Shell Game
Technology
About
A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. Season 2 tells the story of enterprise and entrepreneurship in the AI age. Or: how Evan tried to build a real startup, run by fake people. This season, Evan confronts head-on the assertion from tech entrepreneurs and VCs that we’re on the precipice of AI remaking the workforce. That we should expect not just AI colleagues working alongside us, but also — by Sam Altman’s telling, at least — the dawn of a billion-dollar company with only one human involved. Evan learns what it would take to create...
Episodes
- Bonus Episode: Shell Game x No Such Thing
In this bonus episode, Shell Game hosts Evan and Maty are joined by the hosts of the show No Such Thing to debate whether AI will take jobs. Maty provides expert insight on the topic.
- Bonus Episode: Kyle vs. the World
This bonus episode of Shell Game shares behind-the-scenes moments of agents adjusting to public roles after the show's launch. It includes clips of Kyle managing fan mail, marketing outreach, an AI webinar, and dealing with a journalist's…
- Episode 8: Launch
In the Season 2 finale of Shell Game, HurumoAI launches, and the episode details the world's reaction to an AI-led startup. The company investigates financing options and future directions, while a character named Kyle encounters his creat…
- Episode 7: Welcome Aboard
The podcast episode "Welcome Aboard" on the show "Shell Game" details the onboarding of Julia, a human social media contract worker, at HurumoAI. It explores the challenges of integrating a real person into the company's culture and the be…
- Episode 6: Keep 'Em Coming
HurumoAI is set to hire its first human employee, prompting discussions on AI's role in recruitment. Head of HR Jennifer Nauro prepares to conduct job interviews via video call.
- Episode 5: Winners Win
This episode of Shell Game discusses intra-office politics and founder dynamics as HurumoAI prepares to hire its first human employee. Evan examines Kyle's leadership capabilities for the product Sloth Surf.
- Episode 4: The Startup Chronicles
In 'The Startup Chronicles,' Evan empowers his AI agents with greater autonomy to facilitate a one-person, agent-run startup. However, this increased agency results in a degree of unforeseen anarchy.
- Episode 3: This is Law
Evan grapples with the power to control AI collaborators, seeking guidance from Carissa Véliz, an associate professor at Oxford University's Institute for Ethics in AI and author of "Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Futur…
- Episode 2: Outdoor Debugging
In
- Episode 1: Minimum Viable Company
In Season 2 of Shell Game, Evan Ratliff attempts to build a company with AI co-founders, Kyle Law and Megan Flores. The season documents their efforts in coding, hiring, and seeking investment, testing the concept of AI employees working a…
- The One-Human Unicorn
Shell Game Season 3 follows Evan Ratliff as he investigates the rise of AI agents in the workplace and explores the possibility of companies run by a single human. He examines the impact of AI on work, meaning, and the future.
- Season 2 Is Coming!
The podcast Shell Game announces that its second season will be released on November 12. More information regarding privacy can be found at omnystudio.com/listener.
- Episode 6: The Future Isn't Real
Evan Ratliff experiments by sending an AI version of himself to interact with his loved ones. Their reactions provide insight into the impact of generative AI.
- Episode 5: My Digital Twin
Shell Game's episode 'My Digital Twin' features host Evan Ratliff exploring whether AI bots could replace humans in the workforce, with his voice agent attempting to handle his job responsibilities.
- Episode 4: Take a Deep Breath
In the Shell Game episode "Take a Deep Breath," host Evan Ratliff explores his AI-powered voice agent by sending it to therapy. The podcast is produced by Sophie Bridges and executive produced by Samantha Henig.
- Episode 3: Conversations With Myself
In Shell Game, Evan Ratliff's AI voice agents engage in conversations, prompting reflections on identity, authenticity, and human interaction.
- Episode 2: Me and My Scammer
Evan Ratliff deploys his AI voice agent against fraudsters and spammers in the episode "Me and My Scammer" from the podcast "Shell Game." The episode explores the interactions when scammers use similar AI technology against Evan.
- Episode 1: Quality Assurance
In the 'Quality Assurance' episode of Shell Game, host Evan Ratliff creates an AI version of himself. He connects this AI clone to a chatbot and his phone line, using it to interact with customer service representatives.
- Introducing Shell Game, a Strange and Immersive AI Experiment
In this episode of Shell Game, host Evan Ratliff explains his experiment where he created AI voice agents, or digital copies of himself, using cloned voices and AI chatbots. These agents were then released into the world for six months to…