How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part One)

Intelligence Squared

News, Society & Culture, Arts, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 31 December 2025

⏱️ 35 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Tim Wu, is one of America’s leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technology and competition policy, Wu is best known for coining the term “net neutrality” and for his influential work in books like The Attention Merchants and The Curse of Bigness which explore the balance between innovation, corporate concentration, and the public good. On November 18, Wu came to Intelligence Squared to reveal the dangers of the new AI economy. Drawing from his new book The Age of Extraction he discussed why in the AI economy tech companies will amass unprecedented power and argued that breaking up tech monopolies is ultimately the only solution to unleash creativity and growth for the rest of society. He also discussed the history of monopoly power and offer a blueprint for an alternative AI future which would allow tech platforms to still play a major role in creating and sustaining an economic model of prosperity for everyone. --- This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Our days start with water. Our whole lives revolve around it.
0:04.0	Health, education, livelihoods, they all start with water.
0:08.0	But one in ten people around the world don't have clean water.
0:12.0	People like 13-year-old Nestilene in Madagascar,
0:15.0	who collects dirty water every day before school
0:18.0	because she doesn't have any other choice. 50% of people in Madagascar don't have clean water close to home.
0:24.6	But by donating to Water Aid, you can help change that.
0:28.6	Water Aid is working with communities in Madagascar and around the world to have clean water.
0:33.6	When a community gains clean water, everything changes.
0:36.6	Children stay in school, women reclaim
0:39.0	their time and safety, health improves, livelihoods thrive. The ripple effect is immediate and
0:44.7	it lasts for generations. Just £5 a month over a year can buy five standpipe taps so children
0:51.1	like Nestilene and her whole community can have clean water for years to come.
0:55.7	Please donate £5 a month today and help WaterAid to work alongside communities to bring clean water
1:01.3	to everyone everywhere. Visit water.org to find out more.
1:05.7	Ready to launch your business? Get started with the commerce platform made for entrepreneurs.
1:10.2	Shopify is specially designed
1:12.0	to help you start, run and grow your business with easy customizable themes that let you build your
1:17.2	brand, marketing tools that get your products out there. Integrated shipping solutions that actually
1:21.7	save you time, from startups to scale ups, online, in person and on the go. Shopify is made for entrepreneurs like you.
1:29.3	Sign up for your $1 a month trial at Shopify.com slash setup.
1:34.7	Welcome to Intelligence Squared, where great minds meet.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Intelligence Squared, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Intelligence Squared and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.