Derek Thompson@DKThompA quite brilliant essay on AI, the law, and the future of the republic. An upshot: If the US govt can go to any company, demand any contract language, and reserve the right to destroy your company if you have qualms, there is no such thing as private property rights in America.Opens with an observation
Derek Thompson@DKThompIf Max is paying a marketing company a $1m annual retainer for naming strategy, this is pathetic. But. If Max figured that it can add and remove “HBO” from its streaming title every 2 years to create a bunch of free outraged publicity, I sort of respect the play.Opens with a number
Derek Thompson@DKThompAlmost an impressive level of villainy on display here. If Bezos had hired, like, Steve Bannon to run the Post into the ground in the cruelest dumbest way, killing the sports section in absentia while slinking off to the Super Bowl without telling anybody would be a nice touchOpens with an observation
Derek Thompson@DKThompNew newsletter: EVERYTHING IS TELEVISION - Social media is now 5% following friends and 95% watching videos made by strangers - Every podcast is turning into a YouTube show - AI companies can't stop building TikTok clones on the way to building god t.coOpens with an observation
Derek Thompson@DKThompPic 1: major fastener (nuts, bolts, screws, nails) manufacturer in the US says price increases coming 2: more US importers telling Flexport they’re looking to move manufacturing overseas This is what round-kicking ourselves in the face looks like.Opens with an observation
Derek Thompson@DKThompThe NYT might be the most successful news media company in America right now. But if you only looked at its ad revenue, you'd think it went bankrupt. Its business went from 70% ads to 70% subs in 20 years.Opens with an observation