Podcasts about Uncanny valley

Devin Stone, the lawyer better known as LegalEagle on YouTube, has been breaking down legal cases - and assessing the accuracy of legal procedurals in film and television -- for years. He talks to Katie about the challenges of keeping up with scandals arising from the Trump Administration. This is a summer re-air! 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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

ENTERTAINING SHORT FILMS is a new category on the RPA Network, which features indie short films for your enjoyment! We applaud these creators! In the slums of the future, virtual reality junkies satisfy their violent impulses in online entertainment. An expert player discovers that the line between games and reality is starting to fade away.  

A bonus episode from our friends at WIRED's Uncanny Valley. The hit HBO Max comedy series Hacks follows the tumultuous relationship between a young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) and legacy comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). The show has also had a lot to say about the business of show business. Creators Paul W.  Downs and Lucia Aniello join Katie to talk about writing the series, corporate censorship, and why they find AI “deeply disturbing.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Katie sits down with the Westworld showrunner, Jonah Nolan for a wide ranging conversation about what keeps him coming back to sci-fi storytelling about technology and human nature. After decades of writing about Ai, Nolan explains why Ai may be good for burgeoning filmmakers, but won't replace Hollywood as we know it. Nolan's past work includes Memento, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Interstellar and Westworld.  This is a summer re-air! We are on a short vacation but back with fresh episodes very soon. 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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Earlier this year, insurance executives gathered in a Times Square conference room to play out a scenario — a Chinese cyberattack that knocks out 5,000 US water utilities at once. If you think that's a far-fetched scenario, think again. WIRED's Andy Greenberg got rare access to the closed-door war game, and walked away with some disturbing conclusions. This week, Brian sits down to talk with Andy about Volt Typhoon, the Chinese state-sponsored hacking group that's spent the past three years pre-positioning itself inside American infrastructure. Articles mentioned in this episode: What Happens if China Hacks the US Water Supply? I Went to a Secret War Game to Find Out | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the team breaks down Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word AI manifesto and why it ultimately rings hollow. Plus — why job seekers are scheduling bot-run interviews at 1 AM, and WIRED's Andy Greenberg joins to unpack Black Hat and DEF CON's best findings, from a hacked kids' smartwatch to a coin-sized device that can hijack a Boeing 737. Articles mentioned in this episode: The Rise of the 1 am Job Interview | WIRED  Hackers Stalked Me by Hijacking a Smartwatch for Kids | WIRED This Coin-Sized Device Can Hack a Boeing 737 | WIRED   McDonald's Built a 515-Page Dossier on Me. It Says I'll Never Stop Eating There | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Before he burst through the 2025 primaries, Zohran Mamdani was polling at the same level as literally "someone else." Then-candidate Zohran Mamdani sat down with Katie to talk about building a social media juggernaut, Big Tech capitulation, and what he learned from previous New York Mayor Eric Adams. This is a summer re-air! We are on a short vacation but back with fresh episodes very soon. 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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone wants to throw AI into their digital experience. Lane Greer from FullStory says that's probably a mistake. Too many companies are looking for ways to add AI when they should be asking what their customers actually need. And it might not be AI.Join hosts Nick Paladino and Chuck Moxley as they introduce the Claude bracket: that signature design move that screams "I didn't put thought into this." Meanwhile, Lane explains the real downfall of AI, taste and judgement. When you feed Claude a comic book design as context for an enterprise app, it doesn't know the difference. It just copies the pattern. We dig into why your KPIs are lying to you. When you add AI support, ticket handle time goes up. Sounds bad. It's actually good. When conversion rates drop but order value climbs, you're winning. And we explore AI's version of the uncanny valley, that gap between obviously fake and totally authentic that AI just can't cross.Key Actionable Takeaways:Stop looking for places to inject AI– start understanding what your users actually need Taste and judgment cannot be automated—human oversight isn't a limitation, it's a requirementYour KPIs are lying to you now—higher ticket times and lower conversion might actually mean you're winningWant more tips and strategies about creating frictionless digital experiences? Subscribe to our newsletter!https://www.thefrictionlessexperience.com/frictionless/ Download the Five Step Site Speed Target Playbook: http://bluetriangle.com/playbookLane Greer's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lanegreer Nick Paladino's LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/npaladino Chuck Moxley's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckmoxley/Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:00) The AI Phenomenon(03:45) Brand Personality Still Matters(05:00) When to Use AI and When Not To(06:45) Trust in AI Agents(09:00) Human in the Loop(11:00) Taste and Judgment(12:30) The Data Context Problem(13:00) The Claude Bracket(15:00) Pressure Testing Detection(16:15) Uncanny Valley in AI(17:45) KPIs Getting Suppressed(18:55) Conversion vs Order Value(20:45) Ticket Handle Time Paradox(22:00) Support Team Impacts(23:00) Conclusion

In this episode, we discuss how AMD's and Anthropic's new AI chips aim to bridge the uncanny valley in technology. Learn about human-like interactions.Chapters00:00 AI Chip Development by Anthropic01:59 AMD's Helios Rack System04:00 Claude's Voice Mode Update05:58 Google Cloud Revenue Surge08:11 Lobbying Against Chinese AI10:50 Conclusion and Summary Show LinksGet the top 80+ AI Models for $8.99 at AI Box: ⁠⁠https://aibox.aiHow I Grow and Scale My Business with AI: https://www.skool.com/aihustleGet the AI Chat Daily Newsletter: https://www.aichatdaily.com/newsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Puck's Matthew Belloni reported on Amazon MGM Studios decision to dump their Sam Altman biopic mere months after announced an enormous investment into OpenAI to the tune of $50 billion – the news sent a bit of a shockwave through Hollywood as the implications of Silicon Valley's grip on the industry has seemingly entered a new phase. Matt Belloni, host of The Town podcast, joins Katie to discuss the ongoing effects of Silicon Valley's control over Hollywood and how the core mechanics of the entertainment industry, from algorithmic green lighting to the slippery slope of AI integration, are being rewritten.  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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, Nvidia launched a splashy push for an open source AI security alliance alongside companies like Microsoft, SpaceX, and Palantir — notably absent were OpenAI and Anthropic. We break down what the split means for the industry and the Trump administration's own shifting opinions on AI. Plus: how Claude conversations turned up in Google and Bing search results, and the massive feat of how four whales were rescued from Canada to Chicago. Articles mentioned in this episode: Private Claude Chats Exposed in Google and Bing Search Results | WIRED Silicon Valley Is Completely Divided Over Chinese AI | WIRED  The Trump Administration Is at War With Itself Over AI Regulation | WIRED Inside the Wild Rescue Mission That Took 4 Beluga Whales to Chicago | WIRED   System Update Newsletter: The Best of WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, we examine the uncanny valley in AI's success in bug detection. We discuss the balance between automation and human oversight.Chapters00:00 Microsoft Bug Hunting AI02:01 Google's SynthID Watermark04:59 Encore AI's Voice Agents10:16 Writers Embrace Typos14:59 Sierra Acquires Oasis Security17:01 Recent Industry Headlines Show LinksGet the top 80+ AI Models for $8.99 at AI Box: ⁠⁠https://aibox.aiHow I Grow and Scale My Business with AI: https://www.skool.com/aihustleGet the AI Chat Daily Newsletter: https://www.aichatdaily.com/newsletter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A.G. Sulzberger, who took on the publisher role at The New York Times a decade ago and has been an influential leader in the Times' much-lauded push into digital innovation, has no shortage of defending to do lately. Nearly three years ago, the Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, alleging that the companies illegally used New York Times journalism to train AI models. That legal case, which isn't even through discovery and has cost more than $20 million so far, is only one front in a broader battle: The Trump administration is waging an ongoing war on press freedoms—most recently with an outrageous attempt to subpoena Times journalists over coverage of the president's Qatar-gifted Air Force One—while AI companies radically reshape the way people find and consume information online.  A.G. tells WIRED's Katie Drummond that he has no plans to stop fighting it. 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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The satirical news publication The Onion is trying to take over Infowars, formerly owned by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and planning to put comedian Tim Heidecker in charge. Their vision is to turn Infowars into ‘Adult Swim' for the internet. Tim joins WIRED's Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond for the Big Interview, to talk about political comedy, why late-night has run its course, and what he hopes the future of Infowars will look like.Listen and subscribe to Uncanny Valley here.

This week, the White House accused Chinese-owned Moonshot AI of distilling Anthropic's Fable 5 to build their much talked about Kimi K3 model. Zoë, Leah, and Brian break down whether this is a repeat of the DeepSeek moment and what it means for the AI race between the U.S and China. They also get into how the U.S Army — and plenty of Silicon Valley companies — are having to cut back AI usage after burning through their tokens. Plus, we discuss why you should check if you have an alarm that could make your car easier to hack, and how OpenAI briefly lost control of two AI models during a security test.  Articles mentioned in this episode: The White House Is Trying to Figure Out What to Do About Chinese AI | WIRED  OpenAI Models Escaped Containment and Hacked Hugging Face | WIRED  A Device Hidden in Cars Across the US Leaves Them Vulnerable to Hacking and Paralysis. Patch It Now | WIRED System Update Newsletter: The Best of WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than a hundred Stanford students left their own graduation to protest Google's military contracts and deals with ICE. Two organizers, Amanda Campos and Eva Jones, tell us why. 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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Threads recently hit 500 million monthly users, putting it on par with X — but is it really competing, or just filling a different niche? Meanwhile, the reviews have been coming in for the Trump-branded T1 phone in recent weeks as it finally started shipping after a year of delays. Plus: Leah explains the fast-moving crisis around Senate candidate Graham Platner, who stepped down this week after a long string of controversies.  Articles mentioned in this episode: The Trump Phone Is Already a Lot Different From Last Week | WIRED Republicans Gleefully Celebrate Midterms Chaos in Maine | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sony has announced that they are discontinuing the printing of video game discs within the next few years. You will not just own nothing and be happy, you will own nothing and play games. Besides the lack of physical ownership, the real issue is digital vulnerability, removal of digital content already purchased, price discrimination, and the elimination of classical gaming communities. That, and also the availability of disc drives and discs at premium prices suddenly. Also, if you thought some people were fooled by Secret Space Program stories inspired by movies and games, wait until VR and AR become far more mainstream.*The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, subscribe below.

https://podawful.com/posts/2658 The Groypophile Generals, Elijah Schaffer and Vrillium, have been having a tough time navigating the cyber liminal spaces of social media. Forever lost in the unending backroom tubes of the internet. Luckily, they've groomed an army of Tradtwinks and Discord Kittens to fight their battles for them. Elijah was patriotically exposed by Empathchan in a completely ZOOTED out, naked Facetime call where his eyes entered the Uncanny Valley. Vrillium has been caught by the PODAWFUL CULT hiring minors to defend him on Twitter and Discord, with one of his Chinese child soldiers no-clipping into the Awfuldrome to spy. PLUS: Elijah's new girlfriend went viral outside the Karmelo Anthony sentencing, and Vrillium was caught diaperterrorizing the White House. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/live/R0AS75Ub6vU  Buy A Shirt: http://awful.tech PODAWFUL is an anti-podcast hosted by Jesse P-S

While many politicians are still getting their bearings around AI, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has taken a leading stance. He's proposed a sovereign wealth fund, to allow Americans to share in half of the financial profits made by big AI companies. He's also calling for a moratorium on data center construction, until we're able to answer some key questions – including how AI can improve our lives. Senator Bernie Sanders talks to Katie about the transformational power of AI, and why we need to keep talking about safely regulating it.  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 more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

https://podawful.com/posts/2658 The Groypophile Generals, Elijah Schaffer and Vrillium, have been having a tough time navigating the cyber liminal spaces of social media. Forever lost in the unending backroom tubes of the internet. Luckily, they've groomed an army of Tradtwinks and Discord Kittens to fight their battles for them. Elijah was patriotically exposed by Empathchan in a completely ZOOTED out, naked Facetime call where his eyes entered the Uncanny Valley. Vrillium has been caught by the PODAWFUL CULT hiring minors to defend him on Twitter and Discord, with one of his Chinese child soldiers no-clipping into the Awfuldrome to spy. PLUS: Elijah's new girlfriend went viral outside the Karmelo Anthony sentencing, and Vrillium was caught diaperterrorizing the White House. VIDEO: https://youtube.com/live/R0AS75Ub6vU  Buy A Shirt: http://awful.tech PODAWFUL is an anti-podcast hosted by Jesse P-S

This week, the team discusses Amazon's controversial decision to drop Luca Guadagnino's film about OpenAI's Sam Altman — which reportedly did not paint him in a favorable light. Alongside Google DeepMind's $75 million brand new partnership with indie film studio A24, how much of a dent is AI actually having in the films we see? They also discuss the recent upheaval of workers — from electricians to software engineers — against data centers. Plus: Meta's program to track employees' data gets paused after a massive leak, and Anthropic is now getting along with the government thanks to CEO Dario Amodei no longer being in the room. Articles mentioned in this episode: Some Electricians Think Building Data Centers Is for Sellouts | WIRED Meta Pauses Employee-Tracking Program Following Internal Data Leak | WIRED The Trump White House Is Over Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Visit TheRenegadeFiles.com for Cool Merchandise, Patreon Bonus Episodes, and all things Renegade Files in one place. ~~~ Dive into this episode to explore the frightening phenomenon of The Creepy Clown Panic of 2016. Dig into clown history, lore, the irony of the clown as villain, horror clowns in both true crime and pop culture, and all of the ways the idea of threatening clowns turned into full blown national hysteria. ~~~ Topics Covered: Creepy Clown Panic, Killer Clowns, Evil Clowns, Phantom Clowns, 2016 Clown Panic, Stephen King's It, Pennywise, Urban Legends, Moral Panic, Uncanny Valley, Coulrophobia, Clown Sightings, Mass Hysteria, Moral Panics ~~~ If you like the show, please leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you think we deserve it. (It helps new listeners find the show.) Thank you. ~~~ Music and Audio Licensing: Theme Song: “Steve's Djembe” by Vani, FMA, licensed: Creative Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 License. “Rocket Appliance Reversal” by Flow Lab Cult, DV8NOW Records, licensed: Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. The audio recording and text transcript of this podcast episode is © 2026 DV8NOW Publishing LLC . The Renegade Files name and the Renegade Files UFO-Pyramid Logo are wholly owned Registered Trademarks of DV8NOW Publishing LLC . About Fair Use: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, a "Fair Use" allowance is made for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair Use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. Website http://therenegadefiles.com (Everything RF in 1 place. Visit and Share!) Bonus Episodes / Support on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/renegadefiles Get cool RF Merch https://therenegadefiles.com/shop/ Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@renegadefiles Follow RF on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/renegadefiles/ Read Renegade Signals FREE on Substack Follow RF on X.com

Anna Gomez, the only Democratic commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission, wrote a shocking letter to Disney last month, warning that the company is the target of “a sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control.” Commissioner Gomez sits down with Katie to talk about protecting the First Amendment, where the FCC is stepping out of bounds, and why media companies need to fight back. 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

Join Andrew Dunn and Chris Triebel as they discuss Disclosure Day! Then stick around for a review of Uncanny Valley by Tony Fleecs and Dave Wachter! This valley just can't stay canned. SUBSCRIBE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/c/themedialunchbreak?sub_confirmation=1 BUY SOME MERCH: https://the-media-lunch-break.creator-spring.com Twitter: twitter.com/MediaLunchBreak Patreon: www.patreon.com/TheMediaLunchBreak Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/TheMediaLunchBreak Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMediaLunchBreak Instagram: @TheMediaLunchBreak Or email us at: TheMediaLunchBreak@gmail.com Listen to and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts! The Media Lunch Break on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/themedialunchbreak Graphic art by: Melinda Filonuk - www.melgraphics.com www.etsy.com/shop/melgraphicscreations Eric Scotolati - https://twitter.com/ericscotolati

Stewart Alsop hosts a conversation with Oliver Polzin, a founding team member of Meow Wolf and naturalist, exploring the intersection of creativity, conservation, and architecture. Oliver discusses his current postgraduate work at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles studying synthetic landscapes through an architectural lens, his deep fascination with Pleistocene megafauna and the La Brea Tar Pits, and his vision for creating a "biophilic culture" that reframes humanity's relationship with other species and ecosystems. The discussion ranges from Oliver's early work building mud caves at Meow Wolf to his current explorations of AI-assisted design tools, 3D printing with recycled materials, holistic grazing management systems for the Great Plains, and the ancient Amazonian practice of creating terra preta soil—all part of his broader investigation into how we can design interventions for climate and conservation issues while maintaining what makes us fundamentally human.Timestamps00:00 Stewart introduces Oliver Polzin from Meow Wolf's founding team and discusses how his yoga teaching there inspired the podcast's exploration of creativity and stress relationships.05:00 Oliver describes his architecture graduate program studying climate and conservation through synthetic landscapes, contrasting dark green naturalist ecology with bright green capitalist environmentalism.10:00 Discussion of conservation ethics and AI's potential for monitoring environmental systems, with Oliver explaining his journey from painting to experimental mud construction at early Meow Wolf.15:00 Stewart shares his robotics learning journey with ESP32s in Buenos Aires while Oliver questions humanoid robot design, suggesting functional form factors matter more than human resemblance.20:00 Oliver explores cardboard as material obsession and explains treasure hunt mechanics in Meow Wolf exhibits, creating dopamine-driven discovery experiences through layered storytelling.25:00 Stewart describes creating treasure hunts for Spanish learners in Buenos Aires parks while Oliver validates experiential art's growing importance in an increasingly digital culture.30:00 Conversation shifts to three-d printing flexible filaments for architectural models and Oliver's megafauna book project about La Brea Tar Pits Pleistocene fossils.35:00 Oliver connects Earth consciousness to Pale Blue Dot perspective, arguing humans face developmental threshold understanding planetary responsibility after 300,000 years as anatomically modern species.40:00 Deep dive into end-Pleistocene extinction events and megafauna loss, discussing two-ton capybaras and how predator relationships shaped human psychology and anxiety responses.45:00 Oliver presents speculative Great Plains biopreserve concept with de-extinct megafauna, contrasting holistic rotational grazing with destructive monoculture agriculture systems.50:00 Discussion concludes with Amazonian dark earth technology and indigenous landscape management, emphasizing need for biophilic culture embracing deep time ecological perspective.Key Insights1. Oliver Polzin is part of the founding team of Meow Wolf and is currently studying at SCI-Arc in Downtown LA in a postgraduate program called Synthetic Landscapes, which examines global scale climate and conservation issues through an architectural lens. Architecture exists between art and science, and he believes architectural thinking offers a valuable framework for designing interventions for climate and conservation challenges. This program represents a significant evolution from his earlier work at Meow Wolf, where he created immersive experiential art installations using materials like adobe and cardboard.2. There is an important distinction in ecological thought between what Paul Kingsnorth calls dark green and light green approaches to environmentalism. The dark green strain represents the older naturalist movement from the early twentieth century, focusing on biological systems, ecosystems, and endangered species. Light green emerged in the 1970s after the Earth Day movement and centers on clean energy, solar panels, and wind power as a way to maintain our current lifestyle. Oliver argues that the bright green approach represents a capitalist overlay that has captured the conservation movement, whereas true conservation requires focusing on actual biological systems rather than just technological solutions.3. The experiential art form that Meow Wolf pioneered still has enormous untapped potential, particularly as society becomes increasingly digital. Oliver believes there will be a huge wave of experiential desire in this decade as people crave human connection and real-world excitement. The treasure hunt and scavenger hunt format represents a compelling form of real-life RPG that creates meaningful human interactions. This type of experience design, which Meow Wolf developed through installations like the House of Eternal Return, plays with human dopamine systems by compelling people to open doors, explore spaces, and follow narrative threads through physical environments.4. The architectural model or dollhouse concept represents a crucial rhetorical tool that Oliver is learning to apply to climate and conservation work. Architects have long created physical models to show stakeholders what a building will be like, and this practice of showing a story in compelling ways for different types of brains is essential for getting traction on projects. While architectural models used to be made from foam core, paper, and balsa wood, they are now largely created through 3D printing, which allows for incredibly complex forms and interlocking structures that would have been impossible to construct manually.5. Oliver is obsessed with megafauna and the end Pleistocene extinction event that occurred roughly twelve thousand years ago. For three hundred thousand years, anatomically modern humans existed alongside massive beasts like short faced bears and American lions, and we were the smaller creatures in the ecosystem. The extinction of over one hundred genera of animals over ninety nine pounds, combined with sea level rise of nearly four hundred feet, fundamentally changed human existence and led to the development of agriculture and civilization. Much of our current psychological development, including anxiety responses, is still based on this time period when we lived among these massive animals.6. The current food system in the Great Plains is fundamentally broken compared to the historical managed food system maintained by Plains tribes, who sustained thirty to sixty million bison through 1800. Oliver explored a speculative project about turning the Great Plains into a massive biopreserve of de-extinct megafauna, contrasting the natural system of rotational grazing where predators keep herds moving with the current monoculture crop agriculture that requires external inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides. The natural system builds soil and increases fecundity, while industrial agriculture degrades soil, creates toxic runoff, and produces genetically modified crops that feed animals in toxic concentrated feeding operations.7. The fundamental challenge facing humanity now is creating what Oliver calls a biophilic or ecophilic culture that is loving of other species and our home planet. This requires both psychological shifts and changes in how we design systems at all scales. The Amazon provides a powerful example of this, as recent LiDAR mapping has revealed that what appeared to be pristine wilderness was actually a vast tended garden created by indigenous civilizations who developed technologies like Amazonian dark earth through burning middens with various additives. These cultures understood how to be embedded in a web with other species while playing an important orchestrating role, offering a model for how humans might relate to other forms of life in our current era.

Brian and Zoë discuss the inside meltdown that has recently been unfolding at Meta and what it says about the company's relentless ambitions in the AI race. They also dive into the leaked messages and names of an invite-only group co-founded by billionaire tech founder Peter Thiel, and how Sam Bankman-Fried is now actively seeking a pardon from the Trump administration. Plus, they share their impressions on SpaceX acquiring Cursor and the latest on the negotiations between Anthropic and the government. Articles mentioned in this episode: Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth Admits the Company's AI Reorg Was ‘Atrocious' | WIRED ‘Tell Him He's a Piece of Shit': Meta's New AI Unit Is a Total Mess | WIRED   Leak Exposes Members of Peter Thiel's Secretive ‘Dialog' Society | WIRED  Anthropic Is Still at Odds With the White House Over Claude Fable 5 | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The satirical news publication The Onion is trying to take over Infowars, formerly owned by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, and planning to put comedian Tim Heidecker in charge. Their vision is to turn Infowars into ‘Adult Swim' for the internet. Tim joins Katie to talk about political comedy, why late-night has run its course, and what he hopes the future of Infowars will look like. 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

The boys are back! After taking a well-deserved mental health break (and weathering what we're told were hundreds of concerned emails — each one personally answered by Adam, naturally), Daniel and Adam return with fresh energy and a new member of the extended Mix family. Daniel introduces us to Sebastian, his AI personal assistant who helped prep the show, and we quickly learn that saying "Hermes" out loud leads to instant confusion with luxury handbags. The show kicks off with Adam's mysterious butt muscle injury ("I herniated a butt muscle") and some exciting James Corden news, before things take a more serious turn: Adam's mother, over lunch following her doctor's appointment, asked him to remove the word "gay" from his podcast name. Adam handled it with grace and conviction — gay isn't a bad word to people who know it isn't one — and we couldn't be prouder.From there, the show spins into classic Mix territory. Daniel delivers a forensic breakdown of Apple's WWDC keynote videos, convinced the outdoor walking shots were studio-voiced and AI-lip-synced — an audio Uncanny Valley that had the internet buzzing. A fascinating science piece argues that adults who reread the same novels aren't stuck in the past; they're using fiction as a mirror to measure who they've become, which leads to a discussion of Adam's third rewatch of The West Wing (season 5 is a struggle, we hear you) and Daniel's revelation that his local UPN station once followed Mama's Family with "more sci-fi adventure" as the lead-in to Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the Contact segment, Brian writes in about YouNify, a tool for consolidating watch lists across streaming services, and we get a moment of silence for synthesizer pioneer Michael Iceberg. Then Adam tells us the sweetest story about a baby bird in his crepe myrtle tree — which takes a hard left turn into a possible lawnmower incident he insists was pre-existing. The News Game delivers a respectable showing (even if the World Cup final being in New Jersey remains deeply funny), and the 60-second bonus round tests Daniel's trivia mettle on everything from Pixar to moonwalkers. A delightful digression into a 1982 ABC7 consumer report on home computers — complete with cassette tape programs and the immortal advice that "if you could bake a cake, you can write a program" — reminds us all that the home computer market was supposed to fully evolve by 1985. Spoiler: it took until 2000.Adam shows off his latest UV printer project — a custom metal sign for his stepfather featuring ChatGPT-generated art (sorry, artists) — and the Birthday segment brings us Noah Wyle, Anderson Cooper, and Dana Carvey. Then comes the segment Joe Betance probably won't hear: an exasperated PSA that pairing a Bluetooth phone to the RODECaster Pro 2 takes exactly three button presses. Three! The show wraps with the kind of scheduling certainty we've all come to love — they might be here next Friday, or maybe the week after, July's spotty because Daniel has a long vacation, but they'll definitely be back at some point. We hope you enjoy!Email: Contact@MixMinusPodcast.comVoice/SMS: 707-613-3284

Over the weekend, the Trump administration placed export controls on Anthropic's most advanced AI models citing national security concerns — effectively leading the company to shut them down for all users worldwide. In this special episode, Brian and Zoë bring you the very latest in this breaking news and explain what led to this unprecedented moment; what cybersecurity experts think about the administration's move; and what this impasse means for the AI industry and users at large. Articles mentioned in this episode: Anthropic Says It's Taking Claude Fable 5 Offline to Comply With US Government Order | WIRED Anthropic Offers Mythos Upgrade for Cyber Partners and a ‘Safe' Version for the Rest of You | WIRED   Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

This week, the team discusses Apple's Siri AI brand new release, SpaceX officially going public — and who will benefit the most from it. They also get into how Meta removed a facial recognition feature after a WIRED report exposed it, and later in the show — an investigation into how the Knicks' owner James Dolan created an extensive surveillance system inside all of his Madison Square Garden properties. Articles mentioned in this episode: Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2026 | WIRED  Meta Deletes Face-Recognition System From Its Smart Glasses App After WIRED Report  The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden's Surveillance Machine | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

When Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman, a key witness in President Trump's first impeachment trial, announced he was running for one of Florida's senate seats, he was considered a longshot. But a recent poll by Change Research now shows him slightly leading his competitor, Senator Ashley Moody. But can he prevail in a state Trump won by more than 13 percentage points in 2024? Vindman joins Katie to talk about his campaign, including his views on national security, the military, and artificial intelligence.Here on The Big Interview, Katie will be having a series of conversations with candidates who are shaking things up in races across the country, ahead of the midterm elections.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

This week, the team discusses why the race among the top AI companies to go public has just gotten started but it is already creating bizarre repercussions — including numerous San Francisco real estate listings preferring Anthropic's stock instead of cash. They also get into why Trump's new executive order on AI safety is underwhelming, and how hackers were able to use Instagram's AI chatbot to access high profile accounts, like President Obama's. Plus, Leah reports on how a DOGE whistleblower is suing Elon Musk for defamation after the billionaire publicly called him a liar, and the next thing he knew — his life was in danger.  Articles mentioned in this episode: What's Worth More Than Cash in San Francisco Real Estate? Anthropic Stock | WIRED This Is How Trump Finally Signed the AI Executive Order | WIRED He Blew the Whistle on DOGE. Then His Brakes Were Cut | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Formula 1 racing is a global phenomenon. McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown joins Katie to break down the historic turnaround of one of motorsport's most iconic legacy teams. After turning around a decades-long drought to win back-to-back F1 Constructors' Championships in 2024 and 2025, McLaren is officially back at the front of the grid. Zak turns Katie into an F1 convert as they discuss the team's cultural resurgence, the massive commercial explosion driving Formula 1's growth and the high tech nature of the sport and their team strategy. 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

This week on Chins & Giggles, we're asking the important questions... like why are we still terrified of scary movies as fully grown adults?! Karina and Mayra dive into their thoughts on Obsession, the creepy magic of the Uncanny Valley, and the unsettling realization that we're officially the adults in the house now. Plus, Mayra confesses to falling victim to a viral TikTok trend that resulted in a fashion fail of epic proportions. The girls also get a little sentimental as they talk about creating new summer traditions with their own kids and what it means to build the kind of memories they'll carry forever. And of course, Mayra shares a therapy update, opening up about mental health, taking mental days when you need them, and why everyone deserves a check-in with themselves. Spooky, funny, heartfelt, and a little too relatable- just the way we like it.

Last year, a mysterious source reached out to WIRED's senior writer Andy Greenberg — someone who claimed to be an engineer trapped in a scam compound in Laos. According to the whistleblower, the compound's illicit tactics specialized in pig butchering scams: sophisticated online tactics to build a romantic, trustworthy relationship with a victim before scamming them. Brian sat down with Andy earlier this year to break down how the whistleblower revealed — and fled — the inner operations of the compound. Originally published on February 5th. Articles mentioned in this episode:He Leaked the Secrets of a Southeast Asian Scam Compound. Then He Had to Get Out Alive | WIREDJoin WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Texas Republicans are about to answer a question that has been hanging over the party since 2024: is partial loyalty to Trump enough anymore, or do you either become fully absorbed into MAGA or get pushed out entirely? Because both John Cornyn and Chip Roy represent different versions of Republicanism that tried, in different ways, to coexist with Trump without completely surrendering to him. And right now it looks like both experiments are failing. Chip Roy backed Ron DeSantis and spent years cultivating the image of an ideological purist who would occasionally buck leadership. Cornyn, meanwhile, did the exact opposite. He spent the last few years trying to carefully stay inside Trump's orbit, hiring Trumpworld operatives and constantly reminding voters how aligned he was with the president. One strategy was confrontation, the other was accommodation, and both may end in political extinction.Politics Politics Politics is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.The Roy situation honestly feels more straightforward. MAGA voters have absurdly long memories when it comes to perceived disloyalty during the DeSantis challenge. Roy spent the last year trying to re-enter the fold by being more cooperative, less antagonistic, more visibly aligned with the movement, but the suspicion never really disappeared. In a normal political environment, Roy's résumé would make him a strong favorite for statewide office in Texas. Instead, he now looks like somebody who made one unforgivable career calculation at exactly the wrong moment. If the polling is right and Mays Middleton wins comfortably, then the lesson Republican politicians will take from this is brutal: you do not get credit for eventually coming home after backing an alternative to Trump. The scarlet letter sticks.Cornyn's downfall is more interesting because he actually played the game correctly, at least according to the old rules. He built institutional support. He raised enormous amounts of money. He aligned himself with Trump operationally. For a while it even looked like it might work. He outperformed expectations in the initial round of voting and there were persistent rumors that Trumpworld had seriously considered endorsing him. But the problem with trying to survive inside Trump politics is that eventually survival itself becomes weakness. Ken Paxton understood this instinctively. He didn't need to prove he was more effective than Cornyn. He just needed to remain more emotionally connected to the base long enough for Trump to make a final decision. Once the endorsement landed, the race effectively stopped being about qualifications and became a referendum on who belonged more naturally inside the MAGA coalition.What's fascinating is that this same dynamic is now showing signs of strain elsewhere. South Carolina Republicans refusing to immediately fall in line on redistricting suggests at least some elected Republicans are beginning to quietly calculate for a post-Trump future. Not necessarily because Trump lacks influence — he very clearly still has it — but because the timing starts to matter. If Trump cannot personally destroy you until after the next election cycle, then maybe you can survive long enough for his attention to move elsewhere. That's the first real symptom of lame-duck politics: not open rebellion, but selective hesitation. Politicians start making small bets that enforcement may become inconsistent.And that's probably the deeper story underneath all of this. Trump still absolutely has the power to end Republican careers. Thomas Massie just learned that. Cornyn is probably about to learn it. Roy may learn it too. But the coalition is also beginning to subtly adapt around the reality that Trump's political clock is finite. The question is whether Republicans are entering a transition period where fear of Trump remains dominant but no longer universally paralyzing. Because once politicians begin believing there are scenarios where they can survive crossing him, even temporarily, then the entire incentive structure inside the party starts to change.Chapters00:00:00 - Intro00:02:51 - Final Texas Prediction00:09:05 - AI Ads with Brian Brushwood00:30:23 - South Carolina00:33:54 - Iran00:37:46 - Trump's Physical00:40:47 - AI Ads with Brian Brushwood, con't01:18:25 - Wrap-up This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/subscribe

It has been nearly three months since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on Iran. Journalist Jason Rezaian, a former detainee of the Iranian regime, talks about its brutality - and his hopes for the future of the people of Iran. He also tells Katie how technology could make all the difference for the Iranian people. This interview was taped prior to President Trump's announcement that he's negotiating a deal with Iran.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

WIRED's global editorial director on why Silicon Valley wants to control the press and what she's doing about it.Katie Drummond, global editorial director of WIRED, sits down with Eric Newcomer to talk about the simmering war between tech and media. From surviving the Gawker bankruptcy to now running one of the most scrutinized publications in tech, Katie doesn't hold back on why figures like Peter Thiel and Trae Stevens want to buy or dismantle WIRED, why so much of Silicon Valley turned toward Trump, and what serious tech journalism looks like in 2026.Listen to Katie's podcast Uncanny Valley: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/uncanny-valley-wired/id266391367Subscribe for weekly conversations with the founders, investors, and executives shaping the tech industry.

This week, the team discusses Meta's recent layoffs and what they've been hearing from employees about the increasingly grim vibes at the company. They also talk about Musk losing his lawsuit against OpenAI, and Brian shares the key releases from Google's annual conference — including an ambitious AI vision to browse the web as we know it. Finally, what do recent college graduates and women whose spouses work in AI have in common? They're all sick of hearing about it. Articles mentioned in this episode: Meta's New Reality: Record High Profits. Record Low Morale | WIRED Everything Announced at Google I/O 2026: Gemini, Search, Smart Glasses | WIRED  Google Search Goes Agentic—and Doesn't Need You Anymore | WIRED   Meet the Sad Wives of AI | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

California's gubernatorial race is drawing national attention, with several Democrats and two Republicans vying for incumbent Gavin Newsom's seat. Among them is hedge fund billionaire turned gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer. He joins Katie to explain why he wants to tax billionaires, regulate AI and the role he wants California to play in the national conversation about artificial intelligence. Here on Big Interview, Katie will be having a series of conversations with candidates who are shaking things up in this election cycle.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

The team dives into Trump's selected entourage for his high-stakes visit to China — from Silicon Valley's tech billionaires to Melania director Brett Ratner. Plus, we break down the latest developments in Elon Musk's lawsuit against Sam Altman, alleging that OpenAI abandoned its original nonprofit mission for profit-driven goals — but is either side actually gaining an edge in the trial? And Leah shares with us some of the most outlandish conspiracy theories that have been swirling around the hantavirus outbreak. Articles mentioned in this episode: Everyone at the Musk v. Altman Trial Is Using Fancy Butt Cushions | WIRED  Elon Musk Had ‘Hair-Raising' Idea of Passing OpenAI On to His Kids, Sam Altman Says | WIRED Hantavirus Conspiracy Theories Are Already Spreading Online | WIRED   Inside the Race to Develop a Test for the Rare Andes Hantavirus | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The hit HBO Max comedy series Hacks follows the tumultuous relationship between a young comedy writer Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder) and legacy comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). The show has also had a lot to say about the business of show business. Creators Paul W.  Downs and Lucia Aniello join Katie to talk about writing the series, corporate censorship, and why they find AI “deeply disturbing.”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

This week, the team discusses the surprising reports of the Trump administration seemingly reversing its stance when it comes to AI safety and regulation. They also look into what exactly is going on with the Hantavirus outbreak, and whether we should be worried. Also — we get into the story of how a former federal employee who was ousted by Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency is now running for office. Plus, a Spirit Airlines laid off employee shares with us how they experienced the company's shutdown news last weekend and what they'll miss most about the job. Articles mentioned in this episode: A Federal Worker Was Fired for Filming DOGE. Now She's Running for Congress | WIRED  What the Spirit Airlines Implosion Means for Your Vacation | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Amelia Dimoldenberg, host of the megapopular Chicken Shop Date, joins Katie to talk about control. Who has it, who doesn't and why it matters so much for success in our influence-focused internet economy. They also talk red carpets and the surprising joy of editing.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

This week, the team discusses the stakes behind the trial of Elon Musk against OpenAI's leadership (and how Microsoft is trying to stay away from the drama.) They also look into what recent layoffs announced at Meta and the industry at large say about the ways in which AI is — and isn't — replacing jobs. Also, we dive into a WIRED investigation on how the Department of Justice has effectively hollowed out its voting rights work, and how this move could impact future elections. Articles mentioned in this episode: Musk v. Altman Is a Battle for OpenAI's Soul | WIRED Some Musk v. Altman Jurors Don't Like Elon Musk | WIRED ‘It's Undignified': Hundreds of Workers Training Meta's AI Could Be Laid Off | WIRED  ‘The Damage Is Massive': How the Justice Department Dismantled Its Voting Rights Section | WIRED  Join WIRED's best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Actor Ben McKenzie (The O.C.) is out with a new documentary, Everyone Is Lying to You for Money, which follows his journey into becoming an anti-cryptocurrency advocate. He says we should all stop trying to unmask the presumed original developer(s) of bitcoin known as Satoshi Nakamoto because it benefits only the mysterious inventor. The actor-director talks with Katie about why he thinks crypto is a scam, and why he says people are falling for it. 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

This week, the team discusses what's next for Apple as Tim Cook steps down from his role as CEO. They also go into the reasoning behind SpaceX and Cursor's surprising deal, and why Palantir's self-published manifesto drew so much heat online. Also — we discuss why some conspiracy theorists are leaving Trump's side, and how a scammer created an AI-generated woman to attract and grift MAGA men. Articles mentioned in this episode: Tim Cook's Legacy Is Turning Apple Into a Subscription | WIRED  MAGA Is Starting to Look Beyond Trump | WIRED  This Scammer Used an AI-Generated MAGA Girl to Grift ‘Super Dumb' Men | 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

Devin Stone, the lawyer better known as LegalEagle on YouTube, has been breaking down legal cases - and assessing the accuracy of legal procedurals in film and television -- for years. He talks to Katie about the challenges of keeping up with scandals arising from the Trump Administration.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

In tonight's Dead Letter, Forrest and Scott read a submission from Stacey, which delves into the "Uncanny Valley" phenomenon in a true-life scenario. In a coastal town already known for its dark past and unusual coastal events, a silent, out-of-place stranger pays an unexpected visit to a college apartment. Sometimes the most chilling stories are those where the door remains locked and whatever was on the other side…is still out there somewhere.REFERENCE LINKSHistory of Bellingham, WashingtonThe Salish Sea Severed Feet PhenomenonKenneth Bianchi and Western Washington UniversityThe Uncanny Valley in PsychologyWe're looking for more stories! Send your Dead Letter to deadletteroffice@astonishinglegends.com!