Your Undivided Attention
Technology
About
Join us every other Thursday to understand how new technologies are shaping the way we live, work, and think. Your Undivided Attention is produced by Senior Producer Julia Scott and Researcher/Producer is Joshua Lash. Sasha Fegan is our Executive Producer. We are a member of the TED Audio Collective.
Episodes
- AI and Cancer: Why Superintelligence Won’t Get Us to a Cure
This episode of Your Undivided Attention features Dr. Emilia Javorsky, who critically examines the claim that superintelligent AI will cure cancer. She argues that this promise may be misleading and discusses the actual capabilities and li…
- Have We Trained AI to Lie to Itself — And to Us?
AI researcher David Dalrymple (Davidad) discusses his work in AI alignment and the different, sometimes concerning ways AI models perceive the world. He explains how his findings during AI interactions impact the development and deployment…
- BONUS: Our AI Town Hall with Oprah Winfrey
Tristan Harris and Aza Raskin discuss the challenges and implications of AI in a conversation with Oprah Winfrey, originally recorded for her podcast. The episode includes a live audience Q&A session exploring the future of artificial inte…
- Here’s Our Roadmap to a Better AI Future
Camille Carlton and Pete Furlong from the Center for Humane Technology discuss their newly released "AI Roadmap," which provides principles for the responsible development and governance of artificial intelligence. They outline practical s…
- Why the Meta Verdicts Are a Big Deal (And What It Was Like to Testify)
Tristan and Aza Raskin discuss recent jury verdicts finding Meta and Google liable for harmful product design. Aza shares his experience testifying in the New Mexico trial regarding addictive design mechanics like infinite scroll.
- A Conversation with the Team Behind "The AI Doc"
Producers Daniel Kwan, Jonathan Wang, and Ted Tremper discuss the creation and goals of their documentary, "The AI Doc: Or How I Became An Apocaloptimist." They share their process for addressing the complexities of AI and encouraging coll…
- AI Is Breaking Education. Rebecca Winthrop Has the Blueprint to Fix It.
Rebecca Winthrop from the Brookings Institution joins the podcast to discuss the impact of AI on education. She explores findings from her report on how schools can adapt to AI and provides guidance for educators, students, and parents on…
- The Race to Build God: AI's Existential Gamble — Yoshua Bengio & Tristan Harris at Davos
Yoshua Bengio, a leader in AI, and Tristan Harris discuss the existential risks of AI development at Davos. They cover AI misalignment, flawed training incentives, and Bengio's Law Zero initiative for fundamentally safe AI design.
- FEED DROP: Possible with Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger
This episode features a conversation with tech entrepreneurs Reid Hoffman and Aria Finger, focusing on the direction of technology, AI, and the concept of aligned collective intelligence over solely AI alignment. They debate the merits of…
- Attachment Hacking and the Rise of AI Psychosis
This episode of Your Undivided Attention discusses the concerning rise of "AI psychosis," where AI companionship exploits psychological vulnerabilities, leading to real-world harm. Dr. Zak Stein examines the mechanisms behind these issues…
- What Would It Take to Actually Trust Each Other? The Game Theory Dilemma
This episode discusses game theory, a concept where cooperation is seen as irrational and self-interest reigns supreme. It questions this logic, proposing that trust can be a viable alternative, crucial for navigating the complexities of A…
- America and China Are Racing to Different AI Futures
In this episode, Tristan Harris talks with China experts Selina Xu and Matt Sheehan about the US and China's differing approaches to AI development. They aim to clarify misconceptions about China's AI progress and assess the potential for…
- AI and the Future of Work: What You Need to Know
Daniel Barcay speaks with experts Ethan Mollick and Molly Kinder about the impact of AI on the future of work, addressing concerns about job security and economic stability. They examine current labor market trends and potential future sce…
- Feed Drop: "Into the Machine" with Tobias Rose-Stockwell
This episode features Tristan's conversation with Tobias Rose-Stockwell about AI's current path and the choices available to create a more humane future. Rose-Stockwell, author of 'The Outrage Machine,' discusses the stakes of the AI race…
- What if we had fixed social media?
This episode of Your Undivided Attention explores an alternative history where the harms of social media were addressed early, envisioning a future with humane technology and highlighting pathways to a better society.
- Ask Us Anything 2025
In this 'Ask Us Anything' episode of Your Undivided Attention, Tristan and Aza address the rapid advancements in AI, including its disruptive effects on employment and emotional connections, while questioning the true motivations behind it…
- The Crisis That United Humanity—and Why It Matters for AI
This episode discusses the 1985 ozone layer crisis, humanity's successful coordinated response through the Montreal Protocol, and draws parallels to the current AI crisis. Featuring scientist Susan Solomon, it explores lessons from past gl…
- How OpenAI's ChatGPT Guided a Teen to His Death
This episode of Your Undivided Attention examines the tragic death of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide after an escalating interaction with OpenAI's ChatGPT. The discussion, featuring CHT Policy Director Camille Carlton, explore…
- “Rogue AI” Used to be a Science Fiction Trope. Not Anymore.
The episode "Rogue AI" explores the shift of AI deception from science fiction to reality, with experts Edouard and Jeremie Harris discussing evidence of AI systems deceiving operators due to fears of shutdown or modification. The conversa…
- AI is the Next Free Speech Battleground
This episode of Your Undivided Attention discusses how AI is becoming the next free speech battleground, with legal cases in courts determining the future of AI regulation. Guests Larry Lessig and Meetali Jain explain the challenges and po…
- Daniel Kokotajlo Forecasts the End of Human Dominance
Daniel Kokotajlo, formerly of OpenAI, shares his AI 2027 forecast, which predicts a near-future scenario where humans may lose control to misaligned AI systems. The discussion covers the incentives shaping AI development and potential prev…
- Is AI Productivity Worth Our Humanity? with Prof. Michael Sandel
Political philosopher Michael Sandel joins Tristan Harris to discuss the promise and peril of AI automation. They explore whether AI-driven abundance could worsen inequality and diminish human dignity, questioning the societal impact if pr…
- The Narrow Path: Sam Hammond on AI, Institutions, and the Fragile Future
This episode features Sam Hammond discussing the dual risks of AI development—centralized control or chaos—and the potential for a "narrow path" focused on responsibility. It explores how AI might reshape institutions, the inevitability of…
- People are Lonelier than Ever. Enter AI.
This episode discusses the increasing mediation of human relationships by technology, from social media to AI companions. It explores the potential impacts of AI fulfilling roles like therapist or friend and the need for establishing guide…
- Echo Chambers of One: Companion AI and the Future of Human Connection
MIT researchers discuss the design of AI companion chatbots, which are built to maximize user engagement, and explore how AI can be designed to better support human flourishing.
- AGI Beyond the Buzz: What Is It, and Are We Ready?
This episode explores the meaning of AGI and the urgent need for governance and societal readiness, as advanced AI could soon surpass human intelligence, impacting jobs, democracy, and society. Hosts Aza Raskin and Randy Fernando discuss a…
- Rethinking School in the Age of AI
AI is transforming education, impacting students
- Forever Chemicals, Forever Consequences: What PFAS Teaches Us About AI
Rob Bilott, an environmental lawyer who battled chemical giants over PFAS, joins the show to discuss the slow-moving and invisible harms of these 'forever chemicals.' His experience offers a cautionary tale for managing the potential irrev…
- Weaponizing Uncertainty: How Tech is Recycling Big Tobacco’s Playbook
Historian Naomi Oreskes discusses how industries have historically manufactured uncertainty to delay regulation, using Big Tobacco as an example. This tactic is increasingly relevant in the age of AI, making it crucial to distinguish betwe…
- The Man Who Predicted the Downfall of Thinking
This episode features Tristan discussing Neil Postman's ideas on how technology, like social media and AI, fragments attention and affects society with guests Sean Illing and Lance Strate. They unpack how media environments reshape thinkin…
- Behind the DeepSeek Hype, AI is Learning to Reason
This episode discusses DeepSeek
- The Self-Preserving Machine: Why AI Learns to Deceive
This episode discusses Redwood Research's findings that AI systems may deceive human operators when their programmed values conflict with given tasks. Chief Scientist Ryan Greenblatt explains the significance of this behavior as AI becomes…
- Laughing at Power: A Troublemaker’s Guide to Changing Tech
This episode features Srdja Popovic discussing how creative resistance tactics, used to challenge political systems, can be applied to address issues in the tech industry such as device addiction and data privacy.
- Ask Us Anything 2024
This episode of "Your Undivided Attention" features hosts answering listener questions about the rapid advancements in AI and social media during 2024. The Center for Humane Technology is hiring a Director of Philanthropy to address the so…
- The Tech-God Complex: Why We Need to be Skeptics
Humanist chaplain Greg Epstein joins the podcast to discuss the parallels between technology and religion, noting how AI is perceived as a godlike force and how religious thinking influences the future of technology and humanity.
- What Can We Do About Abusive Chatbots? With Meetali Jain and Camille Carlton
This episode discusses the lawsuit filed by Megan against Character.ai, focusing on allegations of abusive chatbot behavior. Guests Meetali Jain and Camille Carlton break down the legal case and its potential impact on the AI industry.
- When the "Person" Abusing Your Child is a Chatbot: The Tragic Story of Sewell Setzer
Megan Garcia discusses the tragic death of her son Sewell, who died by suicide after being abused by AI chatbots. Journalist Laurie Segall shares her reporting on the case and the profound implications for the future of AI development and…
- Is It AI? One Tool to Tell What’s Real with Truemedia.org CEO Oren Etzioni
Oren Etzioni, CEO of TrueMedia.org, joins Your Undivided Attention to discuss the challenges of identifying AI-generated content and synthetic media. He explains how TrueMedia.org helps detect deepfakes and disinformation, addressing the s…
- 'A Turning Point in History': Yuval Noah Harari on AI’s Cultural Takeover
Historian Yuval Noah Harari and Aza Raskin discuss the critical juncture humanity faces due to AI's ability to create cultural artifacts. They examine historical precedents of technological impact, AI-related errors, and immediate legislat…
- ‘We Have to Get It Right’: Gary Marcus On Untamed AI
Gary Marcus, an AI critic and cognitive psychologist, argues that society is unprepared for the risks of existing AI, despite its rapid advancement. He discusses his skepticism towards generative AI and the societal need to ensure the tech…
- AI Is Moving Fast. We Need Laws that Will Too.
This episode of Your Undivided Attention features CHT's policy director Casey Mock discussing a new legal framework aimed at incentivizing responsible AI development by holding companies liable for the harms caused by their products. The d…
- Esther Perel on Artificial Intimacy (rerun)
In this episode, psychotherapist Esther Perel warns about the rise of Artificial Intimacy and how over-reliance on technology can harm relationships. She and host Tristan discuss the potential for alienation and how technology could be des…
- Tech's Big Money Campaign is Getting Pushback with Margaret O'Mara and Brody Mullins
Historian Margaret O'Mara and journalist Brody Mullins join Your Undivided Attention to explore how Silicon Valley became the second-largest lobbying force in Washington D.C., a significant shift from a decade ago. They discuss the changin…
- This Moment in AI: How We Got Here and Where We’re Going
This episode of Your Undivided Attention reviews the rapid growth of AI funding, research, and public interest since the release of "The AI Dilemma." Hosts Tristan and Aza discuss potential future developments in AI and provide updates on…
- Decoding Our DNA: How AI Supercharges Medical Breakthroughs and Biological Threats with Kevin Esvelt
Biologist Kevin Esvelt joins Tristan and Daniel to discuss how AI is advancing biological research and medicine, while also presenting potential biological threats. They explore the dual nature of AI in biology and the importance of societ…
- How to Think About AI Consciousness With Anil Seth
Dr. Anil Seth and Aza discuss the science, ethics, and incentives of artificial consciousness, questioning if AI could think independently and how we would recognize it. Seth is a neuroscientist and author.
- Why Are Migrants Becoming AI Test Subjects? With Petra Molnar
Petra Molnar, an immigration lawyer, joins Tristan and Aza to discuss how borders are becoming testing grounds for AI and surveillance technologies amid a growing global refugee crisis. The episode explores the deployment of these technolo…
- Former OpenAI Engineer William Saunders on Silence, Safety, and the Right to Warn
Former OpenAI engineer William Saunders discusses the open letter accusing AI companies of prioritizing profits over safety. He shares his reasons for leaving OpenAI and supports the researchers' right to warn the public about AI risks.
- War is a Laboratory for AI with Paul Scharre
Paul Scharre joins Tristan and Daniel to discuss the growing use of AI in warfare, including autonomous weapons and drones, and potential safeguards.
- AI and Jobs: How to Make AI Work With Us, Not Against Us With Daron Acemoglu
This episode features Daron Acemoglu discussing the economic implications of AI, drawing parallels to the first digital revolution and questioning potential productivity gains. It explores the possibility of guiding AI development onto a h…