Cade Metz

Career Trajectory: From Code to Chronicles

• Early Foundations (1994-2007): After graduating from Duke University with dual interests in English and computer science, Metz began his career at PC Magazine, where he developed a knack for explaining technical concepts to general audiences.
• Wired Era (2007-2016): As senior staff writer at Wired, Metz honed his investigative skills, producing landmark features on machine learning pioneers like Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis.
• NYT Breakthrough (2016-Present): Joined The New York Times’ San Francisco bureau, establishing himself as a leading voice on AI’s societal impacts through pieces like his 2021 investigation into algorithmic bias in hiring systems.

Defining Works

• "How AI Systems Learn Through Trial and Error" (The New York Times, 2025)

This deep dive into reinforcement learning mechanisms reveals how systems like OpenAI’s GPT-4 evolved through iterative problem-solving. Metz dissects the “hallucination” phenomenon in large language models, contrasting machine reasoning with human cognition. The article’s methodology included exclusive interviews with DeepMind researchers and analysis of training datasets, highlighting the delicate balance between innovation and reliability in AI development.

• "How Sam Altman Sidestepped Elon Musk to Win Over Investors" (The Japan Times, 2025)

In this cross-border investigation, Metz traces OpenAI’s strategic pivot from non-profit to capped-profit model. Through financial records and insider accounts, the piece exposes the high-stakes negotiations that reshaped AI’s competitive landscape. His analysis of Altman’s alliance with Microsoft provides crucial context for understanding modern tech partnerships.

• "The Rise of DeepSeek and Its Impact on Tech Giants" (The New York Times, 2025)

Metz’s multimedia report on China’s DeepSeek combines market analysis with geopolitical insights, detailing how the company’s specialized AI chips challenged NVIDIA’s dominance. The piece leverages patent filings and supply chain data to explain the technical arms race in AI hardware.

Pitching Recommendations

1. Focus on AI’s Second-Order Impacts

Metz increasingly explores how AI transforms adjacent fields like healthcare diagnostics and climate modeling. A successful pitch might examine AI-driven drug discovery pipelines in pharmaceutical companies, particularly those addressing rare diseases. This aligns with his recent coverage of DeepMind’s AlphaFold 3 breakthroughs.

2. Investigate Corporate Power Dynamics

Stories detailing boardroom conflicts in tech firms, especially those involving AI ethics committees, resonate with Metz’s body of work. For example, his 2024 exposé on Meta’s internal AI governance debates set a precedent for this focus area.

3. Highlight Ethical Implementation Case Studies

Concrete examples of organizations successfully implementing AI guardrails attract Metz’s attention. Consider pitching analyses of academic institutions developing responsible AI curricula or municipalities using bias-detection tools in public services.

4. Track Emerging Hardware Innovations

With GPU shortages dominating 2025 headlines, Metz seeks stories about alternative AI accelerators. Pitches could explore photonic computing startups or quantum-AI hybrid systems, mirroring his coverage of Cerebras’ wafer-scale chips.

5. Global AI Policy Developments

Metz maintains strong interest in international AI regulations. A compelling pitch might compare the EU’s AI Act enforcement mechanisms with Asia’s emerging frameworks, building on his comparative analysis of US-China AI investment patterns.

Awards and Recognition

“Metz possesses the rare ability to make neural networks feel as dramatic as political primaries.” – MIT Technology Review

• Gerald Loeb Award for Technology Reporting (2023): Honored for his series on AI’s role in autonomous weapons systems, selected over 400+ entries for its balanced examination of military applications.
• AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Award (2022): Recognized for explaining transformer architectures through everyday analogies, praised by judges for “demystifying without oversimplifying.”
• Genius Makers Book Acclaim: His 2021 bestseller chronicling AI’s pioneers remained on The Wall Street Journal’s business bestseller list for 41 weeks, cementing his status as a leading tech historian.