Disconnected: Recent Episodes
Jag Sharma
Disconnected shines a light on the secrets and the impact that social media and technology is having on our society, culture, politics, human interactions, and behaviour. My name is Jag Sharma - and I’ve spent the last 12 years creating, developing and executing social media strategies for a number of global brands across a variety of industries, and have witnessed first-hand the impact that algorithms, behaviour modification, negative feedback loops, ad targeting, and mass data collection have had on shaping our world in a new direction. This podcast is all about making you aware - giving you the insight, a look behind the giant tech curtain - and allowing you to make your own fully-informed decisions on how you strategically play (or don’t play) their game. This is not about advocating for going dark or deleting your accounts, this is about looking under the hood and getting more informed about what’s really happening to us on a societal level as result of our tech driven lives. I’ll be producing a new episode regularly, so be sure to subscribe to receive a notification for a new release - you can also follow me on either Instagram (@jagsharma) or add me on LinkedIn, where I’ll be conducting debates and social experiments from the discussions within the episodes. I’d love for you to join the conversation and share your thoughts and opinions on how social media and technology is influencing our lives.
Social media posting is becoming psychologically expensive now - is the old internet we loved slowly wasting away?
Your feed now looks more like TV programmed by an algorithm that doesn’t know you, but knows how to keep you watching.
In this week’s Disconnected episode we cover the new social landscape, the companies quietly rehiring their ‘AI layoffs’, and whether the emerging age of AI superintelligence brings abundance, or an existential threat…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Social media turning into entertainment media
- The psychological cost of posting and creator concentration
- The migration of “real social” into private spaces
- AI, employment, and the unreliable promise of automation
- Superintelligence, ‘Skynet Day’, and civilisation-level threats
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Our phones are reshaping our bodies. Not just mentally, not just metaphorically… LITERALLY reshaping them.
This week on Disconnected, special guest Mel Palleschi helps us dive into how tech is moving closer to us, ruining our necks and grip strength, choosing our university paths, and performing live surgery from across the globe.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How tech is physically reshaping our bodies, and moving closer to them
- AI as a new gatekeeper in university choices
- Ethics and inequality in AI‑mediated education and healthcare
- Humanoid robots and the future of surgery
Mel Palleschi
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpalleschi/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubbublabs/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
AI is more than the software, more than the lines of code in Silicon Valley. It’s concrete, water, power lines and political deals reshaping small towns and entire industries.
Returning to the show from episode 6, Blake Stone-Banks joins us to unpack who really benefits from the AI boom, and who quietly pays the price.
Alongside Jag, Jason and Matt, we explore why China can build world-class products but still struggles to build brands people actually trust, and why AI might be turning “marketing” into a dirty word.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- AI’s Physical Footprint and Local Backlash
- Democracy, Transparency and the AI “Race” Narrative
- Money, Lobbying and Political Power in Tech
- China’s Innovation Strength vs. Global Brand Weakness
- Marketing’s Identity Crisis in the Age of AI
Blake Stone-Banks
https://www.linkedin.com/in/blake-stone-banks/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
The world is being reshuffled. When the dust settles, who will be left behind?
This very special episode of Disconnected features the oracle of tomorrow’s world, author and strategist Sangeet Paul Choudary, to unpack why AI isn’t just automating tasks but rearranging the entire economy.
What happens when knowledge work becomes abundant? Why is “will AI take my job” the wrong question? What does a resilient, entrepreneurial career look like in the age of AI?
Sangeet gives us clarity in the chaos - you don’t want to miss this glimpse into the future…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- AI as a Coordination Layer, Not Just Intelligence
- Unbundling of Jobs and the Automation/Augmentation Trap
- From Knowledge Scarcity to Knowledge Abundance (and New Scarcity)
- Entrepreneurial Careers in an Uncertain Economy
- Reshuffling Industries and Value Chains
Sangeet Paul Choudary
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sangeetpaul/
Reshuffle
https://reshufflebook.com/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
IKEA uses an AI chatbot to automate nearly half of its customer service inquiries - you’d expect that to mean layoffs… not promotions.
They’ve retrained 8,500 workers into higher‑value roles instead of cutting headcount. Could this become the new blueprint in a society scared for our livelihoods?
Jag, Jen, Jason and Matt dive into this on Disconnected this week, where we also tackle Meta’s accountability issues (and the monumental cost of avoiding it), plus the widespread community pushback on data centres.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Human‑First AI vs Headcount Cuts
- Leadership Choices as the Real AI Variable
- Accountability, Social Media, and Youth Mental Health
- The Physical Backlash to an Invisible Technology
- Trust as AI’s Next Bottleneck
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Cars, glasses, maps, even humanoid cops – the tools around us are quietly turning into an environment that watches, profiles, and nudges us.
In this week’s Disconnected we trace a shift in the world which no longer serves you, but spies on your every move. From Google’s ambient AI and car-cam reconnaissance to China’s combat-ready robots, what’s really left of privacy, agency, and work when the machines are an irreversible part of our infrastructure?
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Cars becoming lucrative data-farming platforms
- Surveillance normalised through convenience and small print
- AI shifting from a tool to an ambient layer of everyday life
- Embodied AI and humanoid robots entering the public realm
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Could you beat Claude if your next job was on the line?
We’re in a strange new reality where AI writes your CV, screens your application, interviews you, and now expects you to beat it just to get a human on the phone.
Jag and the team unpack how recruitment is turning into an arms race between machines, Meta’s push to normalise AI-generated content, and what its $145 billion AI bet means for creativity and culture.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- AI Eating the Hiring Funnel
- Humans vs AI Benchmarks
- Where AI Belongs in Recruitment, and Where It Doesn’t
- Meta’s $145B Bet, AI Creator Labels and Trust in Social Feeds
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
‘Made in China’ is not the insult it once was. It now means world-leading, culture-defining tech innovation.
Is it being used for the betterment of mankind? Can Western civilisation cope with a world where China leads, without defaulting to xenophobia?
These questions arise amid a backdrop of digital work clones and an afterlife avatar of lost loved ones - stay ahead of the curve with Jag, Jen and Felina on Disconnected this week…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- China’s evolving tech leadership and Western identity
- AI, work, and the erosion of dignity
- Grief, intimacy and digital humans
- The gap between AI hype and economic reality
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
AI isn’t just creeping into our workflows anymore – it’s crashing date night, rewiring Wall Street, and trying to rewrite the social contract.
We’ve turned life into a co-op work simulator, Elon’s turned IPO into incentivisation, and OpenAI are warning us about the very world they’ve perpetuated.
Where do we exist in a future fraught with uncertainty at every turn? Matt, Jason and Jag have the answers on this week’s Disconnected…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The blurred boundaries between work and life
- Power and leverage in the AI economy
- Freedom vs transactional living
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
$73 billion - that’s how much Meta has wasted shoving the Metaverse down our throats. Was it worth it…?
We’re seeing a steady revolution against the tech we’re told is good for us, from the decline of virtual worlds to simple things like wired headphones.
Is it a trend that’s set to last? Or can Claude’s new, scary-powerful features tempt users back into the future again? We cover all this, and more, on Disconnected this week…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Tech Fatigue and the Return of Friction
- The Rise of Agentic AI in Real Life Work
- Control vs Convenience
- The Metaverse Comedown & VR’s Adoption Problem
- The Future of the Human-AI Relationship
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
We all knew that putting cameras on our faces was going to be a privacy nightmare, right?
Meta’s glasses have been caught sending footage to human contractors in Kenya, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg for how our safety is being compromised by forces outside of our control…
Special guest Ben Cheston joins us for a look at Meta’s mishap, the terrifying prospect of air taxis, and why judgement means more than knowledge in the workplace of the future.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Electric air taxis and the future of urban aviation
- Wearable AI destroying our private spaces
- Public attitudes to surveillance and tech convenience
- Experience and judgement as a superpower in the AI era
Ben Cheston
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bencheston/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
The world is doomed to be run by one of two things; beautiful dumb people, or untrustworthy AI.
With over 20 years at the top of the marketing game, Patti Balbas is perfectly placed to help us understand how, in a ‘charismocracy’, charm will win over the masses rather than diligence.
We also dive deep into a worrying, emerging pattern in AI’s use cases which has the potential to undo decades of societal progress for women - unless we act now…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- AI, safety, and women’s harm
- Digital harm vs. physical harm and regulation of each
- Big tech strategy and Meta’s shift away from messenger
- ‘Charismocracy’ and the future of work
- Youth, parenting, and human skills in an AI era
Patti Balbas:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattibalbas/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
When AI goes wrong and signs you up to an awful legal deal, who’s to blame - you, or the agent?
AI is crossing the line from ‘nice-to-have’ to ‘invisible infrastructure’, and once it does there’ll be no turning back.
We dive into the AI-first future, the landmark trial on addictive design for social media, and questions whether OpenClaw is already plotting the demise of the ‘meat bags’...
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The blurred line between tool and infrastructure
- Accountability when AI fails
- Addictive design and teens’ mental health
- The rise of Agentic AI with a new, open source tool
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Prediction season is back for a round 2, and this time Matt and Felina are swinging for the fences.
Between the dream of burdening AI with our mental load, to the nightmare of deepfakes fooling us all on the world stage, our outlook on 2026 proves one thing - you won’t have time to catch your breath, or the year in tech will pass you by…
Join us in the second of our special prediction episodes; we’ll see in December whether it’s the optimistic theories that prevail, or whether you’ll be able to trust anything in the AI era anymore.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- A New Age of AI-Driven Consumer Tech
- Social Platforms Fighting For Our Attention
- Trust, Deepfakes & The Media
- Robots, Safety & Regulation
- AI in High-Stakes Industries
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
It’s prediction season once again, and the only certainty for the year ahead… is uncertainty.
Will Apple finally enter the foldable phone race? Could an AI-generated song hit250m streams? Will LinkedIn FINALLY die the death that Jen’s been waiting on for so long?
Tune into the first predictions episode of Disconnected for 2026, and prepare yourself for the year’s biggest shocks before they come true…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Big Tech & AI Futures: from foldable iPhones to whether Anthropic will go public
- AI‑generated music hitting massive streaming numbers and AI‑created posts dominating social feeds
- Monetising LLMs, and the HUGE ad revenue up for grabs this year
- Predictions of large‑scale anti‑AI protests, energy and jobs anxiety, and regulatory pressure
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
It’s been a stellar year in tech, and almost-nobody could have predicted the craziness we’ve lived through - ALMOST nobody…
11 months ago, in episode 83, we completed our annual tradition of gazing into their crystal ball for the year ahead, and in episode 103, we review what came true… with a few friendly debates, of course.
Listen as we take you through the year in social bans, cyber attacks, and the unrelenting march of generative AI.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Our revisited, critiqued forecasts from earlier in the year
- TikTok’s changes, the migration of influencers, and how global platforms are adapting
- AI’s expanding influence, from generative AI in the workplace to the rise of agentic AI
- Tech regulation, cybersecurity & restrictions
- The impact of global forces on legacy industries
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
When Coca-Cola rolls out an AI-generated Christmas ad, is it innovation or is it the ghost of marketing’s future glitching before our eyes?
This week on Disconnected, Jag, Jason and Matt are joined by a very special guest - Nathalia Sica is a marketing, comms, and PR powerhouse with a keen eye on just how much trust it’s safe to put into big companies…
Tune in for a debate on whether our digital age is selling stories, or just selling out.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The rise of AI in creative industries, with Coca-Cola’s Christmas campaign as Exhibit A
- Why social media and AI bots are taking over as news sources
- Storytelling vs. selling; how platforms are leaving traditional brand narratives behind
- The impact of tech giants and billionaires on who controls the narrative
- Why digital literacy and healthy skepticism matter more than ever in a world where fact and fiction are a swipe apart
Nathalia Sica:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathalia-sica/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
In 100 months, when robots handle every inconvenience and AI tracks our health with alarming precision, what’s left for us to even do?
From comfort robots that fold your laundry to AI-powered bespoke medicine and the end of admin as we know it, this week’s Disconnected episode unpacks how tomorrow’s tech could reshape our lives, our work, and even our purpose.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Our purpose in a world rife with assistance robots
- Personal AI agents running our social lives
- Big pharma’s ‘in silico’ future
- The ultra-personalisation of healthcare
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
1,618 days. 53 months. 4 and a half years. 100 episodes of Disconnected - we’re celebrating, but we’re not looking back…
We’re looking ahead. Specifically 100 months ahead, to February 2034, and what lies in store for live events, ticket touts, agentic AI buying tickets for us, and therapists for AI bots.
Join Jag, Jen, Jason and Matt for a centurion celebration, and a glance at what’s to come…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How AI agents and decentralised platforms could revolutionise buying event tickets
- Immersive tech in sports & live events
- Work in 2034 with AI colleagues and the gig economy
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Are your devices always listening, and if so… what if you could turn your digital eavesdropper into your new best friend?
While tech startup ‘Friend’ is ragebaiting NYC into loving or hating the idea, AI giants like AMD, OpenAI and Nvidia are busy trying to keep their bubble from bursting…
Join us for THE essential roundup of a chaotic week that’s seen faux friendships, a rival to ‘Woke-ipedia’, and what’s the endgame for the tech titans’ game-playing.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Outsourcing friendship to AI
- The great tech “circle jerk” between Nvidia, OpenAI, and AMD
- Whether your devices are really listening
- The battle for truth with Elon Musk’s “Grokiedia” taking aim at Wikipedia
- How algorithms subconsciously shape our lives
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
What do royal banquets, AI startups, and the world’s best crisps have in common?
The UK plays host to them all - at least if Trump’s latest feast goes to plan…
The sands are shifting in the tech world, and our special guest Chris Baker is guiding us through the UK’s potential as a hub for AI companies, and changing trends in how consumers now purchase.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The UK’s ‘Goldilocks Moment’, and whether Britain can seize its chance to become a global tech and AI powerhouse
- How visa changes and international investments are reshaping where the world’s top tech minds and startups go
- The rise of experience-driven, story-focused consumer behaviour
- How social commerce, digital communities, and influencers are rewriting the rules of marketing and brand loyalty
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Chris Baker:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/cbaker19/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Would you trust AI with your career choices?
LinkedIn is hoping that you wouldn’t, while OpenAI takes on the old guard in the talent market with its new jobs platform…
The prospect of LinkedIn’s timely death makes for light reading for Jen Campbell, while Felina, Jason and Jag take us through ‘dumb phone’ apps, social media bans, and the dead internet theory rearing its head once again!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- OpenAI disrupting the job market and upstaging LinkedIn
- The questionable authenticity of online content, with bots and fake accounts running amok on social media
- Digital minimalism, and the ironic advent of ‘dumb phone’ apps
- The role of YouTube and other social media platforms in education vs their influence on youth culture
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
What’re your plans for 10,000 years’ time?
Short of finding a cure for aging, Jeff Bezos has made his plans very clear with the 10,000 year clock, while Elon seems to be creating a new business every 10,000 minutes…
Take a journey into the future with us on Disconnected, as we break down Microsoft’s new competitor ‘Macrohard’, Bezos’ latest art project, and the fallout from the streaming wars…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Jeff Bezos’ 10,000 Year Clock, and whether it’s a symbol of long-term thinking or a glorified art project
- Elon Musk’s latest foray into AI-created software with ‘MacroHard’
- The streaming wars, subscription fatigue, and whether the golden age of streaming will ever return
Matt Webster:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
The Metaverse is back, and its saviour is… McDonalds?
AI, SEO and the Metaverse: you’d be forgiven for thinking this is an episode from 2022, but we are a LONG way ahead of the game from 3 years back.
SEO is now AI-first, so if you want to be discovered in a world where machines curate our lives, we’ll need the expertise of our special guest this week, Katy Howell.
Join us to pick apart our new search habits, how AI influences them, and the questions we need to ask of ourselves with any new AI tech - all on this week’s Disconnected!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The metaverse’s tentative resurgence, and the questionable McDonald’s collaboration
- Social search becoming primary sources for information and product discovery, especially among younger users
- AI fundamentally changing how content is curated, discovered, and recommended
- SEO for AI, and the new age of digital content hygiene
- The critical questions that boardrooms need to ask about AI’s role in businesses
Katy Howell
https://www.linkedin.com/in/katyhowell/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
When AI models become the new norm, who writes our beauty standards?
An advert for Guess in Vogue has prompted a deeper look at how exactly it’s been made, and what it means for the world of fashion and beyond from our very own Jen, Jason, Matt and Jag.
Join us on Disconnected this week, as we also peer into the UK’s new game of VPN Whack-a-Mole, and how Brazilian football is hanging by a thread…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The ethics of AI models, beauty standards, job displacement, and mental health risks
- How people are reacting to (and circumventing) the UK's Online Safety Act
- Brazilian football's heavy reliance on gambling
- ChatGPT's new study mode representing a positive application of AI
Matt Webster
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
AI can clone your accent, or replace it. Is this the point that we start to lose authorship over humanity?
Fake bands, automated sports officials and dialect-shifting technology are all at the heart of an existential episode of Disconnected this week, so join Jag, Jen, Jason and Felina to explore the preservation of dying languages and controversial content revolutions.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How AI technologies can preserve regional accents, or homogenise them
- The emergence of AI-created music and the balance between tech innovation and human creativity
- Wimbledon's shaky implementation of automated line calling
- Switzerland's new transparent, multilingual LLM which hopes to democratise AI access
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
The internet as you know it is dying - let’s hope what replaces it is good for humanity…
With bots abundant on the web, Meta and Google in an AI employment war, and AI generated content harder to spot, it’s more important than ever to know where to look for something REAL.
Don’t miss the very real Jag, Jen, Jason and returning Matt Webster on Disconnected, as they prepare you for an almost-fully automated future, for better or worse.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The Dead Internet Theory rising in prevalence with AI's growing dominance
- OpenAI and Meta’s tech talent war
- Google’s AI-powered search summaries disrupting the ‘blue link economy’
- Elon Musk's move to ban hashtags from ads on X
- The challenge of advertising with such a high percentage of bot traffic
Matt Webster
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
AI agents will be our coworking companions, but what happens to your newfound superpower when you change jobs?
The world of work, and how exactly you brand yourself to get the jobs with such perks, is forever changing - don’t get left behind, as we explore the future of your career with Jag, Jen, Jason, and a returning Matt Webster!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How AI agents could exacerbate the divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’
- The role of personal branding in the digital age
- Whether the likes of Apple and Google should do more to prevent phone theft and protect users
- The potential for companies to own AI agents that can replicate your skills and knowledge
Matt Webster
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
With AI all around us, it’s worth a check; is your brain still there…?
Watch out for agency decay, Google’s huge new suite of AI tools, Sir Jony Ive’s magic at OpenAI, and so much more - stay afloat with one of the busiest fortnights in technology courtesy of the wonderful insights from Jag, Jen, Jason and Felina.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Humanity’s dangerous levels of AI dependency, and the advent of ‘agency decay’
- Google's huge new AI tools, promising a tech revolution
- The risks of AI overreliance in healthcare and education
- OpenAI and Jony Ive's mysterious new AI-powered device
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Marketing agencies beware: Meta’s next move could be an extinction level event…
There are shakeups across the board in tech and social media this week, from Elon abandoning Grok and Sam Altman keeping OpenAI non-profit, to ‘The Zuck’ declaring war on the advertising industry.
Taking us through it all are the ever-reliable Jag, Jen and Jason, joined by very special guest Matt Webster!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Meta's advertising revolution, potentially eliminating the need for advertising agencies
- Elon Musk's Grok chaos, and his now-unpredictable approach to technology and social media
- AI’s impact in transforming industries
- Sam Altman's saga with OpenAI’s status as a non-profit model
- The fallout from recent cyber attacks on businesses like M&S, and about how AI might both create and solve future security threats
Matt Webster
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwwebster/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Adolescence has parents in a panic, and governments in disarray - should we ban social media for kids? Is it too late to even try…?
The best and worst of technology is on full display this week on Disconnected, as Jason & Jag are joined by special guest Ben Davies to discuss this, as well as ChatGPT’s recent impact on the art world with its Studio Ghibli imitations.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The huge societal questions posed by Adolescence, and whether social media is safe for our kids
- Whether ChatGPT’s assimilation of Studio Ghibli’s handcrafted style is the death or the rebirth of art
- AGI tools that are reinventing how we interact with the internet and the world around us
Ben Davies
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjadavies/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Grok’s got a potty mouth, Humane AI’s been snuffed out within months, and our last hope for social media is… Snapchat?
It’s been mayhem in recent weeks, so Jen Campbell and Jag Sharma set the world to rights this week and explain why Snapchat’s CEO is the tech hero we’ve been waiting for, why Grok’s profanity might be a good thing, and much more.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Grok AI's comments on Indian politics and social issues creating controversy
- Snapchat’s focus on positive user experiences and content moderation
- Humane AI's swift failure, and the challenges of bringing new tech products to market
- Meta's aim for an ad-free subscription service in the UK
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Who needs friends? For the low price of an AI subscription fee, you could have all the friends you need…
Chatbots are taking the roles of friends, lovers, parental figures, therapists, mediators and career coaches, but is the tradeoff of convenience sapping our humanity from us?
We dive into a very real conversation about fake conversations on Disconnected this week, as we also set our sights on alternatives to X, from BlueSky in the west to China’s new 500m user ‘underdog’...
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The AI companions sapping our humanity from us
- How AI can be used to teach social skills for neurodiverse people
- Whether BlueSky is a viable alternative to X, or just like everything else
- China’s new social media ‘underdog’, and whether we should be supporting it
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Where power flows, Zuckerberg swiftly follows, which puts him firmly in Trump’s camp for the foreseeable…
How that manifests in Meta we’ll see over the next 4 years, but they’ve already abandoned content moderation in favour of community notes.
We look at the ripples this’ll send throughout their many platforms, as well as the UK’s creative copyright crisis and Grok’s newfound 18+ mode, on this week’s Disconnected.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Meta’s shift to an unmoderated, community notes-style platform
- The UK’s AI strategy coming up against copyright for the creative sector
- X’s chatbot discovers how to talk dirty
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
It’s been a monumental month in the AI space, and we might already have signs of how the tech industry will unfold in 2025…
From Chinese competitors and country-wide bans to agentic capabilities and a whole lot of tech-for-good stories, Jag, Jen, Jason and a returning Felina Tan take us through it all in this week’s jam-packed Disconnected…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The great ChatGPT vs DeepSeek face-off
- ChatGLM and Ying taking us a step closer to agentic AI
- Who you should trust with your data with each new AI model
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
It’s the first show of the year, which means it’s our bravest show of the year…
We put our money where our mouths are by hedging our bets on what the coming 12 months will hold in the world of tech and social media.
From Agentic AI and an influx of scammers to social media bans and the possible TikTok exodus, join us to peer into the future.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- TikTok’s tumultuous ride with the potential US ban
- New, elevated forms of AI assistance
- The future of scams
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
336 days ago, we made our bold predictions for what 2024 might bring us - it’s time to look back on just how the year surprised us…
Jag, Jen and Jason take this episode to see which of their prophecies came true, how much AI took over our feeds, and the social & cybersecurity gaffes that ruled the year we’ve endured.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The promising notion of automation seen with robots and autonomous vehicles
- Huge cybersecurity blunders that marked the year
- The AI-generated content rife on our feeds, for better or worse
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
We’ve moaned enough about AI, it’s time to realise how it’s going to save the world.
Visual impairment, taxi services, and protecting red squirrels are all on our agenda this week, as Jag and Jen dive deep into the future of AI, plus a peek at social media’s latest missteps with Mastodon and Blue Sky…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The AI tool protecting the dwindling red squirrel population
- How visually impaired people have a new solution for personal assistants
- Clash of the robotaxis
- Whether Mastodon and Blue Sky’s new aggregator is worth its while
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
He’s back, whether you like it or not.
We’re bound for 4 more years of Donald Trump, but Elon Musk’s been tied to his hip, so how long might we see him in a governmental capacity, and what does that mean for his companies?
We untangle the messy muddle that last week’s election threw us into on this week’s impactful episode of Disconnected, along with a look into Australia’s hopes for a total social media ban…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Elon Musk’s role in Trump’s election
- Whether his Department of Government Efficiency presents a conflict of interest
- Australia’s vision of a social media ban for under-16s
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Donald Trump’s assembled his ‘MAGA Avengers’, and it won’t be long before we find out if they’ve worked their magic…
With Elon among them, it’s no wonder Jason Kapadia’s eyes are peeled - he, Jen and Jag weigh in on how Twitter/X is playing its part in America’s future.
Join us on this week’s Disconnected, as we also fill you in on the very demure language taking over TikTok, and how misleading tweets are making users thousands of dollars.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How TikTok has proliferated a new style of language
- The art of making money through misinformation on X
- Donald Trump’s renewed strategy to take over the White House
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Imagine basing your worldview on an image that doesn’t exist.
Among the more shocking stories in the tech world surrounds people not caring whether images are AI-generated, as long as it fits their narrative.
Not only that, but ‘I, Robot’ is now fact rather than fiction, and we’ll soon be buying cars without a steering wheel, all thanks to Tesla’s latest event.
Catch up with the future with Jag and Jason on this week’s exciting and terrifying episode of Disconnected…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Politicians accepting AI-generated images as “truth”
- Tesla’s huge launch event unveiling its taxis and buses
- Whether the Tesla robot is dream, reality, or nightmare
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Who gave AI our microphones…?
Google’s most impressive development in recent months is on everyone’s lips, but we’re left wondering if NotebookLM is about to take over the podcast charts.
Until then it's still the human Jag, Jason and Felina bringing you the latest tech news on Disconnected, with a look at Meta’s vision of the future with their new wearable, and whether AI has finally helped the bots defeat ‘captcha’ for good.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- AI’s shocking success rate at passing ‘captcha’ tests, how we beat the bots
- Google’s NotebookLM taking a podcast approach to AI summaries
- Meta’s Orion glasses promising to tear us away from our phones
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Has Ticketmaster become the very touts that we hoped they’d stop?
Oasis’ reunion has sparked a huge debate on pricing based on demand, but what lessons will other industries take from this - will they put morals ahead of money?
That’s just one of many stories on Disconnected this week, as Felina Tan returns to chat Crowdstrike woes, Twitter/X’s Brazilian ban, and the AI pizza recipe taking Dubai by storm.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Ticketmaster and Oasis’ problematic surge pricing, and how to solve the issue
- Twitter/X’s ban in Brazil, and whether it’s still worth $44bn
- An update on Crowdstrike’s continuing woes since their crisis
- The AI pizza recipe
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Felina Tan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Can the dead not just stay dead anymore?
Whether it’s a tasteful cameo or a lifeless cash-grab, there’s very little stopping old likenesses from making new content, and that’s at the heart of one of this week’s biggest topics on Disconnected…
Join us as we debate digital zombies, creating fake memories with the new Pixel 9, and the responsibility you take for the misinformation you reshare on social media.
SPOILER WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for newly-released Alien: Romulus from 2:30 to 5:30, and light spoilers for Prometheus around 7:40.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Whether recreating the likeness of dead actors is respectful or irresponsible
- The ownership that public figures should take over resharing misleading content
- Google’s approach to saving memories, and the potential to manipulate them beyond recognition
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Elon Musk: Free speech evangelist or catalyst for civil war?
Since taking over Twitter, there’s been a tug of war between free speech and the open spread of misinformation, but nobody expected the man who purchased it to become its biggest problem child.
This episode of Disconnected dives deep into the murky waters of Musk’s recent behaviour, plus Meta’s crushed dreams of celeb chatbots, and whether OpenAI will have any staff left if they keep leaving at the current rate…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Elon Musk’s most problematic political tweets
- How misinformation thrives on X/Twitter
- Whether big tech Founders should be held to the same standards of integrity as journalists
- Meta’s celebrity chatbots shutting down, and whether they’re out of touch
- OpenAI’s problem with Founders departing
- The perfect take on LinkedIn hopping on the Olympic bandwagon
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Never push updates on a Friday - you might bring the world grinding to a halt…
We all know the scale of Crowdstrike’s impact on the global economy, but how on earth did it ACTUALLY happen, and could it happen again?
This week’s episode of Disconnected goes beyond the corporate bull, and shares the real story, plus Tesla’s plan on bringing humanoid robots to life, and the gold standard of AI innovation on show at Paris 2024.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The Olympic Games’ use of AI technology to enhance our viewing experience
- Elon Musk’s ambitious goal to employ humanoid robots from next year
- How the Crowdstrike crash actually happened, and whether we should be worried about more cyber-calamities
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/ https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Oh, how the mighty fall…
LinkedIn was once the gold standard for professionalism, but the last few years has seen the platform subject to ‘TikTok-ification’, devolving from its former glory. But what the hell happened, and is it worth fixing?
As ever, join us for insightful debate from Jag Sharma, Jason Kapadia, and our Chief LinkedIn Sceptic, Jen Campbell.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The devolution of quality in content on LinkedIn
- Whether the platform will be swamped with AI features and content
- LinkedIn’s monopoly on the job board industry
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Toys ‘R’ Us has made a fully AI-generated ad - is this the end for creative industries?
In a packed episode of Disconnected this week, Jag & Jason tackle Sora’s role in the ad world, how the EU wants to read all your messages, whether Meta and Facebook are now an unsecure nightmare for content moderation, and much more…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Toys ‘R’ Us, their AI-generated ad, and the future for creative industries
- The EU approach to child safety that’s exposing all our messages
- Whether Meta has ‘given up’ on security and content moderation
- The senior official in the US calling for smoking-style warnings on social
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Elon Musk once Co-Founded OpenAI - now he’s concerned that they’re a security risk to his company. How the tables have turned…
Apple’s WWDC event brought announcements galore, many of which we can unanimously get excited about, but one partnership in particular poses a security risk to which Musk doesn’t take too kindly.
Is he right to fear the change? Are Apple’s latest announcements stellar or stale? Jag, Jen and Jason cover all the latest in this week’s episode of Disconnected.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The basis of Elon Musk’s OpenAI security concerns, and whether he’s got a point
- How Apple are integrating ChatGPT right into their operating system
- The most exciting announcements that’ll impact you from WWDC 2024
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
The race to the top of the AI food chain is absolutely second to none right now - take your finger off the pulse and you’d have missed two of the biggest evolutions to date…
Google I/O showed us Gemini’s latest advancements (formerly Bard), and OpenAI’s DevDay showed off GPT-4o which brings ChatGPT’s power into several new senses.
So what can each of them do, and which will reign supreme? Discover more on this week’s mind-blowing episode of Disconnected…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Whether Google’s Gemini is a death sentence for the likes of the Rabbit R1 and Humane AI Pin
- OpenAI’s seemingly-endless innovation with GPT-4o
- The catch that comes with offering such powerful tools for free
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Are we missing the point of Baby Reindeer?
Netflix has brought us a slick show based on a shocking true story, but beyond the show it’s exposed the troubling reality of internet sleuthing…
This week’s Disconnected dives deep into the impact of true crime fanatics, as well as two of the latest and (maybe) greatest AI developments - listen on for cutting insight from Jag Sharma, Felina Tan, and for the first time since 2022, Ben Wiggins!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- 🐰 Rabbit R1 and the future of ‘Large Action Models’
- 🎵 Music for visuals: the latest creative industry under fire from AI
- 🕵️ Baby Reindeer exposing the issue with internet sleuths
Ben Wiggins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewiggins/
Felina Tan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Is the Humane AI Pin dead on arrival?
In the tech sphere this week we’ve two budding technologies with wildly different reception: Neuralink’s vision of the future, and Version 1 of Humane’s AI Pin being absolutely scorched.
Jag is joined by Jen this week to weigh in on the battle of the prototypes, and herald the arrival of yet another new social media platform…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How Neuralink promises to question our sense of self
- The new audio-only social platform making waves
- Humane AI’s review-bombed launch and future aspirations
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
The US is at war once more. This time, it seems, with TikTok.
The app is under fire from all angles, and if it’s banned in the US it could spell trouble for a platform boasting 1 billion monthly active users…
So where do the US concerns lie, where can TikTok go from here, and should you be worried about your data? We cover all this, and so much more, with Jag, Jen and Jason on episode 66 of Disconnected.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The national security issues that the US claim to be concerned about
- Whether Google, Meta and X should be held accountable in the same way
- Accusations of Bytedance employees spying on journalists
- What happens to TikTok if the US ban goes through
Jen Campbell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Who knew that Elon’s pursuit of a secure platform would have him revealing IP addresses…
The new feature on his platform presents one of many stories in the tech world this week that’ll put our guards back up - Jag, Jen and Jason bring us the latest on Disconnected, from policy-making chatbots and the 4 day work week to criminal influencers and how a brand new car was sold for just $1.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The new Twitter/X feature posing security issues
- Chatbots creating company policies that are legally binding
- A shocking influencer story proving how careful we need to be in supporting online personalities
- Whether the rise of AI is bringing the 4 day work week closer
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jason Kapadia:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonkapadia/
https://www.instagram.com/jasonkapadia/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Are our brains being reshaped? 🧠 🤔 Uncover the effects of constant digital stimulation on attention spans and cognitive functions in the latest episode of the Disconnected podcast.
This week, hosts Jag Sharma, Jason Kapadia, and Felina Tan uncover challenges and opportunities presented by the digital revolution including:
🧠 Popcorn Brains and AI Dreams: Shedding light on the constant stimulation and multitasking reshaping our cognitive processes.
🤖 The Rise of Deepfakes: Exploring the capabilities of OpenAI's groundbreaking AI video generation tool, Sora, and its implications for media trust and the future of special effects.
🗞️ Can Tech Giants Stop The Spread Of Fake News? Delve into efforts to combat deep fakes in elections.
🎥 The Future is AI: The potential of AI generated content from Hollywood Blockbusters and beyond and its impact on media production.
This episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between technology and human experience.
Tune in now to join the conversation and expand your understanding of the evolving digital landscape! 🎧
TikTok taking on an industry titan, VR taking over, and Facebook taking a look back at 20 years - there’s no such thing as a quiet week in tech.
This week we round up some huge stories from the past fortnight, from Universal Music Group’s artists finding their songs removed from TikTok, to Apple’s Vision Pro headset being subject to rave and ridicule alike.
Join the usual suspects - Jag, Jen and Jason - as they wrap all this and more into episode 63 of Disconnected…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Universal Music Group’s ongoing spat with TikTok
- The immediate cultural impact of the Apple Vision Pro
- The state of Facebook on its 20th birthday
It took just two weeks for one of Jason Kapadia’s predictions to come true, thanks in no small part to Samsung…
With AI being injected directly to our phones, VR solving the challenge of walking, and Apple embroiled in yet another controversy that puts them under fire, it’s a hell of a week on the Disconnected Podcast.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Samsung’s new phones incorporating Galaxy AI
- Apple’s App Store policies landing them in hot water
- Disney’s solution to walking in VR
- Why Jag thinks the internet isn’t as fun and carefree as it once was
If 2023 is anything to go by, we’re in for a wild year of technology changing our everyday lives…
AI continues to thrive, and industry leaders continue to bring new, innovative ideas to the fore, so where will we be this time next year?
As has become something of a tradition on Disconnected, we kick off 2024 with a look at Jen, Jag and Jason’s predictions for what the year will bring to the tech and social media landscape.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The evolution of image and voice search
- Cybersecurity and the spread of scams
- AI-generated content swamping the algorithms and platforms
- The impact of first-party implementation of large language models
Navigate the 2023 Tech Landscape as Jag, Jen & Jason dissect the accuracy of last year’s tech predictions, whilst also future gazing at Elon’s view of 2024; From neuro link trials to the integration of robots and navigating the evolving realms of AI, virtual reality and social media search.
We delve into the world of influencer marketing, unravelling the complexities of authenticity and the rise of micro and nano influencers, plus decode consumer search habits that offer a glimpse into social media trends in 2024.
This episode of Disconnected includes:
- Accuracy of 2023 tech predictions
- Sustainability in marketing and influencer culture
- Brand influence through micro and nano influencers
- Elon Musk’s predictions for technology and AI
It wouldn’t be AI if it didn’t come with some controversy…
The past fortnight has been a whirlwind of events surrounding OpenAI's recent drama. Jag Sharma and Jason Kapadia dissect the news of Sam Altman's journey – from a surprising firing to a reinstatement that turns heads.
Jag and Jason discuss the rapidly evolving world of AI, the role of the big players like Microsoft and the implications of Artificial General Intelligence on society.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Open AI drama involving CEO Sam Altman's firing and reinstatement
- Artificial generation intelligence advancements
- AI tools and potential job replacement
- AI's impact on jobs and society
Don’t you wish your chatbot was a little less bot, and a little more chat?
That’s what Elon Musk’s vision of the future hopes to solve, and in a tech landscape that’s seen GPT-4 Turbo and the Humane AI Pin grace us so recently, it’s AI all the way in this week’s Disconnected.
Join all the J’s - Jag, Jen and Jason - for the latest on how you can create chatbots from scratch, fresh threats to the educational system, and much more…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Elon Musk’s plans for Grok, the new chatbot with a rebellious streak
- How you can create a money making chatbot with 0 coding knowledge
- Whether the education system needs to evolve with the new GPTs’ capabilities
- The marmite-esque launch of Humane’s AI Pin
It’s judgement time for Elon.
We’re a year on from the fateful day that he spent $44 billion on Twitter, and with high expectations have come the fair share of plaudits and pessimism. So let’s cut through the noise - how is he REALLY doing so far?
Who better to lead the debate for Elon than Jason Kapadia in the blue corner, and the more sceptical Jag Sharma and Jen Campbell in the red corner…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Early predictions on Elon’s plans and whether they came true
- Where we think the tipping point has been as X finds its feet
- All the major controversies, feature changes and u-turns
- The interesting move to appoint a CEO from media, rather than the tech space
Web3 is the future of our internet, but what on earth does that even mean?
It stands among esteemed company for misunderstood jargon alongside blockchain, cryptocurrency and the Metaverse - that’s where we come in to demystify it all.
Jen, Jag and a returning Jason muse over the tech that’s leading our internet, what’s yet to be proven, and where it could lead us for the future of the web…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How decentralisation forms the basis of the blockchain
- When we might see the proliferation of Web3
- How much of the technology is yet to be proven in practice
- The hardware barrier to Web3 and the Metaverse
Who would you rather win over, a jury or the internet?
Trial by social media is a powerful wrath which can work for or against you, so the question remains - does it hold too much power?
In a pertinent time for social justice, Jag, Jen and Felina mull over the web’s effects on cancel culture…
TW // This episode contains heavy discussions around potentially distressing topics, particularly surrounding allegations against Russell Brand - listener discretion is advised.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Trial by social media working as guilty until proven innocent
- Whether social platforms are swaying jury opinions
- How social media sites are responding to backlash
The farthest reaches of the globe have never felt so close, all thanks to technology.
Living and working abroad was once an intimidating prospect, but as expats themselves, Jag Sharma and Jen Campbell have an arsenal of indispensable apps to make the transition simple.
This week’s Disconnected podcast is perfect for anyone travelling abroad, and perhaps thinking of staying for months, or even years - tune in for some tech ideas to change your life irreversibly for the better…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Which services and groups are ideal for researching before you reach a new country
- Jag’s findings in the battle of the VPNs
- Payment apps in Asia, and why Jag & Jen have conflicting opinions on HSBC’s PayMe
- How different territories take different approaches to allowing ‘Jack of all trades’ apps
Have you ever seen a social post and thought, ‘How the hell did they approve this?’
No longer is that the sign of a disgruntled employee, but a viable tactic known as ‘unhinged marketing’, and it’s taking social platforms by storm.
It’s the topic that kicks off a packed Disconnected where we tackle Threads’ waning user base, the Metaverse’s demise, algorithm-busting bills, and more with Jen Campbell, Jason Kapadia and Felina Tan.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The rise of ‘unhinged marketing’
- Threads’ flagging active user base
- The EU ditching algorithms
- A slow death for the Metaverse
- Depp vs Heard and the court of public opinion
No username is safe from X (the artist formerly known as Twitter).
The platform is making yet more sweeping changes, reclaiming handles from users and introducing a revenue sharing model - and that’s not even the most world-altering social media news this week…
Join Jag & Jason as they take us through Meta’s news ban in Canada, Gen Alpha introducing a new kind of split screening, and Zoom… ordering people back to the office?
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Twitter/X reclaiming notable handles from its users
- Whether revenue sharing for tweets will change the platform
- The new potential for disinformation in Canada
- Our youngest generations taking split screening to a new level
Of all that’s in the media right now, two things are inescapable: the Women’s World Cup and Barbie.
That’s thanks, in no small part, to a shift in the way that tech and media are bringing these spectacles to life; a fascinating evolution which centres this week’s episode of Disconnected…
Join Jen Campbell & Felina Tan as they dive into the world’s most influential influencer, the best use of deepfakes we’ve seen so far, and much more!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The evolution of print media for women’s football coverage
- Changing people’s perceptions through genius marketing
- Staggering stats about women’s roles in the tech industry
- Barbie’s domination & the resurgence of virtual influencers
Threads is taking the world by storm - but is it full-force or just a tempest in a teapot?
It’s only one of the battles on Meta’s warfront, as they look set to fight the corner for end-to-end encryption against the UK Government’s plans to create a back door.
Join us as we pull on the biggest tech threads this week with Jag Sharma, Jason Kapadia, and a special guest in our Producer, Dan Johnston!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Threads’ stratospheric launch & how it’s taking on Twitter head-on
- The ever-looming promise of Tesla’s self-driving technology
- Debunking ChatGPT’s declining numbers
- The UK Government’s campaign against end-of-end encryption
Mark Zuckerberg is engaged in battles on many fronts these days…
While he prepares for a much anticipated cage match with Elon Musk, it’s Meta’s sizable losses that are prompting a rethink of the VR space - especially since Apple’s major steps last month.
Grappling with this and more on Disconnected, Jason, Jen and Jag bring us the latest on YouTube’s misinformation policy, AI already taking jobs, and the death of the LinkedIn ‘thought leader’.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- AI usurping more industries for their jobs
- LinkedIn’s generative AI tools spelling the end of thought leaders
- YouTube overturning its policy on election misinformation
- Meta’s massive losses and an upcoming VR subscription plan
- The blockbuster cage match between Elon Musk vs Mark Zuckerberg
A chatbot is for life, not just for 2023.
Everyone seems to want a piece of the AI chatbot pie, even the likes of IKEA and Instagram, prompting the key question: why? Answering that question this week on Disconnected, we have a magnificent return from the lovely Felina Tan, alongside the usual suspects of Jen & Jason!
We touch on homes getting too smart, changes to YouTube’s Partner Programme, and whether Apple’s Vision Pro can shake off the problems plaguing mixed reality headsets that have come before…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Whether it’s worth being an influencer anymore
- Apple’s Vision Pro vs the jaded history of mixed reality
- Smart homes being made too smart
- IKEA and Instagram hopping on board the chatbot hype train
- Meta’s hope of creating a Twitter rival
When AI grows smarter than the human race, could we stop it wiping us out?
There’s plenty of good in artificial intelligence tools, like Adobe’s generative fill revolutionising photo editing, but where the AI train stops, nobody knows…
Jen, Jag and Jason mull over our very existence in a dramatic episode of Disconnected, along with a warning for Android users and Elon’s latest battles.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Signs of AI’s capability to cause our extinction in the wrong hands
- Adobe and Windows’ new game-changing AI tools
- Twitter pulling out of the EU’s Code of Practice Against Disinformation
- An Android app tracking users, and why you should perform a software update immediately
Your new girlfriend could cost you a dollar per minute.
AI chatbots are nothing new now, but a clone of influencer Caryn Marjorie is paving the way for a future where you can converse with anyone, anytime - but is that more of a thrill or a threat to society?
Elsewhere in this week’s Disconnected, face-altering filters are put under the microscope, TfL using TikTok to crack down on fare-dodging, and some marvellous new accessibility features in Apple’s pipeline.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- A new AI chatbot to become your girlfriend at $1 per minute
- Regulation on face-altering filters
- iOS’ fantastic upcoming accessibility features
- How TfL are using TikTok to catch fare-dodgers
Do you own the copyright to your own likeness?
We’re in the wild west of ‘deepfakes’; enabled by AI, and now being monetised by Tencent.
Beyond this trust-wavering news, we’re seeing a Twitter competitor from Twitter’s own former CEO, and a pivot towards long form content from the very platforms that demanded shorter content in the first place…
Jen Campbell, Jason Kapadia & Jag Sharma take us through it all in this week’s Disconnected.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Tencent’s commercialisation of deepfake tech
- Jack Dorsey’s Blue Sky social, and more Twitter competitors popping up
- Social platforms pivoting back to long form content
- Updates to Snapchat’s ad opportunities
Your voice is no longer uniquely your own.
With AI at the centre of two controversies this past fortnight - voice clones and fake photography - it’s clear that we’re seeing new uses for technology at a rate beyond which we can hope to keep up.
Meanwhile in the tech world, social media trends have transformed the approach to drinking water, and Twitter’s ‘freedom of speech, not freedom of reach’ is confusing many.
Here to make sense of all this, and consider where it’s all going, are the wonderful Jen Campbell and Jag Sharma on this week’s Disconnected podcast.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The remarkable growth of the WaterTok trend
- Twitter’s ‘freedom of speech, not freedom of reach’ approach to hate on the platform
- Sony World Photography Awards being duped by AI
- Voice clones being used for extortion
Amazon claims to be able to cover 90% of the US with its Echo and Ring devices - is this a connected utopia or a data privacy hell?
With Amazon Sidewalk on the way and the recent merger with iRobot, we’re one step closer to every house’s inner workings being detailed by our ‘Amazon overlords’, as Jag Sharma might call them…
On Disconnected, Jag considers how Jeff Bezos’ titan company is continuing its dominant path, and Jason Kapadia - resident Elon expert - takes us through the conundrum that is Twitter’s multi-coloured check marks.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Twitter’s ‘verified’ check marks of various colours and costs
- Open sourcing the Twitter algorithm to see its biases
- Amazon Sidewalk’s promise to connect 90% of America
- The recent Amazon purchase of iRobot, and what data Roombas might learn and use
TikTok troubles, Trump’s return and banks going bust - three huge stories with tech at the heart of it all…
Social media can be the catalyst for so many challenges, and simultaneously become the solution to them too, and the past fortnight’s events have proven that in spades.
Coming together to break down the platforms at the core of the world’s biggest stories on Disconnected this week are the ever-insightful and entertaining trio of Jag Sharma, Jason Kapadia and Jen Campbell.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- TikTok controversies around data, privacy and possible bans in the US and UK
- Donald Trump’s return to social media, and whether he’ll choose money over political sway
- Social media being the problem, and the solution, for banks amid the recent financial turmoil
Could software get to know you well enough to become your surrogate social communicator?
Between Snapchat Plus and Slack, we’re seeing yet another fascinating AI implementation between episodes of Disconnected, bringing the prospect of a digital personal assistant ever-closer.
Join Jag Sharma, Jen Campbell and Jason Kapadia for a deep dive into these GPT tools, the TikTok-ification of Reddit, and the surprising modern day use for floppy disks…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Snapchat being the latest platform to add AI tools to its arsenal
- Slack summarising your conversations for you, or even taking them over altogether
- Reddit creating its own TikTok-style video feed
- The surprising, high-level use of floppy disks in modern companies
It was only a matter of time before chatbots found Tinder…
While ChatGPT is landing people dates, Bing’s AI chatbot is picking existential fights with its users, and Elon Musk (of all people) is the voice of reason calling for regulation.
It’s been a frenetic fortnight in technology, so Charis Marr and Jason Kapadia join Jag Sharma to cover it all, including Meta’s move to create a paid verification scheme, and we pay our respects to a barely-beloved browser.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Meta bringing paid verification to Facebook and Instagram
- The strong personality of Bing’s AI chatbot
- Safety and regulation to keep AI in check
- ChatGPT goes on a date
- The death of Internet Explorer
Let the race for AI supremacy begin…
Since OpenAI’s ChatGPT became an instant hit, reaching over one million users faster than any social media site, Google and Microsoft have emerged as the next big players in the AI game.
So why would they start an AI chat war, what have they to gain from it all, and where does that leave us? We’re breaking down the dangers, the opportunities and the new-norms on this week’s episode of Disconnected.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The advent of the chatbot wars between the industry’s big players
- How AI tools will change how we interact with search engines
- Which parts of our work and productivity could soon be automated for us
If your job involves technology, then AI is coming to replace it…
Whether it’s photography, video editing, cold outreach or interior design, there’s a new tool that promises to democratise the ability to create, and the chances are that artificial intelligence is behind it.
Join us on Disconnected this week as we take a look at the new age of tools taking over…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The stock image AI service being sued by Getty
- Text-based services to revolutionise your essays, outreach and more
- Tools to recover sub-par images, optimise audio and edit with ease
- How AI is learning to synthesise speech, and whether that’s an opportunity or a risk
Is AI forcing education to evolve faster than ever before?
The applications of GPT-3 have grown from a basic language model into the foundation for some incredible tools, some of which make cheating at school easier than ever.
This week on Disconnected, we hear from Jag, Jason and Felina as they break down AI plagiarism, whether your follower count grants unique social privileges, and Brewdog’s divisive approach to handling online controversy.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Brewdog’s controversies and the tolerance of today’s social media
- ChatGPT’s potential to disrupt the education system
- Airline luggage recovery, ‘social currency’, and whether influencers/celebrities have it easier
The only certainty in the tech world is uncertainty, and that much is true of next year.
Whether the 54% of young Americans wanting to become influencers drive the growth in social commerce, or rapid development of AI tools creates unthinkable shortcuts to content creation, 2023 promises to be game-changing all around.
Jen Campbell and Charis Marr return to the Disconnected podcast alongside Jason Kapadia to look ahead at the coming year in tech and social media.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Growing complexities in the influencer marketing space
- New AI tools developing across the board
- Blending physical and digital experiences
- TikTok and Instagram’s social commerce model disrupting the big players
2022 has been a mighty long year in the tech space…
Whether it’s the cries to make Instagram Instagram again or the introduction of GPT3 through tools like DALL-E, it’s worth looking into our past to consider what the future holds.
Felina Tan & Jason Kapadia peer into their crystal ball on Disconnected this week, picking out the past year’s landmark moments and guiding us through their predictions for technology and social media in 2023.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- A recap of the year’s monumental moments in tech and social media
- GPT3’s growing impact and the implications of increasing AI
- Our take on future developments in neural tech & robotics
- The increased need to consider search on platforms like TikTok and Instagram
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Twitter is experiencing an age of extreme turbulence with Elon Musk at the helm.
Since his takeover his ‘vox populi, vox dei’, utopian vision for the platform has encountered its fair share of hurdles, from irate employees to imitators with a checkmark.
So how does Elon steady the ship? Which are the huge problems to tackle first, and what could Twitter become in the right hands? Jason Kapadia and Jag Sharma gaze into that crystal ball on this week’s episode of Disconnected…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- What’s made Elon Musk such a divisive figure
- Twitter’s biggest immediate issues since the takeover
- Potential future routes for the platform
From digital banks to 24 hour grocery delivery, it’s clear that our everyday lives are being increasingly shaped by technology, but not every country is advancing equally…
Having lived in Singapore, Honk Kong and London, Felina Tan is perfectly placed to lead us in a comparison of global tech, whether we’ll see the West adopt a more one-app-fits-all system, the lack of growth in digital banking in the East, and check in on Elon Musk’s controversy-stirring Twitter moves.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Fallout from Elon Musk’s recent Twitter purchase
- Differences in technological advancements around the world
- The prevalence of digital banks like Monzo and Starling
- Whether the west will ever adopt a one-app-for-everything approach
We've come so far from the days of Pac-Man and Pong, but has gaming lost its way?
Video games bring us entertainment, escapism, challenge and social connection in equal measure, particularly as their scale and budget grows, but Jag Sharma and Jason Kapadia have some huge gripes with the industry.
On this games-focused episode of Disconnected, we dive into the rich history of retro games, opportunities in the space, the rampant mobile gaming industry, and what needs to be done to fix video gaming’s biggest bugbears.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- What attracts people to the video game industry as consumers and businesses
- Why gaming is so absurdly expensive and aggressively monetised
- Mobile games leading the industry in practices both good and malicious
- The biggest selling consoles throughout the decades
- The future of gaming
Nothing is as it seems on the internet anymore - not even a simple cheese pizza.
‘Algospeak’ is a language growing in prevalence as a way to fight algorithmic censorship. The question that remains: can we keep up with it all?
We dive into the implications of algorithm-dodging on this week’s podcast, as well as a look at Tesla’s robotic answer to Asimo and Boston Dynamics, the revitalised talks between Elon Musk and Twitter, plus some extra-special news to round off the episode…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Growing use of ‘Algospeak’ to discuss topics online without censorship
- Tesla’s new Optimus robot, and how it builds on Asimo’s legacy
- Elon Musk’s return to the Twitter buyout deal
TikTok might understand your own identity before you do.
There’s a lot of incredibly smart algorithms and an immense truckload of data behind each one of us on the platform. Should this be cause for concern from a platform that’s replacing search engines and news sites?
We dive into the opportunities and concerns with the platform on Disconnected, as well as how the anti-vax conversation has been driven to using secret emoji codes, whether Netflix is sacrificing binge watching to keep the platform alive, and more.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- TikTok’s scarily impressive algorithm
- Whether TikTok is set to replace search engines and news sources
- The hidden translations of seemingly-innocent emojis
- Netflix’s complex relationship with binge watching
- Incredible mental health activism work by the likes of @talktococo
No original idea remains original for long in the tech world…
The once novel idea of BeReal’s dual camera platform is being copied by Snap and Instagram, so with a new platform on the rise - Poparazzi - how long will it last before its imitators emerge?
As we dive into the latest news in social media technology on this week’s episode of Disconnected, find out more on the rise of social media subscription models, Twitter’s long-awaited edit button, Mark Zuckerberg’s dismay at our scrolling habits, and much more.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Twitter’s long-awaited, highly requested edit button
- The oversaturation of social media platform subscription services
- Snapchat’s Web3 struggles and BeReal clones
- Mark Zuckerberg’s take on the social media landscape he’s created
- A new, rising social media platform with a twist - Poparazzi
Tech has irreversibly changed the childhood experience, for better or for worse.
Where once the world’s answers were found in the Encyclopaedia Britannica on disks, they’re a tap away from us on the very phones that keep kids entertained, connected, and distracted.
We’re taking a look at how far technology has come for those heading back to schools and universities, the doors it unlocks for the next generation, and the societal pitfalls to which our kids are suddenly exposed…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The broader perspectives accessible at such a young age
- Combatting new forms of cyberbullying
- How tech could enable friendships that transcend geographical barriers
- Whether we’re truly equipped to teach our kids about the tech world
- Silicon Valley execs protecting their children from the very tech they create
- The sheer quantity of pop culture, and why many won’t bother to keep up
What happens when AI amplifies the most toxic traits of humanity?
The racist, anti-semetic and inflammatory views being spewed from Meta’s new chatbot hold a huge mirror to the sources on which it was trained, and poses a question over the role a chatbot should play.
We dive into this sensitive topic on Disconnected this week, along with the latest on possibly the world’s most valuable hard drive to find its way into landfill, DALL-E 2’s incredible AI artistry, and much more.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The hard drive lost to landfill worth millions in bitcoin
- Meta’s latest chatbot and its shocking opinions
- DALL-E 2’s incredible use of AI and its impact on artistry
- How vital it is to consider the human input to AI systems
- Whether Snap’s new parental controls can really work
- The campaign to Make Instagram Instagram Again
Travel technology is bringing the world closer together, but are we ready for it?
While virtual influencers and autonomous taxis encourage us to embrace the world around us, we’re also hampered by the Instagram vs Reality disconnect and over-reliance on tech to solve our climate issues.
We’re tackling all things travel on Disconnected this week, hosted in Jag’s absence by Jen Campbell, joined by Ben Wiggins and Charis Marr.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Whether driverless cars are truly ready for global use
- Essential tech emerging in the travel sector
- The uptake of tracking technology in travel baggage
- Over-reliance on innovation to solve climate change
- Social media’s influence on travellers
- Virtual citizens and AI influencers
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Gen Z are the first generation not to know a time pre-internet - that makes them the driving force behind our technological future.
They’re often bundled in with Millennials when disparaging criticism is launched at younger generations, but there’s huge differences between the Millennial ‘digital natives’ and the tech-dependent Gen Z.
Discover what the next generation holds for us, from values-led living and a nose for sniffing out inauthenticity, to the effectiveness of influencer marketing and infamously short attention spans.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Who Gen Z are, and the values that distinguish them from Millennials
- How brands need to change their actions and messaging for future generations
- Potential use cases and pitfalls of having ‘virtual children’
- Social platforms adding premium subscription options
- Influencer marketing with a generation that values authenticity
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
In the wake of the monumental news around Roe v Wade, can we be certain of our data security?
Many of us find digital spaces to be a haven of anonymity for any health concerns, WebMD knows more about us than our doctors in most cases - can we expect our personal data to be safe from prying eyes, particularly those of governments?
We’re joined by The Social Element’s Wendy Christie this week, as we chime in on the dehumanisation of gig workers, the ‘gig enterprise’, Brownies attempting to encourage more girls into STEM, and much more!
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Roe v Wade, abortion rights state-by-state, and how that affects the privacy of search history and personal data
- The gradual dehumanisation of gig work, and growth of the gig economy
- How blockchain could play a role in ‘Gig Enterprises’
- Brownies, Guides, and their introduction of coding into the life skills they teach
- Routes into social media careers, and the ideal traits to enter the social space
The prospect of having a digital twin is equal parts intriguing and intimidating.
We’re making digital versions of cars, buildings and even organs, but imagine a digital you to handle things without you needing to know - is that a dream or a nightmare?
On Disconnected this week, we’ve got a bumper episode with all your favourite co-hosts returning, plus Remo’s Founder Hoyin Cheung to offer his perspectives on AI, sentience, the hybrid workplace battle, and much more.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- What our digital twins could do for us, and what they’d need from us to work effectively
- Google’s potentially ‘sentient chatbot’, and what constitutes sentience in AI systems
- Pride month and corporate ‘rainbow washing’
- The tug of war to bring people back to the office vs remote working solutions
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
NFTs are permeating every facet of our media now, boasting its benefits and blemishes for all to see.
Whether it’s Netflix diving in with a Love, Death and Robots-themed NFT scavenger hunt, or Seth Green’s lead actor in an upcoming show being stolen in an NFT heist, they’re here to stay.
On Disconnected this week we’re looking at the potential for interactivity that comes from NFTs, how Twitter might be fighting back against Elon, the rise of short form content & more, with special guest Adil Saxena - VP Growth at Asia Sports Tech.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Netflix' Love, Death + Robots leading the screen-to-NFT crossover
- How stolen NFTs have halted production on a new TV show
- The rise of play-to-earn and move-to-earn systems
- Suspicions around Elon Musk’s Twitter account issues
- Short-form content and the next evolution of Instagram Reels
Whether you’re focused on Depp vs Heard or Elon’s social media escapades, the effect of public reputation cannot be overstated.
The decision to make trials public opens up the dilemma of how social media could warp purple’s perceptions. So what are we to take away from one of the most highly televised legal battles in recent memory?
We touch on this in Disconnected E21, along with Uber’s diversification efforts, Twitter’s gamified privacy policy, CEO reputations & the effects on share prices, and more with our special guest Charis Marr.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Twitter’s gamification and simplification of its privacy policy
- Johnny Depp and Amber Heard’s commitment to involving the court of public opinion
- Uber’s huge raft of new products, and whether people will actually need them
- Disputes over the number of Twitter bots interrupting Elon Musk’s takeover
- How a CEO’s reputation can be an unmatched brand tool or a huge liability
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Will your speech be truly free with Twitter’s future plans?
Since Elon Musk confirmed his intention to buy the social media giant, there are so many questions around the implications of this deal on free speech, control, and billionaires’ influence.
Breaking this down with me this week on Disconnected is a friend of the show - Jason Kapadia (previously on Episode 2) - as we dive into Twitter’s future, the effects of social media on war, tracking tech for parents, and Snap’s new drone…
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The true motivations behind Elon’s scheduled Twitter takeover
- Where the line could be drawn on ‘free speech’
- Social media’s impact on war
- Tracking tech for parents to keep tabs on their children
- Snap’s new flying selfie ‘drone’
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Few people can influence the world quite like Elon Musk.
The world’s richest person is no stranger to controversy, so what effect might his latest escapades in the tech world have on our social media landscape?
On this week’s Disconnected, we talk Musk’s Twitter takeover (which has been finalised since recording), fighting the filter-happy social media landscape, how you might soon end up subscribing to own your iPhones, and much more across the tech world.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Elon Musk’s recent TED2022 appearance, and Twitter takeover
- BeReal, a social media site deconstructing the filter-happy social landscape
- How dating apps are evolving to become more social
- Speculation over Apple’s iPhone subscription plan
- Social media budgets and data’s relationship with creativity
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
What happens to your data when you die?
Data rights are already a touchy subject in the living world, so what muddy waters might the prospect of a digital afterlife present to us?
In this week’s episode of Disconnected, we’ve got a huge range of topics from the latest in tech to discuss, from investors being fleeced of their bitcoin and linking our brains to social media, through to a Meta-organised political campaign and the latest Wordle offshoot.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- What happens to your data after you die
- Neural technology, and how it could shape how we connect with the web
- Netflix’s latest thrilling documentary on bitcoin theft
- Bytedance’s questionable use of data scraped from other platforms
- The new Wordle spinoff catching our eyes (and ears), Heardle
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
It looks like NFTs and cryptocurrency are here to stay - join us as we dive headfirst into the world of blockchain.
Between Ben Wiggins and Felina Tan, we’re taking our first steps into crypto trading and NFT ownership, and for anyone looking to do the same we’re sharing every facet of our experiences so far on episode 17 of Disconnected.
On top of that, we’re taking a look at the Bitcoin theft behind an upcoming Netflix series, the social good being created by our beloved David Beckham, police use of facial recognition, and a renewed warning about dangerous deepfakes...
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The dangers of deepfake technology being used for ill-intent
- Use of automatic facial recognition in the English & Welsh police
- Catching the perpetrator of one of the largest ever Bitcoin thefts
- Ben’s experience entering into the world of cryptocurrency, and how to get started
- Felina’s first NFT’s, what they are, and how much they’re worth
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Facebook forms part of our digital past and is a titan at present - do they have their future figured out, and how will their actions affect us…?
Hot off the back of a lengthy and revealing interview with Lex Fridman, Mark Zuckerberg’s next moves with Meta, Facebook, and the Metaverse hold immense power over the internet going forward.
For this week’s discussion on privacy, peer pressure and putting tech to humanitarian use, I’m joined once again by my panel of lovely co-hosts, with a substitution this week in Felina’s absence - a friend of the show returning from E2: Mobicia Founder & Developer, Jason Kapadia.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Our highlights from Mark Zuckerberg’s recent interview with Lex Fridman
- Facebook’s whistleblower, and her damning findings on the impact of Instagram on teens
- The future of security, fraud and harassment in the Metaverse
- How tech has been used for good in support of Ukraine
- Whether we’re seeing more polarisation now than we did before the proliferation of social media
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
We live in a bizarre world where Kanye West can be embroiled in a feud with Peppa Pig.
Social media has changed the way we communicate, engage, and in some unfortunate cases spit vitriol towards others - cartoon pig or otherwise.
On this week’s episode of Disconnected, our panel of co-hosts consider the societal impact of our tech-driven lives, from blurred boundaries of work-life balance and regaining focus, to how New Zealand are fighting back against the keyboard warriors.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The rise of ‘Jobfishing’ and the current state of LinkedIn
- What we need in order to focus in the modern world
- Learnings from Kanye West’s beef with Peppa Pig
- Who’s responsible for work-life balance, and how tech blurs those boundaries
- Combatting the keyboard warrior
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Whether it’s social media, dating apps, podcasting platforms or the world stage of the Winter Olympics, the world is progressing ever closer to a tech revolution.
We’ve seen the very nature of Facebook change over its 18 year lifespan, the emergence of new ways to find love, & watched podcasts take the world by storm - and there’s no going back.
In this episode of Disconnected we’re breaking down the recent Meta stock price plummet (and how it’ll bounce right back), Spotify’s responsibility for content on its platform, particularly with recent controversies around Joe Rogan’s podcast, and how technology both enabled The Tinder Swindler and broadcast his demise.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Meta’s stock price plummet & their all-out bet on the Metaverse
- Spotify’s Joe Rogan controversy, and their responsibility to curate content
- The Winter Olympics’ sponsorship woes & brand boycotts
- How technology enabled The Tinder Swindler in ways previously impossible
- Our ever increasing desire to digital detox
Ben Wiggins:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewiggins/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Episode 13 of Disconnected marks the start of an engaging, entertaining, and deeply insightful new co-host format with some new and familiar faces.
Returning to the podcast from past episodes are Ben Wiggins (E3) and Felina Tan (E12), and joining us to complete the lineup is MD of The Giles Agency, Jennifer Campbell.
We kick off with a look at Donald Trump’s imminent social media venture, Truth Social, an upcoming government campaign against end-to-end encryption, owning virtual land next to Snoop Dogg in the Metaverse, and answering Jen’s burning question on the game played globally by millions: How do you Wordle…?
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The huge imminent impact of Donald Trump’s new platform, Truth Social
- Ins & outs of the government’s new campaign opposing end-to-end encryption
- The Metaverse, and how we could see real life economic principles translate into the virtual world
- Bad science, fake news, and whether it should be censored online
- Kicking the addiction to our smartphones
- Wordle: a game borne from marital commitment that’s permeating current culture
Ben Wiggins:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bewiggins/
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Jen Campbell:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-m-campbell/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Influencers have changed the internet forever - can we trust them to do so for good?
Modern social media is awash with brand deals, collaborations, and audiences hanging on every word of these internet personalities.
This week I’m joined by career marketeer Felina Tan to look back at how exactly we got here, and what the future holds for influencer marketing; who’ll police the bad apples, will the positive influencers win out, and what should platforms be doing to clamp down on misinformation and misleading content?
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The birth of the influencer in 1760, and today’s evolution of influencers
- Shining examples of how influencers use their power for good
- Warning signs of online personalities abusing their influence
- What platforms can do to sway influencers’ behaviour
Felina Tan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/felinagabrielletan/
Jag Sharma:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
https://www.instagram.com/jagsharma/
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
WhatsApp’s initial dream of safe, encrypted, ad-free private messaging is far from intact…
In 2009, WhatsApp’s creators Brian Acton and Jan Koum shared a passion for creating a free, global instant messaging app without the nuances that plague its current, Meta-owned definition of ‘encryption’.
Needless to say that Acton & Koum have started their own ventures since WhatsApp’s takeover. So what changed? What’s keeping users on the app in spite of its public misgivings, and what might the future hold for the platform? Learn the illuminating history behind WhatsApp on this episode of Disconnected.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The moral compass that guided WhatsApp’s original owners
- How the monetisation model evolved with Facebook’s takeover of WhatsApp
- The power of ‘network effect’, and why it keeps us on the platform
- What Facebook/Meta have planned for the future of the app
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
The introduction of the smartphone to India is irreversible - but has it been for the better?
For many in the country a smartphone presents their first calculator, camera, gaming device, and notably their first always-on portal to the constant stream of internet information.
The implications are far-reaching, but journalist and fellow podcaster Mahathi Rangarajan is scrutinous in observing the encouraging benefits of making more social connections, as well as the unfortunate drawbacks resulting from regulation, censorship, and life-threatening misinformation.
Mahathi joins me on Disconnected this week as we discuss the evolution of technology’s societal impact in India, building trust between the public & service providers, and how network journalism both helps and hinders the news world.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The cultural and societal impact smartphones have had on India
- Impacts of low digital literacy levels and trust in unverified sources
- How prolific, unchecked false news is proving dangerous & deadly
- Government involvement in regulation and censorship
- The good, bad, and ugly side of network journalism
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
It’s time to reset our relationship with technology, and the platforms to which we give our time, energy, and data.
We’re often able to drill down into the nitty-gritty of malicious practices that impact our lives, but to apply it on a societal level takes a big picture perspective. Elizabeth Uviebinené is the multi-award winning author of The Reset, a book which offers us an opportunity to reconsider the effects of our digital lifestyles.
In this deep and insightful episode of Disconnected, we take a look at the constant battle we face against apps designed to keep us there, the tech tools that are obliterating employer-employee trust, our untapped ability to create caring communities from scratch, and much more...
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Spending more fulfilling time away from our phones
- The battle against apps designed to keep us on them
- Always-online culture & the decay of trust in us to work from home
- Social media’s power to create communities for those most in need
- Accountability and anonymity online
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Photo by Annie Harmeston
We’re being scored with secret formulas we don’t understand, with no course for appeal if things don’t go our way.
Data scientists are writing code that learns from our every move, click, post and payment, and it’s tangibly changing the future of our tech-driven world.
One the one hand, we’re served posts tailored to preferences we may not know we had. On the other hand, mortgages, insurance, jail sentences and job interviews are increasingly at the mercy of code - and it’s not free from bias…
In this week’s Disconnected, we’re uncovering the fundamental issues and historical bias that permeate the systems controlling what you can and can’t do, and why we should be demanding accountability from the tech titans behind it all.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How algorithms correlate and analyse your every move
- The 2 key ingredients behind every predictive algorithm
- Who loses out when unconscious biases are carried forward in data
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
It's never been easier to fall foul of Cyber Attacks than right now…
As the world continues its perpetual shift to an always-online ecosystem, even those with no coding skills can initiate a hack within minutes. Whether it's small-scale leaks of your personal files, or a coordinated attack on HBO demanding $6m for Game of Thrones' final season not to be released to the world, it seems like the risk of being hacked looms ever-closer.
It's time to arm yourself with the tools to fight back. In this episode, we'll be looking at the biggest dangers to be aware of, who's most at risk, and the 10 things you should do RIGHT NOW to protect yourself.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- The distressingly vast range of ransomware available to hackers
- Who's most at risk of being targeted
- 10 tips to protect yourself online right now
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
China’s technological progression has been nothing short of meteoric in recent decades, integrating systems long before we’re ready to do so in the West. But how well founded are our fears? Is China’s collective embrace of revolutionary technology being used and abused, or is our trepidation holding us back?
The perfect man to answer these questions is one Blake Stone-Banks, who’s been living in Beijing since 2006 and seen how life in the capital has changed - and where our expectations and their reality differ.
We take a deep dive into China’s use of facial recognition, their openness to change, the prevalence of their WeChat platform, and whether their Social Credit system really lives up to the scepticism we’ve had since the Black Mirror episode that warned us against such a system...
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- China’s rapidly growing use of technology
- The prevalence of WeChat as an almost-universal platform
- How facial recognition tech has impacted life in China
- Drawing a distinction between personal and business platforms
- The reality of China’s Social Credit System, and how it compares to THAT Black Mirror episode
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Three letters are taking the world by storm - N. F. T.
Non-Fungible Tokens are a growing phenomenon built on the emerging blockchain technology with far-reaching impacts on currency, art, collectibles, brand integration, and undoubtedly a number of other applications yet to present themselves.
Here to demystify the world of NFTs and blockchain on this episode of Disconnected is Chris Ghent, a trailblazer in the NFT space. We dive into what an NFT truly is, why marketing teams are embracing their own NFTs, and how blockchain will affect the future of digital ownership and currency.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- What NFTs are, and how they’re made
- Why marketing teams are embracing NFTs
- The relationship between NFTs and Blockchain
- Entry points into NFT tech and art
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Apple and Facebook are two of the largest behemoths in the tech space, influencing every facet of software development and hardware design alike, and with iOS 14.5 the two are at war for the internet…
As the ripple effects of Apple’s changes to privacy begin to emerge for us as users, small business owners, and the giant, influential players in the technology space, it’s time to break down this battle.
What can and cannot now be tracked, who has the moral high ground, and is our data really safer now than it was before? Discover these answers, and so much more, in this episode of the Disconnected podcast.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How IDFA numbers help track your activity and serve you tailored ads
- Apps building up location data through access to your camera roll
- Key stances from Apple and Facebook on their iOS 14.5 update
- Pros and cons to small businesses of Facebook’s ad targeting
- Apple’s walled garden, and how they keep you in their ecosystem
- The deeper prize to be won in this battle for the internet
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
The beautiful game is as much a business to be run as it is an experience to be shared, and both of these aspects now happen in ways that connect us all more than ever before.
As the almost-immediate response to global, social backlash towards the proposed European Super League demonstrates, social media’s power is potent, and has unlocked new opportunities for fans and clubs alike.
As Senior Manager for Marketing and Communications in the APAC region for one of the world’s most beloved clubs - FC Barcelona - Ben Wiggins joins me on Disconnected to share the incredible reach that sports teams possess in raising awareness for both themselves, and the sport as a whole.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- How social media has more fans engaged with sporting events than ever before
- Sports stars using their platform for positive, global change
- The pack mentality afforded to fans by social platforms’ apparent anonymity
- How social media shut down the European Super League in a matter of hours
- Teams becoming brands vying for attention and opportunities beyond the sport
- What platforms can do to combat abuse as effectively as they combat copyrighted content
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
To truly understand how the world of applications has evolved over the years - for better and for worse - it’s vital to observe how the development tools, app store platforms and whole tech landscape has evolved from inception to current day.
With app development pedigree spanning back to Microsoft’s Pocket PC, and a service used by around 20% of Londoners every month, Jason Kapadia’s credentials, experience and success place him perfectly to project the potentials and the pitfalls in the application space.
From resisting data harvesting advertising platforms to anticipating neural links as a high bandwidth interface of the future, we dive into the secrets behind the programs in your pocket on this riveting episode of Disconnected.
This episode covers:
- Jason’s early career in app development
- Key differences between iOS and Android’s platforms
- Resisting the industry norm of excessively storing our data
- How iOS 14.5 has changed advertising for large and small businesses
- Facebook’s battle with Apple for internet supremacy
- The future of high-bandwidth input sources and neural tech
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
We all have a story that goes much like this: you talk to a friend about a product, then hours or days later the adverts served to you are flooded with the very same product.
Where these two events have coincided so often, it’s given rise to the concern that our phones are always listening to us. So are big tech companies always eavesdropping, or could the truth be even more sinister?
Join me for the series premiere of Disconnected, where I unveil all the connections and data collection that your phone facilitates with intimidating regularity. How can we control our information? Who has access to it? And when we turn our phones off at night, are they really off…?
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- When our phones are really listening to us
- How mobile towers use signal strength to triangulate your position
- Location tracking through proximity to WiFi
- The hidden mission of the Google Street View vehicle
- Addressing the inequality of exchange between us and phone manufacturers
Links & references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Connect with Jag: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
Welcome to Disconnected, the podcast that peers behind the giant tech curtain to discover the truth behind the social media platforms and technologies that impact our everyday lives.
Before diving into the depths of today’s ‘Web 2.0’ world, it’s time to get to know your personal guide through the algorithms and data collection behind social media - Jag Sharma.
I’ve spent the last 12 years creating, developing and executing social media strategy for a number of global brands, witnessing the first hand impact of the negative feedback loops, ad targeting, and mass data collection that’s shaping the direction of our world.
Join me for the start of this journey, and subscribe to be notified of future episodes with compelling guests, fascinating debates, and social experiments from the discussions within each episode.
This episode of Disconnected covers:
- Jag’s global background in social media and content creation
- Remaining an advocate of social platforms despite its drawbacks
- Creating the world’s first fully shareable iPhone calendar app
- The advent of algorithmically targeted content
- How community monitoring helps regulate online hate speech
Links and references at: https://disconnectedpodcast.com/
Connect with Jag: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jagsharma
Disconnected shines a light on the secrets and the impact that social media and technology is having on our society, culture, politics, human interactions, and behaviour.
My name is Jag Sharma - and I’ve spent the last 12 years creating, developing and executing social media strategies for a number of global brands across a variety of industries, and have witnessed first-hand the impact that algorithms, behaviour modification, negative feedback loops, ad targeting, and mass data collection have had on shaping our world in a new direction.
This podcast is all about making you aware - giving you the insight, a look behind the giant tech curtain - and allowing you to make your own fully-informed decisions on how you strategically play (or don’t play) their game.
This is not about advocating for going dark or deleting your accounts, this is about looking under the hood and getting more informed about what’s really happening to us on a societal level as result of our tech driven lives.
In each episode I’ll deep dive into a specific topic - from how social media and technology has swayed political debates, how’s it’s disrupting societies, how we are losing access to truth, how we are losing our ability for empathy, to how our behaviour is being subtly changed little by little without us even realising.
We’ll even be chatting to a number of high-profile guests along the way, discussing specific topics and seeing how they are navigating through this complex world in their professional and personal lives.I’ll be producing a new episode regularly, so be sure to subscribe to receive a notification for a new release - you can also follow me on either Instagram (@jagsharma) or add me on LinkedIn, where I’ll be conducting debates and social experiments from the discussions within the episodes.
I’d love for you to join the conversation and share your thoughts and opinions on how social media and technology is influencing our lives.