Hard Fork: Analyzing Google’s Antitrust Ruling and the A.I. Bubble

Listen to “Hard Fork”

Available on: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | YouTube | iHeartRadio

Hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton

Produced by Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones

Edited by Shreeya Sinha

Engineered by Daniel Ramirez

Original music composed by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano

This week, a significant ruling came from a federal judge declaring that Google has engaged in illegal practices to preserve its monopoly in the online search market. To unpack the implications of this landmark decision, we welcome David McCabe, a seasoned reporter from The New York Times, who specializes in technology policy.

In our next segment, we dive into a pressing question: Are we currently experiencing an A.I. bubble? We analyze the recent volatile swings in the stock market that have sparked this debate and contemplate whether the excitement surrounding A.I. technologies is truly justified or simply overblown.

Finally, we introduce a brand-new segment where we explore some of the most outrageous recent events in the tech world. From a chaotic competition involving MrBeast that didn’t go as planned to a tech founder who released a diss track targeting a rival, we cover it all. Get ready to hop on the Hot-Mess Express!

Featured Guest:

• David McCabe, a technology policy reporter for The New York Times.

Further Reading:

• ‘Google Is a Monopolist,’ Judge Rules in Landmark Antitrust Case
• Tech Leaders Urge Caution Amidst Continued A.I. Investments
• Understanding the Drivers Behind Recent Stock Market Fluctuations
• Willing to Risk It All for MrBeast (and a $5 Million Prize)

Credit: Photo Illustration by The New York Times; Photo: Jim Wilson/The New York Times

Credits

“Hard Fork” is expertly hosted by Kevin Roose and Casey Newton, with production managed by Rachel Cohn and Whitney Jones. The editing team is led by Jen Poyant, while engineering work is handled by Alyssa Moxley. The engaging original music is crafted by Dan Powell and Marion Lozano. Our fact-checking efforts are overseen by Caitlin Love.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Paula Szuchman, Pui-Wing Tam, Nell Gallogly, Dahlia Haddad, and Jeffrey Miranda for their invaluable contributions.