E22: Corporate Espionage, Algorithmic Collusion, and Transitioning through AI

"The Riff" with Byrne Hobart and Erik Torenberg

On this week's episode of The Riff, Erik and Byrne delve into corporate espionage, algorithmic collusion, and the lifecycle of companies amidst technological changes.

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This show is produced by Turpentine: a network of podcasts, newsletters, and more, covering technology, business, and culture — all from the perspective of industry insiders and experts. We’re launching new shows every week, and we’re looking for industry-leading sponsors — if you think that might be you and your company, email us at [email protected].

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RECOMMENDED PODCAST: Autopilot explores the adoption and rollout of AI in the industries that drive the economy and the dynamic founders bringing rapid change to slow-moving industries. From law, to hardware, to aviation, Will Summerlin interviews founders backed by Benchmark, Greylock, and more to learn how they're automating at the frontiers in entrenched industries.

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6YQZkKHN7EP2yWedAvSxBC?si=18377c69a2804333

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/autopilot-with-will-summerlin/id1738163836

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LINKS:

Byrne’s writing: thediff.co

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X / TWITTER:

@eriktorenberg (Erik)

@byrnehobart (Byrne)

@turpentinemedia (Turpentine)

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:26) Corporate Espionage: The Secret World of Competitive Intelligence

(01:30) Facebook's Competitor Analysis

(07:15) The Ethical Quandaries of Corporate Spying

(15:40) Sponsor: Turpentine

(16:29) Outsourcing and the East Asian Economic Boom

(22:19) Companies Aging Gracefully in the Business World

(25:42) Exploring Business Strategies and Apple's Success

(28:56) Evolution of Employment in the AI Era

(31:31) AI-Based Coding Tools and Job Creation

(33:53) Navigating the Future of Work and AI's Role

(39:39) Algorithmic Collusion: A New Frontier in Antitrust

(55:29) Wrap

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