Marty Swant
@martyswant.bsky.social
NYC-based journalist covering tech/marketing/policy/media focused on AI, ads, antitrust, etc.
Currently freelance (NYT, FastCo, Inc, etc.), I spent the past decade on staff at Digiday, Forbes, Adweek, the AP and elsewhere. https://authory.com/MartySwant
Currently freelance (NYT, FastCo, Inc, etc.), I spent the past decade on staff at Digiday, Forbes, Adweek, the AP and elsewhere. https://authory.com/MartySwant
Greetings from Switzerland!! Anyone have Zurich recs? What are the things I can’t miss in my few free hours?
I’m only here for an afternoon layover on my way to Barcelona for Mozilla Festival 2025!
I’m only here for an afternoon layover on my way to Barcelona for Mozilla Festival 2025!
November 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Greetings from Switzerland!! Anyone have Zurich recs? What are the things I can’t miss in my few free hours?
I’m only here for an afternoon layover on my way to Barcelona for Mozilla Festival 2025!
I’m only here for an afternoon layover on my way to Barcelona for Mozilla Festival 2025!
November 3, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Happy NYC Marathon Day to everyone racing and cheering! It’s always one of the happiest and most inspiring days.
Here’s the lead pack in the Pro Men’s Race: Mile 7 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Here’s the lead pack in the Pro Men’s Race: Mile 7 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
November 2, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Happy NYC Marathon Day to everyone racing and cheering! It’s always one of the happiest and most inspiring days.
Here’s the lead pack in the Pro Men’s Race: Mile 7 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Here’s the lead pack in the Pro Men’s Race: Mile 7 in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
A new @neildegrassetyson.com convo about AI deepfakes is a smart and entertaining explainer about what they are, how they work and why they're dangerous.
Come for the clever flat-earth hook. Stay for the full convo.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA0B...
Come for the clever flat-earth hook. Stay for the full convo.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA0B...
It’s Getting Harder To Know What’s Real
YouTube video by StarTalk
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:42 PM
A new @neildegrassetyson.com convo about AI deepfakes is a smart and entertaining explainer about what they are, how they work and why they're dangerous.
Come for the clever flat-earth hook. Stay for the full convo.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA0B...
Come for the clever flat-earth hook. Stay for the full convo.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EA0B...
Reposted by Marty Swant
Jordan Lechinsky spoke to @martyswant.bsky.social about the 3 C’s that drive AI visibility — content, comms, and community — and how brands need to speak up to show up: www.ana.net/magazines/sh...
Marketers Need a New Scorecard for Zero-Click Search
Search engines fueled by artificial intelligence, or zero-click search, are starting to eclipse traditional search. That's leading marketers to reevaluate their search engine optimization strategy fro...
www.ana.net
October 31, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Jordan Lechinsky spoke to @martyswant.bsky.social about the 3 C’s that drive AI visibility — content, comms, and community — and how brands need to speak up to show up: www.ana.net/magazines/sh...
Right in time for the Halloween — and before Election Day — the @nytimes.com editorial board has a new piece with 12 benchmarks of an autocracy to examine if the U.S. is becoming one.
It's an incisive article with analysis, historical context and a compelling design with images & video.
It's an incisive article with analysis, historical context and a compelling design with images & video.
Opinion | In Trump’s America, Are We Losing Our Democracy? (Gift Article)
Donald Trump has wielded power as no previous president has.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Right in time for the Halloween — and before Election Day — the @nytimes.com editorial board has a new piece with 12 benchmarks of an autocracy to examine if the U.S. is becoming one.
It's an incisive article with analysis, historical context and a compelling design with images & video.
It's an incisive article with analysis, historical context and a compelling design with images & video.
In my latest story for Inc., I wrote why marketers are increasingly testing "AI personas" and some recent research about LLMs' ability (and inability) to mimic real consumer traits.
I spoke with experts about how they work, where they're being used and what to know about the risks & limitations.
I spoke with experts about how they work, where they're being used and what to know about the risks & limitations.
Businesses Are Using AI-Created 'Customers' to Unlock Growth
Brands are finding benefits from connecting with fake customers with AI personas. Here's why this strategy is working.
www.inc.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:36 PM
In my latest story for Inc., I wrote why marketers are increasingly testing "AI personas" and some recent research about LLMs' ability (and inability) to mimic real consumer traits.
I spoke with experts about how they work, where they're being used and what to know about the risks & limitations.
I spoke with experts about how they work, where they're being used and what to know about the risks & limitations.
Reposted by Marty Swant
Trump has been obsessed with nuclear weapons for decades. As Tom says, none of what Trump claims below is accurate. No nation except North Korea has tested nuclear weapons since the 1990s (the last US test was 1992). Russia and China will likely see renewed US nuclear weapons testing as escalatory.
None of this is correct. Good thing we have a steady hand on "nuclear"
October 30, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Trump has been obsessed with nuclear weapons for decades. As Tom says, none of what Trump claims below is accurate. No nation except North Korea has tested nuclear weapons since the 1990s (the last US test was 1992). Russia and China will likely see renewed US nuclear weapons testing as escalatory.
This is not only a fun and quick story about the phenomenon of the Louvre heist, but also a smart analysis of how generative AI is altering our default perception of reality —both individually & collectively.
As the piece points out, real photographers will be even more important in the AI era.
As the piece points out, real photographers will be even more important in the AI era.
Is This Dapper Man Going to Crack the Louvre Heist Case?
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 1:25 AM
This is not only a fun and quick story about the phenomenon of the Louvre heist, but also a smart analysis of how generative AI is altering our default perception of reality —both individually & collectively.
As the piece points out, real photographers will be even more important in the AI era.
As the piece points out, real photographers will be even more important in the AI era.
Check out my latest story for @fastcompany.com!
I wrote about In Formation, a satirical tech mag that just published its first issue in 25 years. It’s meticulously designed, smartly written and sneakily profound.
Founded in 1998, it's 150 pages of articles, essays, comics and fake ads.
I wrote about In Formation, a satirical tech mag that just published its first issue in 25 years. It’s meticulously designed, smartly written and sneakily profound.
Founded in 1998, it's 150 pages of articles, essays, comics and fake ads.
Does Silicon Valley have a sense of humor?
In its new iteration, the satirical magazine In Formation looks to skewer everything from bioethics to AI.
www.fastcompany.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Check out my latest story for @fastcompany.com!
I wrote about In Formation, a satirical tech mag that just published its first issue in 25 years. It’s meticulously designed, smartly written and sneakily profound.
Founded in 1998, it's 150 pages of articles, essays, comics and fake ads.
I wrote about In Formation, a satirical tech mag that just published its first issue in 25 years. It’s meticulously designed, smartly written and sneakily profound.
Founded in 1998, it's 150 pages of articles, essays, comics and fake ads.
Reposted by Marty Swant
ChatGPT gave a significant portion of my students the wrong answer to an easy quiz question that everyone used to always get right
I had two groups of students turn in annotated bibliographies that were ChatGPT generated - not a single citation actually existed
I had two groups of students turn in annotated bibliographies that were ChatGPT generated - not a single citation actually existed
October 17, 2025 at 1:27 AM
ChatGPT gave a significant portion of my students the wrong answer to an easy quiz question that everyone used to always get right
I had two groups of students turn in annotated bibliographies that were ChatGPT generated - not a single citation actually existed
I had two groups of students turn in annotated bibliographies that were ChatGPT generated - not a single citation actually existed
It's worth reading this interview with the Rutgers prof who studies fascism that was just forced to flee the U.S.
"I think that we can see a lot of the Trump administration’s policies fitting into that kind of theory. So it’s too late for preventative antifascism. I think we’re in a new era."
"I think that we can see a lot of the Trump administration’s policies fitting into that kind of theory. So it’s too late for preventative antifascism. I think we’re in a new era."
October 14, 2025 at 3:59 PM
It's worth reading this interview with the Rutgers prof who studies fascism that was just forced to flee the U.S.
"I think that we can see a lot of the Trump administration’s policies fitting into that kind of theory. So it’s too late for preventative antifascism. I think we’re in a new era."
"I think that we can see a lot of the Trump administration’s policies fitting into that kind of theory. So it’s too late for preventative antifascism. I think we’re in a new era."
WPP and Google just announced an "expanded partnership" that includes WPP committing to spend $400 million with Google over the next five years.
A blog post about the news gives more details about the partnership. I couldn't help noticing it uses the phrase "bespoke AI" three different times.
A blog post about the news gives more details about the partnership. I couldn't help noticing it uses the phrase "bespoke AI" three different times.
WPP and Google forge groundbreaking partnership to redefine marketing with AI | WPP
Five-year partnership expansion will empower brands to create hyper-relevant campaigns in days, not months, magnifying proven results across the integrated marketing and commerce journey
www.wpp.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:48 PM
WPP and Google just announced an "expanded partnership" that includes WPP committing to spend $400 million with Google over the next five years.
A blog post about the news gives more details about the partnership. I couldn't help noticing it uses the phrase "bespoke AI" three different times.
A blog post about the news gives more details about the partnership. I couldn't help noticing it uses the phrase "bespoke AI" three different times.
Just started this Uzbek novel about a French psychologist-poet-technologist who creates what's essentially his own large language model— in the 1980s.
I randomly came across the book a month ago and neat to see it’s now a National Book Award finalist!
I randomly came across the book a month ago and neat to see it’s now a National Book Award finalist!
October 14, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Just started this Uzbek novel about a French psychologist-poet-technologist who creates what's essentially his own large language model— in the 1980s.
I randomly came across the book a month ago and neat to see it’s now a National Book Award finalist!
I randomly came across the book a month ago and neat to see it’s now a National Book Award finalist!
Reposted by Marty Swant
It’s amazing how all the reporting is just memory-holing this part
October 14, 2025 at 1:16 PM
It’s amazing how all the reporting is just memory-holing this part
Another journalist has been illegally arrested. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/10/w...
WGN-TV producer detained during ICE enforcement action in Lincoln Square
A WGN-TV video editor and producer was roughly detained by two Border Patrol agents on Friday morning during a highly visible rush hour enforcement action in Lincoln Square.
www.chicagotribune.com
October 10, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Another journalist has been illegally arrested. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/10/w...
I know I'm an outlier, but I’ve truly missed having an office the past five years.
Instead of seeing commuting as a burden, I see it as a healthy buffer for creating a work-life balance and spending more time around people vs being home alone all day as an extrovert.
Instead of seeing commuting as a burden, I see it as a healthy buffer for creating a work-life balance and spending more time around people vs being home alone all day as an extrovert.
How Much Pay Will Workers Sacrifice for Remote Work?
A new study of tech workers offers an answer: quite a lot.
www.wsj.com
October 9, 2025 at 10:09 PM
I know I'm an outlier, but I’ve truly missed having an office the past five years.
Instead of seeing commuting as a burden, I see it as a healthy buffer for creating a work-life balance and spending more time around people vs being home alone all day as an extrovert.
Instead of seeing commuting as a burden, I see it as a healthy buffer for creating a work-life balance and spending more time around people vs being home alone all day as an extrovert.
Glad to hear some people still believe in the first amendment.
A federal judge in Illinois has ordered the Trump administration to stop beating, shooting at, and generally using violence against journalists and peaceful protesters. trib.al/4ZfMWqA
October 9, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Glad to hear some people still believe in the first amendment.
New AI policy scoop from me:
I dug through lobbying disclosures and online ad-spending to see which tech groups are trying to get NY's governor to veto an AI safety bill.
I also interviewed the RAISE Act's co-sponsors for their POV on the bill's urgency & their thoughts on heavy tech opposition.
I dug through lobbying disclosures and online ad-spending to see which tech groups are trying to get NY's governor to veto an AI safety bill.
I also interviewed the RAISE Act's co-sponsors for their POV on the bill's urgency & their thoughts on heavy tech opposition.
An intense battle over the RAISE Act is entering its final stretch
New York State's AI bill is more ambitious than California’s SB 53 — and is facing opposition from Andreessen Horowitz and other tech groups
www.transformernews.ai
October 9, 2025 at 5:49 PM
New AI policy scoop from me:
I dug through lobbying disclosures and online ad-spending to see which tech groups are trying to get NY's governor to veto an AI safety bill.
I also interviewed the RAISE Act's co-sponsors for their POV on the bill's urgency & their thoughts on heavy tech opposition.
I dug through lobbying disclosures and online ad-spending to see which tech groups are trying to get NY's governor to veto an AI safety bill.
I also interviewed the RAISE Act's co-sponsors for their POV on the bill's urgency & their thoughts on heavy tech opposition.
Reposted by Marty Swant
U.S. intelligence officials have published a document every four years that predicts what challenges the country and the world will face. Past editions warned of threats that came to pass, including the risk of a pandemic. Tulsi Gabbard’s office is eliminating the group that compiles the report.
Gabbard Ends Intelligence Report on Future Threats to U.S.
Some issues in the document, which is issued every four years, had become politically inconvenient, former officials said.
nyti.ms
September 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
U.S. intelligence officials have published a document every four years that predicts what challenges the country and the world will face. Past editions warned of threats that came to pass, including the risk of a pandemic. Tulsi Gabbard’s office is eliminating the group that compiles the report.
My latest story for Inc. looks at why Insulet and Pantone created a custom yellow-orange for the Omnipod insulin pump.
The pivot to “Omnipod Mango” aims to stand out in a sea of blue med tech brands. It's also to shift how people with diabetes are seen in pop culture — and how they see themselves.
The pivot to “Omnipod Mango” aims to stand out in a sea of blue med tech brands. It's also to shift how people with diabetes are seen in pop culture — and how they see themselves.
Want to Change How People Think About Your Product? Pick the Right Color
Medical device maker Insulet's new collaboration with Pantone aims to shift sentiment. Here's why it may work.
www.inc.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
My latest story for Inc. looks at why Insulet and Pantone created a custom yellow-orange for the Omnipod insulin pump.
The pivot to “Omnipod Mango” aims to stand out in a sea of blue med tech brands. It's also to shift how people with diabetes are seen in pop culture — and how they see themselves.
The pivot to “Omnipod Mango” aims to stand out in a sea of blue med tech brands. It's also to shift how people with diabetes are seen in pop culture — and how they see themselves.
Google and the DOJ are back in court today to begin the remedies phase of the ad tech antitrust trial.
For today's @nytimes.com Dealbook, I wrote a preview of the case, what's at stake, and the various private lawsuits recently filed by Google's ad tech rivals. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
For today's @nytimes.com Dealbook, I wrote a preview of the case, what's at stake, and the various private lawsuits recently filed by Google's ad tech rivals. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
H-1B Visa Upheaval Roils Companies and Geopolitics
www.nytimes.com
September 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Google and the DOJ are back in court today to begin the remedies phase of the ad tech antitrust trial.
For today's @nytimes.com Dealbook, I wrote a preview of the case, what's at stake, and the various private lawsuits recently filed by Google's ad tech rivals. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
For today's @nytimes.com Dealbook, I wrote a preview of the case, what's at stake, and the various private lawsuits recently filed by Google's ad tech rivals. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/b...
Reposted by Marty Swant
this is absolutely wild
the court *sua sponte* dismisses the case for violating Rule 8(a)
so that means the court, all on its own, looked at the complaint and said it's too long, too scattershot, too arbitrary to even count as a complaint. *never* seen this happen to a private party with counsel.
the court *sua sponte* dismisses the case for violating Rule 8(a)
so that means the court, all on its own, looked at the complaint and said it's too long, too scattershot, too arbitrary to even count as a complaint. *never* seen this happen to a private party with counsel.
September 19, 2025 at 4:21 PM
this is absolutely wild
the court *sua sponte* dismisses the case for violating Rule 8(a)
so that means the court, all on its own, looked at the complaint and said it's too long, too scattershot, too arbitrary to even count as a complaint. *never* seen this happen to a private party with counsel.
the court *sua sponte* dismisses the case for violating Rule 8(a)
so that means the court, all on its own, looked at the complaint and said it's too long, too scattershot, too arbitrary to even count as a complaint. *never* seen this happen to a private party with counsel.
“Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr built his brand in part by warning against government meddling in ‘free speech’ — now it appears he’s using his office to do just that.”
www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/p...
FCC Chair Carr’s calls for Kimmel punishment undercuts years of defending | CNN Politics
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr built his brand in part by warning against government meddling in “free speech” — now it appears he’s using his office to do just that. he’s accuse...
www.cnn.com
September 19, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr built his brand in part by warning against government meddling in ‘free speech’ — now it appears he’s using his office to do just that.”
www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/09/19/p...
How did this story not mention CBS a single time or anything that’s happened at the network the past few months????
In other words, if this deal goes through, CNN and CBS would be owned by the same parent company. www.wsj.com/business/med...
In other words, if this deal goes through, CNN and CBS would be owned by the same parent company. www.wsj.com/business/med...
Exclusive | Paramount Skydance Prepares Ellison-Backed Bid for Warner Bros. Discovery
The bid will be for the entire company, including its cable networks and movie studio, according to people familiar with the situation.
www.wsj.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:29 AM
How did this story not mention CBS a single time or anything that’s happened at the network the past few months????
In other words, if this deal goes through, CNN and CBS would be owned by the same parent company. www.wsj.com/business/med...
In other words, if this deal goes through, CNN and CBS would be owned by the same parent company. www.wsj.com/business/med...