Hard Fork
Hard Fork

Bad Apple + The Rise of the AI Empire + Italian Brain Rot

May 9, 2025 · 1 h 12 min

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Show notes

This week, iPhone users started to feel the impact of a stern court order against Apple that requires the company to stop collecting a commission on some app sales. We break down what this means for apps like Kindle and Spotify and why the judge suggested that Apple and a top executive should be investigated for criminal contempt. Then, Karen Hao joins us to discuss her new book about OpenAI and explain why she believes the benefits of using the company’s tools do not outweigh the moral costs. And finally, Casey introduces Kevin to a strange new universe of A.I. slop that’s racking up millions of likes on TikTok.

Guest:

• Karen Hao, Author of “Empire of AI”

Additional Reading:

• Judge Rebukes Apple and Orders It to Loosen Grip on App Store • Brain Rot Comes for Italy

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