Alex Winter is no stranger to Hollywood. He’s a director, writer and actor who has worked across film, television and theater since his youth. Winter came to prominence in movies such as Warner Bros’ hit The Lost Boys and the cult classic Bill & Ted franchise.

In 2006, Winter founded Trouper Productions and has released several documentaries that pull back the veil to reveal the true benefits and risks of emerging technologies in society.

His recent documentary, “The YouTube Effect”, investigates YouTube’s rise from humble beginnings in the attic of a pizzeria to its explosion onto the world stage. While becoming the largest media platform in history, YouTube not only sparked a cultural revolution but also spurred massive controversy in the age of disinformation.

Alex and Brandie Nonnecke debate the role that big tech is playing, especially its use of AI, in transforming the entertainment industry—for better and for worse. We discuss the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strikes and how the incentive mechanisms prioritized by platforms and their recommender systems are harming the entertainment industry.

TecHype is a groundbreaking video and podcast series that cuts through the hype to debunk misunderstandings, provides insights into the real benefits and risks, and identifies technical and policy strategies to harness emerging technologies for good. The series features 30-minute episodes where host Brandie Nonnecke interviews experts and short TLDR (Too long; Didn't read) videos that analyze and summarize emerging tech policies, regulations, and laws.

TecHype is more than a show; it's a movement towards understanding and responsibly harnessing technology for a better future. Stay tuned and keep thriving in our digital world.

Brandie Nonnecke, PhD is the founding director of the CITRIS Policy Lab, headquartered at UC Berkeley. She is an associate research professor at the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) where she directs the Tech Policy Initiative. Nonnecke is the director of Our Better Web, a program that supports empirical research, policy analysis, training, and engagement to address the rise of online harms. She serves as co-director at the Berkeley Center for Law and Technology at Berkeley Law and the UC Berkeley AI Policy Hub. Brandie is the host of TecHype, a groundbreaking video and audio series that debunks misunderstandings, evaluates the real benefits and risks, and explores effective technical and policy strategies to harness emerging technologies for good.

TecHype is co-produced by the CITRIS Policy Lab and the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley.

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