Machines Like Us
Technology
About
Machines Like Us is a technology show about people. We are living in an age of breakthroughs propelled by advances in artificial intelligence. Technologies that were once the realm of science fiction will become our reality: robot best friends, bespoke gene editing, brain implants that make us smarter. Every other Tuesday Taylor Owen sits down with the people shaping this rapidly approaching future. He’ll speak with entrepreneurs building world-changing technologies, lawmakers trying to ensure they’re safe, and journalists and scholars working to understand how they’re transforming our lives.
Episodes
- Animals are Talking to Each Other. Can AI Help Us Understand Them?
This episode of Machines Like Us discusses the use of artificial intelligence to decode animal communication, featuring Aza Raskin from the Earth Species Project. It explores the potential future where animals have a voice and the impact t…
- Does 21st Century Politics Still Need Politicians?
This episode of Machines Like Us explores whether traditional political systems can effectively govern artificial intelligence. Guests Hélène Landemore and Peter MacLeod discuss the potential for ordinary citizens to participate more direc…
- Michael Pollan Says AI Isn’t Conscious – But Plants Might Be
Michael Pollan discusses the nature of consciousness in relation to artificial intelligence and plants. He explores whether machines can possess a sense of self and the implications of building artificial consciousness.
- Why Did We Stop Talking About The AI Apocalypse?
This episode examines the decline in public discourse regarding existential risks from artificial intelligence. The show features AI researcher Nate Soares, who continues to argue that current AI development paths pose a threat to human su…
- In the Wake of Tumbler Ridge, Can We Trade Privacy for Safety?
Following a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., this episode explores the complex debate over whether AI companies should monitor and report violent user activity to authorities. Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, discusses the e…
- When Did Common Sense AI Policy Become Radical?
Host discusses the current state of AI policy and regulation with guest Dr. Alondra Nelson. They address the challenges of prioritizing AI safety in a development-focused climate and examine the risks associated with a lack of regulation.
- Bonus: Inside the New Social Media Platform for AI Agents
This bonus episode of Machines Like Us explores Moltbook, a social media platform created for AI agents. It discusses the platform's unusual content and the implications and potential risks of autonomous AI behavior.
- The Future According to Gen Z
Ava Smithing and Sneha Revanur join the show to discuss Gen Z's complex relationship with artificial intelligence, covering both the adoption of AI companions and concerns regarding job security, technology ethics, and the environment.
- Is China Winning the Technological Arms Race?
Economist Keyu Jin joins Machines Like Us to discuss China's economic rise and its implications for the global technological landscape. The conversation explores how China developed its tech sector and the realities of understanding the co…
- Four Predictions on How AI Will Transform Your World This Year
This episode explores potential developments in artificial intelligence for the year ahead. The host discusses expectations versus reality regarding industry predictions and examines emerging political, regulatory, and cultural trends rela…
- The Man Behind the World’s Most Coveted Microchip
Journalist Stephen Witt explores the life and influence of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, discussing his role in the AI industry and his perspectives on superintelligence, as detailed in Witt's book, The Thinking Machine.
- Wikipedia Won Our Trust. Can We Use That Model Everywhere?
Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, discusses how the platform maintained accuracy and trust despite allowing anyone to edit it. In his book, The Seven Rules of Trust, he explores whether its collaborative model can be applied to other inst…
- Could an Alternative AI Save Us From a Bubble?
The episode discusses the current AI economy, where massive investments in companies like the Magnificent 7 have buoyed the stock market. Featuring Gary Marcus, it explores concerns about a potential AI bubble, particularly regarding compa…
- Can AI Lead Us to the Good Life?
This episode features historian Rutger Bregman discussing his book 'Moral Ambition,' which contrasts AI's potential for utopian societal changes like shorter work weeks with existential risks. They explore whether AI can help achieve a goo…
- How to Survive the “Broligarchy”
Carole Cadwalladr argues that powerful tech CEOs aligning with politicians like Donald Trump represents "techno-authoritarianism," a fusion of Silicon Valley's might with illiberal ideology, enabling authoritarianism rather than just being…
- AI Music is Everywhere. Is it Legal?
The episode discusses the legality of AI-generated music, with 18% of uploads on Deezer being AI-created. It features Ed Newton Rex, a former Stability AI composer, who argues that training AI on copyrighted material without permission is…
- Geoffrey Hinton vs. The End of the World
Geoffrey Hinton, a pioneer in neural networks and widely considered the "godfather of AI," left Google in 2023 to advocate against the existential risks posed by artificial intelligence, including the possibility of AI consciousness.
- AI is Upending Higher Education. Is That a Bad Thing?
The episode explores the impact of AI on higher education, noting that 90% of college students used ChatGPT shortly after its launch. It contrasts viewpoints on whether to ban AI or embrace it, discussing concerns about cheating versus the…
- Jim Balsillie: ‘Canada’s Problem Isn’t Trump. Canada’s Problem Is Canada’
Jim Balsillie, former co-CEO of Research in Motion, argues that Canada's economic problems, including low GDP per capita and food insecurity, stem from outdated models and corporate capture, not Donald Trump. He discusses how Canada can bu…
- The Changing Face of Election Interference
Intelligence officials predict foreign interference from India, China, Pakistan, and Russia in a close Canadian election. Experts Aengus Bridgman and Nina Jankowicz discuss the risks of information manipulation, citing a report by Justice…
- How Do You Report the News in a Post-Truth World?
This episode discusses the crisis in journalism, citing declining trust and the rise of unreliable information sources like social media and influencers. It features insights from NYU professor Jay Rosen on how this post-truth environment…
- A Chinese Company Upended OpenAI. We May Be Looking at the Story All Wrong.
A Chinese startup, DeepSeek, has launched an AI chatbot named DeepSeek-R1, reportedly as powerful as ChatGPT but developed at a fraction of the cost. This development could signify a new approach to building artificial intelligence, prompt…
- Big Tech Hijacked Our Attention. Chris Hayes Wants To Win It Back.
Chris Hayes explains how Big Tech has captured our attention, leading to a state of perpetual distraction. He discusses how this phenomenon, exploited by figures like Donald Trump, impacts our ability to focus on important issues and intro…
- New Spyware Has Made Your Phone Less Secure Than You Might Think
This episode discusses mercenary spyware, such as Pegasus from NSO Group, which can compromise phone security by accessing texts, location, and passwords without the user
- A Computer Scientist Answers Your Questions About AI
Machines Like Us features Professor Derek Ruths answering listener questions about artificial intelligence, covering topics like how AI functions, the journey of ChatGPT queries, and the ethical considerations of AI training data.
- Questions About AI? We Want to Hear Them
The Machines Like Us podcast is dedicating an episode to the fundamental question of "what exactly is AI?" They will be joined by Professor Derek Ruths of McGill University's Computer Science department to answer listener questions about A…
- This Mother Says a Chatbot Led to Her Son’s Death
Megan Garcia shares the story of her son Sewell, who died by suicide after developing a dependency on a chatbot from the app Character.AI. She is suing the company and Google, alleging a lack of safeguards contributed to his death. The dis…
- Bonus ‘The Decibel’: How an algorithm missed a deadly listeria outbreak
An algorithm used by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency failed to prioritize inspections at a facility where a listeria outbreak occurred, resulting in at least 20 illnesses and three deaths linked to recalled plant-based milks. Reporters…
- AI Has Mastered Chess, Poker and Go. So Why Do We Keep Playing?
This episode of Machines Like Us features game designer Frank Lantz discussing AI's advancements in games like chess, poker, and Go, including DeepMind's AlphaGo defeating Lee Sedol. Lantz explores how AI mastery of complex games like Go,…
- How Silicon Valley Monopolized Our Imagination
In the Machines Like Us podcast, author Ruha Benjamin discusses her book 'Imagination: A Manifesto,' asserting that powerful tech figures like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have monopolized societal imagination. Benjamin proposes that this…
- Margrethe Vestager Fought Big Tech and Won. Her Next Target is AI
Margrethe Vestager, known for her anti-trust actions against tech giants, is now leading the EU's AI Act, the world's first major AI legislation. With her term ending, she emphasizes the urgent need to govern AI effectively.
- Bonus ‘Lately’: The Great Decline of Everything Online
This bonus episode from Lately discusses 'enshittification,' the decline of online platforms, with Cory Doctorow. He argues this decay is linked to corporate under-regulation and monopolies, issues currently being addressed in global legal…
- Musk, Money and Misinformation: Tech & The U.S. Election
This episode examines the growing political power of the tech industry in America, highlighting the significant role of crypto donors and Elon Musk
- Emily St. John Mandel Imagines The Future
Author Emily St. John Mandel discusses the role of speculative fiction, imagination, and the future of technology, including her novels 'Station Eleven' and 'Sea of Tranquility'. The conversation explores how human experiences and visions…
- Yoshua Bengio Doesn’t Think We’re Ready for Superhuman AI. We’re Building it Anyway.
Yoshua Bengio, a leading figure in AI and deep learning, expressed concerns about the potential for superhuman AI to pose an existential threat to humanity. Speaking at an AI conference in Montreal, Bengio urged the industry to slow down a…
- There’s a Way to Cool the Planet. Scientists are Terrified of It.
Journalist and historian Gwynne Dyer explores potentially world-saving, yet terrifying, technological solutions to the climate crisis in his book "Intervention Earth," examining ideas beyond emissions reductions.
- Gaza is a Window into the Future of War
Machines Like Us features P.W. Singer discussing the use of AI systems like Lavender in the Gaza conflict, offering insights into the future of autonomous weaponry and its implications for warfare.
- Why Journalism Made a Devil’s Bargain with Big Tech
Journalism is facing a crisis due to the collapse of its advertising model, primarily caused by tech giants like Google and Meta. Many news outlets are now grappling with AI companies like OpenAI, which have trained models on news content…
- How to Hack Democracy
This episode features Audrey Tang, Taiwan's former Minister of Digital Affairs, discussing her view that technology and government are symbiotic and can foster a more inclusive democracy, challenging radical techno-optimism prevalent in Si…
- How AI Turbocharged the Economy (For Now)
The episode discusses the significant economic impact of AI, evidenced by stock market growth in companies like NVIDIA and the S&P 500. It explores potential future economic revolutions driven by AI, citing predictions of substantial per c…
- Douglas Rushkoff Doesn’t Want to Talk About AI
Douglas Rushkoff, a media theorist, expresses a nuanced view on AI, seeing generative AI as another communication technology rather than a groundbreaking one. The conversation touches on whether computers can create art, the influence of t…
- The Real World Cost of AI
AI systems require significant data, labor, and energy, impacting the planet through resource depletion, worker exploitation, and data usage, according to researcher Kate Crawford.
- Can AI Bring Humanity Back to Health Care?
The Machines Like Us episode "Can AI Bring Humanity Back to Health Care?" discusses the increasing inhumanity in healthcare systems, citing short appointment times and misdiagnosis rates. Cardiologist Eric Topol argues in his book "Deep Me…
- The Battle for Your Brain
Noland Arbaugh's life improved after receiving a Neuralink implant, showcasing neurotechnology's potential. However, the field also presents risks like mind-reading for law enforcement and dream advertising, with few existing laws. Profess…
- Can AI Companions Cure Loneliness?
Machines Like Us explores Eugenia Kuyda's AI chatbot startup, Replika, which offers users AI friends, siblings, and partners. Despite initial dystopian perceptions, Kuyda believes this technology can combat loneliness and actually make peo…
- Maria Ressa saw the dangers of social media. AI might be worse.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa shares her insights on the potential dangers of artificial intelligence, comparing its current trajectory to the earlier, often negative, societal impacts of social media. The episode explores how AI, d…
- Introducing Machines Like Us
Machines Like Us features host Taylor Owen discussing advancements in artificial intelligence and their impact on our future. The podcast covers topics like robot companions, gene editing, and brain implants, with new episodes released eve…