088: Alex Kantrowitz of Big Technology

Boston Speaks Up

Guest Alex Kantrowitz is the founder of Big Technology, a combo newsletter-podcast news operation analyzing the systems in the tech world that drive what we see in the headlines. He launched Big Technology on the back of his wildly successful book Always Day One, which gives a behind-the-scenes view into how Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft have “stayed on top” by operating in Day One: Instead of hunkering down and protecting core advantages, they reinvent constantly. Kantrowitz most recently served as senior technology reporter at Buzzfeed, and he regularly appears on CNBC to break down the news surrounding the tech giants. He penned the Tech Giant Update newsletter at BuzzFeed. In that role, he fell in love with the back and forth with readers, and found that the live replies with his audience were incredibly heartfelt and informative. It then comes as no surprise that he’s now made a newsletter his de facto journalism format. Prior to Buzzfeed, Kantrowitz spent time writing for Forbes and Ad Age. He reported on marketing technology at Ad Age, which gives him a really interesting perspective at the intersection of technology disruption with advertising and commerce. He studied at Cornell University where he wrote for the Cornell Daily Sun and co-hosted WVBR's Weekend Pulse. His radio background shines in his Big Technology podcast and furthermore when he appears as a guest on shows such as his appearance here on Boston Speaks Up. In this episode, we discuss with Kantrowitz his journey to starting Big Technology, his modern media business monetization model, recent news such as the spiral of Silicon Valley Bank, his time in Seattle working on Always Day One, the impact of AI, the future of Big Tech, and much more.