Could AI’s biggest impact be economic, not technological?
On this episode of Digital Disruption, we’re joined by the founder of EZPR and host of Better Offline podcast, Ed Zitron.
Ed is a technology writer, public relations expert, and podcaster known for his critical takes on the tech industry and its biggest players. His work has appeared in leading outlets including The Atlantic, Business Insider, and TechCrunch. He is the author of the popular newsletter Where’s Your Ed At, launched in 2020, where he explores the intersection of technology, business, and culture. Ed also hosts the Better Offline podcast, delving into the realities of the tech industry and the ripple effects of the AI boom. With his candid insights and thoughtful commentary, Ed has become a trusted voice and sought-after speaker within the tech community.
One of the most outspoken critics of the AI boom, Ed Zitron joins Geoff to cut through the noise and talk about the truth behind generative AI. Ed breaks down why he believes AI “doesn’t work,” what’s really driving the trillion-dollar hype, and why big tech, media, and investors may be steering straight into the next Enron moment. This conversation unpacks why large language models fall short, how Microsoft’s AI Copilot has failed to deliver, and how corporate opportunism and investor “vibes” are fueling one of the biggest speculative bubbles in tech history. They also explore the “Enron-like” risks in the AI hardware race, the potential fallout for retail investors and startups, and tackle one of tech’s most misunderstood narratives, the myth of AI-driven job loss, revealing who’s really being replaced.
In this episode:
00:00 Intro
00:36 “AI doesn’t work”
02:05 The limits of LLMs
04:33 Microsoft Copilot and the illusion of productivity
07:05 The AI job myth: Who’s really being replaced?
10:00 CEOs, opportunism, and the false narrative of AI efficiency
12:00 The Salesforce example: Lies, hype, and failure to deliver
14:00 What AI can actually do
18:00 The trust problem
19:45 Media complacency and tech industry collusion
22:00 Microsoft, Nvidia, and false growth
25:00 The Enron parallels
28:30 Why investors are rewarding bad behavior
31:00 Who gets hurt when the AI bubble bursts?
35:00 Unsustainable startups and rising model costs
38:00 The coming collapse of AI infrastructure
40:00 What business leaders should do now to avoid being burned
44:30 The harsh truth about ChatGPT
49:00 What real innovation looks like: Batteries, EVs, AR, and more
54:00 The future of work beyond AI hype
Connect with Ed:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edzitron/
X: https://x.com/edzitron
Instagram: instagram.com/edzitron
Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=podcast
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