Best ROT Media Productions Podcasts (2025)

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Meta Bets on Scale + Apple’s A.I. Struggles + Listeners on Job Automation 1:07:27

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6d ago1:07:27

1:07:27

This week, Meta hits the reset button on A.I. But will a new research lab and a multibillion-dollar investment in Scale AI bring the company any closer to its stated goal of “superintelligence”? Then we break down Apple’s big developer conference, WWDC: What was announced, what was noticeably absent, and why Apple seems a little stuck in the past. …

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The Trump-Musk Fallout + A DOGE Coder Speaks + ChefGPT 1:06:58

13d ago1:06:58

1:06:58

This week, Kevin and Casey discuss the sudden breakdown between President Trump and Elon Musk, whose disagreements over the policy bill before Congress quickly erupted into an all-out feud. Then, an ex-DOGE coder explains what it was really like to work inside the Trump administration’s cost-cutting arm. And finally, the former New York Times resta…

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The A.I. Jobpocalypse + Building at Anthropic with Mike Krieger + Hard Fork Crimes Division 1:08:02

20d ago1:08:02

1:08:02

This week, we dive into Kevin’s recent column about how A.I. is affecting the job market for new graduates, and debate whether the job apocalypse is already here for entry-level work. Then Mike Krieger joins us to discuss the new Claude 4 model, the future of work and the online chatter over whether an A.I. system could blackmail you. And finally, …

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Google DeepMind C.E.O. Demis Hassabis on Living in an A.I. Future 1:13:42

27d ago1:13:42

1:13:42

This week, we take a field trip to Google and report back about everything the company announced at its biggest show of the year, Google I/O. Then, we sit down with Google DeepMind’s chief executive and co-founder, Demis Hassabis, to discuss what his A.I. lab is building, the future of education, and what life could look like in 2030. Guest: Demis …

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Ed Helms Answers Your Hard Questions 56:03

1M ago56:03

56:03

The actor, comedian and author Ed Helms has a new book out about historical blunders. He swings by Hard Fork to tell us about it and answer your moral quandaries, ethical dilemmas and etiquette questions about technology: How do I tell my mom she can’t post about her grandkids on Facebook? Am I being an A.I. hypocrite at work? And is it OK to troll…

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Bad Apple + The Rise of the AI Empire + Italian Brain Rot 1:11:48

1M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

This week, iPhone users started to feel the impact of a stern court order against Apple that requires the company to stop collecting a commission on some app sales. We break down what this means for apps like Kindle and Spotify and why the judge suggested that Apple and a top executive should be investigated for criminal contempt. Then, Karen Hao j…

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The Dangers of A.I. Flattery + Kevin Meets the Orb + Group Chat Chat 1:07:24

2M ago1:07:24

1:07:24

This week we dig into the ways chatbots are starting to manipulate us, including ChatGPT’s sycophantic update, Meta’s digital companionship turn and a secret experiment run on Reddit users. Then Kevin reports back from the unveiling of a new eye-scanning orb. And finally, we’re joined by PJ Vogt for a brand-new segment called Group Chat Chat. Ticke…

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Is Google Breaking Up? + Seasteading Is Back + Tool Time 1:07:37

2M ago1:07:37

1:07:37

This week, with big developments in two antitrust cases against Google, we discuss how the company may be forced to change its business. Then we’re joined by the journalist Mark Yarm to discuss his recent visit to an underwater home for his article about techno-utopians who want to colonize the ocean. And finally, it’s tool time! We’ll tell you abo…

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Meta on Trial + Is A.I. a ‘Normal’ Technology? + HatGPT 1:20:28

2M ago1:20:28

1:20:28

This week Meta is on trial, in a landmark case over whether it illegally snuffed out competition when it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp. We discuss some of the most surprising revelations from old email messages made public as evidence in the case, and explain why we think the F.T.C.’s argument has gotten weaker in the years since the lawsuit was …

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Big Tech's Tariff Chaos + A.I. 2027 + Llama Drama 1:09:18

2M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

This week, with the tech world in chaos over President Trump’s tariffs, we look at how four specific companies are navigating the new day-to-day reality. Then, the A.I. researcher Daniel Kokotajlo returns to the show to discuss a new set of predictions for how artificial intelligence could transform the world in just the next few years and how we a…

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Tech Stock Shock + Solving the Mystery of OpenAI's "Blip" + Tinder's Flirt-Off 1:02:27

3M ago1:02:27

1:02:27

This week, President Trump announced sweeping new tariffs that are roiling the global economy. We discuss what this could mean for the tech sector and whether this will give China a competitive advantage over the United States in the development of A.I. Then, we chat with a Wall Street Journal reporter, Keach Hagey, about her new book on Sam Altman…

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The Tech Behind Signalgate + Dwarkesh Patel's "Scaling Era" + Is A.I. Making Our Listeners Dumb? 1:07:49

3M ago1:07:49

1:07:49

This week, we dig into the group chat that’s rocking the Trump administration and talk about why turning to Signal to plan military operations probably isn’t a great idea. Then, we’re joined by the podcaster Dwarkesh Patel to discuss his new book “The Scaling Era,” and whether he’s still optimistic about the broad benefits of A.I. And finally, a co…

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A.I. Action Plans + The College Student Who Broke Job Interviews + Hot Mess Express 1:01:50

3M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

With all of Silicon Valley weighing in on the Trump administration’s new action plan for artificial intelligence, Kevin and Casey break down what’s on everybody’s wish list. Then, a Columbia undergrad explains why he built a tool that lets coders use A.I. to cheat on job interviews. And finally, we climb aboard the Hot Mess Express to talk Solana’s…

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Apple's Siri-ous Problem + How Starlink Took Over the World + Is AI Making Us Dumb? 1:02:46

3M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

This week, as the long-promised new Siri faces increasing delays, we explore why Apple seems to be falling even further behind in artificial intelligence. Then, the New York Times reporter Adam Satariano joins us to explain how Elon Musk’s satellite internet provider Starlink took over the world. And finally, we look at a new study that asks: Is A.…

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Is Google Search Cooked? + We’re Getting a U.S. Crypto Reserve? + What You’re Vibecoding 1:10:23

3M ago1:10:23

1:10:23

This week, Google introduced a new way to search, which could mean that Googling as we know it is on the way out. It’s called AI Mode and it is essentially the company’s response to the growing number of people turning to A.I. chat bots instead of Google search. We walk through what this new product looks like, who can use it and what it could mean…

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Anthropic’s C.E.O. Dario Amodei on Surviving the A.I. Endgame 1:07:28

4M ago1:07:28

1:07:28

This week, Anthropic’s C.E.O., Dario Amodei, returns to the show for a candid, wide-ranging interview. We discuss Anthropic’s brand-new Claude 3.7 Sonnet model, the A.I. arms race against China, and his hopes and fears for this technology over the next two years. Then, we gather up recent tech stories, put them into a hat and close out the week wit…

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How Based is Grok 3? + Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev on Markets For Everything + Vibecoding 101 1:11:40

4M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

This week, Elon Musk brought a new chatbot into the crowded A.I. universe — Grok 3, the latest model from his company xAI. We break down how it compares with other leading models and what it reveals about Musk’s larger ambitions. Then, Vlad Tenev, the chief executive of the investing platform Robinhood, lays out his vision for the future of investi…

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A.I. Accelerates in Paris + Can A.I. Fix Your Love Life? 1:12:07

4M ago1:12:07

1:12:07

Kevin reports back from the A.I. Action Summit in Paris, where it was full speed ahead toward artificial general intelligence, with a conspicuous lack of action on the safety front. Also, Happy Valentine’s Day! We’re taking a look at A.I. on dating apps. First, our producer Rachel Cohn explains what happened when she applied all of the advice from …

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The Musketeers Take Washington + Spotify's Ghost Music + Tool Time 1:22:59

4M ago1:22:59

1:22:59

This week, we’re joined by the Times reporter Jonathan Swan to discuss Elon Musk’s tech takeover of Washington, D.C. Then, Liz Pelly, author of a new book about Spotify, stops by to discuss “ghost musicians” and how Spotify’s algorithms are reshaping music culture. And finally — it’s Tool Time! We’ll tell you all about the new A.I. tools we’re usin…

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DeepSeek DeepDive + Hands-On With Operator + Hot Mess Express! 1:05:51

5M ago1:05:51

1:05:51

This week we go even deeper on DeepSeek. ChinaTalk's Jordan Schneider joins us to explain the Chinese A.I. industry and to break down the reaction inside of China to DeepSeek’s sudden success. Then … hello, Operator! We put OpenAI’s new agent software to the test. And finally, all aboard for another ride on the Hot Mess Express! Guest: Jordan Schne…

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Your Guide to the DeepSeek Freakout: an Emergency Pod 24:04

5M ago24:04

24:04

A Chinese firm called DeepSeek managed to upend global markets at the start of the week, to drag down chipmaker Nvidia — and to surge to No. 1 in the iPhone app store, all in basically no time at all. Today, in this bonus episode, we talk through the news behind the freakout. How is a new A.I. model from one Chinese A.I. company making such a big s…

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Quantum TikTok + Memecoin Mania + Chris Hayes on the Attention Wars 1:12:20

5M ago1:12:20

1:12:20

This week, TikTok died, came back to life — and now exists in a kind of limbo state. We break down what that may signal for how tech does business with the new Trump administration. Then we pump up the fun with memecoins and explore how the Trump family is cashing in. And finally, MSNBC’s Chris Hayes joins us to discuss his new book about attention…

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Goodbye TikTok, Ni Hao RedNote? + A.I.'s Environmental Impact + Meta's Masculine Energy 1:13:08

5M ago1:13:08

1:13:08

The deadline for TikTok to sell or to face a ban is fast approaching. We discuss how Supreme Court justices — who opted on Friday to uphold the law — reacted to arguments in the case, whether the Chinese government might allow Elon Musk to buy the app, and why self-proclaimed TikTok refugees are rushing to a different Chinese app, called RedNote. T…

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Meta Goes MAGA Mode +A Big Month in A.I. + HatGPT 1:10:55

5M ago1:10:55

1:10:55

This week, Meta announced a series of content moderation changes that will transform the way the social media company’s platforms deal with misinformation and hate speech. We break down what these changes will mean for users and why the company seems to be caving to the right’s arguments on censorship. Then, we’ll explain why 2025 is already shapin…

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Our 2025 Tech Predictions and Resolutions + We Answer Your Questions 1:08:39

6M ago1:08:39

1:08:39

This week, it’s our yearly tech predictions. We’ll review what we got right and wrong about 2024, and tell you what we think is going to happen in 2025. Then we’ll discuss how we want to interact with tech in the new year. Plus, we’ll answer some of your listener questions. We want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected]. Find “Hard Fork…

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The Wirecutter Show: Kitchen Gear That Lasts a Lifetime (or Extremely Close) 41:10

6M ago41:10

41:10

Happy Holidays, everybody! We are off this week, but we wanted to bring you a recent episode from another New York Times podcast: The Wirecutter Show. It’s called “Kitchen Gear That Lasts a Lifetime (or Extremely Close)” and features Michael Sullivan, one of the senior staff writers on Wirecutter’s kitchen team. Michael walks through tips and trick…

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Is Amazon's Drone Delivery Finally Ready for Prime Time? 1:03:16

6M ago1:03:16

1:03:16

This week, we took a field trip to the Phoenix suburbs to see Amazon’s newest iteration of drone delivery service in action. We toured the facility where these drones are in operation, spoke with the vice president and general manager of Prime Air, David Carbon, and watched from a local backyard as our own order dropped from the sky. Guest: David C…

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TikTok's Last Stand + Google's Quantum Breakthrough + Cult of Claude 1:13:06

6M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Last Friday, a panel of federal judges denied TikTok’s petition to overturn the law that could force the ban of the app in the United States. We walk through the judges reasoning and explain why TikTok’s First Amendment argument was unsuccessful. Then, Julian Kelly, the director of quantum hardware at Google Quantum AI, explains how close we are to…

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Is Intel Cooked? + What's Your P(Dyson Sphere)? + Hard Fork Gift Guide 1:11:31

7M ago1:11:31

1:11:31

This week, Pat Gelsinger stepped down as chief executive of Intel. We talk with The New York Times’s Don Clark about why Gelsinger was ousted, what it means for the chip industry and how his departure could affect national security. Then, Kevin and Casey report back from an artificial intelligence conference, where experts debated how long it would…

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Hard Fork's 100 Most Iconic Technologies 1:27:21

7M ago1:27:21

1:27:21

This week, we’re bringing you a Thanksgiving special that’s great for a long car ride, a day of cooking or avoiding conversation with your family. We’re counting down the 100 most iconic technologies of all time, starting with No. 100: Boats. Our definitive list was carefully crafted using an advanced methodology of vibes-only decision-making. By “…

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Trump's Next Online Speech Cop + Doctors vs ChatGPT + Hard Fork Crimes Division 1:09:52

7M ago1:09:52

1:09:52

This week, President-elect Donald Trump picked Brendan Carr to be the next chairman of the F.C.C. We talk with The Verge’s editor in chief, Nilay Patel, about what this could mean for the future of the internet, and for free speech at large. Then, a new study found that ChatGPT defeated doctors at diagnosing some diseases. One of the study’s author…

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Crypto Congress + HBD ChatGPT + What Social Media Platform Should I Be On? 1:17:47

7M ago1:17:47

1:17:47

This week, we explore how the 2024 election paved the way for a new crypto-friendly Congress and what that means for the future of crypto. Then, for ChatGPT’s second birthday, Nick Turley, ChatGPT head of product at OpenAI, stops by to tell us where it goes from here and share some of his favorite chatbot hacks. Finally, a listener emailed us last …

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What Trump 2.0 Means for Tech + A.I. Made Me Basic + HatGPT! 1:05:17

7M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

As of this week, we have a new president-elect. We discuss how the incoming administration’s approach to technology will affect Elon Musk, a TikTok ban, Big Tech’s antitrust challenges and the speed of A.I. progress. Then, Kashmir Hill, a technology reporter for The Times, joins to discuss her weeklong experiment of letting A.I. make every decision…

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Billionaire Game Theory + We Are Not Ready for A.G.I. + Election Betting Markets Get Weird 1:11:28

8M ago1:11:28

1:11:28

Last week, Jeff Bezos canceled the Washington Post editorial board’s plan to endorse Kamala Harris. Are tech billionaires hedging their bets in case Donald Trump wins? Then, Miles Brundage, a former OpenAI senior adviser on artificial general intelligence readiness, stops by to tell us how his old company is doing when it comes to being ready for s…

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The Elon-ction + Can A.I. Be Blamed for a Teen’s Suicide? 1:10:26

8M ago1:10:26

1:10:26

Note: This episode contains mentions of suicide. This week, how Elon Musk became a main character in this year’s election, and what that means for the future of tech and of the country. Plus, the journalist Laurie Segall joins us to discuss the tragic case of a teenager who became obsessed with an A.I. companion bot and later died by suicide. We di…

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Powerful A.I. By 2026? + Uber's C.E.O. on the Robotaxi Future + Casey's TikTok Test 1:55:24

8M ago1:55:24

1:55:24

This week, the A.I. company Anthropic has Silicon Valley rethinking the timeline for artificial general intelligence. In addition to releasing a new safety policy, the company’s chief executive, Dario Amodei, laid out a vision of how A.I. could help cure cancer, mental illness and mitigate climate change in the near future. We consider his most sur…

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A Flood of A.I. Slop + Searching for Satoshi + the Hot Mess Express Returns 1:09:11

8M ago1:09:11

1:09:11

This week, in the wake of recent natural disasters, we dig into the rise of A.I.-generated slop that’s polluting the internet and disrupting rescue efforts. Then we talk with the investigative filmmaker Cullen Hoback about his new documentary on the history of Bitcoin and about why, after so many others have failed, he thinks he has found the real …

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Can California Regulate A.I.? + Silicon Valley’s Super Babies + System Update! 1:09:30

9M ago1:09:30

1:09:30

On Sunday, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California vetoed Senate Bill 1047, an A.I. safety bill that would have curtailed the growth of the technology. What received a lot less attention were the 18 other important A.I. bills he signed into law over the past month. We walk through what is in them and what they mean for the rest of the country. Then, The In…

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Meta’s Race for Your Face + Google’s Hit A.I. Notebook + HatGPT 1:12:57

9M ago1:12:57

1:12:57

This week, Casey reports back from a wild day at Meta Connect, discussing what’s new with Meta’s efforts in artificial intelligence, virtual reality headsets and the Holy Grail — augmented reality glasses. Then, Steven Johnson, a writer and editorial director at Google Labs, stops by to talk about the company’s new hit NotebookLM, which uses A.I. t…

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OpenAI's Reasoning Machine + Instagram Teen Changes + Amazon RTO Drama 1:06:22

9M ago1:06:22

1:06:22

Last week, OpenAI released a preview of its hotly anticipated new model, o1. We discuss what it has excelled at and how it could accelerate the timeline for building superintelligence. Then, we explain why Meta is making teenagers’ Instagram accounts private by default. And, finally, we chat with the New York Times reporter Karen Weise about why Am…

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Do You Need a New iPhone? + Yuval Noah Harari’s A.I. Fears + Hard Fork Crimes Division 1:12:22

9M ago1:12:22

1:12:22

Apple unveiled its latest gadgets at its big September event on Monday. We discuss the most interesting new features — including AirPods that can function as hearing aids and Apple Watch software that can help detect sleep apnea — and offer our advice on when to buy a new iPhone. Then, the best-selling author Yuval Noah Harari joins us to discuss h…

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Ep. 148: Controlling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, cattlemen look to November, improving soil fertility, the music of Whey Jennings 30:01

9M ago30:01

30:01

On this episode, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza was the topic of a special gathering of ag and federal regulatory officials in North Carolina. We’ll detail their concerns. Also, cattlemen are keeping a close eye on Washington, D.C. as Congress returns to town and as the November elections approach. We’ll hear form a representative of the Idaho C…

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X Gets a Brazilian Ax + Founder Mode + Listeners Respond on School Phone Bans 1:08:07

10M ago1:08:07

1:08:07

Over the weekend, X was banned in Brazil. We talk with The New York Times’s Brazil bureau chief, Jack Nicas, about how Brazilians are reacting, whether its owner, Elon Musk, has made a business miscalculation and what this means for free speech around the world. Then, we’re going “founder mode.” We explore why an essay about start-up founders recla…

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The Telegram Problem + Gov. Kathy Hochul on School Phone Bans + Kevin's A.I. Reputation Rehab 1:14:10

10M ago1:14:10

1:14:10

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, was arrested in France and charged with several crimes connected to his operation of the platform. We’ll tell you what the charges against him mean for the internet. Then Gov. Kathy Hochul, Democrat of New York, joins us to discuss why she wants to ban phones statewide in public schools. And finally, Kevin has been …

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Ep. 147: Farm Progress Show, keeping moisture in the soil, ProFarmer Crop Tour Eastern Leg Results, the music of Randy C. Moore 30:25

10M ago30:25

30:25

On this episode, the Farm Progress Show was held this week in Boone, Iowa, and we hear from show manager Don Tourte about what this year’s show offered. Also, the U.S.’s ag trade deficit continues to grow and we’ll delve into the “why.” And, the USDA’s Climate Smart Commodities Program continues to grow, and this week U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom…

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Ep. 146 ProFarmer Crop Tour, weighing on-farm crop storage, caring for mental health on the farm, the music of Sienna Rose 30:01

10M ago30:01

30:01

On this episode we hear a recap of corn and soybean conditions from participants of the ProFarmer Midwest Crop tour. Also, with harvest approaching, is bin storage on the farm in your best interest? And, a cause for optimism for dairy farmers, and a U.S. Representative’s take on farm bill proceedings. We’ll also hear about some great mental health …

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What Happened to the A.I. Election? + ChatGPT for Mayor + The Productivity Tools We’re Using 1:08:32

10M ago1:08:32

1:08:32

This week, we discuss why so few campaigns seem to be experimenting with A.I. The Times’s Sheera Frenkel joins us with examples of the many different artificial intelligence products that have been turned down by campaigns in this election cycle, from A.I.-generated endorsements from long-dead historical figures to a synthetic version of Donald Tru…

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Can Musk Get Trump Elected? + Steve Ballmer’s Quest for the Facts + This Week in A.I. 1:08:34

10M ago1:08:34

1:08:34

This week, we debate whether Elon Musk’s recent stumping and fund-raising for former President Trump could help him get re-elected. Then, former Microsoft’s chief executive, Steve Ballmer, stops by to discuss his effort to depolarize our politics using government data. And finally, This Week in A.I. returns: We run down some of the biggest recent s…

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Ep. 145: Farm transition planning, a closer look at key USDA grain estimates, Harvest Safety Week, mitigating cattle heat stress, the music of Austin McKedy 32:06

10M ago32:06

32:06

On this episode, we talk farm transition planning with Tim Cobb, the owner and president of Farmland Company. Then, Harvest Safety Week is coming up and we’ll tell you how you can sharpen your awareness with some special resources. Also, some key USDA grain projections are out and we get some important context from University of Illinois economist …

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Google’s Monopoly Money + Is the A.I. Bubble Popping? + The Hot-Mess Express 1:13:20

10M ago1:13:20

1:13:20

This week, a federal judge ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search. David McCabe, a New York Times reporter, joins to discuss what happens next. Then, are we in an A.I. bubble? We weigh in on the wild market swings that started the week and consider the argument that A.I. is overhyped. And finally, it’s time for ou…