People vs Algorithms

• One-Trick Pony

  It used its dominant position in search to be the arbiter for the web. As the web moves into an agentic AI era, we break down how Google is positioned and the impact its next evolution will have for the ecosystem it shaped and de facto ruled. Plus: why media’s unionization craze didn’t fix bad models, why nobody can remember any ad campaigns, and the charms of the Shelter Island dump as a community convener.RSVP to PvA Live at Cannes with Sara Fischer and Neil Vogel at the Dotdash Meredith villa.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer's Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 01:10 Welcome* 01:37 PVA Live @ Cannes Lions* 03:43 Media Buyouts* 07:42 The Information Space is Scrambling PR* 12:09 Veo 3* 17:38 Staples' Easy Button is Back* 23:22 Google* 29:50 One-Trick Pony* 34:48 Google Products* 47:40 Google Now* 56:08 How the market views Google with AB* 01:15:56 Good Product This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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• From Pages to Protocols

  In this episode, we dive into how the rise of AI agents and new protocols is replacing browsing with prompting, and pages with machine-readable interfaces. Google and Microsoft are rolling out AI-powered tools that make websites disappear into the background, forcing publishers, marketers, and product teams to rethink how value is surfaced and monetized.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer's Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:54 Welcome* 03:38 AI Tears Down The Front Door Of The Internet* 25:04 Sam & Jony* 42:39 Bernie on Flagrant* 44:10 Good Product* 46:58 Distribution Direction with AB* 56:50 Understanding Risk Profile with AB* 01:03:44 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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  1:04:44
• Brittle Apple

  Plus: we learn that Alex is no David Zaslav because he doesn’t see the genius in a CNN weather app, an appraisal of Airbnb’s “everything” app, and a celebration of kookiness of Eurovision.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer's Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 01:38 Intro* 02:41 Welcome* 03:23 Eurovision* 08:14 App-mania* 08:53 HBO Max* 12:47 CNN* 19:35 ESPN* 24:11 AirBnB* 32:55 Apple* 59:03 Good Product* 01:06:27 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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  1:07:27
• The AI Overhang

  We unpack Google’s search reinvention, publishers acting like a deer in the highlights, Perplexity’s emergence as a heel, Apple’s AI misfires, and the risks of AI reinforcement loops. Plus: what happens when publishers still rely on traffic models that are quietly unraveling.* Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer's Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:22 Intro* 01:01 AI Search Shake-Up* 18:40 Perplexity’s $50m Venture Fund* 32:20 DOJ vs Google Ad-Tech* 37:26 AI & Mental-Health Risks* 54:15 Valnet “Sweatshop” Roll-up* 01:01:59 Mogul Memoirs & Reputation* 01:03:09 Good Product* 01:07:38 Outro This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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  1:08:38
• Group Chat

  * Watch us on YouTube* Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletter* Brian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletter* Alex Schleifer's Human Computer* Follow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterChapters:* 00:00 Open* 00:22 Intro* 00:45 Welcome* 01:20 Marketing Advertising Media Events* 07:01 The Shoes That Have Not Dropped* 20:43 Group Chats* 31:38 Zuck Derangement Syndrome* 54:54 Epic Beats Apple* 59:14 Trump Cabinet Influencers* 01:06:32 Good Product* 01:13:29 Overtime With AB This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.peoplevsalgorithms.com

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