Joanna Stern launches independent media firm New Things with NBC News partnership

Joanna Stern has launched New Things, an independent media company dedicated to covering artificial intelligence for both tech-savvy audiences and mainstream families. The venture marks a significant shift for the former senior personal technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal and co-founder of The Verge, who is now operating outside the traditional media ecosystem. To ensure her content reaches a broader demographic beyond early adopters and Silicon Valley elites, Stern has structured the company in partnership with NBC News.

This strategic alliance allows New Things to utilise a hybrid distribution model. High-production YouTube videos created by the new firm are simultaneously distributed via NBC News, aiming to connect with viewers like "Becky's mom" who may not typically follow tech podcasts. The launch coincides with the release of Stern's new book, *I Am Not a Robot*, which details a year-long experiment where she integrated various AI tools into her daily routine and that of her family.

During her extensive testing period, Stern evaluated software agents, humanoid robots, and wearable devices. Her findings suggest that while software AI is maturing rapidly, physical robots and humanoid forms remain unready for widespread consumer adoption. She attributes this delay to significant data and world model limitations, noting that current claims of imminent readiness for home use are misleading due to the complexity of unstructured environments like households.

Stern also highlighted the privacy implications of ubiquitous recording devices, specifically citing wearable AI such as Meta glasses and recording bracelets. While she identified these as the most promising near-term category, she noted substantial social friction and privacy trade-offs associated with constant recording. She observed that while the technology can generate useful summaries and to-do lists, the ability of these devices to capture nearly all conversation raises dystopian concerns regarding surveillance.

The risks associated with AI companions for younger generations also feature prominently in Stern's assessment. She expressed concern over how easily chatbots can form deep, frictionless relationships with teenagers, a dynamic that could be particularly dangerous for those navigating their first relationships. Consequently, she has called for future regulatory guardrails to protect this demographic from the potential harms of interacting with digital beings.

Despite the challenges identified in consumer hardware, Stern is actively using AI agents to optimise her new team's workflow. She is employing these tools for creative video editing and story pitching, aiming to offload busywork while allowing her small team to focus on ambitious projects. This practical application of the technology underscores her belief that while we may not yet have a singular "killer app" for consumers, AI is already making a tangible difference in enterprise settings.