What's behind the Google AI shakeup

Google underwent a big AI shakeup this week, leaving a lot of people wondering whether there are big problems on team Gemini. David and Nilay start the show by discussing what's next for Jeff Dean and Demis Hassabis, before diving into the ways in which Google and Reddit have become existentially, problematically dependent on one another. After that, we talk through Disney's plan to turn Disney Plus into an everything app, and all the reasons we think that's a terrible idea and a sign of big problems in the streaming biz. Finally, in the lightning round, Brendan Carr is still a dummy, Snapchat wants AI out of your feed, and BMW has a Spider-Man to sell you.

Further reading:

The messy politics behind Google’s big AI shakeup | The Verge

Google just announced a major shakeup of its top AI leadership

Google Assistant will disappear from your phone next month

Can Reddit fend off a new wave of AI SEO spam?

Reddit is introducing a new moderator: AI

Reddit says it plans to “make changes” to old Reddit

Bluesky CEO Toni Schneider wants to grow the platform and the protocol

Disney says it’s ‘exploring’ adding a free tier to Disney Plus

Disney gives TikTok creators official access to Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar characters

Despite Spider-Man: Brand New Day’s success, the MCU is on shaky ground

Disney Plus is about to go beyond streaming

Paramount and WBD’s antitrust trial is set for March 2027

David Ellison promises he’s not going to ruin CNN.

Almost half of HBO Max subscribers watch with ads. | The Verge

Federal Communications Commission scraps limit on broadcast TV ownership

SpaceX is barely Space and mostly X

SpaceX is coming for T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon

BMW’s in-car Spider-Man ad is villain behavior

X product chief Nikita Bier is leaving after one year | The Verge

Snapchat will no longer recommend ‘wholly AI-generated videos’ in its vertical video feed

Snap reports 971 million monthly active users ahead of its Specs launch event on September 16th

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0:00 Cold Open01:05 Google AI Shakeup Explained03:24 Gemini Product Mess05:29 Demis Hassabis and the AGI Split14:06 Is Google Actually Behind?15:29 AI Overviews Fail Parade18:12 Gemini Users and Distribution20:55 Google Plus Warning Signs24:14 Reddit as Search Lifeline27:35 AI Slop and Dead Internet29:32 Google Buys Reddit Theory33:51 Reddit Earnings Reality Check35:40 Smoking Community Vibes38:20 Disney Everything App44:25 Time Spent Arms Race47:39 Free Tier and Ads52:08 Paramount Warner Deal Drama01:00:23 Brendan Carr is a Dummy01:11:51 Nikita Bier Leaves X01:13:53 SpaceX Telecom Dreams01:20:15 Snapchat Versus AI Slop01:25:26 BMW In Car Ads01:31:19 Wrap And Subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices