Favoriting Techtonic with Mark Hurst: Playlist from November 6, 2023 Favoriting

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Favoriting November 6, 2023: Tech villain update: Zuckerberg, Andreessen, Neumann, Bankman-Fried

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Today: Tech villain update

It’s time to check in with a rogue’s gallery of tech bros: Mark Zuckerberg, Marc Andreessen, Adam Neumann, and Sam Bankman-Fried. These tech villains have all been in the news recently, and today’s show will get you up to date.

Because whenever a company acts unethically, someone had to approve the decision. For example . . .

Uber and Lyft Agree to $328 Million Payout for New York Drivers (NYT, Nov 2, 2023): “Uber will pay $290 million and Lyft will provide $38 million into two funds that will pay out claims that roughly 100,000 current and former drivers in New York State are eligible to file. The ride-hailing companies did not admit fault in the settlement.” . . . Letitia James: “For years, Uber and Lyft systematically cheated their drivers out of hundreds of millions of dollars in pay and benefits while they worked long hours in challenging conditions.”

From BoingBoing (Nov 5, 2023): “Uber deducted sales taxes and other fees from drivers’ pay rather than adding it to customers’ tabs, and lied about it in its terms of service. Lyft did likewise, through the cunning device of applying an ‘administrative charge’ equal to sales tax.”

Sam Bankman-Fried (FTX founder)

• Bloomberg's Matt Levine, in his Money Stuff newsletter (Nov 6, 2023):

all that you actually need to tell a jury is:

– 1. Customers deposited billions of dollars at FTX.
– 2. Bankman-Fried spent a whole lot of it on baubles like Bahamas beachfront real estate, political donations, Tom Brady, etc.
– 3. The customers asked for their money back and it wasn’t there.

There is just no coming back from that, you know? Bankman-Fried did not: Last Thursday, after four weeks of trial and less than five hours of deliberation, the jury came back with a verdict of “obviously guilty, come on.”
Sam Bankman-Fried: guilty on all charges (Molly White, Nov 2, 2023):
It took almost as long for the judge to read the charges to the jury as it did for the jury to find Sam Bankman-Fried guilty on all seven counts.

. . . Bankman-Fried’s charges are as follows:

1. Wire fraud on FTX customers
2. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud on FTX customers
3. Wire fraud on Alameda Research lenders
4. Conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Alameda Research lenders
5. Conspiracy to commit securities fraud
6. Conspiracy to commit commodities fraud
7. Conspiracy to commit money laundering
Sam Bankman-Fried Is Found Guilty of 7 Counts of Fraud and Conspiracy (NYT, Nov 2, 2023): “Mr. Bankman-Fried tried to dismiss FTX’s collapse as the unfortunate result of a monumental accounting error, rather than a deliberate fraud. But at his trial, prosecutors argued that he had repeatedly lied to customers, lenders and investors, using their funds to build himself up into a crypto titan.”

Adam Neumann

WeSuck: First Came the Hype; then Came Adam Neumann’s Self-Dealing; then Came the IPO Scandal; Now Comes the Bankruptcy (Wall Street on Parade, Nov 3, 2023): “Back in 2019, venture capitalists had valued this company at $47 billion and were hoping to cash out in a hot IPO. Yesterday, the company closed with a market value of $59 million.” . . . “As of this morning, Forbes puts Neumann’s net worth at $2.2 billion. WeWork’s shareholders are sitting with an effective 3-cent stock that is likely to be wiped out in bankruptcy.”

Mark Zuckerberg

His Job Was to Make Instagram Safe for Teens. His 14-Year-Old Showed Him What the App Was Really Like. (Jeff Horwitz in WSJ, Nov 2, 2023):
A recurring survey of issues 238,000 users had experienced over the past seven days, the effort identified problems with prevalence from the start: Users were 100 times more likely to tell Instagram they’d witnessed bullying in the last week than Meta’s bullying-prevalence statistics indicated they should.

. . . Among users under the age of 16, 26% recalled having a bad experience in the last week due to witnessing hostility against someone based on their race, religion or identity. More than a fifth felt worse about themselves after viewing others’ posts, and 13% had experienced unwanted sexual advances in the past seven days.
(A consultant at Facebook named Arturo Bejar tried to alert senior leadership about the harm, but he was advised to water down his findings so as to protect the company from any possible PR problems.)

Mark Zuckerberg: First Interview in the Metaverse (Lex Fridman podcast, Sep 28, 2023) – screenshot above is taken from this video.

Marc Andreessen

The Techno-Optimist Manifesto (Marc Andreessen, Oct 16, 2023): “The techno-capital machine makes natural selection work for us in the realm of ideas. The best and most productive ideas win, and are combined and generate even better ideas. Those ideas materialize in the real world as technologically enabled goods and services that never would have emerged de novo. . . . We believe in [ensuring that] the techno-capital upward spiral continues forever.”

The Techno-Optimist Manifesto redacted by Ben Grosser (Oct 17, 2023): “Yesterday, the influential Silicon Valley venture capitalist Marc Andreessen published what he titled The Techno-Optimist Manifesto, an anti-regulation anti-ethics hyper-capitalist growth-obsessed screed that, sadly, highlights the thinking that’s led to so much exploitative toxic tech. Instead of writing a point-by-point critique, I instead chose to simplify Andreessen’s arguments using redaction poetry. The result leaves in place the little bits one needs to get a decent sense of Marc’s thinking.” (See also PDF link.)



Why can’t our tech billionaires learn anything new? (Dave Karpf, Oct 18, 2023):
The most powerful people in the world (people like Andreessen!) are optimists. And therein lies the problem: Look around. Their optimism has not helped matters much. The sort of technological optimism that Andreessen is asking for is a shield. He is insisting that we judge the tech barons based on their lofty ambitions, instead of their track records.

. . . And this is especially galling coming from a16z, the VC firm most responsible for inflating the Web3 hype balloon. Marc Andreessen and his partners spent the past three years promoting companies like the Bored Ape Yacht Club and Axie Infinity. They were early investors in both companies, so their investments likely paid off handsomely. The company is STILL trying to pump its Web3 investment portfolio.
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Listener comments!

Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:00pm
ultradamno:

Mark! Techtonemeses!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:01pm
Handy Haversack:

Mark! Techyon Particles!

Dang, I miss the show! Here for a few minutes this Monday until K8 gets back and we head for Spiritualized in Jersey City ...
  6:01pm
David (in London):

Evening Mark and all Technoids.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:01pm
chresti:

Hi Mark and techtonicians!
Avatar 6:01pm
northguineahills:

Kiiiiiimmmmmm!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:01pm
Wendy del Formaggio:

Hey Mark! Listening and lurking while I cook dinner. Totally psyched for this show, as always.
Avatar 6:02pm
northguineahills:

mark!!!!!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:02pm
chresti:

Go get ‘em’
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:03pm
ultradamno:

By the way, last night's ep of The Circus was all about AI in relation to the next presidential election. It kicked off with an AI scripted cold open on the subject....
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:03pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

Hi Mark Hurst and all!!!
  6:04pm
Rolando:

All ears.
  6:04pm
Bea:

Good evening, Mark and friends!
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:04pm
Bas NL:

Hi Mark! Here here and now!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:04pm
Franco Twinkie:

Hi Mark!
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:05pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

Who has 102 for Mark?
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:06pm
Bas NL:

102 pledgers... $102 left..
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:07pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

↳ Bas NL @6:06
🤯
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:08pm
katie in queens:

hi mark! always grateful for this show, especially today
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:10pm
Deano de los Muertos:

Howdy Mark and Techtachyons
Avatar 6:12pm
northguineahills:

due to a glitch, on friday, what would normally be a $21 ride, ended up being $38 (in orlando).

on oct 10, when leaving the e village for LGA, it cost me $95.

From the drivers i talk to, the drivers get paid a flat raite no matter the surge increase or a 'glitch'.

(in brooklyn, i use car services)
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:13pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

↳ northguineahills @6:12
Totally unacceptable
Avatar 6:14pm
northguineahills:

↳ northguineahills @6:12
not a bonnie raitt, 'rate'...
Avatar 6:16pm
northguineahills:

'appropriately corrupt' -- stealing that!
  6:17pm
Al Garve:

Get LIFT driver, Denzel Washington - The Equalizer on the case and get the Admin fees back to the drivers.
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:17pm
Bas NL:

The accountants missed out on these tens of millions?
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:19pm
tim:

Hi Mark. Hi everyone! This is going to be a ‘Give ‘em hell, Mark!” Shows.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:19pm
Handy Haversack:

OK, we're off to the show. Stay angry! Smash them looms!

Thanks, Mark!
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:19pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

↳ Bas NL @6:17
To quote office space... We fixed the 'glitch'
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:20pm
Bas NL:

↳ Will thee Sound Guy @6:19
Wow.
  6:20pm
Al Garve:

We convicted Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan
Avatar 6:21pm
northguineahills:

↳ Handy Haversack @6:19
lash them shrooms, aye sir!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:22pm
dale:

sounds like a trump family hearing.
Avatar 6:23pm
northguineahills:

↳ dale @6:22
*blurple!*
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:23pm
tim:

Nothing gets my goat more than muthas not taking responsibility.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:23pm
mndave:

I'm so thankful you summarized the SBF story because every time I see his face on WaPo or another news outlet I just do not want to click through.
  6:26pm
wenzo:

Thanks for doing this every week Mark
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:28pm
ultradamno:

X used to be a perfectly fine letter and band name too
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:28pm
tim:

It seems like the only way to break the narcissistic force field of these a-holes is humor. I’m not that creative but I would love to these guys get cut down to size with a world class skewering by humor.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:29pm
coelacanth∅:

"meta" was always an obnoxious (non)word Mark don't worry about that one!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:30pm
ultradamno:

Never meta a villain I didn't like....
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:34pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

↳ ultradamno @6:28
It's the mark of a whole generation
Avatar 6:34pm
VantuckyEd:

Meta is creating a generation of dullards accepting lies.
  6:36pm
Barefootin’ 🌈 Along:

HiHi all
  6:36pm
Barefootin’ 🌈 Along:

↳ VantuckyEd @6:34
The Television, you mean
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:37pm
coelacanth∅:

↳ VantuckyEd @6:34
true.
  6:38pm
P-90:

“Hey, I’m just y’know, this NORMAL GUY” -Zuck
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:40pm
katie in queens:

this show boosts the people 🫡
  6:43pm
wenzo:

WHY WOULD AANYONE WANT THIS CRAP?!! This guy is insane.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:43pm
Jeff Golick:

The physical world is super important. Got it.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:43pm
ultradamno:

I'm impressed he threw the physical world some crumbs by calling it "super important". It's generous of him.
  6:43pm
P-90:

Just what I always aspired to in life: to see the world through Zuckerberg’s filter
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:44pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

Damn it was only a holographic sack of money in my room
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:44pm
chris in the redwoods:

i've read Gibson novels. i know where this crap is headed.
hi, Mark and all!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:44pm
ultradamno:

Well, the physical world is where he is a martial arts master so...he's willing to make certain concessions now.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:45pm
katie in queens:

"and the real world is important, sure" 🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:45pm
tom tom the pipers son:

↳ coelacanth∅ @6:37
to an extent it's a problem of belief in representation and illusionism, in art it's something modernism reacted against with the idea of ' flatness' and anti illusion
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:45pm
chresti:

Ew what a creep blecch!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:46pm
mndave:

Oh hey, it's what cocaine sounds like!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:46pm
dale:

he sounds super-caffeinated.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:46pm
ultradamno:

Isn't the digital world and the physical world coming together just Pokemon Go?
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:47pm
Bas NL:

Augmented stupidity.
  6:47pm
Fredericks:

I just unsubscribed from Lix Fridman's podcast two weeks ago because of his Jared Kushner interview. Now Mark is playing him on Techtonic. What is happening to my world? Am I missing a message?
  6:47pm
Dean:

Recall: Harvard admitted this guy.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:47pm
chresti:

“Let’s get physical physical…”
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:47pm
Germanium:

Truly one of the most brilliant business minds of our time.
Avatar 🤖 6:47pm
Noir Lover:

He doesn't even believe what he's saying.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:47pm
ultradamno:

I'd rather be hallucinating...digitally
  6:48pm
wenzo:

Mark Zuckerberg is the only thing I can think of that would be better as an interactive hologram. Oh all these other tech villains too I guess.
  6:48pm
Rolando:

Douglass Rushkoff often chats about how we have become confused between the real and digital world, and the fun/human world and the commercial/business world. - I really like much of what Rushkoff says. The problem with Zuk is that we dont trust him nearly as much as we for might might for example trust Elon.
Avatar 6:48pm
VantuckyEd:

if Philip K Dick were alive today I wonder if he'd aghast at how some of his writings are almost true now?
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:49pm
Franco Twinkie:

I've lost the thread, did Elon Musk beat up Mark Zuckerberg?
  6:49pm
P-90:

I’m always struck by how juvenile he sounds. Especially when he’s selling something, with this adolescent gee-whiz enthusiasm.
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:49pm
tom tom the pipers son:

↳ Franco Twinkie @6:49
ithink more like beat off
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:50pm
ultradamno:

↳ Franco Twinkie @6:49
Predictably, I don't think they ever aligned on logistics
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:51pm
ultradamno:

(Zuckerberg had a bunch of rules and I think Musk just wanted to show up at his house whenever the mood struck him)
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:51pm
chris in the redwoods:

must walk before dark. stupid dst.
thanks, Mark!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:52pm
ultradamno:

Hopefully Sean Hannity can get in on it since he recently said he'd use his martial arts skills to take down any active shooter situation (not a joke)
Avatar 🤖 6:53pm
Noir Lover:

Growth is God
  6:53pm
Dean:

Cancer? Growth!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:53pm
coelacanth∅:

these guys are just malignant growths
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:54pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

↳ coelacanth∅ @6:53
Pretty much
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:54pm
mndave:

↳ Noir Lover @6:47
100%
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:54pm
tom tom the pipers son:

↳ tom tom the pipers son @6:49
an oligarch circle jerk
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:54pm
coelacanth∅:

↳ P-90 @6:49
c'mon, he's Super Positive!
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:55pm
Bas NL:

ChatGibberish
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:55pm
Germanium:

Always Be Growing!
Avatar 6:55pm
VantuckyEd:

Oh sure, we can unlimited growth ...on a planet with finite resources. Greed is the planet killer.
Avatar 6:55pm
Niall:

Have you guys tried unplugging Mark, waiting 30 seconds and plugging him back in?
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:56pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

💥
  6:56pm
morphe':

Thanks MH !!! Great sentence: "Read the entire redaction!!!!......"
Avatar 6:56pm
herb.nyc:

Excellent show. We (or I) hear these actions of tech but let them slide. But zuck & reality, right, pure bullcrap. And venture capitalism? In Douglas rushkoff latest “survival of the richest”, he speaks of venture philanthropy. Thank you, mark
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:56pm
chresti:

Thanks mark!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:56pm
katie in queens:

i love doing my homework
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:56pm
Bas NL:

Thanks Mark!
  6:57pm
Rolando:

So my thoughts contrary to popular opinion, the difference between Elon Musk and Jack Dorsey Larry Ellison and Larry Page, Jeff Bezos, and Sergey Brin Bill Gates and other Tech Bro's is that all of them almost almost exclusively deal with etherial, digital, vapour and money and power, where as Elon buids rockets, make cars and deal largely in the physical world and even perhaps a sort of liberty, compared to the others at least.
Avatar 🤖 Swag For Life Member 6:57pm
Will thee Sound Guy:

Thank you Mark Hurst!!!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:57pm
Wendy del Formaggio:

Always fabulous! Thank you, Mark. Your show has improved and informed my life to a degree I can't begin to measure.
Avatar 🤖 6:57pm
Noir Lover:

Mark did you talk about Google's war on ad-blocker? Google seems hard up for cash. Maybe all the lawsuits.
  6:58pm
P-90:

Thanks Mark. (I think)
  6:58pm
Al Garve:

FOREVER...
Avatar Swag For Life Member 6:59pm
coelacanth∅:

Thanks Mark!
Avatar Swag For Life Member 7:00pm
ultradamno:

Musk never built anything...he's mostly been a corporate raider.
Avatar 9:51am
herb.nyc:

↳ Song: "Tech villain update: Zuckerberg, Andreessen, Neum...
I’ve only skimmed comments. Will try a read later. But no one used the link / re bubble in their comments. Come on!
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