WIRED Roundup: Protest Frogs, Google Bedbugs, AI Psychosis
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Louise Matsakis to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from how SEO is changing in the era of AI, to how frogs became a protest symbol. Then, why some people have been filing complaints to the FTC about ChatGPT, arguing it has led them to AI psychosis and pleading the agency to step in.
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22:39
How Data Centers Actually Work
Tech giants have been investing hundreds of billions of dollars into AI data centers just this year alone. But as the deals pile up, so have the concerns around their viability and sustainability. Mike and Lauren sit down with WIRED’s Molly Taft to discuss how these energy hungry facilities actually work; the different industry interests at stake; and whether it’ll all come crumbling down. Articles mentioned in this episode:
The AI Industry’s Scaling Obsession Is Headed for a Cliff | WIRED
OpenAI's Blockbuster AMD Deal Is a Bet on Near-Limitless Demand for AI | WIRED
A Political Battle Is Brewing Over Data Centers | WIRED
How Much Energy Does AI Use? The People Who Know Aren’t Saying | WIRED
Join WIRED’s best and brightest as they provide an insider analysis of the overlap between tech and politics, from the influence of Silicon Valley on the Trump administration to how inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots fanned the fire on social protests.
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BIG INTV: Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor
Mere months ago, New York's mayoral frontrunner was polling at the same level as literally "someone else." Zohran Mamdani talks to Katie about building a social media juggernaut, Big Tech capitulation, and what he learned from outgoing New York Mayor Eric Adams.Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
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32:57
WIRED Roundup: Satellites Data Leak, Cybertrucks, Politicized Federal Workers
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from how satellites are leaking sensitive data to what Zoë learned after interviewing cybertruck owners. Then, Zoë and Jake dive into how federal workers ended up in the middle of a political fight that they didn’t sign themselves up for. Articles mentioned in this episode:
Satellites Are Leaking the World’s Secrets: Calls, Texts, Military and Corporate Data | WIRED
A Plan to Rebuild Gaza Lists Nearly 30 Companies. Many Say They’re Not Involved | WIRED
A Quarter of the CDC Is Gone | WIRED
Spit On, Sworn At, and Undeterred: What It’s Like to Own a Cybertruck | WIRED
Federal Workers Are Being Used as Pawns in the Shutdown | WIRED
Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
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The New Power of Far-Right Influencers
History professor Mark Bray is no stranger to death threats. As the author of the book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, published in 2017, he has received backlash and harassment from far-right circles for almost a decade. But things recently escalated after the Trump administration designated antifa as a “domestic terrorist organization,” and far-right influencers with a newfound power targeted Bray. Mike sits down with WIRED’s David Gilbert and Leah Feiger to discuss what went down, how the role of far-right influencers has expanded exponentially during the past year, and what responsibility tech companies carry. Articles mentioned in this episode:
He Wrote a Book About Antifa. Death Threats Are Driving Him Out of the US | WIRED
Trump Wants to Take Over Cities. Influencers Are Giving Him the Fuel to Do It | WIRED
The Who's Who of MAGA Influencers You Should Know About by Now | WIRED
Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech. On Thursdays, WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond is joined by Lauren Goode and Michael Calore to break down a recent story or phenomena bubbling up in Silicon Valley and explain its influence on our daily lives. And on Fridays, WIRED’s Zoë Schiffer has an urgent conversation about this week in the news.
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