Bluesky’s Big Bet + Are Deals Dead in Silicon Valley?

Hard Fork

Bluesky, the Twitter spin-off, is now open for public sign-ups. Can its dreams of decentralization fix social media? We talk with CEO Jay Graber. Then, New York Times reporter Erin Griffith on how Adobe’s failed acquisition of Figma has spooked tech companies and upset Silicon Valley’s startup pipeline. And finally, updates on ancient scrolls and artificial intelligence, Google’s chatbots, and the fight between record companies and TikTok.

Today’s guests:

• Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky
• Erin Griffith, reporter for The New York Times

Additional Reading:

• What Is Bluesky and Why Are People Clamoring to Join It?
• After Its $20 Billion Windfall Evaporated, a Start-Up Picks Up the Pieces
• First passages of rolled-up Herculaneum scroll revealed
• Google Releases Gemini, an A.I.-Driven Chatbot and Voice Assistant
• Universal Music Group Pulls Songs From TikTok

We want to hear from you. Email us at [e-mail].

Find “Hard Fork” on YouTube and TikTok.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.