Read original post

I spent a cup of coffee at Spotify after Anchor was sold to the Swedish streaming giant. Picture the deal from Succession but a lot of actually smart people and no drama. One behind-the-scenes story though is I don’t think anyone told me and the deal was done months prior because I would have popped off on Twitter about it. I definitely would have so it was very smart to not tell me. The new 250 MILLION dollar deal Joe Rogan just signed proves that the internet never loses. Let me explain.

So why would Spotify give Joe Rogan $250 million and let him post the show to every platform? To quote the late great Omar Little, “Money ain’t got no owners, only spenders”

2.8 billion long-form views before they shut down the long-form version of the show on YouTube.

2.8 billion/1,000 (this is how you calculate a CPM) *$50 (it’s going to be way more because he is the top dog but let's make this simple) is 140 million dollars. Spotify is betting on what everyone in this game already knows you are NOT BEATING YOUTUBE ON DISTRIBUTION anytime soon. See below.

The only way YouTube is ever beaten (no it won't be Tiktok) is if there is a major AI breakthrough and you can search with your mind or some other wacky SciFi shit. The second biggest search engine on the planet is owned by the first, Spotify knows this and is betting on the scale of the advertising for the show vs their owned and operated. Smart move.

Having a show on one "station" made sense during the Howard Stern days via Sirius because there was no distribution. Now "distribution's" total addressable market is every person on the planet.

However, Joe Rogan is 56. He was not going to be the guy who rocks the boat but the NEXT Joe Rogan (my bet is Pat McAfee) won’t do any deal with any platform. The real future of this is going beyond platforms.

Eventually, we won’t talk about platforms anymore. When Bitcoin wins everything will be everywhere and you will pay in SATS to do everything on the internet. Listen to Joe Rogan for only 15 minutes? You pay less than the guy who listens for 2 hours. Want to interact with your favorite author as you are reading their book? Pay them a few SATS and his AI LLM will tell you exactly what he meant writing a specific chapter. The internet with a universal payment layer becomes the first value-for-value frontier ever created and we are starting it with Mash. I am not as bullish as Marty (frankly because I am not as smart and he is probably right it happens sooner than we all think) but I do think it will happen in my lifetime (I am closer to 40 than 30 so you can do the math). We will see an internet that resembles something vastly different before I die and Bitcoin will be the driving force behind it. Joe Rogan indirectly just started this future because distribution has just won over a closed system subscription-based approach to content monetization.

And who knows, with the amount of alien content Joe Rogan does, maybe the whole universe can listen to his show. That is a lot of distribution....

Read original post

Introduction

The year 2023 has been a defining moment for artificial intelligence (AI), witnessing its permeation into the mainstream. This article explores the pivotal trends that have emerged throughout the year, setting the stage for what is anticipated to be an even more transformative year in 2024.

Large Language Models

Large language models have been at the forefront of AI development. The most notable of these models, GPT-4, introduced capabilities that include advanced vision and an expanded context window capable of processing 128k tokens. The evolution from the initial GPT-3.5 to a more diverse ecosystem of AI models developed by major tech companies such as Meta, Google, Anthropic, Microsoft, and Mistral, signifies the rapid pace of innovation. Consumers can expect these models to become increasingly accessible on personal devices, including laptops and smartphones.

[

Comparing Large Language Models

Different language models have different capabilities, and different approaches yield very different results. Understanding the limitations and how these models are trained will be increasingly important, especially as it comes time to navigate which tools to use, when and how.

TFTC – Truth for the CommonerAleksandar Svetski

](https://tftc.io/comparing-large-language-models/)

Social Media and AI Influencers

Social media channels have experienced a significant transformation due to AI. The emergence of synthetic media, including AI influencers and deepfakes, has become more prevalent. The technology underlying AI-generated social media content has reached a point where, in some cases, it is indistinguishable from human-created content. Platforms like YouTube are now implementing tagging systems for AI-generated content, highlighting the need for digital identity verification.

Software Integration

AI integration into software applications is becoming ubiquitous. From Microsoft Copilot to Google's AI initiatives, AI functionalities are being incorporated at a rapid pace. This trend is not without its challenges, as smaller applications risk redundancy when larger platforms adopt similar AI features. Nevertheless, the integration of AI is expected to enhance user experiences significantly.

AI Assistants

The concept of AI assistants has evolved from the early iterations of Siri and Alexa to more sophisticated models that may soon become capable of more dynamic interactions. Companies like Meta have introduced AI-powered wearables, exemplifying the potential for AI to assist users in a variety of contexts.

AI Relationships

AI companions have seen a surge in popularity, as evidenced by platforms like Character.AI, which caters to users seeking digital interaction. With rising traffic, it is clear that there is a demand for AI-based companionship, reflecting the changing social dynamics and the potential therapeutic benefits of such technology.

AI in Gaming

The gaming industry has begun to experiment with AI, enhancing player experiences through large language models and procedural content generation. While platforms like Steam have shown resistance to integrating AI into games, the potential for AI to customize gaming experiences is immense.

Conclusion

The year 2023 has laid the groundwork for a future where AI is deeply embedded in our daily lives. From personal assistants to gaming, the ways in which AI can enhance our experiences are vast. As we look ahead to 2024, it is clear that the AI trends established this year are only the beginning. The convergence of these technologies has the potential to create a synergistic effect, leading to innovations that are currently beyond our imagination. The upcoming year promises to be a pivotal one, as we continue to witness the evolution of AI and its profound impact on society.

Read original post

In the digital age, social media platforms have evolved into critical spaces for the exchange of ideas, opinions, and information. They have become the modern-day public squares, where individuals can engage with a global audience. However, this relatively new form of communication has also sparked debates on free speech and censorship, raising questions about the role of social media companies and governments in regulating content. This article delves into the complexities surrounding free speech in the age of social media, drawing on evidence and insights from investigative journalism and congressional testimonies.

The Evolution of Media and Its Political Upheavals

Historically, each new form of media, from the printing press to television, has led to significant political changes. The printing press allowed for the Protestant Reformation, while television reshaped political campaigns and public engagement. Social media, a product of the DARPA-created ARPANET, has brought about its own upheavals, demonstrated by events like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. These occurrences signaled a populist nationalist revolt that many establishments in the West found threatening to their authority.

The Censorship Industrial Complex

Investigations into internal documents from social media companies have revealed efforts by government agencies, including the FBI, CIA, and the Department of Homeland Security, to counter what they term as "misinformation" and "hate speech." This has led to the creation of a "censorship industrial complex" involving academic institutions and third-party organizations demanding mass censorship of disfavored views on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. Notable instances of such censorship include the deplatforming of individuals discussing controversial topics and the suppression of stories like the Hunter Biden laptop incident.

[

The Censorship Industrial Complex

Mike Benz traces the origins of tech companies’ integration with intelligence agencies to their inception, highlighting Google’s beginnings as a DARPA-funded project.

TFTC – Truth for the CommonerMarty Bent

](https://tftc.io/mike-benz/)

Government Involvement and Free Speech

The involvement of government agencies in social media censorship raises First Amendment concerns. The White House's demands for Facebook to censor discussions about COVID vaccine side effects, for example, have led to legal challenges, such as Missouri v. Biden. This case, among others, is prompting a broader conversation about whether the government should have any role in combating online misinformation or regulating hate speech, both of which are highly subjective and contentious issues.

Impact on Public Opinion and Elections

The influence of social media on public opinion and election outcomes is a matter of ongoing debate. While it is generally challenging to change deeply held beliefs, the targeted censorship of information, as witnessed in the Hunter Biden laptop case, can affect public discourse and potentially alter voter perceptions. This highlights the need for a careful examination of social media's role in democratic processes and the safeguarding of a free and open exchange of ideas.

The power of talking about big tech censorship w/ @MikeBenzCyber 👇 pic.twitter.com/k9R81zOKV0

— TFTC (@TFTC21) November 15, 2023

Conclusion

The intersection of social media, free speech, and censorship is a complex and evolving issue. As society grapples with the implications of these digital platforms on public discourse, it is crucial to uphold the principles of the First Amendment and encourage transparency, user control over content moderation, and clear boundaries for government intervention. The balance between protecting free expression and addressing legitimate concerns about misinformation and hate speech will continue to be a pivotal challenge in the digital age.