Why the AI bubble is bound to burst, the influence of Big Tech and the concept of ‘enshittification’ with tech journalist Cory Doctorow.

In today’s episode of Culture Club Chats, we sit down with Canadian-British author, activist, journalist and blogger Cory Doctorow.

Cory’s work at the intersection of technology and culture reached new heights following the publication of his 2025 book, Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It.

The term ‘enshittification’ was coined by Cory and describes the degradation of online services and platforms like Facebook, Amazon and X in pursuit of profit. 

In this conversation, Cory unpacks why the AI bubble is bound to burst, how Big Tech has reshaped the internet, and what the future of our increasingly online lives might look like.

Cory is coming to Australia this month. He'll be at Sydney’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas from the 22nd to the 23rd of August, and Melbourne’s Now or Never Festival, presented by The Wheeler Centre, on the 25th of August. 

In Bookmarked, Cory recommends Here Where We Live Is Our Country by Molly Crabapple and Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer.

Thanks for listening - Jas & Mags xo 

Why the AI bubble is bound to burst, the influence of Big Tech and the concept of &lsquo;enshittification&rsquo; with tech journalist Cory Doctorow.
In today&rsquo;s episode of Culture Club Chats, we sit down with Canadian-British author, activist, journalist and blogger Cory Doctorow.
Cory&rsquo;s work at the intersection of technology and culture reached new heights following the publication of his 2025 book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/222376640-enshittification">Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It</a>.
The term &lsquo;enshittification&rsquo; was coined by Cory and describes the degradation of online services and platforms like Facebook, Amazon and X in pursuit of profit.&nbsp;
In this conversation, Cory unpacks why the AI bubble is bound to burst, how Big Tech has reshaped the internet, and what the future of our increasingly online lives might look like.
Cory is coming to Australia this month. He'll be at Sydney&rsquo;s <a href="https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/enshittification/">Festival of Dangerous Ideas</a> from the 22nd to the 23rd of August, and Melbourne&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification">Now or Never Festival</a>, presented by The Wheeler Centre, on the 25th of August.&nbsp;
In Bookmarked, Cory recommends <a href="https://www.readings.com.au/product/9780593229453/here-where-we-live-is-our-country--molly-crabapple--2026--9780593229453">Here Where We Live Is Our Country</a> by Molly Crabapple and <a href="https://www.dymocks.com.au/inventing-the-renaissance-by-ada-palmer-9781035910120">Inventing the Renaissance</a> by Ada Palmer.
Thanks for listening - Jas &amp; Mags xo&nbsp;

Culture Club is a weekly podcast analysing pop culture, the arts, and the internet, hosted by writers and editors Jasmine Wallis and Maggie Zhou.

Culture Club is a weekly podcast analysing pop culture, the arts, and the internet, hosted by writers and editors Jasmine Wallis and Maggie Zhou.

Culture Club

Big Tech, Enshittification & Why AI Isn’t Inevitable, With Tech Journalist Cory Doctorow

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/d5c53632-9fa8-40cc-bdff-b4a900d8a022/transcript