The Digiday Podcast: OpenAI’s Ad Plan, Meta’s Vibes & A Day in the Life of Eater’s Stephanie Wu

Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Kimiko McCoy & Tim Peterson
Guest: Stephanie Wu (Editor-in-Chief, Vox Media’s Eater)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the rapidly evolving digital media landscape, highlighting:

• OpenAI's significant moves towards launching an ads business for ChatGPT
• The complex future of TikTok US following its restructuring and political scrutiny
• Meta’s launch of “Vibes,” an entirely AI-generated content feed (the "AI slop era")
• A “Day in the Life” feature on Stephanie Wu, Editor-in-Chief of Eater, focusing on her productivity habits, inbox zero strategy, balancing leadership and family, and sources of personal inspiration

The tone is lively, curious, and honest, with hosts bantering through the news’ complexities and weaving in practical, real-life tips for media professionals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. OpenAI’s Entry into the Ads Business

[02:26-10:23]

• Inevitable Move Toward Ads: The hosts draw parallels to Netflix and other platforms, noting it was "only a matter of time" before OpenAI pursued advertising as a revenue source.

  • “It only becomes a matter of time... and it looks like OpenAI is now on that same trajectory, that same playbook.” (Kimiko, 02:26)

• Leadership and Hiring News:

  • Fiji Simo (ex-Instacart CEO, ex-Facebook Feed lead) is reportedly meeting candidates to head a new ad team.
  • OpenAI has begun hiring for ad platform engineers, signaling internal tool development for integrating advertiser campaigns.
    • “I hope they change this person’s title because Jesus, having to put that on a resume, it’s tough.” (Tim, 03:21)

• Platform Monetization Realities:

  • Only 4% of ChatGPT's 500M+ weekly users pay for subscriptions—ads are the practical next step.

• Launch of ChatGPT Pulse:

  • A daily digest feature for Pro subscribers (potential ad surface), integrating with Gmail, Google Drive, and Calendar—raising real questions about intimacy and targeting.
    • “It’s a super intimate thing to have an ad placement there.” (Kimiko, 05:34)
    • “If you’re treating ChatGPT like your therapist … the more targeted these are, the more it’s gonna really show people how much ChatGPT knows about you.” (Tim, 05:59)

• Privacy, Intimacy, and the ‘Uncanny Valley’:

  • OpenAI’s access to personal data could cross a “fine line”—potentially provoking backlash, though the hosts predict user adaptation akin to Netflix ads’ rollout.
  • “We’re knocking at the Uncanny Valley’s door as to just how much a platform like ChatGPT knows about you.” (Kimiko, 06:49)

• Big Picture:

  • OpenAI has an opportunity to create the first truly “AI-native ad platform for the agentic era,” rather than re-adapting legacy web-native ad tech.

2. TikTok US: Political Upheaval & Advertising Implications

[10:23-14:49]

• Ownership Restructuring:

  • ByteDance to manage commerce/ad sales; US joint venture (with Oracle, possible government oversight) to control algorithm and data.
    • “ByteDance is actually going to still have like the largest share.” (Tim, 10:55)

• Creator and Advertiser Apprehension:

  • Concerns over content moderation, political influence, and “what kind of algorithm am I getting here?”
    • “You’ve got the bulk of the business managed by the Trump administration at this point.” (Kimiko, 12:01)
  • Creators openly debating platform exodus; advertisers forced to consider brand alignment as TikTok becomes politicized.

• Key Ad Industry Question:

  • What will the new joint venture do to user/ad targeting & measurement—and can the US algorithm be as good as the original?
    • “Are the people at the government, at Oracle going to put their hand, a foot, their entire bodies on the scale to suppress certain types of content?” (Tim, 12:49)

3. Meta’s “Vibes”: All-in on AI-Generated Feeds

[14:49-23:18]

• Launch of Meta Vibes:
  • Billed as an “AI-generated feed within the Meta AI app,” users can share short-form AI videos—dubbed “AI slop” by Kimiko.
  • “I’ve kind of come around on Meta Vibes… sometimes I’m just looking for something to watch while I’m waiting… I don’t really care what it is.” (Tim, 15:13)
• Host Experiences:
  • Vibes feeds include dogs driving cars, surreal Lisa Frank-esque scenarios; hosts compare the visual experience to DALL-E and Midjourney aesthetics.
  • “It reminds me of like DALL-E meets Lisa Frank.” (Tim, 16:03)
• Trojan Horse for Normalizing AI:
  • Suggestion that Meta is using Vibes less as a serious feed, more to desensitize the public to AI-generated media and rapidly gather data to fuel future ad training engines.
    • “Maybe Trojan horse... for AI desensitization for people.” (Kimiko, 18:02)
    • “There's a willingness to move full steam ahead with that. And now you’ve, you know… it’s being more and more normalized, you know, as long as it’s labeled.” (Kimiko, 21:22)
• Historical Parallel:
  • Compares AI normalization to Instagram's '#NoFilter' era—public aversion may fade and full acceptance may emerge, especially as long as labels clarify authenticity.
    • “It’s almost like you just stick it through this #NoFilter period of AI content, and then on the other side... everyone’s just like, I don’t really care.” (Tim, 22:32)

4. Spotlight: Stephanie Wu’s Day in the Life

[23:18-53:13]

Morning Routine & Organization

• Wakes up: “Pitter patter” of kids' feet around 6:30–7:00am; 7:00am alarm rarely needed. Kids out by 8:15–8:30am.
• Personal Organization:
  • Master to-do list via a massive Google Doc—captures daily, weekly tasks and meeting notes; tasks not finished moved to the next day.
    • “It's just like a massive Google Doc... holds all the meetings for all the notes... keeps me organized.” (Stephanie, 26:58)
• Inbox Zero Devotee:
  • Anything left in email denotes a pending action.
  • Slack reminders liberally used (e.g. “remind me in 20 minutes/next day”) to avoid losing track.

Meeting Management & Work Habits

• Meeting Load: 3-4 meetings on a light day, up to 8-10 on a busy day, across direct reports, team check-ins, and cross-company collaboration.
• Calendar Color Coding:
  • Differentiates meeting types (in-person, performance reviews, commutes) for mental preparation.
• No-Meeting Fridays:
  • Implemented with about 85% success outside of summer Fridays.

Deep Work & Writing

• Optimal Writing Time:
  • Early morning before meetings and during commutes (“something nice about… [not] the strongest connection”), especially for her biweekly “From the Editor” newsletter. Gathers inspiration from dining out, pop culture, and voracious reading habits.
• Newsletter Process:
  • Assembles links over two weeks using Chrome Reading List; writing session can range from 30 minutes to a day or two, depending on depth.

Lunch, Food, and Eater Life

• Lunch Routine:
  • Not sacred—typically “eating either camera off in a meeting or sneaking something in.” Husband handles weekly meal planning and cooking.
    • “By cook, I mean assemble.” (Stephanie, 38:52)
• Dining Out:
  • 2-3 nights per week; experiences as a “regular person," seldom disclosing role as EIC unless on-brand-ambassador duties or for special events like Eater’s anniversary.

End of Day & Wind-Down

• Workflow Ends:
  • Early wrap at 5:30pm to pick up kids, with a post-dinner return to work. Final wrap often 8–8:30pm.
• Final Rituals:
  • Inbox zero, task migration, Slack cleared. Wind-down includes Instagram scrolling, crosswords, and reading books—currently Empire of the Elite by Michael Grimbaum.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On OpenAI's Ad Ambition:
  • “As an AI platform… only about 4% of the app’s 500 million weekly users pay. The other 96% could be hit with ads.” (Kimiko, 03:56)
• On AI’s Intimacy:
  • “If you’re treating ChatGPT like your therapist… integrated into your email, calendar, everything… it’s not only listening, it’s listing because you’re telling it everything.” (Tim, 07:23)
• On Privacy ‘Uncanny Valley’:
  • “Here we are once again, knocking at the uncanny valley’s door as to just how much a platform like ChatGPT knows about you.” (Kimiko, 06:49)
• On Meta’s Vibes and AI Content Normalization:
  • “Meta introducing Vibes as a maybe Trojan horse… to desensitize people [to AI] or to prove their gobs and gobs of money spent on AI.” (Kimiko, 18:02)
  • “It’s like replacing doom scrolling with vibe scrolling.” (Tim, 19:03)
• Stephanie Wu’s Productivity Wisdom:
  • “It’s just like a massive Google Doc... holds all the meetings for all the notes... keeps me organized.” (Stephanie, 26:58)
  • “I strive to be at inbox zero and anything that’s in my inbox also serves as a reminder that there’s an action I have to take…” (Stephanie, 26:58)
  • “Simplicity seems key.” (Tim, 32:16)
• On Dining Out as Job Perk:
  • “Being able to justify dining out as ‘this is for work, this is my job,’ sounds like one of the bigger perks of being the editor in chief of Eater.” (Tim, 44:38)
• On Reading for Inspiration:
  • “I try to keep myself as immersed in pop culture as I can, so I can make references that make sense to me and hopefully make sense to anyone else who is interested in the same types of pop culture as I am.” (Stephanie, 44:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:26] – OpenAI’s Ad Plan and Playbook
• [04:39] – ChatGPT Pulse and Potential Ad Formats
• [05:34] – Privacy Implications of ChatGPT Ads
• [10:23] – TikTok US: Structure, Concerns, Creators
• [12:01] – Political Influence and Advertising on TikTok
• [14:49] – Meta Vibes: AI Content Feed Discussion
• [18:02] – AI Desensitization: “Trojan Horse” Theory
• [23:18] – Stephanie Wu: Day in the Life Interview Start
• [26:58] – Stephanie’s To-Do List & Productivity System
• [32:31] – Meeting Culture & Management Strategies
• [37:38] – Lunch Breaks and Food at Eater
• [41:08] – Newsletter Creation Process
• [44:49] – Dining Out Practices and Work-Life Balance
• [47:53] – Inbox Zero and Communication Hygiene

Overall Tone & Takeaway

This episode balances industry analysis with practical, inside-baseball tips from a media leader:

• News: AI is reshaping ad tech and content experiences—often in ways both exciting and unsettling.
• Practicality: Real workflows and productivity habits matter as much as strategic thinking in navigating media’s shifting sands.
• Cultural Commentary: As digital audiences become increasingly AI-accustomed, what matters most is transparency and continual adaptation—whether you’re a tech giant, advertiser, or publisher.

This episode is a must-listen (and a must-read summary) for anyone seeking both macro-insight and micro-practical wisdom from the heart of digital media’s transformation.