In recent weeks we’ve begun to see signs that that moment may be approaching. The technology is being commoditised. The AI companies have started to release smaller and (allegedly) cheaper LLMs. They won’t admit this, of course, but that may have something to do with the way the energy costs of the technology are ballooning. The industry’s irrational boosterism cuts little ice with economists. And while millions of people have tried ChatGPT and its peers, most of them haven’t displayed enduring interest. Virtually every large company on the planet has had an AI “pilot” project or two, but few of them seem to have made it into actual deployment. So could it be that this sensation du jour is about to get boring? A bit like the latest shiny smartphone, in fact.
The end of the world just got a little closer. Apple confirmed that the much-anticipated second season of its postapocalyptic series Silo will start streaming on November 15th.
Now, podcasting is turning into an industry of megastars who command the most money and the biggest audiences. There are still nearly 450,000 active shows that have published recent episodes, according to Podcast Industry Insights. But the top 25 podcasts reach nearly half of U.S. weekly listeners, according to Edison Research. The top talents have tours, merchandise and multiyear deals in the nine figures. Big advertisers want in.
I am glad that anyone can still make a podcast, even if they are not making all the money. And I am glad I can listen to these podcasts.
My concern is not about podcasts not getting made. My concern is about I not getting to find out podcasts that I will enjoy.
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Thanks for reading.