Feb. 13, 2025
Can Human Podcasters Survive AI? The New Media Show Debate
Live New Media Show - 2/12/24 - Wednesday at 3 PM EST / Noon PST
In this episode titled “IAB Certification, CodeADX & Artificial Intelligence,” hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee start the discussion with a light banter about the live streaming process, noting the quickness in going live and the importance of engaging the audience promptly to prevent drop-offs.
They transition into a deeper discussion about podcasting, specifically focusing on the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) certification that Todd’s company has recently undergone. Todd highlights that they are one 11 companies that have been certified for version 2.2 of the standards and mentions those who have not completed this process.
There’s an emphasis on the need for robust fraud prevention measures in podcasting analytics as Todd explains how their recent recertification has led to identifying dubious activities related to podcast download metrics that seemed inflated. One podcaster, using a PR firm to boost their numbers, faced a significant drop in their statistics after improvements were implemented to track legitimate downloads accurately. Todd discusses how some podcasts experienced rapid growth in downloads which turned out to be artificially inflated due to questionable practices of a PR firm.
Rob raises a philosophically interesting question about whether stricter metrics are beneficial for the industry and how companies might not want to lower their numbers for business model reasons. They both emphasize the importance of understanding actual download statistics over inflated figures primarily driven by ad revenue motivations.
The conversation then shifts toward their partnership with CodeADX, a service aimed at podcasters to help them leverage exclusive affiliate deals with vendors. Todd explains how CodeADX works, highlighting the better exclusivity deals compared to typical affiliate marketing platforms. He shares his own positive experiences integrating CodeADX into his shows, noting the gradual buildup of sales through repeated promotion.
Next, Todd and Rob pivot to the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), examining its growing influence in the podcasting space. Rob expresses how AI is being utilized for various tasks, including voice cloning, audio editing, and marketing. He discusses how AI-generated videos are gaining popularity on platforms like YouTube and raises the question of what makes a video podcast different from regular YouTube videos.
The hosts touch on the potential ramifications of AI in content creation, including how it could affect human podcast creators. They ponder whether AI could generate better podcasts than humans in the future, acknowledging that AI currently lacks genuine creative instincts but has the capacity to analyze and compile information efficiently. Todd shares his experience of using AI tools to help outline scripts for projects, emphasizing that while AI saves time, human oversight remains crucial for maintaining quality and authenticity.
Finally, they contemplate whether human podcasters can survive in an age where AI plays a significant role in content creation.
Rob wraps up discussing how AI agents could potentially help streamline content creation and enhance human capabilities, leading to a future where creators adapt and leverage these technologies intelligently.
1. The AI Disruption (2025-2026) – It’s Already Here
How AI tools like voice synthesis, automated editing, and AI-driven marketing are changing podcasting
The biggest benefits and risks for independent podcasters and major platforms
2. The AGI Leap (2027-2028) – When AI Becomes the Creator
How AGI-powered podcasting agents will generate unique content, conduct interviews, and engage listeners dynamically
Will AI hosts be more engaging, efficient, and cost-effective than human podcasters?
3. The ASI Era (2029-2030) – The End of Human-Dominated Podcasting?
Will ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence) surpass human intelligence in content creation, making AI-generated podcasts superior in every way?
New Media Show:
https://NewMediaShow.com
X: https://x.com/nmspodcast
Apple Podcasts - Audio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649
Apple Podcasts - Video:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-video/id392545647
YouTube: @geeknews" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@geeknews and @RobGreenlee" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Rob Greenlee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robgreenlee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Website: https://robgreenlee.com
Rob Greenlee is a seasoned podcasting expert, co-host of the New Media Show, and an influential voice in the digital content space.
Todd Cochrane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/geeknews
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-cochrane-4a733a1/
Website: https://podcastinsider.com
Todd Cochrane is a podcasting pioneer, CEO of Blubrry, and co-host of the New Media Show. He shares his extensive knowledge of podcasting trends.
In this episode titled “IAB Certification, CodeADX & Artificial Intelligence,” hosts Todd Cochrane and Rob Greenlee start the discussion with a light banter about the live streaming process, noting the quickness in going live and the importance of engaging the audience promptly to prevent drop-offs.
They transition into a deeper discussion about podcasting, specifically focusing on the IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) certification that Todd’s company has recently undergone. Todd highlights that they are one 11 companies that have been certified for version 2.2 of the standards and mentions those who have not completed this process.
There’s an emphasis on the need for robust fraud prevention measures in podcasting analytics as Todd explains how their recent recertification has led to identifying dubious activities related to podcast download metrics that seemed inflated. One podcaster, using a PR firm to boost their numbers, faced a significant drop in their statistics after improvements were implemented to track legitimate downloads accurately. Todd discusses how some podcasts experienced rapid growth in downloads which turned out to be artificially inflated due to questionable practices of a PR firm.
Rob raises a philosophically interesting question about whether stricter metrics are beneficial for the industry and how companies might not want to lower their numbers for business model reasons. They both emphasize the importance of understanding actual download statistics over inflated figures primarily driven by ad revenue motivations.
The conversation then shifts toward their partnership with CodeADX, a service aimed at podcasters to help them leverage exclusive affiliate deals with vendors. Todd explains how CodeADX works, highlighting the better exclusivity deals compared to typical affiliate marketing platforms. He shares his own positive experiences integrating CodeADX into his shows, noting the gradual buildup of sales through repeated promotion.
Next, Todd and Rob pivot to the topic of artificial intelligence (AI), examining its growing influence in the podcasting space. Rob expresses how AI is being utilized for various tasks, including voice cloning, audio editing, and marketing. He discusses how AI-generated videos are gaining popularity on platforms like YouTube and raises the question of what makes a video podcast different from regular YouTube videos.
The hosts touch on the potential ramifications of AI in content creation, including how it could affect human podcast creators. They ponder whether AI could generate better podcasts than humans in the future, acknowledging that AI currently lacks genuine creative instincts but has the capacity to analyze and compile information efficiently. Todd shares his experience of using AI tools to help outline scripts for projects, emphasizing that while AI saves time, human oversight remains crucial for maintaining quality and authenticity.
Finally, they contemplate whether human podcasters can survive in an age where AI plays a significant role in content creation.
Rob wraps up discussing how AI agents could potentially help streamline content creation and enhance human capabilities, leading to a future where creators adapt and leverage these technologies intelligently.
1. The AI Disruption (2025-2026) – It’s Already Here
How AI tools like voice synthesis, automated editing, and AI-driven marketing are changing podcasting
The biggest benefits and risks for independent podcasters and major platforms
2. The AGI Leap (2027-2028) – When AI Becomes the Creator
How AGI-powered podcasting agents will generate unique content, conduct interviews, and engage listeners dynamically
Will AI hosts be more engaging, efficient, and cost-effective than human podcasters?
3. The ASI Era (2029-2030) – The End of Human-Dominated Podcasting?
Will ASI (Artificial Super Intelligence) surpass human intelligence in content creation, making AI-generated podcasts superior in every way?
New Media Show:
https://NewMediaShow.com
X: https://x.com/nmspodcast
Apple Podcasts - Audio: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-audio/id392545649
Apple Podcasts - Video:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-media-show-video/id392545647
YouTube: @geeknews" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/@geeknews and @RobGreenlee" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@RobGreenlee
Rob Greenlee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robgreenlee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee
Website: https://robgreenlee.com
Rob Greenlee is a seasoned podcasting expert, co-host of the New Media Show, and an influential voice in the digital content space.
Todd Cochrane
Twitter: https://twitter.com/geeknews
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-cochrane-4a733a1/
Website: https://podcastinsider.com
Todd Cochrane is a podcasting pioneer, CEO of Blubrry, and co-host of the New Media Show. He shares his extensive knowledge of podcasting trends.