Kara Swisher Is Opting Out of Meta's New AI Tool (And You Should Too) | Pivot
Episode Description
Kara is joined by Puck’s Matt Belloni, host of @TheTownPodcast, to unpack states’ upcoming antitrust challenge to the Paramount–Warner Bros. Discovery merger, Disney’s fight with the FCC over "The View," and Netflix’s growing YouTube ambitions. Then, they discuss Meta’s controversial AI image generator, the Sam Altman movie finding a new home after Amazon walked away, and the blockbuster hype surrounding Christopher Nolan’s "The Odyssey."
Kara's Threads post on opting out of Meta's AI photo generator: https://www.threads.com/@karaswisher/post/DajGdbIEZX5
00:00 Intro 5:16 States Finalize Paramount Antitrust Suit 18:18 Disney Hits Back at FCC 27:28 Netflix’s New Deals 39:56 Meta AI Generator 43:50 Hollywood Buzz 56:18 Predictions
Producers: Lara Naaman Zoë Marcus Taylor Griffin Todd Wiseman
Vox Media's Executive Producer of Podcasts: Nishat Kurwa
Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or email [email protected]
Brief Summary
Cara Swisher and Matt Bellan discuss Paramount's antitrust lawsuit, Disney's FCC filing, and Netflix's new short-form content strategy.
Key points
- Critique of Can Lions Festival. Matt Bellan describes the Can Lions as a 'tacky business conference' focused on advertising.
- Disney's Defense of The View. Disney argues that The View should be exempt from equal time rules, citing First Amendment rights.
- Brendan Carr's Overstep. Brendan Carr's comments have raised eyebrows, with many believing he's crossed the line.
- Disney's Aggressive Stance. Disney's new CEO, Josh Dear, is pushing back against political pressures, signaling a bold new direction.
- Disney's Emotional Connection. Disney's popularity stems from its deep emotional ties with audiences, making it a formidable player.
- Netflix's New Strategy. Netflix is venturing into short-form content to boost engagement amidst declining viewership.
Ask about Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway
Episode highlights
- Critique of Can Lions FestivalMatt Bellan describes the Can Lions as a 'tacky business conference' focused on advertising.“Can Lions is a tacky business conference.”1:24Jul 10, 2026
- Disney's Defense of The ViewDisney argues that The View should be exempt from equal time rules, citing First Amendment rights.“The First Amendment does not permit the government to sit in an editor's chair.”18:35Jul 10, 2026
- Brendan Carr's OverstepBrendan Carr's comments have raised eyebrows, with many believing he's crossed the line.“I think Brendan Carr has overstepped especially in his statements.”19:14Jul 10, 2026
- Disney's Aggressive StanceDisney's new CEO, Josh Dear, is pushing back against political pressures, signaling a bold new direction.“He's pushing back on the dumb Kimmel thing.”20:34Jul 10, 2026
- Disney's Emotional ConnectionDisney's popularity stems from its deep emotional ties with audiences, making it a formidable player.“Disney is a really big popular corporation that people have an emotional connection to.”22:17Jul 10, 2026
- Netflix's New StrategyNetflix is venturing into short-form content to boost engagement amidst declining viewership.“Netflix is getting into the short form content business.”27:29Jul 10, 2026
- The Challenge of Competing with YouTubeNetflix's struggle to retain viewers leads to a shift towards YouTube-style content.“This is all just about Netflix having YouTube envy.”29:12Jul 10, 2026
- Sam Alman Movie Finds New HomeThe Sam Alman focused movie has found a new home at indie studio Neon after Amazon dropped it.“Amazon walked away from the project after striking a major partnership with OpenAI.”43:57Jul 10, 2026
