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana, Michael Running Wolf was especially aware of the importance of language. For decades, it was illegal under U.S. law to speak Native languages in schools. So in regard to learning them, generations of Indigenous children went without. Running Wolf grew up to become a computer scientist, landing a job working on Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa. A few years ago, he started to wonder how he might get something like Alexa to s

Dec 26, 2023 • 5:35

The cloud’s heavy toll on natural resources (rerun)

The cloud’s heavy toll on natural resources (rerun)

The thing we call “the cloud” might sounds harmless, but that seemingly abstract place where the details of your digital life get stored takes a heavy toll on the environment. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Steven Gonzalez Monserrate, a postdoctoral researcher in the Fixing Futures training group at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, about his research on cloud data centers and their effect on the health of the planet.

Dec 25, 2023 • 11:01

A week of legal troubles for Big Tech

A week of legal troubles for Big Tech

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for Bytes: Week in Review. On the show today, a trio of legal stories dominating Big Tech coverage. As OpenAI and Microsoft stare down allegations of copyright infringement, 11 nonfiction authors, including some Pulitzer winners, have joined a lawsuit against both companies. Plus, Apple pauses sales of two of its latest Apple Watch models. But patent problems might not put much of a dent in the company’s holiday haul. First, though, Google set

Dec 22, 2023 • 11:39

Long lines and broken chargers: Demand for powering EVs outpaces infrastructure

Long lines and broken chargers: Demand for powering EVs outpaces infrastructure

More than a million electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. this year, but despite that some automakers announced a slowdown in EV production this fall. As more drivers make the switch to electric, the availability of public places to juice up those cars hasn’t exactly kept pace. Back in 2021, the federal government set aside $7.5 billion to build tens of thousands of chargers across the country. But the project has barely broken ground in the two years since. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke wit

Dec 21, 2023 • 13:39

Are lab-grown diamonds dazzling consumers?

Are lab-grown diamonds dazzling consumers?

By one estimate, “lab-grown diamonds” make up a $14 billion market. And the world’s largest jewelry maker, Pandora, is betting that that market will only grow. Pandora says it will stop selling mined diamonds and is expanding its lab-grown diamond range. The brand says growing diamonds in a lab is more environmentally sustainable than mining, and also happens to be more affordable, thanks to cost-effective production methods. The BBC’s Leanna Byrne has more on how lab-grown diamonds

Dec 20, 2023 • 3:51

EU’s tech regulatory framework protects its consumers, but can slow down innovation

EU’s tech regulatory framework protects its consumers, but can slow down innovation

When Google unveiled its answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT this month, Gemini, the pitch was: AI that can run efficiently on everything from data centers to your smartphone. But it came with a caveat for users in the UK and the European Union: you can’t use it there, for now. After the EU’s recent passage of the AI Act, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Andrea Renda of the Center for European Policy Studies. He says Google is trying to convince European lawmakers that Gemini

Dec 19, 2023 • 10:01

How AI could help families get paid leave benefits

How AI could help families get paid leave benefits

The U.S. is one of just a handful of countries without a national paid family leave program. As a result, offering those benefits has been left up to individual states and employers. Thirteen states and Washington, D.C., currently offer paid family leave programs, but they’re not always easy to navigate. Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Moms First, says this complicated system means workers lose an average of $10,000 in wages by taking that leave without being paid. That’s why her organization

Dec 18, 2023 • 10:06

Europe’s landmark AI law, Google’s court loss and the data behind nearly 100 billion hours of Netflix

Europe’s landmark AI law, Google’s court loss and the data behind nearly 100 billion hours of Netflix

On the show today, Epic Games won its antitrust lawsuit against Google this week. What it means for the players and why the rest of Big Tech is watching. Plus, Netflix releases viewing data for its entire streaming catalog for the first time. What did we all watch? But first, it took 37 hours of negotiations for the European Union to pass what’s being called the world’s most ambitious law regulating artificial intelligence. Now the hard part: hashing out the details. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali is

Dec 15, 2023 • 15:32

Meta has a problem with hosting predators on its platforms

Meta has a problem with hosting predators on its platforms

Warning: This episode includes sensitive content about the sexualization of children. For several months now, reporters at The Wall Street Journal have been looking at the algorithms that recommend content on Meta’s platforms, specifically Facebook and Instagram. They’ve found that those algorithms promote child sexual abuse on a mass scale to users who show sexual interest in kids. Meta argues that it uses sophisticated technology, hires child-safety experts and reports content to h

Dec 14, 2023 • 10:08

Bug bounty hunters’ attempt at patching zero day vulnerabilities

Bug bounty hunters’ attempt at patching zero day vulnerabilities

In software development, bugs in the code are inevitable. That’s why companies push out software updates so often. But there is a specific kind of bug that is especially worrisome, something called a “zero day.” It’s a bug no one knows about — not even the software company — so it hasn’t been patched and is vulnerable to hackers. Dina Temple-Raston, host of the podcast “Click Here,” has more on this story.

Dec 13, 2023 • 7:01

Tech companies want marketable web addresses. These island nations are selling them.

Tech companies want marketable web addresses. These island nations are selling them.

Since 1974, an international standard has governed the assignment of two-letter identification codes to every country and territory on Earth. When the internet came along, those codes were used in website domain names, and it didn’t take long before outside companies started using them too,  paying premiums for some particularly marketable codes. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with journalist Amy Thorpe about the profitable domain name marketplace.

Dec 12, 2023 • 12:27

Blue vs. green bubbles: tech’s color-coded caste system

Blue vs. green bubbles: tech’s color-coded caste system

Remember Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign from 2006? They featured actor Justin Long as the hip Mac computer personified in conversation with a noticeably less cool John Hodgman playing a PC. Seventeen years and plenty of tech releases later, it seems the stereotypes in those ads never really went away. Take, for example, a recent TikTok trend in which women respond to the question, “He’s a 10, but he has an Android phone. What’s his new rating?” For some, the answer is 1 or 0. Marketplace’s Lily Ja

Dec 11, 2023 • 12:22

The green bubble vs. blue bubble debate isn’t just a tech issue

The green bubble vs. blue bubble debate isn’t just a tech issue

Remember Apple’s “Get a Mac” campaign from 2006? They featured actor Justin Long as the hip Mac computer personified in conversation with a noticeably less cool John Hodgman playing a PC. Seventeen years and plenty of tech releases later, it seems the stereotypes in those ads never really went away. Take, for example, a recent TikTok trend in which women respond to the question, “He’s a 10, but he has an Android phone. What’s his new rating?” For some, the answer is 1 or 0. Marketplace’s Lily Ja

Dec 11, 2023 • 12:22

Layoffs hit Spotify, Google launches its Gemini AI tool — oh, and an unexpected Cameo star

Layoffs hit Spotify, Google launches its Gemini AI tool — oh, and an unexpected Cameo star

On today’s Tech Bytes: Google launches its AI tool Gemini into the public arena — finally. Plus, ousted congressman George Santos becomes a star on Cameo. But first, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said the music streaming giant is cutting 17% of its workforce. Here’s the thing, though: The size of Spotify’s user base is actually growing right now. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali is joined by Anita Ramaswamy, columnist at Reuters Breakingviews, for her take on these stories.

Dec 8, 2023 • 12:53

Tired of trying to protect your data privacy? You’ve got “consent fatigue.”

Tired of trying to protect your data privacy? You’ve got “consent fatigue.”

If you use the internet, you have undoubtedly been asked to consent to cookies. They remember our log-in information and also track things like what we’re reading and buying. Trying to avoid cookies can feel pretty pointless and exhausting to the point where privacy experts have named the phenomenon “consent fatigue.” Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Matt Schwartz, policy analyst for Consumer Reports, about how we got here.

Dec 7, 2023 • 11:54

Meta’s pixel code tracks students from kindergarten to college

Meta’s pixel code tracks students from kindergarten to college

For years, Facebook, now renamed Meta, has offered a code called pixel to businesses. By embedding pixel on their websites, those businesses can collect information on users, then target them with ads on Meta’s social media platforms. The investigative news website The Markup has been looking into how some of the personal information pixel gathers is shared back with the tech giant. Meta says its policies make clear that advertisers should not send sensitive information about customers thr

Dec 6, 2023 • 10:14

Can biofuel help clean up airline emissions?

Can biofuel help clean up airline emissions?

Last week, a Virgin Atlantic passenger jet traveled from London to New York powered 100% by sustainable aviation fuel, or SAF.  The low-carbon fuel came from feedstock that included used cooking oil and waste animal fats. Critics call the flight a gimmick, and to be clear, right now SAF makes up a tiny slice of the fuels airlines use to get us places. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Louise Burke, an energy analyst and vice president of business development at Argus Media, who says that coul

Dec 5, 2023 • 12:10

A controversial U.S. surveillance program expires this month. Will it be renewed?

A controversial U.S. surveillance program expires this month. Will it be renewed?

When Section 702 became law in 2008, the intelligence community argued collecting phone calls, texts, and emails of people outside of the U.S. could protect against terrorism. But the communications of many Americans have also been collected, all without the required warrants. Now, Section 702 is set to expire at the end of the month. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of liberty and national security at the Brennan Center for Justice, about what members of C

Dec 4, 2023 • 12:54

One year of ChatGPT, fast fashion’s plan to go public and more trouble for Elon Musk

One year of ChatGPT, fast fashion’s plan to go public and more trouble for Elon Musk

On today’s Tech Bytes: apologies, profanity and accusations of blackmail. It’s just another week in the life of Elon Musk. Plus, ultra-fast-fashion retailer Shein confidentially files for an IPO and seems to be trying to bolster its image.  But first, one year ago this week, OpenAI released ChatGPT to the public for the first time. Within five days of its launch, ChatGPT already had one million users. From writing holiday menus to college essays to wedding vows, ChatGPT has been there.  Marketpl

Dec 1, 2023 • 13:24

Big advertisers flee X as Musk spotlights antisemitic content

Big advertisers flee X as Musk spotlights antisemitic content

This time of year, companies tend to open their wallets and choose where they choose to advertise. Those ad dollars are the lifeblood of X, the former Twitter. In the last quarter of 2021, almost 90% of Twitter’s revenue came from ads. That business model was already showing signs of wear after when Elon Musk took over. Now, as the Israel-Hamas war rages on, a new controversial post by Musk has accelerated the flight of advertisers. New York Times journalist Ryan Mac spoke with Marketplace’s Li

Nov 30, 2023 • 11:45

The bust after the boom hits the video game business

The bust after the boom hits the video game business

This week, TikTok parent ByteDance said it’s retreating from mainstream video games altogether. Earlier this year, Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, a game that has had more than 400 million “unique registered users” since its 2017 launch, announced hundreds of layoffs as well. They’re just some examples of the wave of layoffs hitting game companies around the globe. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Los Angeles Times reporter Sarah Parvini, who covers the video game sector. In a piece just

Nov 29, 2023 • 9:51

Being an influencer sounds great, but is it really that glamorous?

Being an influencer sounds great, but is it really that glamorous?

From being your own boss to doing work you actually like, the perks of influencer life have drawn in plenty of creators to an industry valued at $250 billion. Take Sid Raskind, whose goofy lifehacks have earned him millions of followers on TikTok and Instagram. Still, Yanely Espinal, host of the podcast “Financially Inclined,” told Marketplace’s Lily Jamali that younger would-be creators should understand what it takes to make it.

Nov 28, 2023 • 10:33

Menopause technology could finally be having its moment

Menopause technology could finally be having its moment

Despite half the world’s population being female, there are still few technologies on the market to help manage the symptoms of menopause. Why is there a reluctance to invest in “menotech,” and is that changing? The BBC’s Elizabeth Hotson looked into the menotech products on the market and how the industry is evolving.

Nov 27, 2023 • 4:56

What venture capital is thinking after a week of high drama and shakeups in tech

What venture capital is thinking after a week of high drama and shakeups in tech

This week, the shakeups and confusion at OpenAI have come to a conclusion. Sam Altman returns to his position as CEO at OpenAI after its board fired him, which upset most of the company’s staff as well as others invested in OpenAI’s work in the generative artificial intelligence sector. Plus, Ryan Vogt resigned as CEO of the driverless tech startup Cruise, following a series of traffic collisions and accidents. On top of all that, Changpeng Zhao, the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Bina

Nov 24, 2023 • 14:21

Older video games are in danger of going extinct (rerun)

Older video games are in danger of going extinct (rerun)

For the most part, it’s not too hard to get access to movies from the last decade or even the last century. But if you want to experience a video game from before, say, the ancient era of 2010? Good luck. A new report from the Video Game History Foundation and the Software Preservation Network finds that 87% of those older games are “critically endangered.” They’re not commercially available to the public unless fans have dozens of different old systems to play them on or

Nov 23, 2023 • 10:45

Kids prep for YouTube careers at content creator camp

Kids prep for YouTube careers at content creator camp

Do you remember what your dream job was as a kid? We’re guessing that “YouTuber” was not on the list. Well, turns out vlogger/YouTuber was the top career choice for almost 30% of 8-to-12-year-olds who were surveyed a few years back. And across the country, camps and afterschool programs are cropping up to teach them how. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz, who visited a content creator camp in Texas, where children edit video, write scripts and, ge

Nov 22, 2023 • 9:13

Why OpenAI’s board fired CEO Sam Altman

Why OpenAI’s board fired CEO Sam Altman

It’s been a chaotic few days for the folks at OpenAI, including now-former CEO Sam Altman. To recap, on Friday the company’s board announced it had let Altman go, citing a lack of confidence in his “ability to continue leading OpenAI.” Several staff members then resigned and hundreds of others threatened to do the same if Altman wasn’t reinstated as CEO. That option is pretty much moot now that Microsoft — a major OpenAI investor — has hired Altman to lead a new AI

Nov 21, 2023 • 14:47

How is crypto doing in a post-Sam Bankman-Fried world?

How is crypto doing in a post-Sam Bankman-Fried world?

By now you’ve heard that the trial of Sam Bankman-Fried is over. What was the verdict for the founder of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX? Guilty on all seven charges, including fraud, money laundering and campaign finance law violations. Bankman-Fried will be sentenced in the spring. So how is the world of bitcoin and the blockchain faring now that it’s most famous ambassador will likely end up behind bars? Marketplace’s Matt Levin spoke with Laura Shin, a journalist w

Nov 20, 2023 • 10:43

Google and Apple’s complicated relationship, and Meta’s chance to return to China

Google and Apple’s complicated relationship, and Meta’s chance to return to China

On today’s Tech Bytes, our review of the week’s biggest headlines, Meta strikes a preliminary deal with Chinese videogame maker Tencent, giving the company a chance to return to China 14 years after Facebook was banned there. We also talk about the ransomware attack on a major Chinese bank, and how the Biden administration thinks American companies should respond to cyber extortion. But first, a look at the recent revelations about Google and Apple’s complicated relationship. Earlier in its fede

Nov 17, 2023 • 15:23

When work communication tools distract from the actual work

When work communication tools distract from the actual work

The soundtrack to the modern workplace sounds a lot like a cacophony of familiar pings and notification sounds from digital communication tools like email, Slack, Zoom and Teams – all of which are supposed to make us more productive. But all too often they can feel overwhelming, interfering with, you know, actual work. On this episode of Marketplace Tech, Matt Levin speaks with “Marketplace” reporter Kristin Schwab about how a small business owner in Nevada who was struggling to keep up with all

Nov 16, 2023 • 7:58

The autonomous vehicle industry hits another roadblock

The autonomous vehicle industry hits another roadblock

Back in August, the autonomous vehicle industry was riding high. Fast-forward three months, and the California DMV has suspended the robotaxi company Cruise from operating anywhere in the state. Federal regulators have also opened a probe into multiple incidents involving Cruise cars. Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor for The Verge, has reported on the long-awaited autonomous vehicle revolution for years. In an interview with Marketplace’s Matt Levin, he explained the trust issues and other

Nov 15, 2023 • 11:16

What it takes for Mexican coders to cross the cultural border with Silicon Valley

What it takes for Mexican coders to cross the cultural border with Silicon Valley

Every tech company needs a good origin story. The startup garage, the dorm room and the hacker house are firmly embedded in American tech mythology. For hacker-entrepreneurs in Mexico, the border with the U.S. looms large. A subset of them hope to one day cross it and pitch their big idea to venture capitalists in Silicon Valley. One way there is to work the hackathon circuit in Mexico. That’s the subject of MIT anthropologist Héctor Beltrán’s new book “Code Work.” Beltrán details how coders gai

Nov 14, 2023 • 13:19

After years of explosive growth, is China’s livestream shopping industry slowing down?

After years of explosive growth, is China’s livestream shopping industry slowing down?

In just a few short years, shopping by livestream has become all the rage in China. Think QVC online and on steroids. Influencers, brands and retailers have swarmed apps like WeChat and Douyin — the Chinese version of TikTok — to hawk everything from makeup and clothes to cars and beef jerky.  Viola Zhou and Caiwei Chen, reporters at Rest of World, have been writing about this $500 billion market and how it’s changing in a stagnant Chinese economy.

Nov 13, 2023 • 13:23

WeWork files for bankruptcy, Meta’s plan for election-related AI and ad blockers get blocked

WeWork files for bankruptcy, Meta’s plan for election-related AI and ad blockers get blocked

It’s Friday! Which means it’s time for our week-in-review show: Marketplace Tech Bytes. Meta announced this week that starting in 2024, Facebook and Instagram will start labeling political ads that use images generated by AI. But no… it’s hardly an AI crackdown. Plus, YouTube goes to war with ad blockers. A spate of uninstalls ensues! But first, WeWork, the co-working space provider, files for bankruptcy. What happened? And what’s next for the one-time golden child of Silicon Valley? Marketplace

Nov 10, 2023 • 13:04

Moneyball: the Oakland A’s and the transformation of baseball data

Moneyball: the Oakland A’s and the transformation of baseball data

“Stay in Oakland!” was the plea from many a diehard Athletics fan in the stands of the Oakland Coliseum this past baseball season as the team planned its move to Las Vegas. Some potential hurdles to a move remain unresolved, including a vote by Major League Baseball team owners next week on whether to allow it. Even if you don’t follow baseball, you may know the story of how, more than two decades ago, the cash-strapped A’s pioneered the use of high-tech data analysis in

Nov 9, 2023 • 13:54

Technology, community, insurance: How California hopes to mitigate future wildfires

Technology, community, insurance: How California hopes to mitigate future wildfires

...

Nov 8, 2023 • 8:53

Social media and “eSIMs” help Gazans stay connected amid war and blackouts

Social media and “eSIMs” help Gazans stay connected amid war and blackouts

Tuesday marks one month since the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,400 people and taking hundreds of hostages. Israel has responded by bombarding the Gaza Strip and killing more than 10,000 people there, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. The Israeli government has shut off power and fuel supplies to the more than 2 million people, mostly Palestinians, in Gaza. This weekend, Gazans suffered the third internet and phone blackout since Israel declared war on Ha

Nov 7, 2023 • 13:58

Military service members’ personal data is for sale. Is that a threat to national security?

Military service members’ personal data is for sale. Is that a threat to national security?

Remember when President Donald Trump tried to ban TikTok? He called attention to the risk that American users’ data could fall into the hands of Chinese authorities who have ties to the app’s owners. A judge blocked the ban, but even if he hadn’t, experts say so much of our personal information is available to buy from run-of-the-mill data brokers. That includes information on Americans serving in the military, which can have big consequences for national security. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spo

Nov 6, 2023 • 10:53

Global AI concerns, slumping EV sales and Netflix’s ad gamble

Global AI concerns, slumping EV sales and Netflix’s ad gamble

This week, electric vehicle sales are in a slump. Last year, the competition among EV buyers was fierce, with consumers paying premium prices to drive one off the lot. But despite federal tax credits aimed at making them more affordable, the red-hot EV market isn’t so hot anymore. Plus, a year into ads on Netflix, the company is reporting that 15 million monthly active users are watching, and rewards for binging your favorite shows are in the works. But first, we’ll dive into the U.K.’s AI

Nov 3, 2023 • 16:21

AI vs. AI: Automated programs are writing better scam emails, and AI is spotting them

AI vs. AI: Automated programs are writing better scam emails, and AI is spotting them

According to the FBI, email phishing attacks accounted for nearly $51 billion in losses over the past 10 years — and the number is only expected to grow with the introduction of artificial intelligence. Dina Temple-Raston from the “Click Here” podcast followed one company that is doing something new to fight the growing threat of scam emails: fighting AI with AI.

Nov 2, 2023 • 6:35

You realized the AI you’re creating may be dangerous. Now what?

You realized the AI you’re creating may be dangerous. Now what?

It’s been about seven months since leaders in tech signed an open letter calling for a temporary pause on artificial intelligence development. The gist was that the risks of advanced AI are too great for developers to keep tinkering with the technology in the absence of proper safeguards. That pause ultimately did not happen, and for some researchers, the core concerns in that letter still exist. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Jonas Schuett, research fellow at the Centre for the Governance

Nov 1, 2023 • 12:30

Biden’s executive order aims to limit the harms of AI

Biden’s executive order aims to limit the harms of AI

In 2017, then-MIT graduate student Joy Buolamwini shared the challenge of getting facial analysis software to notice her. “Hi camera, can you see my face? You can see her face. What about my face?” she asks the program as she stares at her webcam. It couldn’t “see” her until she wore a white mask. The reason, argued Buolamwini, who is Black, is because of algorithmic bias. Fighting it is one goal of the executive order on AI unveiled Monday by the Biden administration. Buolamwini, author of the

Oct 31, 2023 • 12:19

Why default settings are important to a search engine’s success

Why default settings are important to a search engine’s success

It was declared the winner of the search-engine wars way back in 1998. Fortune magazine said the company was poised for much bigger things. That company was, actually, Yahoo. As it turned out, that prediction didn’t age well. Of course, Google is the real winner of the battle for search engine dominance. How it got there is the subject of the U.S. Justice Department’s antitrust case against it. Google has just started mounting its defense as the 10-week trial nears its end. Much of the case hi

Oct 30, 2023 • 10:30

Policymakers take on AI, deepfakes and Meta’s effects on kids

Policymakers take on AI, deepfakes and Meta’s effects on kids

This week, Marketplace Tech is introducing a new regular Friday segment called Bytes: a week in review, where we’ll dive into the major news stories of the week, giving you the context and information you need. And what a week it’s been in the tech industry! Disarray in Congress disrupts plans to deal with deepfakes ahead of the 2024 election. Also, the White House prepares an executive order on artificial intelligence, set for release as soon as next week. But the biggest tech headline of the w

Oct 27, 2023 • 13:26

Ageism in China’s tech sector has workers fearing the “curse of 35”

Ageism in China’s tech sector has workers fearing the “curse of 35”

Here in the U.S., big tech is having a good earnings season as companies release their quarterly report cards this week. This, after a year marked by layoffs, with many tech workers going through the first industry downturn of their careers. China’s tech industry has been even more exposed. The world’s second largest economy is struggling. Turns out, a long resume isn’t always helpful to those thrown out of work, as a result. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Marketplace’s China correspondent

Oct 26, 2023 • 10:34

How teens are being blackmailed with sexting scams on social media

How teens are being blackmailed with sexting scams on social media

Last year, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) got more than 10,000 tips about minors extorted in sexting scams. The number is even higher so far this year. And what authorities are noticing is that in a lot of these cases boys are the target. It often starts with direct messages on social media. Flirting leads to requests for explicit photos. And as soon as they hit send, the person on the other end threatens to share the photos unless they get paid. Freelance report

Oct 25, 2023 • 9:51

As New York cracks down on rentals, Airbnb hosts go underground

As New York cracks down on rentals, Airbnb hosts go underground

As recently as August, Airbnb was doing brisk business in New York City, with more than 22,000 listings there. Two months and a citywide crackdown later, that number has fallen to just above 3,000, a decrease of more than 80%. Local Law 18, which took effect last month, requires hosts of short-term rentals on Airbnb, Vrbo and similar sites to register with the city and live in the property they’re renting out. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Amanda Hoover, a staff writer at Wire

Oct 24, 2023 • 13:07

CRISPR pioneer Doudna envisions ending asthma, aiding climate

CRISPR pioneer Doudna envisions ending asthma, aiding climate

The technology known as CRISPR is considered one of modern biology’s biggest breakthroughs. It allows scientists to edit genes, similar to how you cut and paste text in a word processor. More than a decade after pioneering CRISPR, Nobel laureate Jennifer Doudna of the University of California, Berkeley, is applying it to big problems, like chronic disease and climate change.Marketplace’s Lily Jamali recently met up with Doudna at Berkeley’s Innovative Genomics Institute. It’s a cluster of lab st

Oct 23, 2023 • 13:20

Workers in Israel’s dynamic tech sector are joining the war effort. That’s affecting the industry, and the economy.

Workers in Israel’s dynamic tech sector are joining the war effort. That’s affecting the industry, and the economy.

Thousands of Israelis and Palestinians have lost their lives since Hamas gunmen staged their surprise raid on Oct. 7. In the wake of the attack, Israel’s defense forces have called up more than 350,000 reservists, about 4% of its population. The country’s booming tech industry could be affected more than most, given that so many younger Israelis work in the sector. Fast Company contributing writer Issie Lapowsky recently interviewed several of them, including an Israeli tech lawyer named Yitzy

Oct 20, 2023 • 8:31

The potential return of net neutrality and the future of the digital divide

The potential return of net neutrality and the future of the digital divide

The talk of late at the Federal Communications Commission is whether to restore net neutrality. When the Barack Obama administration put those rules in place in 2015, the idea was to ensure that internet service providers — or ISPs — like Verizon and Comcast gave consumers fair access to the web and didn’t favor sites and services they controlled. But that mandate was repealed two years later under then-FCC Chair Ajit Pai, chosen by then-President Donald Trump. He argued that net neutrality wo

Oct 19, 2023 • 5:27

Bacteria could be the key to a safer, greener way of processing rare-earth metals

Bacteria could be the key to a safer, greener way of processing rare-earth metals

The word “bacteria” doesn’t exactly evoke positive images, but scientists at Cornell University recently discovered a novel way to replicate and use a bacterium from Oneida Lake in New York state. It’s called Shewanella oneidensis, and it has a special affinity for the rare-earth elements — such as so-called lanthanides, metals that are important for clean, renewable energy technology. The bacteria can be used to process rare-earth metals through a method called biosorpt

Oct 18, 2023 • 7:39

How the IRS is using $60 billion to make filing taxes less painful

How the IRS is using $60 billion to make filing taxes less painful

If you asked for an extension on last year’s taxes, the bad news is the filing deadline was yesterday. The good is if you got it in, refunds are expected to reach you faster than they have in recent years. The notoriously clunky technology behind the IRS is getting a massive update, thanks to a $60 billion cash infusion from last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. The IRS’ technology was considered cutting edge in the 1960s, but Erica Neuman, assistant professor of accounting at the Uni

Oct 17, 2023 • 12:19

The game-changing work of Jerry Lawson (rerun)

The game-changing work of Jerry Lawson (rerun)

When you think of the early days of video games, the Fairchild Channel F console might not be the first brand that comes to mind. The Fairchild Channel F was released in 1976, before the more famous Atari released its console. It was also the first system to use individual game cartridges, thanks in large part to Jerry Lawson, a Black engineer at Fairchild. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino recently spoke with Anthony Frasier, CEO of ABF Creative and host of a podcast about Jerry Lawson

Oct 16, 2023 • 12:01

The race for China’s electric vehicle market

The race for China’s electric vehicle market

Chinese automaker BYD is now the most popular EV in China and could soon beat Tesla as the No. 1 EV globally. As the Chinese auto market moves to electric, the playing field is getting crowded.

Oct 13, 2023 • 5:53

Fraud influencers, phishing and scams — account takeovers are on the rise

Fraud influencers, phishing and scams — account takeovers are on the rise

Whether it’s for travel, meals or event tickets, it’s hard to deny the allure of a good deal. And providing discounts through fraudulent means is a thriving business online. Once mostly relegated to the far reaches of the dark web, fraudsters are offering questionable deals to consumers on mainstream social media sites and messaging apps. That’s according to the online fraud prevention company Sift. Part of the scam is what is called an account takeover or ATO. Marketplace&#821

Oct 12, 2023 • 9:36

San Francisco is becoming a tech hub again, Y Combinator CEO says

San Francisco is becoming a tech hub again, Y Combinator CEO says

They say it’s harder to get into than Harvard: Y Combinator, YC for short, is “startup school” for tech founders. It takes applications twice a year. Being among the 230 startups accepted out of 24,000 means getting a half-million-dollar investment and access to mentors who’ve already made it. Airbnb, Reddit and DoorDash are on the alumni list. For most of its 18-year history, Y Combinator has been based in Mountain View, California, the heart of Silicon Valley. Recently,

Oct 11, 2023 • 13:22

X’s misinformation woes get worse during the Israel-Hamas conflict

X’s misinformation woes get worse during the Israel-Hamas conflict

Last weekend, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, people around the world flocked to Twitter — now X — for up-to-the-minute information. What they found was a site crawling with misinformation: images captured months or years earlier in unrelated attacks, inaccurate claims about other countries entering the conflict, even a fake White House press release announcing billions of dollars in new U.S. aid to Israel made the rounds. And X’s owner, Elon Musk, promoting accounts known for

Oct 10, 2023 • 12:46

As SBF sits in court, is cryptocurrency on trial too?

As SBF sits in court, is cryptocurrency on trial too?

Almost one year after FTX collapsed, founder Sam Bankman-Fried is on trial for fraud. Crypto’s value has mostly recovered; users hope its reputation will too. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Vicky Huang, a crypto reporter at The Wall Street Journal, about how the trial is affecting perceptions of the industry.

Oct 9, 2023 • 11:30

Streaming data transparency a vast and contested terrain for Hollywood creatives

Streaming data transparency a vast and contested terrain for Hollywood creatives

The lucrative NBC sitcom “Cheers” featured a washed-up baseball-player-turned-bartender, a spunky waitress and a bunch of regulars who hung out at the bar. By the end of its 11-season run in 1993, the show was getting 26 million viewers a week.Back then, the public could get a lot of information about how our favorite shows performed. But for streaming in 2023, that data is harder to come by. It was a sticking point in the five-month Hollywood writers strike. Members of the Writers G

Oct 6, 2023 • 13:11

California bill could lead the way in diversifying venture capital investments

California bill could lead the way in diversifying venture capital investments

Sand Hill Road in Silicon Valley’s Menlo Park is often referred to as the main street of venture capital. Funding from these influential firms can launch a startup into the big time — sometimes unicorn status. But just 2% of venture capital goes to all-female teams. That figure is even lower for Black women and Latina founders. A bill just passed by California lawmakers, SB 54, offers a first-in-the-nation push to gather the statistics on who’s getting all that highly sought-after c

Oct 5, 2023 • 9:38

The beauty industry generates a lot of waste. Technology can help.

The beauty industry generates a lot of waste. Technology can help.

The beauty industry is getting bigger and more lucrative, but beauty brand Olay says that with about 80% of beauty products going unused, there’s an ugly side to that growth. Startups in Sweden and Finland hope technology can reduce cosmetic waste by changing the way we shop.

Oct 4, 2023 • 5:43

Are state and local governments embracing or banning generative AI?

Are state and local governments embracing or banning generative AI?

A couple of weeks back, the news broke that a school district in Mason City, Iowa, was using ChatGPT to implement Iowa’s ban on books that include descriptions of sex acts. One book flagged was Buzz Bissinger’s classic “Friday Night Lights.” The thing is, that book includes no such descriptions, according to the author himself. Although the district reversed course, it’s an example of how more government officials are using artificial intelligence at work, in some

Oct 3, 2023 • 9:41

The history of the keyboard is filled with battles, controversies and lasers

The history of the keyboard is filled with battles, controversies and lasers

The humble keyboard is the unsung hero of our tech lives. It’s the thing that almost every great modern book or screenplay or even Instagram caption was first written on. And yet, very few people are writing about it. Designer and writer Marcin Wichary sought to change that with his new book “Shift Happens.” In it, he chronicles the sometimes contentious history of the keyboard. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Wichary about his research, beginning with the very first typewriters.

Oct 2, 2023 • 12:26

How California’s Delete Act could impact the business of data brokering

How California’s Delete Act could impact the business of data brokering

There’s an entire industry built around making money off personal information that’s gathered online. Companies known as data brokers collect it, then sell it to other parties. California tried to tackle this problem a couple of years ago, giving consumers the right to ask that companies delete their information. But actually doing that is tedious. Consumers have to make the request one company at a time. A bill passed by California lawmakers this month aims to change that by allowin

Sep 29, 2023 • 6:23

After a decade, the EU draws the curtains on its Human Brain Project

After a decade, the EU draws the curtains on its Human Brain Project

In making the case for the Human Brain Project back in 2009, neuroscientist Henry Markram noted that 2 billion people are affected by some kind of mental disorder. It was time, he said, to explore fundamental questions about how the brain works. The collaboration that resulted involved hundreds of scientists across several nations. This week marks the end of Europe’s ambitious but also at times controversial initiative. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Miryam Naddaf, a reporter

Sep 28, 2023 • 9:38

What the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit means for Amazon

What the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit means for Amazon

According to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by the Federal Trade Commission and 17 states, “Amazon is a monopolist.” They say Amazon uses strategies that prevent sellers on its online marketplace from lowering prices on other platforms and compels them to use Amazon’s logistics service to be eligible for Amazon Prime. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Neil Chilson, the former chief technologist at the FTC and currently a research fellow at the Center for Growth and Opportunity, about the FTC’s lawsuit

Sep 27, 2023 • 6:39

What’s happening in the Google antitrust trial? It’s kind of a black box.

What’s happening in the Google antitrust trial? It’s kind of a black box.

We’re going on Week 3 of Google’s high-stakes trial over allegations that it bought its way to dominance in internet search. The Department of Justice and several states allege that the tech giant has maintained a lucrative monopoly through exclusive contracts with browser companies and phone makers like Apple and Samsung. Google has countered that it’s dominant in search because it offers the best product. Covering this trial has been a complicated task. Part of the challenge is that Google a

Sep 26, 2023 • 12:44

How countries around the world shape their data policy

How countries around the world shape their data policy

It’s impossible to quantify the volume of data generated by citizens around the world. Make no mistake, though — data has become a commodity to the companies that monetize it. At the same time, governments are making laws around how to protect it, who can access it and even where to store it. These choices are guided by how leaders think data can advance their national interests, according to Gillian Diebold at the Center for Data Innovation, who just wrote an analysis on the subject. She spoke

Sep 25, 2023 • 11:08

AI in schools creates greater risk for marginalized students, researchers find

AI in schools creates greater risk for marginalized students, researchers find

When ChatGPT came on the scene in November, it sent schools across the country into a panic. Some districts immediately started setting rules around how students could use artificial intelligence programs in their schoolwork. Others moved to ban them altogether. All this happened while information about the good and the bad of AI’s foray into classrooms was still pretty scarce. Researchers at the Center for Democracy & Technology, based in Washington, D.C., gathered data to counter s

Sep 22, 2023 • 5:21

“Model collapse” shows AI doesn’t have the human touch, writer says

“Model collapse” shows AI doesn’t have the human touch, writer says

AI chatbots have gotten pretty good at generating text that looks like it was written by a real person. That’s because they’re trained on words and sentences that actual humans wrote, scraped from blogs and news websites. But research now shows when you feed that AI-generated text back into the models to train a new chatbot, after a while, it sort of stops making sense. It’s a phenomenon AI researchers are calling “model collapse.” Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Clive Thompson, author of “Co

Sep 21, 2023 • 7:41

The race to develop earthquake warning tech

The race to develop earthquake warning tech

Earthquakes are the trickiest phenomena to detect ahead of their impact. California, for example, has the MyShake app, which aims to notify Californians seconds ahead of a quake. But aside from the public sector funding this type of lifesaving innovation, private companies are also racing to develop the tech for earthquake warning and alert systems. The BBC’s Will Bain reports.

Sep 20, 2023 • 4:53

How presidential candidates are talking about tech on the campaign trail

How presidential candidates are talking about tech on the campaign trail

We are a little more than a year away from Election Day, and voters have probably heard something about candidates’ views on the economy, foreign policy and other issues in the media daily. But today, “Marketplace Tech” is looking at what candidates are telling voters about their plans for the future of technology in the United States. How are they framing issues related to artificial intelligence, social media and the power of Big Tech? If you scroll through the websites of the leading candida

Sep 19, 2023 • 8:53

Have smartphones peaked?

Have smartphones peaked?

There was a time when the unveiling of the next-generation Apple iPhone was a very big deal. Today, there are still plenty of fans keeping tabs on the latest releases from Apple and competitors like Samsung and Google. But if you didn’t hear much about Apple’s hardware showcase in Cupertino, California, last week, it wasn’t just you. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Lauren Goode, senior writer at Wired and the co-host of Wired’s “Gadget Lab” and “Have a Nice Future” podcasts, about the event a

Sep 18, 2023 • 8:52

How tech has influenced a year of demonstrations in Iran

How tech has influenced a year of demonstrations in Iran

Saturday marks one year since the death of Mahsa Amini, the young woman who was arrested by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s “morality police” for allegedly violating its strict dress code for women. She died in custody. Protests that started at Amini’s funeral quickly spread across the country. Iranians have depended on messaging apps and social media to share information and try to stay safe. But staying connected hasn’t been easy, according to Shaghayegh Norouzi a

Sep 15, 2023 • 9:44

How Musk’s Starlink became a security liability for the U.S.

How Musk’s Starlink became a security liability for the U.S.

Here on Earth, the satellites that make up Starlink look like a string of stars travelling across the night sky. More than 4,000 of them are circling the Earth in low orbit right now. They’re part of the private venture that’s the brainchild of billionaire and SpaceX founder Elon Musk. Last year, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Musk sent Starlink terminals there so Ukraine could stay connected to the internet. But turns out Musk controls both the on and the off switch on that technology, giving hi

Sep 14, 2023 • 10:06

Why did the Instant Pot go out of style?

Why did the Instant Pot go out of style?

If you’re a kitchen tech fanatic, the odds are good you’ve purchased or been gifted an Instant Pot. But Instant Brands, the maker of the Instant Pot, filed for bankruptcy in June. Susan Orlean, who writes Afterword, an obituary column in The New Yorker, said it seemed fitting to write an obit for the Instant Pot.

Sep 13, 2023 • 9:19

The European Commission lists some tech titans as ‘gatekeepers’ of online services

The European Commission lists some tech titans as ‘gatekeepers’ of online services

The European Commission has designated six of the largest tech companies on the planet as the “gatekeepers” of online services. You’ll know these names: Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft. Facebook parent Meta. Google and YouTube parent Alphabet. And, maybe you’re less familiar with this one: ByteDance, which owns TikTok. They’ve all got until March to comply with the continent’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to give users more choice. For more, Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Sumit S

Sep 12, 2023 • 8:20

Why Apple is supporting the “right to repair” in California

Why Apple is supporting the “right to repair” in California

States across the country are considering “right to repair” laws. These laws require most electronics and appliance manufacturers to provide instructions and tools to consumers wanting to repair their products instead of paying company technicians for the service or, worst case, buying a replacement. It’s something that iPhone maker Apple has long been against, until last month, when the company suddenly announced its support for California’s bill. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali asked Brian Heater, h

Sep 11, 2023 • 9:39

Google’s Justice Department trial could test the future of antitrust law

Google’s Justice Department trial could test the future of antitrust law

When’s the last time you used Microsoft Bing or Duck Duck Go to search the internet? Yeah, that’s no accident, say the U.S. government and several states. Next week, an antitrust case they filed against Google goes to trial. The original complaint notes Google accounted for almost 90% of all search queries in the U.S. And Googling only got us so far on this one, so Marketplace’s Lily Jamali called on Rebecca Allensworth, an antitrust lawyer and law professor at Vanderbilt.

Sep 8, 2023 • 12:02

It’s imperative – and nearly impossible – to contain artificial intelligence, expert says

It’s imperative – and nearly impossible – to contain artificial intelligence, expert says

When Mustafa Suleyman co-founded the AI research company DeepMind more than a decade ago, his goal felt ambitious, even a bit far-fetched: to build a machine that could replicate human intelligence. Now, he says, rapid progress in the development of AI means that goal could be met within the next three years, and the implications of that milestone are huge. Suleyman explores those implications in his new book, “The Coming Wave,” which came out this week. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke to Suleym

Sep 7, 2023 • 12:51

X/Twitter’s political ad policy could affect elections around the world

X/Twitter’s political ad policy could affect elections around the world

Then-Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey banned them in 2019. Now, owner and Chair Elon Musk is officially bringing back political ads from parties and candidates to the company he renamed X, expanding its push into cause-based advertising. The move could boost revenue; some big brands have been less than eager to buy ads on the platform since Musk took over. X didn’t respond to a request for comment by the time of taping, but it has said it plans to expand its safety and elections team ahead of the

Sep 6, 2023 • 16:21

The U.S. and China’s different — and similar — attitudes about AI in the workplace

The U.S. and China’s different — and similar — attitudes about AI in the workplace

We know that artificial intelligence will change the workplace, and in some industries more than others. Also, perhaps, in some countries more than others. Today we bring you the view from China. Marketplace’s correspondent there, Jennifer Pak, has been speaking to companies and workers in creative industries about this thorny issue. She recently visited a Chinese company that’s been playing with AI to generate animation. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Pak, who is in Shanghai, to explore h

Sep 5, 2023 • 8:08

Why people are letting Worldcoin scan their eyes

Why people are letting Worldcoin scan their eyes

Worldcoin is using silver orbs to scan people’s eyeballs. The idea is to collect biometric data to verify whether an online account holder is indeed a human being. In some countries, the project is paying people in crypto for scanning their eyes, while in others, Worldcoin has been suspended from operating. The BBC’s Leanna Byrne went to a scanning site in London to try it out.

Sep 4, 2023 • 4:27

Signal will leave the UK if the current version of the Online Safety Bill becomes law, says the company’s president

Signal will leave the UK if the current version of the Online Safety Bill becomes law, says the company’s president

The UK’s “Online Safety Bill” is on Parliament’s agenda as members return next week. Supporters promise it would make Britain the safest place in the world to be online, protecting especially kids from harmful content. But while acknowledging its intent, U.S. tech executives say it deals a major blow to privacy. Meredith Whittaker, president of the nonprofit encrypted messaging app Signal, is an outspoken critic. She’s concerned by a clause that lets British regulat

Sep 1, 2023 • 10:09

Women’s health startups are still trying to crack Silicon Valley’s glass ceiling

Women’s health startups are still trying to crack Silicon Valley’s glass ceiling

Just 3% of digital health venture capital investments in the United States between 2011 and mid-2020 focused on women’s health, and last year, women’s health startups raised a little more than $1 billion, not a lot in relative terms. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Brittany Hawkins, co-founder and CEO of Elanza Wellness, who has been navigating these waters.

Aug 31, 2023 • 9:42

YouTube and Universal Music leap into the AI copyright void

YouTube and Universal Music leap into the AI copyright void

YouTube recently announced a partnership with Universal Music Group to launch a music AI incubator. Their goal is to come up with new artificial intelligence projects and protect artists. The venture comes after songs featuring AI versions of singers like Drake, Kanye West and Frank Sinatra got viral attention, raising questions around how copyright law applies to AI-derived music and who should be paid. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge and host of

Aug 30, 2023 • 9:03

Your next tattoo could be invisible

Your next tattoo could be invisible

According to the Pew Research Center, about one-third of Americans have at least one tattoo. Most get one to honor someone or make a statement. But a nanoengineer in Colorado, a tattoo artist to the stars and a former doctoral student have long-term hopes for smart tattoos with a health purpose. They’re starting with ink that can appear and disappear with different kinds of light.

Aug 29, 2023 • 5:43

Diversifying the games industry, one virtual experience at a time

Diversifying the games industry, one virtual experience at a time

Video games are about a lot more than having fun. They also give us narrative lessons and messages about the economy and culture — issues that often affect the people who make them. “Marketplace Morning Report” host David Brancaccio has been reporting on this in a series called “Skin in the Game.” The series took him to Oakland, California, for a visit to a nonprofit group called Gameheads. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with David about how the medium is giving

Aug 28, 2023 • 10:07

Tracking methane from space to slow the warming of Earth

Tracking methane from space to slow the warming of Earth

This year could become the hottest one ever recorded. In reporting on the climate crisis, carbon dioxide gets most of the headlines. But molecule for molecule, methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas. It’s odorless and colorless, making it difficult to detect. While CO2 can linger in the atmosphere for centuries, methane lasts more like seven to 12 years. And because methane is so potent, the ability to quickly detect and fix leaks could have an immediate climate benefit. The nonprofi

Aug 25, 2023 • 10:18

How one company hopes to alleviate poverty in India with “ethical data”

How one company hopes to alleviate poverty in India with “ethical data”

It can be easy to overlook the people behind all the technology we use. But a startup based in India called Karya is putting them front and center, both in its method and its marketing. The company’s stated goal is to alleviate poverty for Indians living in low-income communities by paying them approximately $5 per hour, a wage that’s higher than the market rate, to create data. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Vivek Seshadri, Karya’s chief technology officer and co-founder, about how his co

Aug 24, 2023 • 9:35

Artificial intelligence may influence whether you can get pain medication

Artificial intelligence may influence whether you can get pain medication

To contain the opioid crisis, health and law enforcement agencies have turned to technology to monitor doctor and patient prescription data. But experts have raised questions about how these systems work and voiced concerns about their accuracy and potential biases. Plus, some patients and doctors say they’re being unfairly targeted. Today, we hear from Sam Whitehead and Andy Miller of KFF Health News about the real-world complications this artificial intelligence is bringing.

Aug 23, 2023 • 6:34

The cloud’s heavy toll on natural resources

The cloud’s heavy toll on natural resources

The thing we call “the cloud” might sound harmless, but that seemingly abstract place where the details of your digital life are stored takes a heavy toll on the environment. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Steven Gonzalez Monserrate, a postdoctoral researcher in the Fixing Futures training group at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, about his research on cloud data centers and their effect on the health of the planet.

Aug 22, 2023 • 11:18

YouTube will disable recommendations for some users. Will that decrease harmful content?

YouTube will disable recommendations for some users. Will that decrease harmful content?

Warning: This conversation isn’t appropriate for all listeners. YouTube’s recommendation algorithm has always been key to keeping users on the site. Watch a cute cat video, and the platform spews countless more of the same. But that also applies to harmful content, which the YouTube algorithm sometimes serves up not just to adults, but also to kids. Well, this month, Google-owned YouTube said it’ll stop displaying recommended videos to some users who have turned off their watch hi

Aug 21, 2023 • 9:40

The dangers of AI in the 2024 elections

The dangers of AI in the 2024 elections

Deepfakes are just one example of how disinformation-filled digital media are making the rounds as we creep toward the 2024 national elections. These efforts to manipulate voters with the help of artificial intelligence and other tech tools are being crafted by activists, propagandists and political campaigns. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Susan Gonzales, CEO of the nonprofit group AIandYou, about what the nation’s first “AI election” could look like.

Aug 18, 2023 • 10:13

Hollywood hires for AI-related roles as strikers seek protection from tech threat

Hollywood hires for AI-related roles as strikers seek protection from tech threat

Hollywood is a month into its first double labor strike since 1960. The Writers Guild of America hit the picket lines in May, and in July, screen actors represented by SAG-AFTRA joined them on strike. Both unions want higher pay, better residuals and protections from artificial intelligence. Yet as actors and writers fight to limit the use of AI, the film and TV studios are hiring for a growing number of AI-related jobs. For an update on where things stand in Hollywood’s labor dispute, Lily Jama

Aug 17, 2023 • 9:42

Dating apps fail to protect some users from predators, Mother Jones finds

Dating apps fail to protect some users from predators, Mother Jones finds

Warning: This episode contains references to sexual abuse and violence. Whether for a hookup or to find true love, 3 out of 10 American adults say they have used a dating app, according to the Pew Research Center. But an investigation out Wednesday from Mother Jones looks into how these apps can also incubate abuse, finding that companies like Grindr and Match Group have failed to protect some of their users from predators. At the heart of this story is this question: Is that the companies’ re

Aug 16, 2023 • 13:10

Sweden’s building an electric road that could charge EVs while driving

Sweden’s building an electric road that could charge EVs while driving

If you drive an electric vehicle, you are familiar with the nagging fear that your EV will run out of battery power. A company in Sweden is trying to change that with technology that allows electric vehicles to charge while driving, with the power coming from the road itself. The BBC’s Adrienne Murray reports that it would be the first of its kind.

Aug 15, 2023 • 6:25

How do Americans feel about AI?

How do Americans feel about AI?

We’re quickly coming up on one year since ChatGPT was released to the public. In that time, it and other generative AI tools have placed artificial intelligence front and center in a larger discussion about the future of work, art, ethics and pretty much everything else. So, what do Americans think about AI now? The upshot is that many of you are checking the “somewhat concerned” and “mostly concerned” boxes on this one. And it seems like Democrats and Republicans are generally on the same pag

Aug 14, 2023 • 10:17

Virality, algorithms and echo chambers: Can adjusting the feed diminish division online?

Virality, algorithms and echo chambers: Can adjusting the feed diminish division online?

Almost three years later, the 2020 presidential election is hardly in the rearview mirror. Big questions remain about how algorithms spread polarizing content on the social media platforms that so many Americans turn to for news and information. For answers, academics across the country have been collaborating with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The result? Four studies that look at online polarization and ideological segregation among users on both platforms over three months during t

Aug 11, 2023 • 12:00

How to share memorable experiences through video games

How to share memorable experiences through video games

The artists, producers, designers, and others who make your favorite video games have the technical chops to make it in the industy. But they also bring their personal stories and experiences to the job — and they’re able to take players along. Gameheads, a nonprofit based in Oakland, California, is teaching the next generation of developers how to do that, encouraging them to incorporate themes from their own lives, like gentrification and mental health, into the games they create. Liset

Aug 10, 2023 • 5:33

For many, AI is a religious experience

For many, AI is a religious experience

Artificial intelligence can feel abstract, so we’ve come to depend on certain narratives to try and make sense of it all. Some of the language we use to describe AI and our interactions with it is rooted in religious ideas. Are you bracing for the apocalypse? Have you been blessed by the algorithm? Have you consulted with a Robo Rabbi lately? The deification of AI, whether it’s done consciously or not, is something Beth Singler studies as a professor of digital religions at the Unive

Aug 9, 2023 • 11:37

What venture capital layoffs mean for the startup economy

What venture capital layoffs mean for the startup economy

Layoffs are shaking up the most exclusive corner of Silicon Valley. Bloomberg News’ Sarah McBride says what once was unthinkable in venture capital is now just another sign of the times.

Aug 8, 2023 • 8:34

Legislation could stall company’s effort to get autonomous trucks on California highways

Legislation could stall company’s effort to get autonomous trucks on California highways

Self-driving technology company Aurora Innovation has plans to commercialize autonomous trucks by the end of next year. So far, the company seems to be on that path in Texas. Here in California, where the company is partly headquartered and has long incubated much of its technology, it’s a different story. The company’s home state may push back on its innovations with California State Assembly Bill 316, which would prohibit any self-driving trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds from hitt

Aug 7, 2023 • 10:30

Cybersecurity labels are coming. Will they be effective?

Cybersecurity labels are coming. Will they be effective?

The Joe Biden administration has begun work on a cybersecurity certification program for online devices and appliances that may be vulnerable to hacks or other invasive cyberattacks. Consumers can basically think of this U.S. Cyber Trust Mark as akin to a nutrition label, but in this case it tells you if your smart speakers, baby monitor or fitness tracker are secure. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali spoke with Stacey Higginbotham, founder and editor of the Internet of Things newsletter, about w

Aug 4, 2023 • 9:42

Should the AI makers also be the AI regulators?

Should the AI makers also be the AI regulators?

Executives of seven tech companies gathered at the White House last month and committed to voluntarily address the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Just days later, a subset of those industry players, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Google, announced the formation of their own regulatory body called the Frontier Model Forum, which they said is focused on the responsible development of powerful AI tools.  The forum is set to have plenty of bells and whistles, including an advisory board an

Aug 3, 2023 • 9:43

The AI concentration problem in the U.S.

The AI concentration problem in the U.S.

There’s a lot at stake in the artificial intelligence race, and although it may feel like it’s everywhere, the U.S. AI race is primarily playing out in just a few places — specifically, hubs that offer AI entrepreneurs advantages like capital, talent and more. That helps explain why so many AI companies, patents, job opportunities and so much else are concentrated in Silicon Valley and other very expensive, mostly coastal U.S. cities, said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings Metro. Marketpl

Aug 2, 2023 • 9:36

Grade school students send research in tiny cubes into space

Grade school students send research in tiny cubes into space

Every year, grade school students gather at Nasa’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia to send science experiments into space. Now, these experiments have to be tiny, fitting into a 6×6 centimeter cube, which can either be flown into space in a research rocket or a scientific balloon. After the cubes are brought back to Earth, the students get together to analyze their experiments and see what happened while they were floating up there for 15 or so hours. This year, hundreds of students from the

Aug 1, 2023 • 6:01

The potential future of open-source generative AI

The potential future of open-source generative AI

There’s a new large language model in town that threatens to out-open OpenAI’s ChatGPT. LLaMa 2, from Facebook parent company Meta, has capabilities roughly in line with big-name competitors. However, it’s also open source, meaning the model’s source code is available for anyone to study or build upon for free. OpenAI, Google and many other artificial intelligence innovators have opted to keep their latest models proprietary. A more open approach has obvious benefits for research and enterprise

Jul 31, 2023 • 10:00

The advantages —and drawbacks — of decentralized social networks

The advantages —and drawbacks — of decentralized social networks

It’s been just a few weeks since the new Threads app burst onto the scene, threatening to be the ultimate Twitter-Killer, or platform formerly known as Twitter-killer. But it’s not just an alternative to the former bird app Threads has promised, but an alternative model of social media. One that is decentralized and interoperable. So how is this model different than the classic flavor most of us are used to? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino asked Arvind Narayanan, a professor of computer scie

Jul 28, 2023 • 11:58

How companies are trying to leverage AI

How companies are trying to leverage AI

It sure feels like we’re on the verge of an artificial intelligence revolution in many workplaces. New tools like chatbots and image generators have taken the tech world by storm, but many businesses across the economy are still figuring out what exactly it means for them. That’s often where firms like Accenture come in. It offers business services and consulting. Last month, Accenture surveyed more than 2,300 C-suite leaders across industries and around the world on their thinking about integr

Jul 27, 2023 • 8:11

Creating “humanlike minds” is the next step in AI development

Creating “humanlike minds” is the next step in AI development

Even the most impressive artificial intelligence today isn’t quite what we see in science fiction. The superintelligent humanoids of “Westworld,” the malevolent supercomputer in “2001: A Space Odyssey” and the emotionally attuned operating system in “Her” are all more like artificial general intelligence, rather than just artificial intelligence. They’re machines that are capable of everything humans are, or even more. As far as we know, AGI hasn&

Jul 26, 2023 • 14:04

Companies are struggling to meet California’s new child data privacy standards

Companies are struggling to meet California’s new child data privacy standards

Most online services that children use are likely monetizing their data in some way, according to a new report from Common Sense Media. The nonprofit analyzed the privacy policies of more than 200 popular internet platforms and found that about three-quarters of them were sharing user data or lacked transparency about how they use personal data. Disclosing those details and offering users a chance to opt out is required in California under the latest expansion of the state’s landmark priv

Jul 25, 2023 • 5:46

What our nuclear history can teach us about AI

What our nuclear history can teach us about AI

The movie “Oppenheimer,” about the making of the nuclear bomb, opened last week, and the subject matter has spurred an unavoidable comparison with artificial intelligence. Leaders at AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have explicitly framed the risks of developing AI in those terms, while historical accounts of the Manhattan Project have become required reading among some researchers. That’s according to Vox senior correspondent Dylan Matthews. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to M

Jul 24, 2023 • 12:08

Special: What happens when AI goes to work

Special: What happens when AI goes to work

We’ve taken a week off from our usual programming to research and report on the rise of artificial intelligence in the workplace. In our “AI on the Job” series, we looked into the ways this technology is automating some jobs, simplifying others, competing with human workers and creating entirely new careers.

Jul 21, 2023 • 19:23

AI on the Job: How artificial intelligence could create new careers

AI on the Job: How artificial intelligence could create new careers

All week, as part of our “AI on the Job” series, we’ve been reporting on the ways generative artificial intelligence tools like chatbots are changing how we work. Today: the careers this technology is helping to create.

Jul 21, 2023 • 6:21

AI on the Job: Get ready to meet your AI assistant

AI on the Job: Get ready to meet your AI assistant

In this episode of Marketplace Tech’s “AI on the Job” series, we’re digging into the ways artificial intelligence could be changing work for the better. Across sectors, AI is helping people do their jobs by making some tasks more efficient, eliminating other tasks altogether and even injecting a creative boost into their workflow.

Jul 20, 2023 • 5:19

AI on the Job: Will you be competing with a bot for a gig?

AI on the Job: Will you be competing with a bot for a gig?

In this episode of Marketplace Tech’s “AI on the Job” series, Meghan McCarty Carino explores whether generative AI technology has the potential to automate certain jobs in the near term.

Jul 19, 2023 • 7:18

AI on the Job: How AI can influence what you learn at work

AI on the Job: How AI can influence what you learn at work

In today’s episode of “Marketplace Tech’s” “AI on the Job” series, we look at how generative AI could influence the skills you pick up on the job and what skills become more — or less — valuable as more employers explore tools like chatbots.

Jul 18, 2023 • 5:12

AI on the Job: How generative tools automate and augment some parts of work

AI on the Job: How generative tools automate and augment some parts of work

You might have heard some of the talk about how new generative artificial intelligence tools, like chatbots and image generators, could upend work. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino is diving deeper into the disruptions this technology is already bringing to workplaces — not in some speculative future, but right now. In our series this week, “AI on the Job,” we’ll explore the work that AI is automating, augmenting or creating entirely new markets for.

Jul 17, 2023 • 5:42

Love in the time of AI

Love in the time of AI

This month, “Marketplace Tech” is looking back at a movie that came out 10 years ago, but feels very current. Spoke Jonze’s 2013 film “Her” depicts a lonely divorced man played by Joaquin Phoenix who falls in love with something like an artificial intelligence chatbot voiced by Scarlett Johansson. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Marco Dehnert, a doctoral candidate in communications at Arizona State University, about his research on the relationships between humans and machines. He

Jul 14, 2023 • 12:06

Older video games are in danger of going extinct

Older video games are in danger of going extinct

For the most part, it’s not too hard to get access to movies from the last decade or even the last century. But if you want to experience a video game from before, say, the ancient era of 2010? Good luck. A new report from the Video Game History Foundation and the Software Preservation Network finds that 87% of those older games are “critically endangered.” They’re not commercially available to the public unless fans have dozens of different old systems to play them on or travel to an archive i

Jul 13, 2023 • 13:06

Are we entering the age of the space startup?

Are we entering the age of the space startup?

The moon may soon be open for business, and space startups in Colorado are seizing the opportunity. Colorado Public Radio’s Dan Boyce reports from a warehouse in Arvada, Colorado, where one startup is testing its moon rover, currently scheduled to land on the lunar south pole later this year.

Jul 12, 2023 • 6:08

Threads app gains popularity, but it comes with some privacy concerns

Threads app gains popularity, but it comes with some privacy concerns

The hot, new thing in social media is not really that new at all. And that’s kind of the point. The app Threads from Meta looks like a familiar blend of Twitter and Instagram. It’s attracted more than 100 million users in less than a week, pulling way ahead of Twitter alternatives like Mastodon or Bluesky, in large part because it’s part of an already established social media brand. You don’t have to start from scratch on Threads; just log in with your Instagram credenti

Jul 11, 2023 • 10:49

In the futuristic world of “Her,” tech is designed to be invisible

In the futuristic world of “Her,” tech is designed to be invisible

The 2013 movie “Her” depicts a near future world where a lonely divorcee, played by Joaquin Phoenix, falls in love with an artificially intelligent operating system voiced by Scarlett Johansson. This month we’re taking a closer look at the Spike Jonze film and how it resonates 10 years later as we find ourselves in a real life AI boom. Production designer KK Barrett walks Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino about how he imagined the world of “Her” as almost a counterpoint to the science fiction

Jul 10, 2023 • 10:53

Diversity among esports athletes is slowly increasing (rerun)

Diversity among esports athletes is slowly increasing (rerun)

Professional video gaming — otherwise known as esports — has grown into a billion-dollar industry in recent years. Esports tournaments now draw crowds of tens of thousands to watch players compete at games like Valorant and League of Legends, while top esports athletes earn millions of dollars. But for too long, like so many facets of the gaming world, this industry has been dominated by men. A 2019 report showed that just 5% of professional esports players were women, a statistic that seemingly

Jul 7, 2023 • 5:21

The systemic barriers to landing a Big Tech internship (rerun)

The systemic barriers to landing a Big Tech internship (rerun)

This episode originally aired May 3, 2023. While it’s never been easy to get one of the coveted spots at big-name Silicon Valley firms, this year there’s an added wrinkle: The tech industry is reeling from mass layoffs. Many human resources departments and recruiting budgets have been slashed, which could put up even more barriers for candidates from underrepresented groups, said Ruthe Farmer, founder and CEO of the Last Mile Education Fund, which helps low-income students get through college a

Jul 6, 2023 • 8:59

The challenges of archiving the internet (rerun)

The challenges of archiving the internet (rerun)

This episode originally aired on May 25, 2023. The internet is where so much of what happens in our world gets archived. But where does the internet get archived? There are projects around the world, like the Internet Archive, to try to preserve some content online. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Kayla Harris, a professor and director of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton, about whether current archiving work is enough.

Jul 5, 2023 • 11:33

As chatbots are deployed, AI whisperers will be employed (rerun)

As chatbots are deployed, AI whisperers will be employed (rerun)

This episode originally aired on April 19, 2023. “Prompt engineering” for artificial intelligence is a new career field that’s rapidly gaining interest. In some cases, salaries are reaching $350,000. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Anton Korinek, economics and AI professor at the University of Virginia, about who will need these workers and how this role is likely to evolve.

Jul 4, 2023 • 8:47

Americans’ mental health data is on the market (rerun)

Americans’ mental health data is on the market (rerun)

This episode was originally published on Mar. 28, 2023. Digital tools like virtual therapy and meditation apps have made mental health care more accessible. But they’ve made data about the people using them more accessible too. That’s what Joanne Kim found while conducting research as an undergraduate student at Duke University. The final report was published in February. During her study, Kim identified 11 data broker firms willing and able to sell highly sensitive mental health data to her. M

Jul 3, 2023 • 8:49

The long history of Amazon and Walmart’s battle to be the behemoth of retail

The long history of Amazon and Walmart’s battle to be the behemoth of retail

Amazon and Walmart. Walmart and Amazon. Separately and together, for better or worse, these megaretailers have transformed how Americans transact. It’s the subject of a new book: “Winner Sells All: Amazon, Walmart and the Battle for Our Wallets.” Author Jason Del Rey says that in recent years, the two have been almost mirror images, with Walmart chasing online sales while Amazon opens physical stores.

Jun 30, 2023 • 11:38

How weaponizing AI could alter the outcomes of elections

How weaponizing AI could alter the outcomes of elections

Politics is a game in which the truth often gets stretched. But new artificial intelligence tools are making it easy for anyone to bend reality into a pretzel. AI-generated video, still images and fundraising emails are already popping up on the campaign trail. There are fake photos of Donald Trump embracing Dr. Anthony Fauci, exaggerated dystopian Toronto cityscapes and a stock photo of a woman with a curious surplus of arms. The threat goes beyond the occasional extra appendage or incendiary

Jun 29, 2023 • 9:13

Teaching AI to think like a human

Teaching AI to think like a human

Behind the artificial intelligence tools that have become household names is an army of human workers teaching the bots to be smart. These aren’t the folks who testify before Congress or hype the latest updates on social media. For the most part, they’re gig workers spread across the globe who do seemingly random tasks for subcontractors of subcontractors to the big-name companies that make the news. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with features writer Josh Dzieza, wh

Jun 28, 2023 • 10:54

Major social media platforms fail to protect LGBTQ+ users

Major social media platforms fail to protect LGBTQ+ users

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) recently released its annual social media safety index. It scores the five biggest platforms — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter — on how well they’re doing protecting LGBTQ+ users from harassment and abuse. All five platforms received failing grades. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube did improve their scores slightly over last year but Twitter’s score sank, hitting a new low of 33%, according to Jenni Olson, GLA

Jun 27, 2023 • 7:01

Identifying the trade-offs in online age verification

Identifying the trade-offs in online age verification

Concern about the harm social media can do to young people is growing. But to protect kids, platforms have to know who is underage. That’s why user age verification has become a focus for policymakers. Several states have passed laws that require it. But these policies require a range of trade-offs, according to a new analysis from Utah State University’s Center for Growth and Opportunity. Matt Perault and Scott Brennen of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Center on Technology P

Jun 26, 2023 • 11:35

What happened when an entire class of college students had ChatGPT write their essays

What happened when an entire class of college students had ChatGPT write their essays

The chatbots are out of the bag, and educators are scrambling to adjust. Chris Howell, an adjunct assistant professor of religious studies at Elon University, told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino that as the year progressed he noticed more and more suspiciously chatbot-esque prose popping up in student papers. So rather than trying to police the tech, he embraced it. He assigned students to generate an essay entirely with ChatGPT and then critique it themselves.

Jun 23, 2023 • 13:37

Patreon CEO Jack Conte’s creator-oriented vision

Patreon CEO Jack Conte’s creator-oriented vision

The “creator economy” could grow to nearly half a trillion dollars in the next four years, according to Goldman Sachs. That buzzword describes the online ecosystem of people creating and monetizing videos, music, podcasts, newsletters, art and other forms of expression, usually on social media. But advertising and algorithms can be fickle mistresses. For the last decade, Patreon has enabled fans to directly support creators with paid digital subscriptions. Now the company is offerin

Jun 22, 2023 • 8:16

A checkup on privacy risks posed by digital wellness benefits

A checkup on privacy risks posed by digital wellness benefits

In the U.S., employers are the main source of health coverage and, increasingly, benefits that encourage “wellness.” Many of them are provided in digital form, like meditation apps, virtual therapy or wearables that track our steps, heart rate or stress level. But with that web of digital benefits comes privacy concerns, according to a new report from the nonprofit Data & Society, titled “Wellness Capitalism: Employee Health, the Benefits Maze, and Worker Control.” Ma

Jun 21, 2023 • 9:00

As our lives increasingly move online, older adults are often left out

As our lives increasingly move online, older adults are often left out

For a lot of us, most of our days are spent online, and the pandemic only increased that pace. That’s also true for the way we do business. Utilities, restaurants, health care providers, the government — they all want us to go to an app or a website to get stuff done. While this might be easy and convenient for people who don’t remember a world before the web, many older adults are left out by the move to digital. Reporter Ashley Milne-Tyte looks into the ways older adults are trying to catch up

Jun 20, 2023 • 7:48

The game-changing work of Jerry Lawson

The game-changing work of Jerry Lawson

When you think of the early days of video games, the Fairchild Channel F console might not be the first brand that comes to mind. The Fairchild Channel F was released in 1976, before the more famous Atari released its console. It was also the first system to use individual game cartridges thanks in large part to Jerry Lawson, a Black engineer at Fairchild. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino recently spoke with Anthony Frasier, CEO of ABF Creative and host of a podcast about Jerry Lawson

Jun 19, 2023 • 10:36

Talking credit helps visually impaired people make transactions safely

Talking credit helps visually impaired people make transactions safely

The French firm Thales is launching a credit card that talks. Not to embarrass users for their spending habits, but to make transactions more secure for people with a visual impairments. About 250 million people worldwide have some form of visual impairment, according to the World Health Organization, and in France they’re often targeted in fraud schemes because of their disability. The new Thales credit card connects users with a phone app that verbalizes transactions. In Paris, John Laur

Jun 16, 2023 • 5:40

Artists warn of the harm AI-generated illustrations can do to their careers

Artists warn of the harm AI-generated illustrations can do to their careers

Publishers of books, magazines and their digital incarnations have long hired artists to contribute unique visuals to their storytelling. It’s the kind of work Molly Crabapple cut her teeth on. Her illustrated journalism has been published by outlets like Vice, Rolling Stone and The New York Times. But she fears the format faces an existential threat from artificial intelligence image generators like DALL-E and Stable Diffusion. Crabapple recently wrote an open letter about her concerns in

Jun 15, 2023 • 9:18

Is AI more biased than humans?

Is AI more biased than humans?

Whenever we talk about artificial intelligence, the problem of bias is never far behind. All kinds of insidious patterns can get embedded in these systems because they’re trained on data from our imperfect world. A new report from Bloomberg looks at bias in text-to-image generative AI systems like Stable Diffusion. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino discussed the issue with the report’s authors, technology reporter Dina Bass and data visualization reporter Leonardo Nicoletti.

Jun 14, 2023 • 8:34

For banking customers, AI chatbots may have trust issues

For banking customers, AI chatbots may have trust issues

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a federal watchdog agency for the banking sector, recently warned the industry about the use of artificial intelligence chatbots. Previous iterations of chatbots, which operate like automated decision trees, have long been used in banks’ customer service operations. But these new generative tools like ChatGPT are so good at imitating human communication, banks may be relying on them more than ever. While they can incorporate huge amounts of data,

Jun 13, 2023 • 11:32

Costs of AI spur quest for a cheaper chatbot

Costs of AI spur quest for a cheaper chatbot

Generative artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT have caught on like wildfire, largely because of their impressive capabilities, but also because they’re free, or nearly free, to use. But just because a service doesn’t charge users doesn’t mean it doesn’t have costs. In reality, sophisticated large language models cost a lot to build and maintain. AI companies will have to recoup that investment eventually, in one way or another. Marketplace’s Meghan McCar

Jun 12, 2023 • 12:31

Are brain implants a privacy issue?

Are brain implants a privacy issue?

The field of brain-computer interfaces is quickly advancing. Elon Musk’s brain implant company, Neuralink, received approval from the Food and Drug Administration last month to begin to test brain implants in humans. Its rival company, Paradromics, is even further along in the process. Neurotechnology could be revolutionary for people with severe paralysis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or other disabilities that affect communication. But Sara Goering, a philosophy professor at the Univers

Jun 9, 2023 • 12:07

Tinder’s relationship with AI

Tinder’s relationship with AI

New generative artificial intelligence tools like Stable Diffusion and ChatGPT can create stunning headshots, write flawless prose — even imitate someone’s voice. Basically, a catfisher’s dream. In other words, these tools enable a user to create a false online persona that in some cases can be used for financial gain. Catfishing and other online romance scams have become an increasing problem, especially on dating apps. Tinder, one of the most popular dating apps in the U.S., has st

Jun 8, 2023 • 10:49

AI’s sense of humor is no laughing matter

AI’s sense of humor is no laughing matter

When asked to complete this joke, “Why did the chatbot cross the road?” OpenAI’s ChatGPT gave this response: “As an AI language model, it doesn’t have physical presence or the ability to cross roads.” A rather disappointing punchline, considering the chatbot’s long list of impressive capabilities. Writers Guild of America members have raised alarms about the use of AI in the scriptwriting process, but when it comes to killing a comedy set, these systems

Jun 7, 2023 • 10:29

Regulating generative AI will be challenging

Regulating generative AI will be challenging

The European Union is getting closer to approving the world’s most comprehensive artificial intelligence regulations. Here in the U.S. — well, at least we’re not defaulting on our debt, right? Fast-moving developments in generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Stable Diffusion have raised a slew of concerns over misinformation, copyright violation and job losses. But even the EU’s AI Act — years in the making — wasn’t crafted with this kind of general purpose AI in mind, the

Jun 6, 2023 • 11:54

FTC doubles down on data privacy enforcement with Amazon settlements

FTC doubles down on data privacy enforcement with Amazon settlements

Last week, Amazon agreed to pay more than $30 million to settle two complaints brought by the Federal Trade Commission over allegations the company violated user privacy with its Ring video security system and Alexa audio assistant. The FTC said Amazon gave employees too much access to users’ private videos and left Ring systems open to hacking. The agency also said Amazon Alexa devices violated child privacy law by retaining kids’ voice recordings for years and that the company use

Jun 5, 2023 • 9:06

How an algorithm helps convert empty offices into housing

How an algorithm helps convert empty offices into housing

During the pandemic, many offices were vacated in favor of working from home. Now, cities are looking to reuse the buildings by converting them to housing units. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Steven Paynter, principal at Gensler, about an algorithm that assesses whether an office building would make for a successful conversion.

Jun 2, 2023 • 11:54

AI is already taking jobs from some voice actors

AI is already taking jobs from some voice actors

Powerful new artificial intelligence tools have a lot of people worried about being replaced. Remie Michelle Clarke, a voiceover artist in Dublin, says she’s already seeing it. Michelle Clarke did some voiceover work for Microsoft a few years ago, and since then, her voice has been licensed to third-party companies, including one called Revoicer, an AI company selling text-to-speech voices. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Michelle Clarke about the growing threat this t

Jun 1, 2023 • 11:03

What we know about social media’s effects on kids

What we know about social media’s effects on kids

Last week, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned about the risks social media could pose to the well-being of children and adolescents. It’s a topic the American Psychological Association has also been researching. The organization recently released recommendations based on the growing body of research into how social media is affecting young people. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Mitch Prinstein, the APA’s chief science officer, about social media’s effe

May 31, 2023 • 16:05

AI could boost productivity, and also inequality

AI could boost productivity, and also inequality

Generative AI may help some workers become better and faster at their jobs, which could ultimately boost wages. That’s good news for workers, right? Not if employers roll out AI in a way that replaces workers. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Anton Korinek, economics professor at the University of Virginia, on the long- and short-term impacts generative AI may have on the labor economy.

May 30, 2023 • 9:48

Safe and sound: how EVs tell you they’re coming

Safe and sound: how EVs tell you they’re coming

There’s a federal regulation requiring “quiet vehicles” — meaning hybrid and electric cars — to emit synthetic sounds. That’s because without noisy combustion engines, EVs produce no sound of their own at speeds under about 18 mph, which would make them dangerous to other road users, particularly visually impaired pedestrians. So those sounds are added on. We wanted to know why these cars sound the way they do, so we asked Danielle Venne. She’s the executive creativ

May 29, 2023 • 6:22

Learn how to invest — using computer games

Learn how to invest — using computer games

For a lot of people, lessons about investing and personal finance are learned the hard way. Now, Marketplace has a new show on YouTube called “Financially Inclined” that aims to teach young people about money in a less painful fashion. It’s made in collaboration with Next Gen Personal Finance, a financial literacy non-profit, and hosted by Yanely Espinal, who says digital tools like computer games can help get inexperienced investors engaged.

May 26, 2023 • 9:06

The challenges of archiving the internet

The challenges of archiving the internet

The internet is where so much of what happens in our world gets archived. But where does the internet get archived? There are projects around the world, like the Internet Archive, to try to preserve some content online. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Kayla Harris, a professor and director of the Marian Library at the University of Dayton, about whether current archiving work is enough.

May 25, 2023 • 12:18

Paper ballots can ensure a secure, resilient election next year

Paper ballots can ensure a secure, resilient election next year

Next year’s election is still 18 months away, but it’s never too soon to start thinking about security. Voting systems are a little different wherever you go and the tech has changed over the years — from paper ballots to electronic ones to something in between. Most jurisdictions in the U.S. now use hand-marked paper ballots, or paper ballots marked with an electronic interface, and counted with optical scanners or by hand, should the need arise. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino

May 24, 2023 • 8:43

How AI is helping people speak

How AI is helping people speak

The language models behind artificial intelligence chatbots aren’t just great at generating term papers, Fake Drake raps and get-rich-quick schemes. This technology could be transformative in the world of augmentative and alternative communication. AAC refers to all the ways people communicate besides talking. It’s typically used by people who — due to a medical issue or disability — experience difficulty with speech. Sam Sennott, an assistant professor of special education at Portla

May 23, 2023 • 12:12

The “crypto winter” didn’t keep bitcoiners away from its annual conference

The “crypto winter” didn’t keep bitcoiners away from its annual conference

Bitcoin believers gathered in Miami for what organizers say is the world’s biggest annual bitcoin convention, though it was quite a bit smaller than last year. It drew less than half of the 35,000 attendees who went in 2022. Of course, a lot has happened in the crypto world since then. A little disaster called FTX, a crypto-friendly bank failure or two. Not to mention the price of bitcoin has taken a dive, from around $40,000 during last year’s event to about $26,000 this time around

May 22, 2023 • 6:23

Section 230 co-author says the law doesn’t protect AI chatbots

Section 230 co-author says the law doesn’t protect AI chatbots

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a win to Big Tech on Thursday, when it avoided weighing in on the limits of a key piece of tech law called Section 230. It’s a segment of the Communications Decency Act that shields internet companies from liability for their users’ content. In recent years, it’s become a target for both legal challenges and political attacks. Add to the mix artificial intelligence, which is raising new questions. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke

May 19, 2023 • 10:26

Creatives compete in first AI fashion week. How will it impact the industry?

Creatives compete in first AI fashion week. How will it impact the industry?

Artists worry AI will take away jobs. But for those who never went to fashion school, does it provide opportunities? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Nima Abbasi, partner at Maison Meta, about how the first AI fashion week allowed creatives without formal training to go head to head with experienced designers.

May 18, 2023 • 7:39

Autonomous vehicles: They’re not there yet

Autonomous vehicles: They’re not there yet

Autonomous vehicles are here, and they’re causing some problems. Reports over the past year show driverless cars occasionally getting glitchy in cities like San Francisco and Phoenix. Andrew Hawkins, transportation editor for The Verge, says driverless cars are in a confusing moment. Most of the time, they work remarkably well, until suddenly, they don’t. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Hawkins about the state of autonomous vehicles today and an industry beset by technological and f

May 17, 2023 • 9:13

Passkeys versus passwords: Will we soon use biometrics for all logins?

Passkeys versus passwords: Will we soon use biometrics for all logins?

Passwords are an enormous security risk for Americans, so big tech companies are looking at passkeys as a tentative solution for password breaches and lost phones. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Chester Wisniewski, a security expert as Sophos, about the risks and benefits of passkeys.

May 16, 2023 • 8:28

A search for the right balance in building out AI

A search for the right balance in building out AI

Google is bringing artificial intelligence to … like, everything. Last week, the company announced updates to its Bard chatbot and integrations into search, productivity tools, health care services and more. But plenty of people are calling for more caution with this technology, from the thousands of tech and science experts who signed an open letter calling for a pause in AI development to renowned former Google employee Geoffrey Hinton, a computer scientist whom many consider the “godfather”

May 15, 2023 • 11:07

Google’s “bold and responsible” approach to AI

Google’s “bold and responsible” approach to AI

Google revealed a slew of new products this week at its annual developer conference, I/O. But it was artificial intelligence that stole the show, from new search integrations and updates to its Bard chatbot to an automatic translation dubbing service. Google is clearly going big on AI as it tries to fend off competition from Microsoft and OpenAI. It’s part of a strategy to be simultaneously bold and responsible, says James Manyika, Google’s senior vice president of technology and society. Market

May 12, 2023 • 10:00

AI promises it can know one’s mental state, but that comes with a lot of data tracking

AI promises it can know one’s mental state, but that comes with a lot of data tracking

Sure, technology that supposedly reads human emotion has been on the scene for a while, along with concerns about its use. But now it looks like Apple may be getting in on the game. The tech titan is reportedly developing AI-powered mood tracking for Apple Watches. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Daniel Kraft, a physician-scientist and founder of Digital.Health. He says wearable emotion recognition devices could achieve something that’s been difficult to provide in mental health

May 11, 2023 • 7:13

Labor unions’ fight against AI is nothing new

Labor unions’ fight against AI is nothing new

Disruptive technology is at the heart of the contentious negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and studios, networks and streaming services. Last week, those negotiations failed and the screenwriters went on strike. The WGA has pushed for guardrails on the use of new generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which are trained on vast amounts of human-made creative work and could, some fear, end up replacing it. It’s a concern that is popping up more and more across a number of different indu

May 10, 2023 • 9:34

How people are using AI for stock market picks

How people are using AI for stock market picks

The popularity of ChatGPT has exploded since the artificial intelligence chatbot was released to the public last fall. In just a matter of months, it’s gained more than 100 million users. It can write haikus, pass law school admissions tests and help you plan your dinner, but can it make you money in the stock market? It’s a prospect a lot of people are intrigued by, according to a new survey from The Motley Fool. The investment advice platform polled 2,000 Americans about their interest in usi

May 9, 2023 • 11:59

Should we worry about deepfakes and an “epistemic apocalypse”?

Should we worry about deepfakes and an “epistemic apocalypse”?

It’s getting harder to believe your eyes and ears on the internet. Artificial intelligence tools can generate convincing images, videos and voices. Chatbots can spit out confident misinformation. And Twitter users for $8 a month can basically impersonate anyone they’d like on the site. The specter of an internet full of fakes has a lot of people worried about an epistemic apocalypse: a total breakdown of our ability to perceive truth and reality. It’s something Joshua Habgood-Coote, a research

May 8, 2023 • 10:08

What fake Drake means for the music industry

What fake Drake means for the music industry

First, there was fake Drake. Now, counterfeit Kanye and bogus Bad Bunnys are all over the internet. It seems that artificial intelligence-generated music has arrived. Some examples are obvious forgeries, like Barack Obama performing “Let It Go” from Disney’s “Frozen.” Others, like the fake Drake song, “Heart on my Sleeve,” that went viral last month are pretty convincing. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Dan Runcie, founder of the media research firm Trapital, about AI’s latest hit

May 5, 2023 • 10:51

E-SUVs may be popular, but are they sustainable?

E-SUVs may be popular, but are they sustainable?

Many Americans have range anxiety when they contemplate buying an electric vehicle. But is the solution bigger car batteries or better charging and transit infrastructure? Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Thea Riofrancos, political science professor at Providence College, about how EV batteries impact the environment and what else can be done to create a no-emissions future.

May 4, 2023 • 8:46

The systemic barriers to landing a Big Tech internship

The systemic barriers to landing a Big Tech internship

Summer internship season is right around the corner. While it’s never been easy to get one of the coveted spots at big-name Silicon Valley firms, this year there’s an added wrinkle: The tech industry is reeling from mass layoffs. Many human resources departments and recruiting budgets have been slashed, which could put up even more barriers for candidates from underrepresented groups, said Ruthe Farmer, founder and CEO of the Last Mile Education Fund, which helps low-income students get through

May 3, 2023 • 9:59

Tech companies look to Mexico for new talent

Tech companies look to Mexico for new talent

Mexico is in the middle of a tech boom as U.S. companies look across the border for hires after mass layoffs. Tijuana is right at the center, with a growing market for tech workers and engineers to be hired stateside.

May 2, 2023 • 6:03

The coming AI chip shortage

The coming AI chip shortage

Artificial intelligence is booming. Tools like ChatGPT are getting more capable at an impressive rate as companies race to plug them into new areas of the economy. But the burgeoning demand for AI computing power faces a big constraint: the graphics processing units, or GPUs, needed to train and deploy these models. These specialized, costly GPUs are almost entirely made by one company — Nvidia — at one manufacturer in Taiwan, according to Chris Miller, a professor of history at Tufts Universi

May 1, 2023 • 9:27

How facial-recognition technology can lead to wrongful arrests

How facial-recognition technology can lead to wrongful arrests

Facial-recognition software is leading to wrongful arrests, but the secrecy around the use of the technology makes it hard to know just how often it happens. So far, there are at least five known cases in which police use of facial-recognition algorithms have led to mistaken-identity arrests in the United States. All five were Black men. Nate Freed Wessler is part of the team representing one of those men in a case against the Detroit Police Department. He’s also a deputy director of the America

Apr 28, 2023 • 10:08

The complications of regulating AI

The complications of regulating AI

When a chatbot spouts misinformation or defames someone, what tools do lawmakers and regulators have to rein it in? Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Elizabeth Renieris of Oxford University’s Institute for AI Ethics. Renieris said our existing legal frameworks are capable of doing the job.

Apr 27, 2023 • 9:24

What does an AI chatbot know about you?

What does an AI chatbot know about you?

It’s the new Googling yourself — querying your name with an artificial intelligence chatbot and seeing what it spits out. Many large language models like ChatGPT and Bard are trained on vast amounts of data from the internet, so they’ve encoded text about individuals, especially public-facing ones. But, as we know, they don’t always stick to the facts, and that’s particularly troubling when it comes to your good name on the internet. That’s why engineer Silver Kes

Apr 26, 2023 • 10:42

Customer service is being automated. Will bots take over those jobs?

Customer service is being automated. Will bots take over those jobs?

Before ChatGPT took the world by storm, wowing users with its prose-writing prowess, most people knew chatbots as those annoying website pop-ups that offered basic and not always useful customer support. Even before chatbots could pass the Law School Admission Test, customer service was moving toward greater automation, often in an effort to cut costs. Human agents are an expensive and finite resource, causing those long, Muzak-filled waits and limiting service hours. So will the current artific

Apr 25, 2023 • 9:07

TMI! The problem with too much data.

TMI! The problem with too much data.

Making data-driven decisions has, seemingly, never been easier. We’ve got pulse surveys, performance analytics, reviews, anecdotes on social media — all just a click away. And yet … all these inputs aren’t really helping us make better decisions. That’s according to a new study from the software company Oracle, which surveyed workers and business leaders around the world. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, a data scientist and

Apr 24, 2023 • 7:28

What’s the future of retail shopping? Snap bets on virtual try-on tech.

What’s the future of retail shopping? Snap bets on virtual try-on tech.

Snapchat made its name with silly augmented-reality filters, or lenses, as it calls them. In recent years, it’s expanded into shopping, enabling users to try on clothing, jewelry and makeup in the app. The company, now called Snap, has started selling this technology to other businesses. Snap announced this week that it’s pushing AR tools into the real world, bringing AR mirrors to some Men’s Wearhouse and Nike stores in the U.S. ​Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino went

Apr 21, 2023 • 15:01

AI’s carbon footprint is growing. Is it worth it?

AI’s carbon footprint is growing. Is it worth it?

Between mining for rare minerals, cooling data centers, and running computers for millions of hours, the climate impact of artificial intelligence is big and getting bigger. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Sasha Luccioni, the climate lead for the AI company Hugging Face, about the process of training an earlier version of ChatGPT, which emitted roughly the same amount of carbon dioxide as a gas-powered car driving over one million miles.

Apr 20, 2023 • 7:35

As chatbots are deployed, AI whisperers will be employed

As chatbots are deployed, AI whisperers will be employed

“Prompt engineering” for artificial intelligence is a new career field that’s rapidly gaining interest. In some cases, salaries are reaching $350,000. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Anton Korinek, economics and AI professor at the University of Virginia, about who will need these workers and how this role is likely to evolve.

Apr 19, 2023 • 9:02

Filing taxes online shouldn’t be this hard

Filing taxes online shouldn’t be this hard

Ah, Tax Day — a time when our relationship with the United States government can get a little strained, in part because the U.S. system for filing taxes can feel pretty antiquated. But now the Internal Revenue Service has a plan to improve that, thanks to an additional $80 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act that the agency will receive over the next decade. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with ProPublica reporter Paul Kiel about what those IRS technology improvements might

Apr 18, 2023 • 6:50

No reward for loyalty: Gig companies winning fight to classify drivers as independent

No reward for loyalty: Gig companies winning fight to classify drivers as independent

Back in 2020, California voters approved a measure called Proposition 22 that allows Uber, Lyft and the like to classify their drivers as independent contractors, rather than employees. That means the companies can sidestep laws that would otherwise require them to deliver all sorts of job-related benefits. It’s been a bumpy legal ride, but so far Prop. 22 is prevailing in state courts. Sooo, what’s next for gig workers? “Marketplace Tech” features KQED reporter Rachael Myrow&#

Apr 17, 2023 • 6:13

A New York law will require AI hiring systems to be audited for bias

A New York law will require AI hiring systems to be audited for bias

New York City is gearing up to start enforcing a first-of-its-kind law that requires employers that use artificial intelligence tools in making hiring decisions to have those systems audited for bias. Since the law passed in 2021, the use of AI in hiring has only increased, Vikram Bhargava told Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino. He’s an assistant professor of strategic management and public policy at George Washington University.

Apr 14, 2023 • 8:29

Don’t be surprised by AI chatbots creating fake citations

Don’t be surprised by AI chatbots creating fake citations

By now a lot of us are familiar with chatbot “hallucinations” — the tendency of artificial intelligence language models to make stuff up. And lately we’ve been seeing reports of these tools getting creative with bibliography. For instance, last week The Washington Post reported on the case of a law professor whose name showed up in a list of legal scholars accused of sexual harassment. The list was generated by ChatGPT as part of a research project, and the chatbot cited as it

Apr 13, 2023 • 7:04

What happens when AI is entrusted with medical decisions?

What happens when AI is entrusted with medical decisions?

There’s a lot of excitement about how artificial intelligence is transforming health care, from diagnosing diseases to creating personalized treatment plans. But just because AI can do something, doesn’t always mean it can do it better than a human, according to Meredith Broussard, a journalism professor at New York University and author of the book “More Than a Glitch,” released last month. Yesterday we featured part one of our discussion with Broussard, about how AI can

Apr 12, 2023 • 9:03

Bias generated by technology is “more than a glitch,” expert says

Bias generated by technology is “more than a glitch,” expert says

Artificial intelligence is practically all anyone in the tech world can talk about these days, as many of the biggest names in the industry compete for dominance with ever more powerful AI. But recently, some experts called for a timeout in development efforts to evaluate the harms these tools could cause. Meredith Broussard, a journalism professor at New York University, says you don’t have to look far to identify some of those harms. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Bro

Apr 11, 2023 • 7:10

Diversity among esports athletes is slowly increasing

Diversity among esports athletes is slowly increasing

Professional video gaming — otherwise known as esports — has grown into a billion-dollar industry in recent years. Esports tournaments now draw crowds of tens of thousands to watch players compete at games like Valorant and League of Legends, while top esports athletes earn millions of dollars. But for too long, like so many facets of the gaming world, this industry has been dominated by men. A 2019 report showed that just 5% of professional esports players were women, a statistic that seemingl

Apr 10, 2023 • 6:44

Could pausing AI development do more harm than good?

Could pausing AI development do more harm than good?

We’ve been talking this week about the call to slow down artificial intelligence development. There are those who say we need time to mitigate its potential harms and those who think this discourse overhypes the technology. Others, like Will Rinehart, a senior fellow at Utah State University’s Center for Growth and Opportunity, argue that a pause now could do more harm than good. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Rinehart about the potential damage he feels could be

Apr 7, 2023 • 10:18

Parent influencers in France make a living by blogging about family trips

Parent influencers in France make a living by blogging about family trips

The French Parliament has taken up a measure that would give courts the power to ban parents from posting photos of their kids online. This comes as a poll just published in France shows that for thousands of parents, sharing their lives with their children on social media has become a serious, sometimes even large, source of income. In Paris, John Laurenson reports on the rise of the parent influencers.

Apr 6, 2023 • 4:55

Without AI regulation, the “information apocalypse” looms, expert says

Without AI regulation, the “information apocalypse” looms, expert says

Last week, more than 1,000 scientists and tech leaders, including Elon Musk, signed an open letter calling for a pause in the race to develop more powerful artificial intelligence models. The letter channeled a certain dread that it seems many are feeling about this fast-changing technology. It also became a lighting rod for criticism from both AI boosters and skeptics. Gary Marcus is a signatory of that letter. He’s a professor emeritus of cognitive science at New York University and co-a

Apr 5, 2023 • 9:33

One state is betting on technology to address problem gambling

One state is betting on technology to address problem gambling

New Jersey is using player data to look for signs of addiction. Gamblers will get a notification or pop-up video to warn them when the time or money they’re spending  on a gambling site suddenly rises.  The state’s division of gaming enforcement is working with site operators to provide addiction resources.

Apr 4, 2023 • 6:12

Do we have an AI hype problem?

Do we have an AI hype problem?

Last week, more than 1,000 experts in science and technology signed an open letter to labs developing advanced artificial intelligence, asking them to pause the “out of control race” to train ever more powerful systems. The letter warns that these “non-human minds” might eventually outsmart us, risking the “loss of control of our civilization.” But such framing misses the mark, according to Emily M. Bender, a computational linguist at the University of Washing

Apr 3, 2023 • 9:21

The pitfalls of being the child of a parenting influencer

The pitfalls of being the child of a parenting influencer

We’re so used to it by now — people sharing every little detail of their lives online. And when it comes to content about parenting, it’s basically a whole industry. You can find “momfluencers” and family channels for any style of parenting or worldview you can think of, to the point that there’s now a generation of kids who have grown up in the social media eye. And, as you might imagine. not all of them are thrilled about it. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Ca

Mar 31, 2023 • 12:26

Why women in tech hold high-profile positions, but rarely CEO

Why women in tech hold high-profile positions, but rarely CEO

First to leave was Sheryl Sandberg, the longtime chief operating officer at Facebook and Meta known for her bestselling book about women in leadership “Lean In.” Last summer, she stepped down after 14 years. Then, last month, Susan Wojcicki, the only woman CEO in Big Tech, announced her departure from YouTube, a role she’d served in for nine years after joining Google in its earliest days. They’ve left a void of visible women at the pinnacle of the tech world. It’s

Mar 30, 2023 • 9:12

GPT-4 needs more robust testing, “red team” member says

GPT-4 needs more robust testing, “red team” member says

Earlier this month, OpenAI released its newest and most powerful chatbot, GPT-4, along with a technical paper summarizing the testing the company did to ensure its product is safe. The testing involved asking the chatbot how to build weapons of mass destruction or to engage in antisemitic attacks. In the cybersecurity world, this testing process is known as red teaming. In it, experts look for vulnerabilities, security gaps and anything that could go wrong before the product launches. Marketpla

Mar 29, 2023 • 6:48

American’s mental health data is on the market

American’s mental health data is on the market

Digital tools like virtual therapy and meditation apps have made mental health care more accessible. But they’ve made data about the people using them more accessible too. That’s what Joanne Kim found while conducting research as an undergraduate student at Duke University. Kim identified 11 data broker firms willing and able to sell highly sensitive mental health data to her. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Justin Sherman, a senior fellow at Duke’s Sanfor

Mar 28, 2023 • 10:27

What does it mean to develop trustworthy AI?

What does it mean to develop trustworthy AI?

The artificial intelligence wars are in full swing, with companies like Microsoft and Google battling it out. Now Mozilla, the developer of the Firefox browser, is entering the fray. Last week, the company announced a new startup focused on developing what it calls “trustworthy” and independent AI, built on open-source software that’s free to the public. As with its other products, which are more focused on transparency and privacy, Mozilla aims to distinguish itself in a crow

Mar 27, 2023 • 14:08

How the FTC’s new technology office will regulate Big Tech

How the FTC’s new technology office will regulate Big Tech

The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with protecting U.S. consumers from unfair business practices, and in recent years it has set its sights on regulating Big Tech. The new Office of Technology will be at the forefront of such efforts. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Stephanie Nguyen, the FTC’s chief technology officer, who will also be leading the new office. She says the office’s work will be critical when you consider how tech has seeped into every corner o

Mar 24, 2023 • 14:35

Online communities can help with loneliness — to a point

Online communities can help with loneliness — to a point

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a lot of us to stay at home without the chance to socialize in person. But technology allowed us to stay in touch. Social media platforms helped connect us with the outside world — there was Zoom and Houseparty, and remember Clubhouse? But many Americans still struggle with loneliness, even now as life has somewhat returned to normal. Younger Americans are twice as likely to feel lonely than seniors, according to research from Cigna. Marketplace’s Lily Jamali

Mar 23, 2023 • 7:42

What a TikTok ban would mean for TikTokers

What a TikTok ban would mean for TikTokers

TikTok’s CEO heads to Congress Thursday to defend the app against concerns it poses a national security threat. Pressure has been building from both the White House and Congress to force the Chinese-owned company to sell TikTok to an American company or face a nationwide ban. And while TikTok has never been in more political hot water, over on the app it’s still all viral pasta recipes, dogs demanding a “cheese tax” and not a whole lot of paranoia about data privacy. Res

Mar 22, 2023 • 4:47

The human labor behind AI chatbots and other smart tools

The human labor behind AI chatbots and other smart tools

Every week it seems the world is stunned by another advance in artificial intelligence, including text-to-image generators like DALL-E and the latest chatbot, GPT-4. What makes these tools impressive is the enormous amount of data they’re trained on, specifically the millions of images and words on the internet. But the process of machine learning relies on a lot of human data labelers. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Sarah Roberts, a professor of information studies and

Mar 21, 2023 • 12:20

How AI chat search could disrupt online advertising

How AI chat search could disrupt online advertising

Almost every service we use on the internet is basically a platform for advertising, especially search engines. Advertisers pay to get their sites at the top of search results, have their businesses show up on digital maps or populate their products at the top of shopping carousel pages. The search engine companies are not only paid, but get data about what users want, which they can then turn around and use to sell more advertising. But how does all this work if, as chat-based artificial intell

Mar 20, 2023 • 9:44

What the bank failures mean for crypto

What the bank failures mean for crypto

Are you keeping up with those other two banks that both start with an “S” and failed the same week as Silicon Valley Bank? Silvergate Bank announced March 8 that it was shutting down of its own accord and regulators took over Signature Bank on Sunday. All three of these institutions were known for catering to a specific clientele. For SVB, it was tech startups. For Silvergate and Signature, it was cryptocurrency companies. So what does the collapse of two of the crypto-friendliest b

Mar 17, 2023 • 7:41

Silicon Valley gets a taste of what the public thinks of the tech sector

Silicon Valley gets a taste of what the public thinks of the tech sector

During the chaos last weekend after Silicon Valley Bank was taken over by federal regulators, but before they guaranteed customers access to their deposits, there was panic in the tech world and pleas for the government to step in and help thousands of businesses that could have been crushed. But cries of victimhood from the tech sector were often met by the internet’s smallest violin, and the government’s actions to stabilize the situation were sometimes derided as a “billiona

Mar 16, 2023 • 8:23

What are the ethical hazards in the effort to commercialize AI?

What are the ethical hazards in the effort to commercialize AI?

Microsoft’s Bing chatbot has displayed some strange, sometimes inappropriate responses. Could training in ethics help? Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Arvind Narayanan, a computer science professor at Princeton University, about the ethical concerns he sees increasing around artificial intelligence.

Mar 15, 2023 • 10:19

The SVB-sized hole in Silicon Valley  

The SVB-sized hole in Silicon Valley  

Did you hear that giant whooshing sound? That was the collective exhale of tens of thousands of startup founders, workers and investors after federal regulators assured customers of the failed Silicon Valley Bank that they would have access to all of their deposits. Most of the bank’s 40,000 customers are tech startups, which spent much of the weekend bracing for the worst: that their money would be tied up or lost for good. That’s off the table now, but there’s still an SVB-s

Mar 14, 2023 • 6:35

Can AI learn to understand human emotions?

Can AI learn to understand human emotions?

It’s getting easier and easier to talk to machines, from digital voice assistants like Siri and Alexa to the latest generation of AI chatbots. Natural language processing technology has made it possible to engage in pretty humanlike conversations with some forms of artificial intelligence. But can a bot ever really “get” us? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Aniket Bera, an associate professor of computer science at Purdue University, who is trying to teach emotional intelligence to

Mar 13, 2023 • 6:36

AI is hard at work in Hollywood

AI is hard at work in Hollywood

The 95th Academy Awards on Sunday is sure to feature plenty of glitz, glam, awkwardly cut-off speeches and artificial intelligence. The technology is becoming a bigger and bigger part of filmmaking, in ways that not everyone is thrilled about. It’s something Joshua Glick, a visiting associate professor of film and electronic arts at Bard College, wrote about recently for Wired. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Glick about the many ways Hollywood employs artificial intelligence.

Mar 10, 2023 • 9:38

Can a chatbot be an effective search engine? We tried it out.

Can a chatbot be an effective search engine? We tried it out.

Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Joanna Stern, a technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal, about her experience with Bing’s AI-powered search bot. Stern searched test questions about what to make for dinner, and the results were helpful, though not entirely accurate to the query. Also, how does Bing compare to the Siris and Alexas of the world?

Mar 9, 2023 • 9:54

What happens when robots write sci-fi?

What happens when robots write sci-fi?

It seems very meta — a tool seemingly straight out of science fiction writing its own science fiction stories. But it’s not all fun and games for the online magazine Clarkesworld, which had published short fiction sent in by writers in the sci-fi and fantasy community. Editor Neil Clarke said last month that the magazine was closing down submissions because it had been inundated with material generated by artificial intelligence.

Mar 8, 2023 • 9:06

Some U.S. cities are using cameras to crack down on noise pollution

Some U.S. cities are using cameras to crack down on noise pollution

Cities from New York and Washington, D.C., to Knoxville, Tennessee, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, are studying a new way to address noise pollution by installing what looks like an army of radio reporters on the streets. They’re commonly referred to as noise cameras. When a loud car passes by — typically one exceeding 85 decibels — these noise cameras snap a photo of the car’s license plate and a ticket is mailed to the driver. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Erica Walker, a noise re

Mar 7, 2023 • 10:34

Big retail companies are paying influencers to help them with their TikTok presence

Big retail companies are paying influencers to help them with their TikTok presence

Social media influencers are on lots of platforms: Instagram, YouTube and, more and more these days, TikTok. Amazon and Walmart are getting help from content creators to keep their brand present on TikTok, all while the creators become influencers and earn money in the process.

Mar 6, 2023 • 6:22

How space tech is being deployed in Ukraine

How space tech is being deployed in Ukraine

It’s been just over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and we’ve been looking at the role technology has played, from government apps repurposed for crowdsourced reconnaissance to wide-scale cyberattacks. But space-based technology, largely from private companies, is also making a difference in Ukraine. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Miriam Kramer, senior space reporter for Axios, about how satellites hundreds of miles above the Earth are bringing visibility and transparency t

Mar 3, 2023 • 10:20

ChatGPT is a content host and creator. Does that make it liable for what it produces?

ChatGPT is a content host and creator. Does that make it liable for what it produces?

So much of the internet today rests on the bedrock of a federal law that shields tech companies from liability for the content users post online. Everything from the AOL chatrooms of yore to modern social media likely wouldn’t exist without Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act. The idea is internet platforms aren’t acting like traditional publishers in creating content; they’re merely hosting it. But new generative artificial intelligence tools like DALL-E or ChatGPT that generate

Mar 2, 2023 • 9:47

The broadband gap leaves behind people with disabilities, study finds

The broadband gap leaves behind people with disabilities, study finds

Earlier this week, Vice President Kamala Harris was in South Carolina touting the Biden administration’s push to expand affordable high-speed internet there with programs funded by the bipartisan infrastructure bill. Tens of millions of Americans still don’t have access to broadband internet, and the problem is particularly acute for people with disabilities, according to the Urban Institute. Jon Schwabish, a senior fellow at the institute, spoke to Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino about the

Mar 1, 2023 • 8:47

Could AI write our laws next?

Could AI write our laws next?

Legislators across the U.S. use the software LegisPro to assist in drafting bills and tracking amendments, but they have largely stayed away from the ethical concerns that generative AI programs might raise. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Mohar Chatterjee, a computational journalist at Politico, about how this software is used by legislative bodies and what some of its limitations are.

Feb 28, 2023 • 9:38

Now we’re paying for social media … but for what, exactly?

Now we’re paying for social media … but for what, exactly?

Meta has jumped on the blue badge bandwagon. Last week, the company announced a verification service for Facebook and Instagram at a price of $11.99 a month, per app. It’s part of a trend of social media platforms turning to user fees instead of relying just on advertising dollars. They used to say that if you’re not paying for the product, the product is you. But if you’re now paying for social media, what exactly is the product? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Shirin Ghaffary, a

Feb 27, 2023 • 9:48

A year of war, and years of cyberwar, in Ukraine

A year of war, and years of cyberwar, in Ukraine

When Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago, many security experts braced for an unprecedented escalation in cyberwarfare in addition to the physical assault. For years before the large-scale invasion, Ukraine was hit by massive cyberattacks that disrupted financial systems, transportation, energy and politics — disruptions that were expected to only intensify. But things haven’t exactly played out that way, according to Adam Meyers, chief of intelligence at the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike.

Feb 24, 2023 • 11:49

How mobile apps continue to help many in Ukraine

How mobile apps continue to help many in Ukraine

This week marks a year since Russia began its devastating invasion of Ukraine, and throughout that time, technology has shaped the conflict, from satellites beaming internet service from space to the mobile phones in people’s pockets. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino recently spoke to Roman Osadchuk, a research associate at the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, who is also based in Ukraine, about how mobile apps have become an essential lifeline there as citizens navigate the

Feb 23, 2023 • 10:49

Algorithms may start deciding who gets fired

Algorithms may start deciding who gets fired

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing how we work and how we lose work. Not just chatbots that are coming for human jobs, but software that can determine which employees get pink slips when companies decide to downsize. Whether any employers used algorithms to conduct layoffs in recent months has been a topic of speculation, though none have disclosed it. But Capterra, a business-oriented tech review platform, recently surveyed 300 leaders in human resources, 98% of whom said they would re

Feb 22, 2023 • 9:06

Big Tech is gaining Americans’ trust, but not when it comes to their kids’ data, survey says

Big Tech is gaining Americans’ trust, but not when it comes to their kids’ data, survey says

Social media companies and other big technology firms have been under fire: President Joe Biden called for stricter regulations during his State of the Union address; FBI Director Christopher Wray has raised national security concerns about TikTok; and lawmakers are considering age restrictions for young social media users. Despite this, public trust in Big Tech companies is up, a new survey from The Center for Growth and Opportunity found. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke to Taylor Barkley,

Feb 21, 2023 • 8:07

Digital archivists race to preserve Ukrainian heritage (rerun)

Digital archivists race to preserve Ukrainian heritage (rerun)

This episode originally aired on March 11, 2022. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine has disrupted – and ended – many lives and destroyed homes, infrastructure and whole communities. But at the beginning of the war, the cultural heritage of Ukraine was also at high risk. Some Ukrainian museum websites went offline as the servers hosting them lose connections or are destroyed in attacks. To prevent that information and cultural memory from disappearing entirely, around 1,000 archivists, prog

Feb 20, 2023 • 8:52

The pitfalls of letting an algorithm set the rent

The pitfalls of letting an algorithm set the rent

Many large property owners use rent-pricing software to figure out what to charge their tenants. And that practice has come under scrutiny after an investigation last fall from ProPublica into the software company RealPage and its rental pricing algorithm. Several lawsuits have accused RealPage of colluding with landlords to artificially inflate rents and limit the supply of housing. The Department of Justice is also investigating. Marketplace’s Amy Scott spoke with Heather Vogell, a reporter a

Feb 17, 2023 • 8:29

Black investors hit harder by crypto market slowdown

Black investors hit harder by crypto market slowdown

...

Feb 16, 2023 • 7:24

Big Tech diversity efforts stall as industry endures mass layoffs

Big Tech diversity efforts stall as industry endures mass layoffs

We’ve reported on the mass layoffs in tech that have been happening since last fall. And that has many in the industry worried about what that means for diversity in tech. There are now indications a slowdown in hiring could affect industry efforts for more diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, according to Textio, a company that helps create job ads. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Christie Lindor, a diversity strategist and CEO of Tessi Consulting, who warns the tech industry in par

Feb 15, 2023 • 8:59

What China’s spy balloon tells us about the state of international espionage

What China’s spy balloon tells us about the state of international espionage

It’s been a little over a week since the U.S. military shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon over the coast of South Carolina. Since then, the United States has downed at least an additional three unidentified crafts in North American airspace. The balloon saga has put a spotlight on foreign espionage operations, but Javed Ali said the practice is nothing new. Ali is a former senior national security and intelligence official, as well as an associate professor of practice at the University of

Feb 14, 2023 • 8:12

The role of technology in the Russia-Ukraine war

The role of technology in the Russia-Ukraine war

This month marks a year since Russia invaded Ukraine. The toll has been devastating — cities turned to rubble, staggering numbers of deaths — and like every war, this one has often turned on technological advances. It can be a grim experience to delve into the dark side of innovation, but we wanted to look beyond traditional notions of military might and consider how technology off the battlefield is helping Ukraine fight back. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Steven Feldstein, a s

Feb 13, 2023 • 8:51

Search engines powered by generative AI might be the next big thing

Search engines powered by generative AI might be the next big thing

This week brought the opening salvos of a new battle of the bots. “It’s a new day in search. In fact, a race starts today,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella when he introduced the new and improved Bing, now bolstered by ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot the internet can’t shut up about. Just a day earlier, Google announced Bard, its own AI chatbot-powered search tool. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Chirag Shah, a computer science professor at the University of Washingt

Feb 10, 2023 • 10:21

How dating apps are more and more “gamified”

How dating apps are more and more “gamified”

It’s been about a decade since a new generation of mobile apps brought online dating out of the shadows and onto our phones. They turned swiping — right or left — into a kind of romantic roulette. Dating apps have become the most popular way for couples to connect, but they’re also a multibillion-dollar industry that relies on keeping users hooked. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Sangeeta Singh-Kurtz, co-host of the podcast “Land of the Giants: Dating Games,” a collaboration betw

Feb 9, 2023 • 11:25

Students are using ChatGPT to cheat. That’s a challenge for teachers and school districts.

Students are using ChatGPT to cheat. That’s a challenge for teachers and school districts.

ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot from OpenAI, has raised a lot of questions. Like, what could this mean for society? For art? For the future of human jobs? But one thing became immediately clear: Students are going to use it to cheat on their homework. That’s created a market for software that can detect text that was generated by artificial intelligence like ChatGPT. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke to Stephanie Hughes, Marketplace’s education reporter, about what t

Feb 8, 2023 • 6:58

Tech layoffs can trigger an identity crisis for workers who are let go

Tech layoffs can trigger an identity crisis for workers who are let go

During the Meta earnings call last week, Mark Zuckerberg said something that seemed to perfectly capture the vibe in tech as layoffs continue to climb. The CEO said the company was in a “phase change” and that 2023 will be “a year of efficiency.” For tech workers, it’s a striking contrast to a mythology that had been building for more than a decade: the conspicuously cushy tech job.

Feb 7, 2023 • 11:22

The 2022 “Crypto Bowl,” then and now

The 2022 “Crypto Bowl,” then and now

It’s hard to believe it’s been just a year since cryptocurrency ads made a splash in the Super Bowl, because a whole lot has gone down (and down and down) in crypto since then. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino got journalist and book author Jacob Silverman on the line to look back at the ads from eToro, Crypto.com, Coinbase and FTX in the 2022 “Crypto Bowl.” They might not have aged so well.

Feb 6, 2023 • 15:30

California’s data protection law expands to cover employees

California’s data protection law expands to cover employees

California has been a leader in consumer data privacy law. But those protections don’t mean much if they’re not being enforced. So, under a sweeping voter initiative that took effect this year, the state has created an agency dedicated to the task. It’s the first of its kind in the U.S., which, unlike Europe, has no comprehensive federal data privacy regulation. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Ashkan Soltani, the executive director of the new California Privacy Protection Agency.

Feb 3, 2023 • 12:28

A theory of how internet platforms die

A theory of how internet platforms die

Many of the biggest tech platforms, from Amazon to Facebook, follow a similar pattern of transformation, according to a recent essay from the author and internet activist Cory Doctorow. First, he says, these platforms court users with artificially low prices on products or an exciting way to connect with friends. Then, they hook sellers, like advertisers or third-party retailers, with promises of reaching a captive audience. Finally, Doctorow says, as companies try to maximize their profits, the

Feb 2, 2023 • 7:14

U.S. Border Protection app causes tech headaches for asylum seekers

U.S. Border Protection app causes tech headaches for asylum seekers

In January, the Joe Biden administration unveiled a new tool to help migrants seeking asylum at U.S. borders. An expanded smartphone app managed by Customs and Border Protection now allows asylum seekers to schedule appointments to enter the country. But since this function launched, thousands of migrants coming from Latin America have been scrambling to sign up, and many have encountered technical glitches in the process. KPBS reporter Gustavo Solis spoke with migrants in Tijuana, Mexico, as th

Feb 1, 2023 • 6:57

Why visual misinformation online can be tough to stop

Why visual misinformation online can be tough to stop

Technology is making it easier and easier to create and disseminate visuals, from text-to-image artificial intelligence models and sophisticated deepfakes to simple memes retweeted with hashtags. Visuals are the lingua franca of the internet, but their potential to easily spread misinformation — particularly about health topics — make them especially dangerous to the public. That’s according to an article published last year in the journal Science Communication. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Cari

Jan 31, 2023 • 6:48

Rural communities are slow to adopt EVs — but a national charging network depends on them

Rural communities are slow to adopt EVs — but a national charging network depends on them

Sales of electric vehicles have really picked up in the last year or so, but at just shy of 6% of all cars sold in the U.S. They’ve still got a long way to go before they hit mass adoption, like the long way to go to find a charger in many areas of the country. There are currently about 100,000 public chargers in the U.S. The federal government wants to reach about half a million chargers by the end of the decade, and the bipartisan infrastructure bill includes billions of dollars to help make t

Jan 30, 2023 • 5:45

How two cases headed to the Supreme Court could change the internet

How two cases headed to the Supreme Court could change the internet

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court announced it was putting off hearing a pair of highly anticipated cases that could fundamentally change social media as we know it The cases concern laws in Florida and Texas, pushed by conservatives in those states, which basically make it illegal for social media platforms to block or hide content – like say from a former president – even if the post violates the companies’ terms of service. Both laws have been blocked from taking effect while the rest of t

Jan 27, 2023 • 11:16

Amazon is remaking small businesses in its own image, report says

Amazon is remaking small businesses in its own image, report says

Amazon might seem anathema to small business, but the fact is, third-party sellers account for the majority of the e-commerce giant’s sales. These sellers range from independent artisans and designers to opportunistic resellers of products from big-box stores. A new report from the nonprofit Data & Society examines how Amazon is helping, hurting and generally transforming the small business retail model. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Moira Weigel, the author of the report and a

Jan 26, 2023 • 9:45

Carbon capture needs to scale up to make a dent in the climate crisis

Carbon capture needs to scale up to make a dent in the climate crisis

A plant in Iceland recently became the first large-scale facility to remove carbon dioxide from the air on behalf of corporate clients paying to reduce their carbon footprints. The Climeworks operation uses a process called direct-air capture, or DAC. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Aniruddh Mohan, a postdoctoral fellow at the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University. He said the technology could be key to averting the worst of climate change.

Jan 25, 2023 • 9:25

It’s in Big Tech’s DNA to overhire in the boom and deflate in the downturn

It’s in Big Tech’s DNA to overhire in the boom and deflate in the downturn

The mea culpas from tech CEOs announcing massive job cuts have become a familiar refrain: “We hired too many people.” “We were much too optimistic.” “This did not play out the way I expected.” That’s a mashup of statements from Salesforce, Stripe and Meta. The tech industry continues to shed jobs: Google and Microsoft announced thousands of layoffs last week and Spotify this week. So, why did so many tech companies make the same mistake of overhiring? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke wi

Jan 24, 2023 • 11:37

How solar panels might help fix California’s drought

How solar panels might help fix California’s drought

A California project that’s harnessing solar power to save water may seem a bit counterintuitive, given the dousing the state just received from a series of giant storms. But most of the state is still technically in a drought. That trend is expected to only intensify in the long term because of climate change, as warmer average temperatures increase evaporation. Take California’s vast system of open canals, which transport water across the state from reservoirs to agricultural lands and metropo

Jan 23, 2023 • 5:34

Text-to-image AI tools are taking the internet by storm. But is it art? Or the end of art?

Text-to-image AI tools are taking the internet by storm. But is it art? Or the end of art?

Images created by artificial intelligence programs, like Stable Diffusion and DALL-E, are just about everywhere now, dazzling users with their ability to instantly create any image that can be dreamed up. The AI works by scraping billions of images from the internet, which are often created by artists who may not be thrilled that their life’s work is helping to build technology that could threaten their livelihoods. Steven Zapata, a designer, illustrator and art teacher in New York City, has con

Jan 20, 2023 • 12:20

Affordable-housing hopes are building around 3D printed homes

Affordable-housing hopes are building around 3D printed homes

To make housing more affordable in the U.S., we need more of it. Millions of additional units, by most estimates. This shortage of housing has a range of complex causes, but the high cost of construction — which rose even further thanks to pandemic-driven labor and supply constraints — is definitely not helping. An idea from the tech world holds the potential to make the building process more efficient: 3D printing. Startups have been experimenting with the technology in large-scale constructio

Jan 19, 2023 • 10:50

Why AI is not coming for our jobs — yet

Why AI is not coming for our jobs — yet

Now that so-called generative artificial intelligence models, such as DALL-E and ChatGPT, can create impressive visuals and formulate complex responses, will human artists, writers, radio hosts, and all sorts of creative and knowledge-based jobs, go extinct? Mark Finlayson, an associate professor of computer science at Florida International University, offered his perspective on this zillion-dollar question in a recent essay for The Conversation. Finlayson believes that these tools are likely to

Jan 18, 2023 • 11:01

Understanding the tech behind the gas vs. electric stove debate

Understanding the tech behind the gas vs. electric stove debate

Like the Rolling Stones vs. the Beatles, “Star Wars” vs. “Star Trek” or cats vs. dogs, the question of gas stoves vs. electric has somehow become a character-defining one. The discourse was ignited last week by a member of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Richard Trumka Jr., who suggested his agency was considering a ban on gas stoves. He has since stepped that back a bit. But the debate continues to simmer. Electric partisans say their ranges are healthier for people and the enviro

Jan 17, 2023 • 9:14

AI used for hiring and recruitment can be biased. But that’s changing.

AI used for hiring and recruitment can be biased. But that’s changing.

Artificial intelligence is commonly used in automated recruitment programs. It helps narrow down large pools of applicants using algorithms to match job seekers to open positions. But there are growing concerns that this technology is disproportionately excluding certain groups, like women, people of color or those who don’t have college degrees, even when they’re perfectly qualified.

Jan 16, 2023 • 5:00

TikTok bans could cause headaches for government employees

TikTok bans could cause headaches for government employees

TikTok is under a lot of scrutiny from federal, state and local governments. Congressional lawmakers recently banned the social media platform from most federal government devices. More than a dozen states, including New Hampshire, South Dakota and Texas, passed similar measures due to growing concerns about data security and privacy on the platform owned by Chinese company ByteDance. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Joshua Scacco, associate chair of the University of South Florida’s dep

Jan 13, 2023 • 9:07

Louisiana law requiring proof of ID for porn site access has privacy advocates worried

Louisiana law requiring proof of ID for porn site access has privacy advocates worried

Louisiana’s new law, HB 142, requires users in that state to prove they’re 18 or older before accessing sites that contain pornographic material. If a website’s content is a least one third porn, you have to show an ID. And the reason that’s possible is because Louisiana is one of the few states in the U.S. that allows residents to store government-issued ID digitally on their smartphone. This new law has many privacy advocates worried, and some researchers are warning about unplanned ripple eff

Jan 12, 2023 • 10:10

How private images captured by a robot vacuum ended up online

How private images captured by a robot vacuum ended up online

Sure, robot vacuums are convenient and they make for great cat videos. But these devices  have the potential to collect a lot of data from the private setting of our homes. Images of children’s faces, the layout of a house, even someone sitting on the toilet were all captured by iRobot vacuum test models in North America, Europe and Asia. Those photos found their way into a private Facebook group for Venezuelan gig workers, where they were then leaked to journalists at MIT Technology Review. Ma

Jan 11, 2023 • 12:10

How new tech could put more EVs on the road

How new tech could put more EVs on the road

CES, formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, wrapped up Sunday in Las Vegas. There was a lot to process. The annual event showcased plenty of smart home technology, virtual reality gadgets, health trackers and even a tech friend for kids — a robot that recognizes facial expressions and moods. There was also a focus on energy, given the urgency of the climate crisis and the geopolitical events of the last year. Marketplace reporter Lily Jamali was at the convention looking into some of t

Jan 10, 2023 • 8:10

Chaos at Twitter has brands questioning their association with the platform

Chaos at Twitter has brands questioning their association with the platform

Some two months after Elon Musk closed his $44 billion deal to acquire Twitter, we’ve seen information leaks, layoffs at the social media company, and that day everyone thought Twitter was going to shut down, but it didn’t. With reports of hate speech on the platform rising, many brands are eyeing Twitter cautiously, with some suspending their advertising altogether. But through the Twitter tumult, there’s a larger, deeper question brands are confronting: should they even be on Twitter in the fi

Jan 9, 2023 • 7:29

This year’s CES puts the smart in smart home

This year’s CES puts the smart in smart home

CES is underway in Las Vegas this week. The annual consumer electronics event attracts tech companies large and small, along with developers, journalists and policymakers. Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, who covers smart home technology for The Verge, is attending the convention. She spoke with Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams about the new gadgets and the announcements being made in the smart home realm.

Jan 6, 2023 • 7:43

What’s ahead for crypto in 2023?

What’s ahead for crypto in 2023?

2022 was not a great year for crypto. It started with a bang as crypto ads went mainstream in the Super Bowl. And then the year ended with an implosion. Crypto hacks piled on scandals and sliding valuations, one company fell and then another, culminating with the spectacular collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and its founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who is now under investigation for fraud. So will this crypto winter start to thaw in 2023 or head into deep freeze? Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty

Jan 5, 2023 • 10:47

A clock for the next civilization — what could it say about the past and future?

A clock for the next civilization — what could it say about the past and future?

Deep inside a mountain, a full day’s hike from any road, in a dry, deserted part of West Texas, a foundation funded by Jeff Bezos is building a giant clock that’s hundreds of feet tall. It’s been called the Millennium Clock, the 10,000 Year Clock and the Clock of the Long Now. Like the Pyramids, Stonehenge and the Colosseum, its makers hope it will outlast our civilization and tick for 10 millennia. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Alexander Rose, executive director of the Long Now

Jan 4, 2023 • 9:46

How AI is disrupting the trucking sector

How AI is disrupting the trucking sector

Trucking can be dangerous job – long, often tedious hours behind the wheel, the unpredictability of the weather and of course, other drivers. And yet, trucking is an essential part of supply chain. 72% of the nation’s freight gets from point A to point B in a truck, according to the American Trucking Associations. Most of those holiday gifts you might be enjoying right now got to you on a truck. So truck drivers are an essential part of our economy. The companies that hire and manage those driv

Jan 3, 2023 • 7:18

How does copyright law affect the sale and distribution of NFTs? (rerun)

How does copyright law affect the sale and distribution of NFTs? (rerun)

Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are basically digital certificates of ownership, a virtual claim that an image, GIF or even a song belongs to you. And while some artists were initially happy to jump into this new space, others have been surprised or furious to find that people, not themselves, beat them to it. Last year, several musical artists publicly complained after the website HitPiece temporarily listed NFTs for their songs or albums without the artists’ permission. But does selling someone

Jan 2, 2023 • 7:10

Fractured tech policy, easy-to-use AI and emotional recognition: stories to watch in 2023

Fractured tech policy, easy-to-use AI and emotional recognition: stories to watch in 2023

It’s been a big year in tech: the race to build the metaverse, the rise and fall of NFTs, chaos in the crypto sector, amazing views of galaxies far, far, away and research breakthroughs that will change the way we live. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams and Marketplace Tech producers Jésus Alvarado and Daniel Shin discuss what stories they’ll be following in 2023.

Dec 30, 2022 • 7:11

The complications of trying to engineer life (rerun)

The complications of trying to engineer life (rerun)

This is the time of year when we hear a lot about predictions for the year ahead, but futurist Amy Webb is known for looking to the future year-round. Not just for 2023, but even further out to the technology that will drive meaningful shifts in how we live and experience the world. Webb recently co-authored a book with geneticist Andrew Hessel called “The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology,” where she explores the role synthetic biology will play in shap

Dec 29, 2022 • 12:27

Women don’t wear bikinis to battle, and other things the gaming industry is learning (rerun)

Women don’t wear bikinis to battle, and other things the gaming industry is learning (rerun)

Earlier this year, a report from Bloomberg said Grand Theft Auto 6 will be getting a female protagonist. It would be a notable change — there are far fewer playable female characters than male ones in video games. And for a long time, women have been typecast as damsels in distress, like Princess Peach from Super Mario, or as sex objects depicted with little clothing and exaggerated proportions, like Lara Croft from the 1990s Tomb Raider games. She’s an archaeologist who explores old ruins in t

Dec 28, 2022 • 4:22

Tech is speeding up the search for ships — and stories — from the trans-Atlantic slave trade (rerun)

Tech is speeding up the search for ships — and stories — from the trans-Atlantic slave trade (rerun)

...

Dec 27, 2022 • 9:02

The government would like to talk to you about UFOs (rerun)

The government would like to talk to you about UFOs (rerun)

This episode originally aired on May 19, 2022 2022 has certainly been a busy year for space news but it wasn’t all looking at what’s happening out there. Some of the news and research was about what’s happening on our own planet. Earlier this year, Congress held a public hearing on a topic that hasn’t been discussed openly in a congressional hearing in decades: unidentified flying objects. Yes, UFOs, or as the Pentagon is calling them, unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs. The hearing follo

Dec 26, 2022 • 7:47

Smart rings, air-purifying masks and hearables — the wearable tech trends to watch in 2023

Smart rings, air-purifying masks and hearables — the wearable tech trends to watch in 2023

As we wind down the year, we didn’t want to miss the opportunity to look back at some notable tech trends and maybe predict a few, especially those in the ever-growing wearable tech market. Smartwatches are much more common these days, but “wearable” is starting to expand beyond the gadgets you strap to your wrist. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Victoria Song, a wearable technology reviewer for The Verge, who explained what’s on the horizon for this stuff in the coming year.

Dec 23, 2022 • 9:25

How AI can connect you with your inner child

How AI can connect you with your inner child

For some people, becoming a well-adjusted adult involves getting to know your inner child to help process old wounds or desires, and possibly gain insight into your needs and choices in life. But new technology may provide a more direct way to communicate with little you by using an artificial intelligence chatbot, informed by your own history, to play that role. That’s what creative technologist Michelle Huang did. She trained OpenAI’s ChatGPT-3 on who her younger self was and started having co

Dec 22, 2022 • 11:31

How anti-trans hate speech online leads to real-world violence

How anti-trans hate speech online leads to real-world violence

We have far too many examples in recent years of hate speech sparking riots, mobs and individual attacks. One group at particular risk is the transgender community. This year, at least 35 people in the trans community were “fatally shot or killed by other violent means,” according to the Human Rights Campaign. And a recent report from the HRC Foundation found highly organized online attacks against hospitals and health care providers in 21 states targeting facilities and doctors that provide gen

Dec 21, 2022 • 8:40

ChatGPT can write English essays … quite well. How are teachers going to deal?

ChatGPT can write English essays … quite well. How are teachers going to deal?

Teachers are a creative bunch. They have to be to come up with lesson plans and exams that help students grow their minds and prevent those same students from relying too much on technology to enhance their work or to cheat. Which is why the rollout of OpenAI’s ChatGPT has many teachers worried. The chatbot can answer almost any type of question, even if the answers aren’t always accurate. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Daniel Herman, an English teacher at Maybeck High School in Berkele

Dec 20, 2022 • 10:28

What we can learn from an Indigenous approach to AI

What we can learn from an Indigenous approach to AI

Most of us interact with some form of artificial intelligence every day, whether it’s asking a smart speaker about the weather or being assigned shift work or served content by an app. But how many of us consider our relationship to those algorithms? Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Noelani Arista, an associate professor of history and classics and chair of the Indigenous studies program at McGill University. She collaborates with other Indigenous scholars to examine and develop AI model

Dec 19, 2022 • 12:40

How the transistor helped create Silicon Valley

How the transistor helped create Silicon Valley

On this day in 1947, scientists at Bell Labs, owned by AT&T — which had a telephone monopoly at the time — tweaked a new gadget the size of a shot glass to produce, basically, amplification. It marked the invention of the transistor. My colleague David Brancaccio has been using the anniversary to tell the story of the transistor and how it led to the semiconductor revolution. Part of that revolution was getting the technology from Bell Labs in New Jersey to what eventually became Silicon Valle

Dec 16, 2022 • 6:54

How the NSA and private sector are working together on cybersecurity

How the NSA and private sector are working together on cybersecurity

A government agency known for keeping its secrets has been attempting to be a bit more open when it comes to cybersecurity. Digital attacks are now a regular threat, not just the for private sector, like last year’s hack of the Colonial oil pipeline. They are also a threat for public infrastructure, like major ransomware attacks on hospitals and public schools. So the National Security Agency is expanding its work with the private sector, nearly tripling the number of industry partnerships to mo

Dec 15, 2022 • 9:03

The power of the sun is (nearly) within grasp

The power of the sun is (nearly) within grasp

After more than 60 years of work, scientists have made a breakthrough that could potentially change the future of energy. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the Department of Energy announced this week that they had successfully achieved energy-producing nuclear fusion that produced more energy than they put into it. U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm called it a huge achievement for science and for clean energy. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Carolyn Kuranz, an experim

Dec 14, 2022 • 9:45

China extends “zero-COVID” surveillance methods to protests

China extends “zero-COVID” surveillance methods to protests

China recently eased some of its strict zero-COVID policies after unprecedented protests erupted in several parts of the country. For weeks, there were demonstrations against three years of constant PCR testing and reporting, travel restrictions and citywide quarantines, nonstop tracking and surveillance of citizens. Now, Chinese authorities are deploying some of the same tools they used to limit the spread of COVID-19 to track down demonstrators who have been speaking out against the government

Dec 13, 2022 • 7:12

Real-world RoboCop: The ethics of using robots to apply lethal force

Real-world RoboCop: The ethics of using robots to apply lethal force

Last week, officials in San Francisco decided to scrap a plan that would have allowed law enforcement to use robots in situations that may require “deadly force.” Specifically, according to the language of the ordinance that the city’s board of supervisors initially approved, when “risk of loss of life to members of the public or officers is imminent and outweighs any other force option available.” The plan was rolled back after a public backlash, but the technology is out there and it may be j

Dec 12, 2022 • 8:28

Unionization efforts are shaking up the gaming industry

Unionization efforts are shaking up the gaming industry

Unions have come to the video game industry. They started small at just one indie developer about a year ago, then those efforts started to spread. Workers at some of the biggest names in the business have started organizing — at Activision Blizzard and recently at ZeniMax, a company owned by Microsoft. This sudden upswell is shaking up an industry that has long been known for grueling hours, low pay and a workforce that is not especially diverse. So how did the union movement go from 0 to 60,

Dec 9, 2022 • 9:12

Predicting natural disasters is complicated. Climate change makes it even more so.

Predicting natural disasters is complicated. Climate change makes it even more so.

Hurricane season is officially over. There were 14 named tropical storms this year, three of which made landfall as hurricanes on the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico, including Hurricane Ian. The climate crisis, along with the boom in coastal development, have given hurricanes the power to cause more death and destruction. Marketplace’s Amy Scott spent a day with people who try to predict such disasters for our climate solutions podcast, “How We Survive.” She found out that climate change is makin

Dec 8, 2022 • 33:35

An environmentally friendly model for crypto mining shows promise

An environmentally friendly model for crypto mining shows promise

Despite the bankruptcies, hacks and general foul mood in crypto, one metric is moving in the right direction. As we talked about earlier this year, ethereum — the world’s second-largest crypto network — made a move to reduce the energy used in the “mining” process for authenticating transactions on the blockchain. In September, ethereum switched from the so-called proof of work method, in which a bunch of miners compete to solve an authentication puzzle with giant banks of supercomputers, to a

Dec 7, 2022 • 8:31

Solving an old equation brings a new wave of AI

Solving an old equation brings a new wave of AI

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have solved a particularly challenging differential equation that dates back to the early 1900s. The explanation gets pretty technical pretty fast, but the point is that solving this equation enabled researchers to create a new type of artificial intelligence system that can learn on the spot and adapt to changing patterns, as opposed to traditional systems in which the machine learning is based on existing patterns or expected outcomes. M

Dec 6, 2022 • 7:39

Meta’s pixel code helps businesses reach online customers, but shares sensitive data about them

Meta’s pixel code helps businesses reach online customers, but shares sensitive data about them

Most websites have code running in the background to help the site run better and, of course, to target advertising. A recent investigation from “The Markup” found many tax-filing sites were sharing users’ financial data with Facebook using a code called Meta Pixel. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks to Simon Fondrie-Teitler, an infrastructure engineer at The Markup and co-author of this investigation.

Dec 5, 2022 • 8:17

Irish regulators fine Meta for not safeguarding user data

Irish regulators fine Meta for not safeguarding user data

Data regulators in Ireland fined Meta earlier this week for failing to safeguard the sensitive information of Facebook users. The tech giant was fined the equivalent of about $275 million for a 2019 data leak, when personal information from more than 500 million Facebook users was scraped off the site and then published in a hacker forum. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Adam Satariano, a tech correspondent for The New York Times based in London, who reported on this story. He says this

Dec 2, 2022 • 8:45

Black Twitter has been a cultural engine. Where will that community go if the site breaks?

Black Twitter has been a cultural engine. Where will that community go if the site breaks?

While Elon Musk has been celebrating a bump in users and app downloads since he took over Twitter, many longer-term users say they’re seriously considering leaving. Some are even holding mock funerals anticipating the site would break down. This week, Twitter users discovered the company is no longer enforcing its COVID-19 misinformation policy. But if Twitter actually fell apart, what would happen to the distinct spaces there, like what’s commonly referred to as “Black Twitter”? Marketplace’s K

Dec 1, 2022 • 11:48

Scientists aim to 3D bioprint human tissue in space

Scientists aim to 3D bioprint human tissue in space

Earlier this month, the SS Sally Ride cargo capsule made its way to the International Space Station. The spacecraft was carrying hundreds of pounds of scientific experiments. One of them involves what’s called a 3D BioFabrication Facility, which can build human tissue and organs in space that scientists can’t make on Earth. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Rich Boling, vice president at Redwire, which manufactures the equipment for these experiments. She asked him about how 3D printing w

Nov 30, 2022 • 8:52

Changes at Twitter put adult content creators in limbo

Changes at Twitter put adult content creators in limbo

Some of the country’s biggest advertisers are balking at the new Twitter under Elon Musk. A recent report from Media Matters for America found at least half of Twitter’s  100 biggest advertisers have either announced they will stop running ads on the platform or just seem to be stopping more quietly. But not all businesses can easily walk away. Take sex workers. A recent survey from the website Sex Work CEO shows that Twitter is incredibly important for adult content creators, helping them conne

Nov 29, 2022 • 12:03

For disabled shoppers, some Cyber Monday deals are out of reach

For disabled shoppers, some Cyber Monday deals are out of reach

Cyber Monday has become one of the busiest — and most lucrative — online shopping days of the year. The National Retail Federation estimates that almost 64 million people will be looking for deals today. But for shoppers with disabilities, it can be a lot harder to take advantage of sales and promotions online. A significant number of the biggest retail websites are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act or Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, which lay out best practices to he

Nov 28, 2022 • 9:06

The new tech behind LeVar Burton’s crusade for child literacy (re-air)

The new tech behind LeVar Burton’s crusade for child literacy (re-air)

Actor and producer LeVar Burton is famous for many things. His iconic roles on “Star Trek” and the miniseries “Roots,” for instance. But many of us got to know him as host of the PBS show “Reading Rainbow.” His run with the show ended in the mid-2000s, but Burton is still promoting literacy for kids. He’s now the “chief reading officer” at ed-tech company Byju’s Osmo. Together, they’re launching a reading program for kids ages 5 to 7 that uses an iPad and the Osmo app’s artificial intelligence

Nov 25, 2022 • 10:26

Among the goals of Artemis I: launching the lunar economy (re-air)

Among the goals of Artemis I: launching the lunar economy (re-air)

Earlier this month, the highly anticipated launch of the Orion spacecraft finally happened at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The lift-off of that unmanned rocket was the first of a series in the agency’s Artemis missions, which aim to eventually establish a long-term human presence on the moon’s surface begin building a lunar economy including extracting precious metals and minerals to send back to Earth. But before sending humans, the agency has to test complex rockets, heat shields a

Nov 24, 2022 • 8:38

AI used for hiring and recruitment can be biased. But that’s changing.

AI used for hiring and recruitment can be biased. But that’s changing.

Artificial intelligence is commonly used in automated recruitment programs. It helps narrow down large pools of applicants using algorithms to match job seekers to open positions. But there are growing concerns that this technology is disproportionately excluding certain groups, like women, people of color or those who don’t have college degrees, even when they’re perfectly qualified.

Nov 23, 2022 • 5:10

YouTube and content creators clash over the platform’s automated copyright tool

YouTube and content creators clash over the platform’s automated copyright tool

Every minute, people upload more than 500 hours of video to YouTube — cat videos, music videos, even videos of people recording their audio podcasts. And some of those clips include content the people uploading them don’t own, like clips of music from popular songs. YouTube, and its owner, Google, have an automated technology called Content ID that regularly scans for copyrighted material — including music — and flags it for copyright holders. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke about this with M

Nov 22, 2022 • 6:37

A tool for creating an “unbreakable” internet under oppressive, censoring regimes

A tool for creating an “unbreakable” internet under oppressive, censoring regimes

It may be called the World Wide Web, but in some parts of the world, big chunks of the web are blocked or censored. One nonprofit designed an app to get around that censorship called Lantern. The organization says its user base in Iran has grown about 400% since the start of protests there two months ago and that as much as 13% of  Iranian internet capacity is running through the app. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with one of Lantern’s developers. Because of his work in countries with oppr

Nov 21, 2022 • 6:46

FTX bankruptcy points to more difficult times for crypto

FTX bankruptcy points to more difficult times for crypto

The crypto industry is in trouble — just look at the drama surrounding the collapse of the FTX crypto exchange, which is looking worse every day. Add to that the huge drop in value of cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and the crash of stablecoin TerraUSD earlier this year. And now regulators and investors are wondering about the next shoe to drop. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Hilary Allen, a law professor at American University’s Washington College of Law, about what’s next for the cryp

Nov 18, 2022 • 9:01

This lab experiments with disaster — to help create climate-resilient homes

This lab experiments with disaster — to help create climate-resilient homes

There is no stopping natural disasters like hurricanes and fires. So one key to surviving a changing climate is making buildings more resilient. Amy Scott, host of “How We Survive,” visits a Florida lab focused on that challenge.

Nov 17, 2022 • 31:07

A critical update to the national broadband map is coming Friday

A critical update to the national broadband map is coming Friday

The Federal Communications Commission is set to release the first round of its updated national broadband map this week. It’s supposed to show more precise and detailed information on internet availability all over the country. Advocates have complained for years the old maps were full of inaccurate data, and getting those numbers right is a big deal because this new map will determine how the government spends the $42.5 billion in the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. Marketpla

Nov 16, 2022 • 7:00

It’s been a wild ride for Twitter under Elon Musk. What’s next?

It’s been a wild ride for Twitter under Elon Musk. What’s next?

It’s been a wild ride these past two weeks with Twitter under the ownership of Elon Musk, including Musk showing up at Twitter headquarters with a sink and laying off half of the company’s global staff. Just about every day there’s a new headline about what’s happening in the company and on the platform: leadership changes, verification subscriptions rolled out and pulled back, threats to fire employees if they work remotely. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Alex Heath, a deputy editor a

Nov 15, 2022 • 11:04

The NLRB is keeping electronic surveillance of workers in check

The NLRB is keeping electronic surveillance of workers in check

The National Labor Relations Board is a federal agency tasked with making sure workers can organize to improve their working conditions, wages or form a union. But the NLRB says some employers are using technology to prevent or discourage workers from doing just that. The agency released a public memo on Oct. 31 saying it plans to protect employees from “intrusive or abusive electronic monitoring and automated management,” practices the NLRB says are increasingly happening as the technology get

Nov 14, 2022 • 9:14

Inside the high stakes of the quantum computing race

Inside the high stakes of the quantum computing race

Quantum computers are considered by many to be the next big thing in technology. The promise – in theory – is they could complete extremely complex calculations very quickly by harnessing what Einstein called the “spooky” nature of quantum mechanics. So while regular computers work with bits that are either 1’s or 0’s, quantum computers use “qubits” that can store combinations of 1’s and 0’s at the same time. This week, IBM announced it has developed the largest quantum processor in the world.

Nov 11, 2022 • 7:01

What Silicon Valley’s boom-and-bust history tells us about its latest slowdown

What Silicon Valley’s boom-and-bust history tells us about its latest slowdown

The bad news just keeps coming. It started with hiring freezes, then moved to layoffs. A lot of them. Twitter, Lyft, Stripe, Salesforce and, of course, Meta are cutting thousands of jobs. It’s a turn of events that felt almost inconceivable a year ago, after a two-decade run during which the industry seemed unstoppable. But tech is notorious for booms and busts — and not just the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Margaret O’Mara, a

Nov 10, 2022 • 9:25

Social media has evolved as a crucial tool during election cycles — but it can also be misused

Social media has evolved as a crucial tool during election cycles — but it can also be misused

Good luck trying to escape political news this week. Election coverage is everywhere — on the airwaves and online. And every election cycle seems to reveal more and more about the growing, pivotal and sometimes controversial role of social media. Like in the run-up to elections and, like now, during the aftermath. Campaigns can use social media to boost voter turnout and build community, but others use it to try to mislead voters. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams spoke with Pinar Yildirim, a profess

Nov 9, 2022 • 9:11

How platform rules shape where people “live” online

How platform rules shape where people “live” online

People see and absorb a lot of election information — and misinformation — on the web. But we are not all getting the same information about politics and policymakers, and certainly not from the same sources. So understanding where people gather and communicate online can be crucial to understanding the political polarization in the United States, especially when some people are migrating to newer platforms that cater to specific political beliefs or content moderation rules. Marketplace’s Kimbe

Nov 8, 2022 • 9:28

Voting tech for people with disabilities has expanded — but more is still needed

Voting tech for people with disabilities has expanded — but more is still needed

There are an estimated 38 million disabled eligible voters in the U.S., but many of them face unique obstacles when trying to cast their ballots. Federal and state laws require polling stations provide in-person accommodations, like machines with larger screen displays or text-to-speech interfaces inside voter booths. But individual polling places don’t always make it easy, says Mark Lindeman, Policy and Strategy Director with the nonpartisan organization Verified Voting.

Nov 7, 2022 • 4:58

A new machine learning model could help public health officials get ahead of the next crisis

A new machine learning model could help public health officials get ahead of the next crisis

Diagnosing and containing a disease outbreak, or the health effects of a disruptive event like a natural disaster, can be a huge task. A study out Friday from New York University suggests that a new machine learning model could improve health officials’ ability to respond to future pandemics and other public health crises. The research was done in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University and New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Dani

Nov 4, 2022 • 9:20

How will Netflix’s new ad-supported tier shake up the streaming landscape?

How will Netflix’s new ad-supported tier shake up the streaming landscape?

Starting today, Netflix users in the U.S. will have the option to sign up for a cheaper subscription. But, of course, there’s a catch. If you want to pay $6.99 a month, rather than $9.99 a month or more, your TV and movie binge sessions will be interrupted by ads, which runs counter to the original premise of Netflix and many other streaming services. But now, that’s changing. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams speaks with Brandon Katz, an entertainment industry strategist at Parrot Analytics, who say

Nov 3, 2022 • 10:08

Tech to help older people is a young and growing field

Tech to help older people is a young and growing field

The U.S. is experiencing a massive demographic shift as the baby boom becomes the senior boom. According to the Census Bureau, more than 1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older in 2030. The tech industry is catching on. Big companies and small startups are increasingly developing products with older users in mind. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Keren Etkin, a gerontologist and creator of the blog The Gerontechnologist, where she writes and podcasts about the latest in age tech. Etk

Nov 2, 2022 • 7:03

Deepfake videos on TikTok can be fun. They can also be malicious.

Deepfake videos on TikTok can be fun. They can also be malicious.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok have banned deepfakes, which are realistic but fabricated or manipulated representations, often of public figures. Yet a TikTok video in which a fake Tom Cruise serenades the real Paris Hilton went viral. That video is one of dozens from the account @DeepTomCruise. The account has racked up almost 4 million followers with its digital simulations of the famous actor singing, golfing and, of course, laughing in a slightly too intense way. Marketplace’s Meghan

Nov 1, 2022 • 6:18

Under Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter faces content moderation challenges

Under Elon Musk’s leadership, Twitter faces content moderation challenges

It’s an uncertain Monday at Twitter because Elon Musk has taken over and started shaking things up. Last week, according to Bloomberg, he reassured employees that he did not plan to discard three-quarters of the staff, as he reportedly told investors earlier. But the self-described free speech absolutist has made no secret of his desire to make some personnel cuts, particularly around content moderation. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino spoke with Sarah Roberts, a professor and director of t

Oct 31, 2022 • 7:35

Tech earnings this week were a bit … gloomy

Tech earnings this week were a bit … gloomy

We’ve seen layoffs, hiring freezes and now some cold, hard numbers that show the tide is turning in the tech industry. After booming during the pandemic, big companies like Microsoft, Alphabet and Meta may now be feeling the pinch of a tighter economy. At least that’s the signal from a series of disappointing earnings reports this week. Apple was the exception, boasting record revenues, but sales of its new iPhone 14 were slower than expected. Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Dani

Oct 28, 2022 • 6:56

Cryptocurrency has a trust problem

Cryptocurrency has a trust problem

It’s a world of big promises, big personalities and, lately, big failures that can seem inscrutable and often ridiculous. But cryptocurrency has moved into finance, tech, even sports arenas. And according to Bloomberg Businessweek, it demands to be understood. This week the magazine has dedicated an entire issue to what it calls “The Crypto Story: Where it came from, what it all means, and why it still matters.” Marketplace’s Meghan McCarty Carino speaks with Bloomberg opinion columnist Matt Lev

Oct 27, 2022 • 8:21

Candidates turn to TikTok to woo young voters

Candidates turn to TikTok to woo young voters

TikTok, with its quirky dances, is sometimes thought of as a Gen Z platform. Yet if you use the app, you’ve probably come across videos from distinctly older political candidates. Since 2020, the number of users on TikTok has increased by about 40%. And candidates have taken note. They post TikToks to reach younger audiences, make themselves seem likable and encourage people to vote.

Oct 26, 2022 • 6:59

Voting security still depends on low-tech paper trails

Voting security still depends on low-tech paper trails

Since the 2020 election, there’s been a lot of attention on, misinformation about and lawsuits over the technology many jurisdictions use in voting. It’s rare for a voting system in the U.S. to be “paperless.” Typically, these systems use a combination of high-tech and low-tech, like a voting machine that prints out a paper ballot with your electronic choices. Marketplace’s Kimberly Adams recently discussed the shift away from paperless systems with Lawrence Norden, senior director of the Electi

Oct 25, 2022 • 7:37

High-tech farming helps automate the job — except when the equipment gets hacked

High-tech farming helps automate the job — except when the equipment gets hacked

Tractors, combines and other farm equipment have become computers on wheels. They are both bluetooth-enabled and connected to the internet which, as Dina Temple-Raston of the “Click Here” podcast explains, makes them incredibly vulnerable to hackers.

Oct 24, 2022 • 4:33

Switch to the Fountain App