Decoder is a show from The Verge about big ideas — and other problems. Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks to a diverse cast of innovators and policymakers at the frontiers of business and technology to reveal how they’re navigating an ever-changing landscape, what keeps them up at night, and what it all means for our shared future.
Today, I’m talking with Hinge co-founder and CEO Justin McLeod. Hinge is one of the biggest dating apps in the United States — it’s rivaled only by Tinder, and both are owned by the massive conglomerate Match Group, which has consolidated a huge chunk of the online dating ecosystem. Justin and I dug into that here, and we also explored some of the thorny issues around AI and dating, Hinge’s monetization, and data privacy in the second Trump administration. This is a fun one, with a whole lot goi...
Preet Bharara interviews former FTC Chair Lina Khan on antitrust, monopoly power, and Big Tech regulation. They discuss the history of antitrust enforcement, the bipartisan shift towards more aggressive regulation, and Khan's influential work, including her paper on Amazon. The conversation delves into defining monopolies, the impact on innovation, and addresses criticisms faced by the FTC. The episode concludes with Preet answering listener questions on Surgeon General qualifications, employer accountability for hiring undocumented workers, and political commentary.
TaskRabbit CEO Ania Smith discusses the platform's current state as a leading home services marketplace, its distinct end-to-end model, and how taskers set their own rates. She explains the dynamics of supply and demand, the impact of economic uncertainty, and how TaskRabbit leverages data and AI to match clients with skilled taskers. Smith also details TaskRabbit's relationship with its owner, IKEA, and how they are integrating services to enhance the customer experience, while addressing the potential disruption and opportunities presented by the next wave of AI assistants and agents.
Cris Valenzuela, CEO of AI video platform Runway, joins Nilay Patel to discuss the rapid advancement of AI models from abstract images to high-quality video generation. He explains how Runway is reducing costs and time in production, offering examples from advertising and film studios, and addresses concerns about AI's impact on creativity. Valenzuela also delves into Runway's business model, company structure, the tension between research and product, legal challenges around training data, and his vision for AI democratizing filmmaking globally.
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky discusses the company's ambitious redesign and expansion beyond home rentals into services like private chefs and photographers, and relaunched experiences. He explains the strategic shift towards becoming a platform for almost anything in the real world, positioning Airbnb as a community counterpoint to the digital age. Chesky also details how this transformation, including rebuilding the tech stack and organizational structure, prepares Airbnb to navigate the emerging landscape of AI agents and potential disintermediation.
Journalist Megan Greenwell discusses her book "Bad Company: Private Equity, and the Death of the American Dream." Drawing on her experience at Deadspin and research across healthcare, retail, and housing, she details how private equity's focus on financial extraction over operational success negatively impacts businesses, workers, and communities. The conversation explores the history of PE, its growth drivers, the specific problems in healthcare, and potential ways to push back against its influence.
Following Google I/O, CEO Sundar Pichai discusses the recent wave of AI product announcements and the company's confidence in its AI progress. He details the current phase of the AI platform shift, focusing on the release of actual products and the potential for wider creation. The conversation delves into the business implications of AI investments, the future of hardware like AR glasses, and the complex relationship with publishers and the web as AI search evolves. Pichai also addresses antitrust challenges and political pressures, concluding with thoughts on robotics as the next major AI frontier.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi joins Decoder to discuss the company's evolution from a simple ride-hailing app to a comprehensive logistics network. He details new products like RouteShare, Uber's strategy for competing with car ownership, the complexities of its matrix organization, and the thought process behind major decisions like merging the Rides and Eats teams. Dara also shares his views on the emerging AI agent landscape and the transition to autonomous vehicles, including partnerships and potential conflicts with human drivers.
Kevin Scott, Microsoft CTO, discusses the future of search and the web with Nilay Patel, focusing on Microsoft's new open-source tool for AI-powered natural language search and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). They explore the potential of an 'agentic web' where AI agents can interact with websites in a standardized, controlled manner, touching on business models, copyright issues, and the relationship between technology and art. Kevin also shares insights on the evolving AI landscape and Microsoft's partnerships.
Nilay Patel interviews Gerrit Kazmaier, Workday's new product head, about the challenges of enterprise software and how AI can improve the user experience. They discuss the tension between software as a tool and software as the job itself, the importance of a vibrant software ecosystem, and the potential for AI to automate tasks and reduce bias. Gerrit shares his vision for the future of Workday and how it can better serve its users.
Nilay Patel and John Gruber discuss the future of Apple, focusing on the App Store, the Epic Games lawsuit, and regulatory pressures. They explore Apple's shift towards services, its relationship with developers, and the challenges it faces in maintaining innovation and revenue growth. The conversation also touches on Apple's approach to AI and its potential future in physical devices.
Nilay Patel interviews Paul Bascobert, president of Reuters, about the company's history, mission, and approach to modern media challenges. They discuss Reuters' business model, the importance of trust in news, AI's role in content creation and distribution, and strategies for competing in a rapidly changing information landscape. The conversation explores the balance between traditional journalism values and technological innovation in the news industry.
Hey everyone, it’s Nilay. We’re off today, but we’ll be back Thursday, so stay tuned. In the meantime, we have an excellent episode from Business Insider Chief Correspondent Peter Kafka, who hosts the media podcast Channels. In this episode, Peter sat down with one of the biggest names in journalism: New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger. It’s a fascinating conversation that covers some of the most pressing issues facing journalism and the news business today. We think you’ll like it. Links: NY...
A lot has happened in the first 100 days of Trump's second term. It’s nearly too much to keep up with, really, but we're going to try. Verge policy editor Adi Robertson joins Decoder this week to talk through six of the biggest stories and themes we're covering, from tariffs to TikTok to DOGE. Links: Donald Trump’s first 100 days: all the news affecting the tech industry | Verge The DOGE days have just begun | Verge America is living in tariff limbo | Verge MAGA’s next wave of influencers saved ...
A few days ago, I hosted a panel with FTC commissioners Rebecca Slaughter and Alvaro Bedoya at the IAPP Global Privacy Summit in Washington, DC. We recorded the discussion, and we’re bringing it to you today. Normal Decoder stuff, but these are anything but normal times. Becca and Alvaro were FTC commissioners until very recently, when President Donald Trump fired them — but he doesn't have that legal authority. They’re suing to get their jobs back, and they’re prepared to go all the way to SCOT...
Jonathan Kanter discusses the possibility of breaking up Google, focusing on the ad tech antitrust case and potential remedies. He explores the construction of the cases, the courtroom experience, and the challenges facing the DOJ under new leadership, emphasizing the importance of rule of law and maintaining independence from political influence. Kanter also touches on the FTC's Meta case and the broader implications for competition and innovation in the tech industry.
Nilay Patel interviews Verizon Consumer CEO Sowmyanarayan Sampath about 5G, net neutrality, and the company's strategic decisions. Sampath discusses Verizon's network investments, competitive landscape, and approach to regulatory challenges. He also shares insights on decision-making processes and the future of wireless technology, including OpenRAN and potential shifts in smartphone form factors.
Nilay Patel interviews Flexport CEO Ryan Peterson about the realities of Trump's tariffs and the ongoing trade war with China. They discuss the impact on global supply chains, shifting manufacturing locations, and the challenges businesses face navigating unpredictable tariff policies. Peterson highlights the need for strategic solutions and potential opportunities amidst the chaos.
Nilay Patel interviews Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev, discussing the company's expansion into banking and wealth management, and Tenev's vision for prediction markets. They explore the societal value and regulatory challenges of these markets, especially concerning sports gambling laws. Tenev defends prediction markets as a source of information and discusses Robinhood's role in democratizing finance, while Patel raises concerns about the risks and incentives involved.
Rohit Chopra was the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau head until the end of January, when President Donald Trump fired him and Elon Musk’s DOGE began trying to dismantle the agency. The CFPB has been pretty popular since it was founded in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis to protect consumers, so shutting it down has kicked off a bunch of controversies — not least of which was whether Trump and Musk even had the power to do it. This all led me to ask several times who made the decision t...
Nilay Patel interviews UiPath CEO Daniel Dines about his return to the company, the shift to agentic AI, and the implications for the automation industry. They discuss the balance between deterministic RPA and AI, the impact on jobs, and the future of human-machine interaction. Dines shares insights on UiPath's strategy and the evolving economics of AI.
Brian Merchant joins Nilay Patel to discuss the ongoing AI art debate, focusing on the controversy surrounding Studio Ghibli memes and the broader implications for art, artists, and copyright. They explore the economic pressures AI places on artists, the moral and ethical considerations of using AI art generators, and the tech industry's engagement with art. The conversation also covers potential solutions for supporting artists in the age of AI and the future of creative work.
Unity is one of those hidden in plain sight companies we love here on Decoder, and CEO Matt Bromberg is in many ways the perfect Decoder guest. He's been on the job less than a year and took over in a moment of crisis. He describes the company as being "at war with its customers" before he joined, and he's not wrong. The game industry right now is also contracting overall — studios are closing, and some big bets on things like the metaverse and live service games haven’t paid off. So we talked a...
Lauren Leffer discusses the complexities of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, its spread among various animal populations, and the potential risks to humans. The conversation explores the failures and challenges of public health responses, the influence of political figures like RFK Jr., and the role of capitalism in addressing the crisis. Leffer offers practical advice for individuals to protect themselves and their pets, emphasizing the importance of monitoring data and avoiding raw animal products.
Today, I’m talking with Kakul Srivastava, CEO of music creation platform Splice, which is one of the biggest marketplaces around for loops and samples. You can just go sign up, pay the money, and download these loops to try to make pop hits all day long. Take, for instance, Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, which was composed almost entirely out of Splice loops. Now, if you’re a Decoder listener, you know that some of my favorite conversations are with people building technology products for creativ...
This episode of Decoder explores the Tesla Takedown protest movement and its potential impact on the company. Ed Niedermeyer joins Nilay Patel to discuss the disconnect between the myth and reality of Tesla, the vulnerabilities in its business model, and the reasons behind the protests. The conversation covers Tesla's leadership, product vision, and the challenges it faces in the evolving automotive landscape. Ultimately, the episode examines whether these protests can truly impact Tesla's stock and future.
Nilay Patel interviews Evan Smith, CEO of Altana, about the changing landscape of global trade and supply chains. They discuss the factors leading to the breakdown of globalization, the impact of tariffs, and the potential for decoupling from China. Smith explains how Altana's software helps companies navigate these changes and build more resilient supply chains. The conversation explores the role of industrial policy, the challenges of critical mineral dependency, and the future of manufacturing in North America.
Today, I’m talking to Verge policy editor Adi Robertson about a bill called the Take It Down Act, which is one in a long line of bills that would make it illegal to distribute non-consensual intimate imagery, or NCII. This is a real and devastating problem on the internet, and AI is just making it worse. But Adi just wrote a long piece arguing that giving the Trump administration new powers over speech in this way would be a mistake. So in this episode, Adi and I really get into the details of t...
Almar Latour is the publisher of the Wall Street Journal and also CEO of its parent company, Dow Jones — itself a part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Almar's been with the paper since the 90s, and now he's got insight into all the modern messes. He's made a big deal with OpenAI, while also suing Perplexity — all while building his own AI data products for Dow Jones customers. He's also a strong defender of press freedom who fought to have Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich released fr...
So today I’m talking to Andy Hawkins, The Verge’s transportation editor, about what’s going on in the skies. Andy just edited a big piece for us by writer Darryl Campbell that helps put a lot of what’s happening in air travel right now in perspective. It has some very reassuring data points, but it also raises important questions about what we need to do next to reinstill confidence in air travel. Andy and I talked about how safe it really is to fly right now — extremely safe, it turns out — and...
