Plain English with Derek Thompson
News:News Commentary
Today’s episode is about whatever the hell just happened—is still happening—at OpenAI, where CEO Sam Altman has been fired, almost rehired, and then shipped off to Microsoft, while the most famous startup in artificial intelligence self-immolates for reasons that the company refuses to explain. Our panel has some theories. Charlie Warzel is a staff writer at The Atlantic who has been texting and talking with OpenAI employees for the last few days. Karen Hao is a contributing writer at The Atlantic who is writing a book about OpenAI and knows many of the main characters from this past weekend. Ross Andersen is a staff writer at The Atlantic who wrote a big magazine feature on Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the messy quest to build artificial general intelligence.
If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com.
Host: Derek Thompson
Guests: Ross Andersen, Karen Hao & Charlie Warzel
Producer: Devon Manze
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
How Hollywood’s Hit Formula Flopped—and What Could Come Next
What Many Economists (and I) Got Wrong About This Economy
Why the "Need for Chaos" Is Eating American Politics
Why Americans Stopped Hanging Out—and Why It Matters
"We’re Seeing a Fundamental Reorganization of Work in America"
How to Have the Hardest Conversations—in Marriage, Politics, and Life
Would You Buy a Drug to Extend Your Dog’s Life?
The Dark Side of the Internet's Obsession With Anxiety
Can Solar Power and Battery Tech Save the World From Climate Change?
The Gender War Within Gen Z
What’s the Best Diet for Planet Earth?
Why Did Stanley Water Bottles Suddenly Become a Cultural Phenomenon?
Why the U.S. Media Industry Is in Meltdown
World on Fire, Part 3: How Did America's Border Crisis Get So Bad?
World on Fire, Part 2: Global Conflict Has Surged to an 80-Year High. Why?
World on Fire, Part 1: The Houthis, Israel's Impossible War, and Worsening Middle East Chaos
The Dark Side of the Obsession With Focus
Four Megatrends for 2024 in Tech, Economics, Media, and Weird Science
The Biggest Breakthroughs in Science Happening Right Now
The Truth About Ketamine: Depression Cure, Health Fad, or Placebo?
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Tucker Carlson Show
The Matt Walsh Show
The Glenn Beck Program
Mark Levin Podcast
The Michael Knowles Show