Substack’s CEO on AI slop, free speech, and taking on YouTube

Substack’s CEO on AI slop, free speech, and taking on YouTube

Alex and Ellis sit down with Chris Best, CEO of Substack, for a live interview at the ACCESS launch party at Notion HQ in San Francisco. They get into Substack's growth, the future of media, and the ongoing debate around free speech and moderation. They also press him on the Substack creator exodus narrative, break news about the platform's upcoming AI features, and discuss what happens to independent media when AI rewrites the internet. Follow ACCESS on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/] Follow Alex: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sources.news/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazFPSGRqeXotYS1GZFM3YkVzUC1SczY4ZDRyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuWTBkc1hrMXFyS0Nfd1F5ZEdqbDBsUEItZWZ0QjRNbkNSVng1RTlhZERKR1RpRE5YZnF1MEt1VXBGbzhiSzQ3V0cxZjhDSkRkUzd1RDNyWEtaaWF5azQ1VzBUa016Q0cxSWdBYVN6Tm8tMXowOHI0RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsources.news%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/alexeheath/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NiWXd0LTdsVmtzZkU4QThBTmh4VUM5bXhFd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTHZoczVoRm9HVjd2QjFEN3gwSTI2U0otSVNrbW5VY043NWtTTzQ5N045QmUyYzljS055aHJ4T1g1QjV2LThEZ2VjV29TZ0I1YkYzYUw2X2lFUmM2V3YyUkx3aVJ3d3NUd3RpelhOc3B2YmZOT2JmTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Falexeheath%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] Follow Ellis: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://meaning.company/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbC0yYWFMT3k0ek1Laks2R2RJY0VYTExiUnZ3QXxBQ3Jtc0ttaUoxT3htWVp1ZDdwMTdRNVNhdkpoYXZzZ1lGNm9ES2xIbW5mdUdFT0FMVUNnTExQcUlLOHJZbGQ2UVhqekRvVFYtbk8yV3ByZ3hvZENhU0dPNmhVOUE3ZFhXNmNoZzYzWU96bTA0bjJZQ0Y5WkRUaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmeaning.company%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/hamburger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2d5Q0pLaXNZVGtsVGxKTTFLU3ZQUHVYME5WZ3xBQ3Jtc0tteDJfMEotcXJhR2g5NVdfT3FTcVdZVjhmMXRxSTRJakpPQmVWOEtGUXJLR1YzcFBQdmJlN2s2bnI1aFJjdnZjYVFySmpia2owQjc1ZTM4MDEtTzNPckZkZkszOTl1RWxWajg2VXZVOWY5TDJMdHZnUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fhamburger&v=96Mi30ouHxo]  ACCESS is produced in partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Anthropic’s hunt for the next Claude Code

Alex sits down with Mike Krieger, co-founder of Instagram and head of Anthropic Labs, to talk about what the team is working on after Claude Code and where AI is headed next. They discuss how Anthropic's skunkworks lab operates, why Mike stepped down as CPO to return to building, and what the competition with OpenAI's Codex looks like from the inside. They also get into the white spaces Mike is most excited about, why human creativity becomes more valuable as AI gets better, and what Anthropic's culture has in common with Apple. Follow ACCESS on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/] Follow Alex: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sources.news/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazFPSGRqeXotYS1GZFM3YkVzUC1SczY4ZDRyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuWTBkc1hrMXFyS0Nfd1F5ZEdqbDBsUEItZWZ0QjRNbkNSVng1RTlhZERKR1RpRE5YZnF1MEt1VXBGbzhiSzQ3V0cxZjhDSkRkUzd1RDNyWEtaaWF5azQ1VzBUa016Q0cxSWdBYVN6Tm8tMXowOHI0RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsources.news%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/alexeheath/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NiWXd0LTdsVmtzZkU4QThBTmh4VUM5bXhFd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTHZoczVoRm9HVjd2QjFEN3gwSTI2U0otSVNrbW5VY043NWtTTzQ5N045QmUyYzljS055aHJ4T1g1QjV2LThEZ2VjV29TZ0I1YkYzYUw2X2lFUmM2V3YyUkx3aVJ3d3NUd3RpelhOc3B2YmZOT2JmTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Falexeheath%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] Follow Ellis: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://meaning.company/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbC0yYWFMT3k0ek1Laks2R2RJY0VYTExiUnZ3QXxBQ3Jtc0ttaUoxT3htWVp1ZDdwMTdRNVNhdkpoYXZzZ1lGNm9ES2xIbW5mdUdFT0FMVUNnTExQcUlLOHJZbGQ2UVhqekRvVFYtbk8yV3ByZ3hvZENhU0dPNmhVOUE3ZFhXNmNoZzYzWU96bTA0bjJZQ0Y5WkRUaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmeaning.company%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/hamburger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2d5Q0pLaXNZVGtsVGxKTTFLU3ZQUHVYME5WZ3xBQ3Jtc0tteDJfMEotcXJhR2g5NVdfT3FTcVdZVjhmMXRxSTRJakpPQmVWOEtGUXJLR1YzcFBQdmJlN2s2bnI1aFJjdnZjYVFySmpia2owQjc1ZTM4MDEtTzNPckZkZkszOTl1RWxWajg2VXZVOWY5TDJMdHZnUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fhamburger&v=96Mi30ouHxo]  ACCESS is produced in partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

'AI Coachella' Stanford prof on data center backlash

Alex and Ellis sit down with Anjney Midha, a venture capitalist, Stanford AI lecturer, and founder of AMP, to discuss why zero-sum thinking is holding the AI industry back. They discuss what it would look like if labs actually cooperated, why compute needs to work like electricity, and what his viral Stanford class on AI has revealed about the next generation of founders. They also get into the GameStop and eBay acquisition, why data centers need something like a nutrition label, and what AI is doing to startup culture right now. Follow ACCESS on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/] Follow Alex: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sources.news/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazFPSGRqeXotYS1GZFM3YkVzUC1SczY4ZDRyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuWTBkc1hrMXFyS0Nfd1F5ZEdqbDBsUEItZWZ0QjRNbkNSVng1RTlhZERKR1RpRE5YZnF1MEt1VXBGbzhiSzQ3V0cxZjhDSkRkUzd1RDNyWEtaaWF5azQ1VzBUa016Q0cxSWdBYVN6Tm8tMXowOHI0RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsources.news%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/alexeheath/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NiWXd0LTdsVmtzZkU4QThBTmh4VUM5bXhFd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTHZoczVoRm9HVjd2QjFEN3gwSTI2U0otSVNrbW5VY043NWtTTzQ5N045QmUyYzljS055aHJ4T1g1QjV2LThEZ2VjV29TZ0I1YkYzYUw2X2lFUmM2V3YyUkx3aVJ3d3NUd3RpelhOc3B2YmZOT2JmTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Falexeheath%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] Follow Ellis: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://meaning.company/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbC0yYWFMT3k0ek1Laks2R2RJY0VYTExiUnZ3QXxBQ3Jtc0ttaUoxT3htWVp1ZDdwMTdRNVNhdkpoYXZzZ1lGNm9ES2xIbW5mdUdFT0FMVUNnTExQcUlLOHJZbGQ2UVhqekRvVFYtbk8yV3ByZ3hvZENhU0dPNmhVOUE3ZFhXNmNoZzYzWU96bTA0bjJZQ0Y5WkRUaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmeaning.company%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/hamburger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2d5Q0pLaXNZVGtsVGxKTTFLU3ZQUHVYME5WZ3xBQ3Jtc0tteDJfMEotcXJhR2g5NVdfT3FTcVdZVjhmMXRxSTRJakpPQmVWOEtGUXJLR1YzcFBQdmJlN2s2bnI1aFJjdnZjYVFySmpia2owQjc1ZTM4MDEtTzNPckZkZkszOTl1RWxWajg2VXZVOWY5TDJMdHZnUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fhamburger&v=96Mi30ouHxo]  ACCESS is produced in partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

What happens when AI runs a store

Alex and Ellis sit down with Andon Labs co-founder Lukas Petersson to talk about what it looks like when AI moves out of the chat window and into the real world. They discuss AI-run stores and vending machines, why people behave differently when interacting with AI, and what happens when machines start managing businesses on their own. They also get into the idea of humans working for AI, whether all software is about to disappear, and how close we really are to that shift. Follow ACCESS on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/] Follow Alex: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sources.news/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazFPSGRqeXotYS1GZFM3YkVzUC1SczY4ZDRyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuWTBkc1hrMXFyS0Nfd1F5ZEdqbDBsUEItZWZ0QjRNbkNSVng1RTlhZERKR1RpRE5YZnF1MEt1VXBGbzhiSzQ3V0cxZjhDSkRkUzd1RDNyWEtaaWF5azQ1VzBUa016Q0cxSWdBYVN6Tm8tMXowOHI0RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsources.news%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/alexeheath/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NiWXd0LTdsVmtzZkU4QThBTmh4VUM5bXhFd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTHZoczVoRm9HVjd2QjFEN3gwSTI2U0otSVNrbW5VY043NWtTTzQ5N045QmUyYzljS055aHJ4T1g1QjV2LThEZ2VjV29TZ0I1YkYzYUw2X2lFUmM2V3YyUkx3aVJ3d3NUd3RpelhOc3B2YmZOT2JmTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Falexeheath%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] Follow Ellis: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://meaning.company/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbC0yYWFMT3k0ek1Laks2R2RJY0VYTExiUnZ3QXxBQ3Jtc0ttaUoxT3htWVp1ZDdwMTdRNVNhdkpoYXZzZ1lGNm9ES2xIbW5mdUdFT0FMVUNnTExQcUlLOHJZbGQ2UVhqekRvVFYtbk8yV3ByZ3hvZENhU0dPNmhVOUE3ZFhXNmNoZzYzWU96bTA0bjJZQ0Y5WkRUaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmeaning.company%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/hamburger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2d5Q0pLaXNZVGtsVGxKTTFLU3ZQUHVYME5WZ3xBQ3Jtc0tteDJfMEotcXJhR2g5NVdfT3FTcVdZVjhmMXRxSTRJakpPQmVWOEtGUXJLR1YzcFBQdmJlN2s2bnI1aFJjdnZjYVFySmpia2owQjc1ZTM4MDEtTzNPckZkZkszOTl1RWxWajg2VXZVOWY5TDJMdHZnUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fhamburger&v=96Mi30ouHxo]  ACCESS is produced in partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Silicon Valley finally has its “Succession”

What happens when Silicon Valley becomes the subject of its own satire? Alex and Ellis sit down with The Audacity showrunner Jonathan Glatzer to talk about building a TV series that takes on Big Tech, the battle for your private data, and the power dynamics shaping Silicon Valley — and Hollywood too. They also go deep into the role of satire in critiquing power, AI's role in the writing process, and why AMC was the only network brave enough to greenlight the show. Follow ACCESS on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/accesspodcast/] Follow Alex: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://sources.news/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqazFPSGRqeXotYS1GZFM3YkVzUC1SczY4ZDRyZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuWTBkc1hrMXFyS0Nfd1F5ZEdqbDBsUEItZWZ0QjRNbkNSVng1RTlhZERKR1RpRE5YZnF1MEt1VXBGbzhiSzQ3V0cxZjhDSkRkUzd1RDNyWEtaaWF5azQ1VzBUa016Q0cxSWdBYVN6Tm8tMXowOHI0RQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fsources.news%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/alexeheath/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2NiWXd0LTdsVmtzZkU4QThBTmh4VUM5bXhFd3xBQ3Jtc0tsTHZoczVoRm9HVjd2QjFEN3gwSTI2U0otSVNrbW5VY043NWtTTzQ5N045QmUyYzljS055aHJ4T1g1QjV2LThEZ2VjV29TZ0I1YkYzYUw2X2lFUmM2V3YyUkx3aVJ3d3NUd3RpelhOc3B2YmZOT2JmTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Falexeheath%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] Follow Ellis: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://meaning.company/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbC0yYWFMT3k0ek1Laks2R2RJY0VYTExiUnZ3QXxBQ3Jtc0ttaUoxT3htWVp1ZDdwMTdRNVNhdkpoYXZzZ1lGNm9ES2xIbW5mdUdFT0FMVUNnTExQcUlLOHJZbGQ2UVhqekRvVFYtbk8yV3ByZ3hvZENhU0dPNmhVOUE3ZFhXNmNoZzYzWU96bTA0bjJZQ0Y5WkRUaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fmeaning.company%2F&v=96Mi30ouHxo] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/hamburger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2d5Q0pLaXNZVGtsVGxKTTFLU3ZQUHVYME5WZ3xBQ3Jtc0tteDJfMEotcXJhR2g5NVdfT3FTcVdZVjhmMXRxSTRJakpPQmVWOEtGUXJLR1YzcFBQdmJlN2s2bnI1aFJjdnZjYVFySmpia2owQjc1ZTM4MDEtTzNPckZkZkszOTl1RWxWajg2VXZVOWY5TDJMdHZnUQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fx.com%2Fhamburger&v=96Mi30ouHxo]  ACCESS is produced in partnership with the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]