Anna Wiener
Anna Wiener is a contributing writer to The New Yorker, covering Silicon Valley, startup culture, and technology. Her first book, “Uncanny Valley,” a memoir of her time in the tech industry, was published in 2020. She lives in San Francisco.
Holly Herndon’s Infinite Art
The artist and musician uses machine learning to make strange, playful work. She also advocates for artists’ autonomy in a world shaped by A.I.
Robo-Taxis Are Legal Now
In San Francisco, it’s getting easier to hail a ride from no one.
The Age of Chat
The new A.I. systems pretend to converse with us. But who’s written the script?
Waymo Cars, Honey Bears, and the Future of San Francisco
The software-inspired logic of scale is bringing a copy-paste sensibility to America’s techiest city.
The Weird, Analog Delights of Foley Sound Effects
E.T. was jello in a T-shirt. The Mummy was scratchy potpourri. For Foley artists, deception is an essential part of the enterprise.
When Baking and Real Estate Collide
Tartine, a beloved San Francisco bakery, wanted to grow. Partnering with a developer was one way to rise.
What Happens When Twelve Thousand Game Developers Converge?
A week of boba, crypto, and introspection at the Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco.
The Rise of “Immersive” Art
Why are tech-centric, projection-based exhibits suddenly everywhere?
Money in the Metaverse
In a virtual world full of virtual goods, finance could get weird.
What Is It About Peter Thiel?
The billionaire venture capitalist has fans and followers. What are they looking for?
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Growing Uncertainty in the Central Valley
California produces much of America’s food—and now a drought and a pandemic have put the system on edge.
Gavin Newsom and the Golden State’s Recall Fever
Recall campaigns happen all the time in California. What’s at stake in this one?
Does Tech Need a New Narrative?
In Silicon Valley, “disruption” is giving way to “building.” What will be built?
The Strange, Soothing World of Instagram’s Computer-Generated Interiors
“Renderporn” domesticates the aspiration and surreality of the digital age.
Trump’s Been Unplugged. Now What?
The platforms have acted, raising hard questions about technology and democracy.
Is Substack the Media Future We Want?
The newsletter service is a software company that, by mimicking some of the functions of newsrooms, has made itself difficult to categorize.
Gig Work on the Ballot in California
Uber and Lyft are spending unprecedented sums to keep their businesses unregulated and their workers at arm’s length.
Taking Back Our Privacy
Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of the end-to-end encrypted messaging service Signal, is “trying to bring normality to the Internet.”
The Crisis in the Skies of San Francisco
The West Coast’s wildfires, and the ecological crisis they portend, have never been more visible.
Holly Herndon’s Infinite Art
The artist and musician uses machine learning to make strange, playful work. She also advocates for artists’ autonomy in a world shaped by A.I.
Robo-Taxis Are Legal Now
In San Francisco, it’s getting easier to hail a ride from no one.
The Age of Chat
The new A.I. systems pretend to converse with us. But who’s written the script?
Waymo Cars, Honey Bears, and the Future of San Francisco
The software-inspired logic of scale is bringing a copy-paste sensibility to America’s techiest city.
The Weird, Analog Delights of Foley Sound Effects
E.T. was jello in a T-shirt. The Mummy was scratchy potpourri. For Foley artists, deception is an essential part of the enterprise.
When Baking and Real Estate Collide
Tartine, a beloved San Francisco bakery, wanted to grow. Partnering with a developer was one way to rise.
What Happens When Twelve Thousand Game Developers Converge?
A week of boba, crypto, and introspection at the Game Developers Conference, in San Francisco.
The Rise of “Immersive” Art
Why are tech-centric, projection-based exhibits suddenly everywhere?
Money in the Metaverse
In a virtual world full of virtual goods, finance could get weird.
What Is It About Peter Thiel?
The billionaire venture capitalist has fans and followers. What are they looking for?
Growing Uncertainty in the Central Valley
California produces much of America’s food—and now a drought and a pandemic have put the system on edge.
Gavin Newsom and the Golden State’s Recall Fever
Recall campaigns happen all the time in California. What’s at stake in this one?
Does Tech Need a New Narrative?
In Silicon Valley, “disruption” is giving way to “building.” What will be built?
The Strange, Soothing World of Instagram’s Computer-Generated Interiors
“Renderporn” domesticates the aspiration and surreality of the digital age.
Trump’s Been Unplugged. Now What?
The platforms have acted, raising hard questions about technology and democracy.
Is Substack the Media Future We Want?
The newsletter service is a software company that, by mimicking some of the functions of newsrooms, has made itself difficult to categorize.
Gig Work on the Ballot in California
Uber and Lyft are spending unprecedented sums to keep their businesses unregulated and their workers at arm’s length.
Taking Back Our Privacy
Moxie Marlinspike, the founder of the end-to-end encrypted messaging service Signal, is “trying to bring normality to the Internet.”
The Crisis in the Skies of San Francisco
The West Coast’s wildfires, and the ecological crisis they portend, have never been more visible.