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Zoë Schiffer

@zoeschiffer.bsky.social
66K followers 302 following 212 posts

Director of Business & Industry at WIRED. Author of Extremely Hardcore: Inside Elon Musk’s Twitter. Signal zoeschiffer.87

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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Next Friday will be my last day as the director of business & industry @wired.com. I’m transitioning to contributing editor in order to have more time to freelance & write. This was far and away the best job I’ve had in media and I’ll sincerely miss leading the biz desk!
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
Welcome, valued employee: www.wired.com/story/ai-or-...
wired.com
Take This Mandatory AI Workplace Training Right Now—or Else
AI could make you redundant. Here’s what you need to know.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Incidentally not the only butt content we're publishing today: www.wired.com/story/musk-a...
wired.com
OpenAI Brings Its Ass to Court
In Musk v. Altman, the company claimed a remarkable trophy was physical proof of Elon Musk’s concerning behavior.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Looking forward to going On Background in June w/ @bencollins.bsky.social. We'll be talking about what's working in media (and what's broken). Join us! luma.com/vmi7d5t3
luma.com
On Background with The Onion · Luma
Fireside chats with Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion, and Zoe Schiffer, Director of Business and Industry at WIRED The current discourse about communications is…
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
This week: The Trump administration's pivot on AI regulation, should we be worried about Hantavirus, and the latest with DOGE and the midterms podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com
Trump Pivots On AI Regulation; What Is Hantavirus?; Worker Ousted by DOGE Runs for Office
Podcast Episode · Uncanny Valley | WIRED · May 7 · 27m
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
"When users make a request, be it a math problem or an image-generation prompt, the chatbot loves to answer: 我会稳稳地接住你, which literally translates to 'I will catch you steadily [when you fall].'" www.wired.com/story/chatgp...
wired.com
ChatGPT Has 'Goblin' Mania in the US. In China It Will 'Catch You Steadily'
OpenAI's chatbot has some weird linguistic tics in Chinese that are driving users crazy.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
They told us to make the headlines conversational what can I say www.wired.com/story/using-...
wired.com
Using AI for Just 10 Minutes Might Make You Lazy and Dumb, Study Shows
New research suggests that reliance on AI assistants can have a negative impact on people’s ability to think and problem solve.
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Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
It was a privilege to accept the Hillman Prize for Magazine Journalism with @katie-drummond.bsky.social and @timmarchman.bsky.social for @wired.com’s DOGE coverage last night! Our team uncovered a government takeover in real-time, and our reporting was unparalleled-an honor to have that recognized!
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
Greg Brockman recounted a fight with Elon Musk where he thought he was going to get physically assaulted: www.wired.com/story/greg-b...
wired.com
‘I Actually Thought He Was Going to Hit Me,’ OpenAI’s Greg Brockman Says of Elon Musk
OpenAI’s president wrapped his testimony on Tuesday by revealing a fiery meeting with Musk and subsequent efforts to remove several board members.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
I mean say more.. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/t...
The administration is discussing an executive order to create an A.I. working group that would bring together tech executives and government officials to examine potential oversight procedures, according to U.S. officials, who declined to be identified in order to discuss deliberations over sensitive policies. Among the potential plans is a formal government review process for new A.I. models.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
“It makes 996 look like a vacation.” www.wired.com/story/welcom...
wired.com
Welcome to the Great American Satellite Age
A new generation of satellite startups in San Francisco is racing to capitalize on recent technological breakthroughs in space-based data collection and communications.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 02/05/2026
Wikipedia is convinced @mzeff.bsky.social is Snap CEO Evan Spiegel. We went down a rabbit hole to find out … why: www.wired.com/story/why-do...
wired.com
Why Does Wikipedia Think I’m Evan Spiegel?
For the past week, a photo of me has been plastered on the CEO of Snap’s Wikipedia page. No one, not even Spiegel, seems to care.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
Join us next Friday for a live q&a to talk about Musk v. Altman DRAMA !
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Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
reminder that we have a very fun weekly podcast here at @wired.com you should listen to on all things you care about!! from me, @zoeschiffer.bsky.social, and @brbarrett.bsky.social!! go listen!!
podcasts.apple.com
Apple’s Next Chapter; SpaceX and Cursor Strike A Deal; Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto
Podcast Episode · Uncanny Valley | WIRED · April 23 · 36m
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
We're hiring a senior business editor at WIRED: condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/CondeCareers...
condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
Senior Editor, Business
WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
Scoop from @laurengoode.bsky.social: Slack CEO Denise Dresser is leaving the company and joining OpenAI. She'll be the new chief revenue officer and report to COO Brad Lightcap: www.wired.com/story/slack-...
wired.com
OpenAI Hires Slack CEO as New Chief Revenue Officer
A memo obtained by WIRED confirms Denise Dresser's departure from Slack. She is now headed to OpenAI.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 22/11/2025
Scoop w/ @peard33.bsky.social and @mzeff.bsky.social: OpenAI locked down its San Francisco offices today after receiving a threat from an activist previously associated with Stop AI: www.wired.com/story/openai...
wired.com
OpenAI Locks Down San Francisco Offices Following Alleged Threat From Activist
A message on OpenAI’s internal Slack claimed the activist in question had expressed interest in “causing physical harm to OpenAI employees.”
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Davey Alba @davey.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
NEW: For months, my colleagues and I dug into YouTube's conservative airwaves and found a flourishing network of host-read ads on right-leaning podcasts. This phenomenon has enriched hosts, YouTube, and businesses that use ideology to sell. bloom.bg/3Kaio9w
YouTube’s Right-Wing Stars Fuel Boom in Politically Charged Ads

By 
Davey Alba
Priyanjana Bengani
Leon Yin
Ashley Carman
Julia Love
Rachael Dottle
Elena Mejía Technology

Big Tech

November 20, 2025

On YouTube’s conservative airwaves, podcast hosts tout products that let people buy into the MAGA crowd: Republican Red Winery vintages for toasting the “silent majority;” Black Rifle Coffee for caffeinating gun owners; XX-XY Athletics for workout clothes symbolizing opposition to the “lunacy of the left social agenda.”The popularity of YouTube podcasts among conservatives is driving a boom in small businesses tailoring ads to their millions of listeners, paying hosts like Joe Rogan and Candace Owens to read out promotions in the hope that fans will place orders. The phenomenon has enriched both the hosts and YouTube, supporting further growth of the businesses using ideology to sell.

A Bloomberg analysis of host-read ads across nearly 1,000 videos from eight of the platform’s top right-leaning podcasters found that advertisers on the shows routinely tapped into political identity in marketing. At least one host-read ad with a political message appeared in 91% of videos reviewed.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 17/11/2025
I spoke with OpenAI's second CEO, Fidji Simo, about what it's like reporting to Sam Altman, her vision for making the company profitable, and how she's navigating her new job amid a serious health relapse: www.wired.com/story/fidji-...
wired.com
OpenAI's Fidji Simo Plans to Make ChatGPT Way More Useful—and Have You Pay For It
As OpenAI expands in every direction, the new CEO of Applications is on a mission to make ChatGPT indispensable and lucrative.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
SSA employees grilled management during a tense meeting about the government shutdown yesterday. “People are coming to me saying they cannot put gas in their car and they cannot afford to come to work anymore," one employee said. Scoop w/ @leahfeiger.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/social...
wired.com
Social Security Employees Grill Management During Tense Shutdown Meeting
WIRED obtained notes from a Social Security Administration management meeting, where employees pressed leadership on plans for the agency.
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Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Jake is one of the best and I’ll really miss working with him — whoever gets to work with him next is very lucky!
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
The Federal Trade Commission received 200 complaints mentioning ChatGPT between November 2022 and August 2025. Several attributed delusions, paranoia, and spiritual crises to the chatbot: www.wired.com/story/ftc-co...
wired.com
People Who Say They’re Experiencing AI Psychosis Beg the FTC for Help
The Federal Trade Commission received 200 complaints mentioning ChatGPT between November 2022 and August 2025. Several attributed delusions, paranoia, and spiritual crises to the chatbot.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
New: Google has a bed bug outbreak in its New York offices: www.wired.com/story/theres...
wired.com
Google Has a Bed Bug Infestation in Its Manhattan Offices
Employees at Google’s Chelsea office were told to stay home after exterminators found “credible evidence” of an infestation.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 16/10/2025
What's it like to own a Cybertruck in the year 2025? We talked to owners about their most controversial purchase and why they (still) love it: www.wired.com/story/owning...
wired.com
Spit On, Sworn At, and Undeterred: What It’s Like to Own a Cybertruck
“We were the targets.” WIRED spoke to seven Tesla Cybertruck owners about their most controversial purchase and why they're proud to drive it.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
oh no
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Scoop with @lmatsakis.bsky.social: OpenAI is about to launch a TikTok-style social app for AI generated videos. We got the deets (and the docs): www.wired.com/story/openai...
wired.com
OpenAI Is Preparing to Launch a Social App for AI-Generated Videos
The platform appears to closely resemble TikTok and is powered by Sora 2, OpenAI's latest video generation model.
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WIRED @wired.com · 25/09/2025
Yang Song, who previously led the strategic explorations team at OpenAI, is the new ‘research principal’ of Meta Superintelligence Labs. www.wired.com/story/meta-p...
wired.com
Meta Poaches OpenAI Scientist to Help Lead AI Lab
Yang Song, who previously led the strategic explorations team at OpenAI, is the new ‘research principal’ of Meta Superintelligence Labs.
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Katie Drummond @katie-drummond.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
"This used to be the best job I’ve ever had, the best environment I’ve ever had, the best culture I’ve ever had—and they fucking ruined it. I will never ever forget how much they ruined it."
wired.com
The Story of DOGE, as Told by Federal Workers
WIRED spoke with more than 200 federal workers in dozens of agencies to learn what happened as the Department of Government Efficiency tore through their offices.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
Subscribed so fast
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
We obtained emails that appear to show the White House ordered government officials to put Grok back on the list of approved vendors “ASAP” www.wired.com/story/white-...
wired.com
The White House Apparently Ordered Federal Workers to Roll Out Grok 'ASAP'
A partnership between Elon Musk's xAI and the US government fell apart earlier this summer after Grok praised Hitler. Then the White House apparently got involved, per documents obtained by WIRED.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Mark Zuckerberg went on a hiring spree to lure top AI research talent to Meta. At least three recent hires have resigned: www.wired.com/story/resear...
wired.com
Researchers Are Already Leaving Meta’s New Superintelligence Lab
CEO Mark Zuckerberg went on a recruiting blitz to lure top AI researchers to Meta. WIRED has confirmed that three recent hires have now resigned.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 25/08/2025
Elon Musk's xAI has sued OpenAI and Apple claiming the companies colluded to protect their monopolies and hurt Grok: www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
wired.com
Elon Musk's xAI Sues Apple and OpenAI Over App Store Rankings
The xAI lawsuit claims that Grok's ranking below ChatGPT is a sign of allegedly monopolistic behavior.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
On the pod this week, I talk to @lmatsakis.bsky.social about Trump's possible chips deals and what it means for the tech industry (and China): podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com
WIRED Roundup: Chip Manufacturers Bonanza
Podcast Episode · Uncanny Valley | WIRED · 08/22/2025 · 20m
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Astronomer's new CEO is ready to talk. @stevenlevy.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/astron...
wired.com
Astronomer’s New CEO Speaks—Yes, About That
The viral kiss-cam moment could be the best thing that’s ever happened to Astronomer. But its new CEO won’t say that.
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Reyhan Harmanci @harmancipants.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
great feature from @zoeschiffer.bsky.social about Hollywood and AI, what are the fears and what is the reality www.wired.com/story/artifi...
wired.com
AI Isn’t Coming for Hollywood. It Has Already Arrived
An early winner in the generative AI wars was near collapse—then bet everything on a star-studded comeback. Can Stability AI beat the competition?
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Jake Lahut @jakelahut.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
Queue it up for your weekend getaway, dog walks, workouts etc
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
This week on the pod, me and @jakelahut.writes.news discuss the GPT-5 launch and why the White House is going all in on deportation memes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w...
podcasts.apple.com
WIRED Roundup: Why GPT-5 Flopped
Podcast Episode · Uncanny Valley | WIRED · 08/15/2025 · 17m
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
We spoke to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about what he learned from the GPT-5 launch, the AI bubble, and why he's prepared to spend trillions on data centers in the "not very distant future." With @willknight.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/sam-al...
wired.com
Sam Altman Says ChatGPT Is on Track to Out-Talk Humanity
The OpenAI CEO addressed GPT-5 backlash, the AI bubble—and why he's willing to spend trillions of dollars to win.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
The US government announced a series of major AI partnerships in recent weeks with firms like OpenAI and Anthropic. One company that was supposed to be part of the mix? Elon Musk's xAI. Here's what happened. With @makenakelly.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/xai-gr...
wired.com
xAI Was About to Land a Major Government Contract. Then Grok Praised Hitler
Internal emails obtained by WIRED show a hasty process to onboard OpenAI, Anthropic, and other AI providers to the federal government. xAI was on the list—until MechaHilter happened.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
On the pod this week: @jakelahut.writes.news & I discuss OpenAI’s major partnership with the U.S. government, Epstein continuing to tear Trump world apart, a wild saga about Bitcoin miners, and more: open.spotify.com/episode/1JZ4...
open.spotify.com
Wired Roundup: OpenAI Announces New Government Partnership
Uncanny Valley | WIRED · Episode
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 07/08/2025
Trump recently fired one of our top economists after her agency published a disappointing jobs report. China shows how manipulating economic data erodes government credibility: www.wired.com/story/trump-...
wired.com
Trump Is Undermining Trust in Official Economic Statistics. China Shows Where That Path Can Lead
China demonstrates how manipulating economic data can ultimately erode government credibility.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
OpenAI just announced a major partnership with the US government—the culmination of months of meetings between high-ranking OpenAI employees and the General Services Administration. With @willknight.bsky.social: www.wired.com/story/openai...
wired.com
OpenAI Announces Massive US Government Partnership
The ChatGPT maker is providing its frontier AI models to federal agencies for $1 for the next year.
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Leah Feiger @leahfeiger.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
NEW: WIRED has the police report about the alleged assault on Edward "Big Balls" Coristine -- the incident that predated President Donald Trump threatening to "federalize" DC. Read @carolinehaskins.bsky.social and @makenakelly.bsky.social:
wired.com
Police Report: Edward ‘Big Balls’ Coristine Assaulted in Alleged Carjacking
President Donald Trump shared a photo of the DOGE staffer after the alleged attack and threatened to "federalize" Washington, DC. WIRED obtained the police report.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
This week in Backchannel (née Plaintext) @stevenlevy.bsky.social goes deep on why Trump's anti-bias AI order is (surprise) really just more bias: www.wired.com/story/trump-...
wired.com
Trump’s Anti-Bias AI Order Is Just More Bias
The Trump administration says it wants AI models free from ideological bias, as it pressures their developers to reflect the president’s worldview.
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Today on the pod, I chat with @jakelahut.writes.news about whether whether Silicon Valley is losing its grip on DC. Also, black holes, DOGE apocalypse office, and the Trump administration's apparent war against cancer research: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/w... open.spotify.com/episode/5zfi...
podcasts.apple.com
Wired Roundup: Is Silicon Valley Losing Its Influence on D.C?
Podcast Episode · Uncanny Valley | WIRED · 07/25/2025 · 22m
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 24/07/2025
The first edition of Made in China is here! Working with @lmatsakis.bsky.social (and @zeyiyang.bsky.social!) has been the privilege of my career and this newsletter is already so fantastic. Read! Subscribe: www.wired.com/story/china-...
wired.com
Americans Are Obsessed With Watching Short Video Dramas From China
How did steamy, short soap operas that originated in China become the hottest thing in Hollywood, seemingly overnight?
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Zoë Schiffer @zoeschiffer.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
“The Peter Thiels of the world have been doing this for a while,” the strategist says. “Elon Musk has not.” Despite Musk throwing nearly $300 million toward supporting Trump in 2024, he “amassed influence, went to the White House, and didn’t get everything he wanted.” www.wired.com/story/peter-...
wired.com
The GOP's Message for Tech Billionaires: Be Like Peter Thiel
One lesson Republican insiders took away from Elon Musk's spectacular flameout? Be wary of billionaires who love the spotlight.
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Kylie Robison @kylierobison.com · 23/07/2025
i have no words other than AHHHHHHH my weekly @wired.com newsletter - model behavior - is almost here. my very first edition goes live next tuesday 🌷🤠
Model Behavior by Kylie
Robison
WIRED senior correspondent Kylie Robison sends dispatches from the heart of the Al scene in Silicon Valley, with a focus on the people, communities, and companies driving this transformative technology.
Delivered on Tuesdays.
DELIVERED WEEKLY
SUBSCRIBEa film photo of me sitting at my desk chair in all black, leaning over the chair slightly with one arm
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Damon Beres @damonberes.com · 23/07/2025
Smashing "subscribe" so hard on the new MADE IN CHINA newsletter by @lmatsakis.bsky.social and @zeyiyang.bsky.social that I nearly threw up www.wired.com/newsletter/e...
wired.com
Sign up for WIRED's premium newsletters
WIRED's premium newsletters will showcase top-quality reporting and analysis, written by correspondents who are deeply sourced experts in their field.
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Louise Matsakis @lmatsakis.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
One of the highlights of my career has been reporting on China & working closely with @zeyiyang.bsky.social. So I’m really excited to share that we’re launching a new newsletter together for @wired.com. It's called "Made in China." You can sign up for it here: www.wired.com/newsletter/e...
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