The full version of today's special Friday Focus is available to all paying and non-paying subscribers.

Rudyard and Janice devote today's entire show to one of the biggest news stories of the year that is not being covered by mainstream outlets: an upcoming change in the Google search engine that will have a devastating effect on everything from business profitability to how we consume news. Google's AI Overview provides AI-generated summaries instead of links to websites, which when tested in Britain resulted in a 50% drop in site traffic. 90% of Canadians use Google as their preferred search engine and smaller and medium sized businesses rely on Google to drive traffic to their websites. Even an optimistic 25% drop in web traffic to these businesses could mean the difference between being in, and out, of business. AI summaries are also going to transform the news industry, relying on one or two big media organizations for sources while shutting out independent and diverse voices. What role can the government play in mitigating the devastating effects this AI mode will have on our culture and economy? And what can businesses do to survive this AI avalanche that is just around the corner?

To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue.

More information at www.munkdebates.com.

 

The full version of today's special Friday Focus is available to all paying and non-paying subscribers.
Rudyard and Janice devote today's entire&nbsp;show to one of the biggest news stories of the year that is not being covered by mainstream outlets: an upcoming change in the Google search engine that will have a devastating effect on everything from business profitability to how we consume news. Google's AI Overview provides AI-generated summaries instead of links to websites, which when tested in Britain resulted in a 50% drop in site traffic. 90% of Canadians use Google as their preferred search engine and smaller and medium sized businesses rely on Google to drive traffic to their websites. Even an optimistic 25% drop in web traffic to these businesses could mean the difference between being in, and out, of business. AI summaries are also going to transform&nbsp;the news industry, relying on one or two big media organizations for sources while shutting out independent and diverse voices. What role can the government play in mitigating the devastating effects this AI mode will have on our culture and economy? And what can businesses do to survive this AI avalanche that is just around the corner?
To support the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a <a href="https://munkdebates.com/donate">donor</a>&nbsp;to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or&nbsp;$.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.
Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.
This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue.
More information at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.munkdebates.com">www.munkdebates.com</a>.
&nbsp;

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates Podcast

The Munk Debates Podcast is dedicated to convening civil and substantive debates and dialogues on the big issues of the day. 

 

The podcast is an extension of the charitable Munk Debates' commitment to pushing back against the political polarization and restoring the art of public debate in our time. For more information about the Munk Debates visit www.munkdebates.com/podcast

The Munk Debates Podcast is dedicated to convening civil and substantive debates and dialogues on the big issues of the day.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The podcast is an extension of the charitable Munk Debates' commitment to pushing back against the political polarization and restoring the art of public debate in our time. For more information about the Munk Debates visit www.munkdebates.com/podcast

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