This is a transcript of an interview between Steven Levy and Caroline Haskins from WIRED, discussing the intersection of technology and politics with Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir.
The conversation starts with a discussion about competition in the tech industry, with Karp stating that Palantir's main competitor is not other companies, but rather "the woke left and the woke right" who are trying to hurt the company through political means.
Levy expresses his surprise at this answer, as he had been expecting a more traditional competitive analysis. He also notes that Karp's views on competition are part of a broader trend in Silicon Valley, where companies are increasingly prioritizing their interests over regulatory concerns and public discourse.
The conversation then turns to the topic of enshittification, with Levy explaining how big tech companies have become adept at extracting value from users through targeted advertising and data collection. He notes that this can lead to a decline in user experience and a sense of frustration among users.
Haskins chimes in, noting her own experience with Spotify's recent changes to its interface, which she finds annoying. She ultimately decides to switch to Tidal, citing its superior music library and features.
The interview concludes with Levy and Haskins discussing their own WIRED/TIRED segments, where they discuss what is new and exciting (WIRED) versus what is old and tired (TIRED). They both agree that Spotify's recent changes are a great example of enshittification, leading them to switch to alternative music streaming services.
The conversation starts with a discussion about competition in the tech industry, with Karp stating that Palantir's main competitor is not other companies, but rather "the woke left and the woke right" who are trying to hurt the company through political means.
Levy expresses his surprise at this answer, as he had been expecting a more traditional competitive analysis. He also notes that Karp's views on competition are part of a broader trend in Silicon Valley, where companies are increasingly prioritizing their interests over regulatory concerns and public discourse.
The conversation then turns to the topic of enshittification, with Levy explaining how big tech companies have become adept at extracting value from users through targeted advertising and data collection. He notes that this can lead to a decline in user experience and a sense of frustration among users.
Haskins chimes in, noting her own experience with Spotify's recent changes to its interface, which she finds annoying. She ultimately decides to switch to Tidal, citing its superior music library and features.
The interview concludes with Levy and Haskins discussing their own WIRED/TIRED segments, where they discuss what is new and exciting (WIRED) versus what is old and tired (TIRED). They both agree that Spotify's recent changes are a great example of enshittification, leading them to switch to alternative music streaming services.
like, isn't that just corporate speak for "we're scared of people disagreeing with us"?? and steven levy just lets him get away with it? 
they're basically making users click through 10 ads to listen to a song. i love how they say it's all about personalization, but really it's just about milking us for data and cash. 
can't we just have some decent user experience without being tracked every step of the way? these big tech companies are always pushing the limits on how much they can suck from us, and nobody seems to care.
just watched this interview with Alex Karp from Palantir and I'm kinda worried about the state of tech companies rn... they're so focused on beating their own interests that they don't even care about what's good for society 
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i mean whats wrong with having a decent interface without all these annoying ads and whatnot? 
I think its interesting how tech companies like Palantir are viewing themselves as under attack by the woke left and right, when really they should be focusing on what their users want. I mean, if you're trying to extract value from people through targeted ads and data collection, shouldn't you just make sure that's something people want? It feels like these companies are more concerned with being "right" than with making the product better for everyone 
tech companies gotta stop tryna control every aspect of our lives, ya know? like palantir says they're competing against "the woke left and right" but really it's just big corporate greed 
. these companies are all about making that dough and don't care who they step on in the process 
. i mean spotify changes its interface and suddenly people switch? come on 
. it's like, can't these companies just prioritize user experience for once? 
. it's just companies trying to save their skin from actual criticism and competition. palantir's views on this are just a perfect example... meanwhile, spotify's "changes" are literally just them making money off our data 
. But seriously, Alex Karp thinks he can take on the whole political landscape with his company? That's a bold move... or should I say, a bold attempt to get roasted by politicians 
. And on top of that, Silicon Valley is just so extra when it comes to prioritizing profits over public discourse. It's like they're trying to prove who can be the most woke (or unwoke) at the same time. 
. It's not about the tech itself, it's about what it does to our mental health and relationships 
.
and btw, steven levy seems pretty chill 
what's up with spotify's interface changes tho? are they really trying to enshittify us or do they just not care about user experience anymore? 
. Like Haskins said, Spotify's recent changes were a total pain 
, so I'm not surprised she jumped ship for Tidal 
. And can't we just have some decent music streaming with good features without having to constantly upgrade? 
It feels like they're all about the benjamins over user experience 
. Companies like Palantir are just trying to survive in an industry where the left and right keep piling on 
It's all about the user experience being sacrificed at the altar of profits 
that thing's got some real features now. but seriously tho, spotify's gotta step up their game if they wanna keep users