Michael Calore: In one phrase?

Lauren Goode: I’ll provide you with a phrase.

Michael Calore: Elon Musk.

Lauren Goode: Oh, actually? It’s like a correct noun.

Michael Calore: Yeah.

Lauren Goode: It’s like an improper noun.

Michael Calore: I imply, he looms massive. What about you?

Lauren Goode: I went with a dictionary phrase, so I selected inauspicious.

Michael Calore: Inauspicious.

Lauren Goode: Inauspicious.

Michael Calore: That’s darkish.

Lauren Goode: Look it up. It is darkish. It is, nevertheless it’s been a bizarre 12 months.

Michael Calore: It has been a really unusual 12 months. I imply, all years are unusual, however I feel this 12 months is off the charts.

Lauren Goode: We ought to speak about it.

Michael Calore: Let’s do it.

[Gadget Lab intro theme music plays]

Lauren Goode: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Gadget Lab. I’m Lauren Goode. I’m a senior author at WIRED.

Michael Calore: I’m Michael Calore. I’m a senior editor at WIRED.

Lauren Goode: This is our final Gadget Lab episode of the 12 months. Now previously, we’d often publish a rerun episode round this time of 12 months, however we heard that you simply all truly actually like listening to Gadget Lab in December, possibly since you’re on the lookout for slightly escape from the household otherwise you’re touring and also you want some pods for the lengthy trip. So we’re right here taping this in mid-December and hoping you will discover slightly pleasure on this episode. So Mike and I’ve been doing numerous reflecting and a few debating over the most important tech information of 2022. As journalists, we’re typically protecting the information, however a giant a part of the job can be being an avid information shopper, and we have each been completely steeped in all issues metaverse, Web3, Zuck, Apple, Twitter, SBF.

Michael Calore: Elon.

Lauren Goode: Elon Musk. Mike, I’m simply going to get straight to it. What do you suppose was the most important tech information story of 2022?

Michael Calore: Well, once we ready for this episode, we compiled our personal lists of the issues that we wished to speak about, after which we shared our lists with one another. I’ve one thing that I wish to speak about, however I feel the factor that you simply wish to speak about is extra vital. So we must always speak about that first, and that is Tweelon.

Lauren Goode: Tweelon.

Michael Calore: Mr. Tweelon.

Lauren Goode: Yeah. I imply, you just about hinted this within the intro to our present that this was going to be a giant matter for us as we speak. So this one first began again in April when Elon Musk mentioned he would tackle a 9.2 p.c stake of Twitter and train his affect over the corporate by its board. Then he shortly mentioned he would not be becoming a member of the board, after which a couple of days later introduced his intention to simply purchase Twitter, simply purchase it for someplace round $44 billion. Now, an entire bunch of stuff occurred within the following months, the place Musk then accused Twitter of getting an even bigger bot downside than initially disclosed. Twitter buyers sued Musk on and on and on. Musk appeared to be looking for a manner out of the deal whereas the remainder of us had been attempting to determine what an Elon-owned Twitterverse would appear like. Then on the finish of October, it truly occurred. The deal closed and Tweelon, as we have been calling it right here at WIRED, was an actual factor, however in fact, it isn’t just like the chaos went away—fairly the alternative. Musk fired half of Twitter workers. He introduced after which held again on plans for a brand new verification scheme and an elevated subscription payment for Twitter Blue. He reinstated some distinguished accounts on the platform. He blocked some others. He launched a batch of information about content material moderation that appeared to quantity to numerous performative transparency. Most not too long ago, he stoked conservative trolls by tweeting one thing derogatory about individuals’s most well-liked pronouns. Yeah, and that is, by the best way, simply in mid-December as I discussed.