The Morality Illusion: Who’s Really Accountable When AI Goes Wrong?

A robot artist is detained at the border. A chess bot that fractures a child’s finger. A hiring algorithm that quietly sidelines women.

These aren’t hypotheticals — they’re signs of a world grappling with machine morality, where we treat code as if it has a conscience. In this unflinching episode, Kate and Andrew dive into the ethical maze of modern AI: how we project human values onto non-human systems, and what happens when we let those systems make decisions that carry real-world consequences.

They explore the limits of empathy in machines, the risks of automation without oversight, and the growing tension between technological progress and public accountability. From recruitment bias to privacy loss and economic displacement, the conversation highlights why ethical frameworks — and cultural change — are no longer optional.

If we’re building machines that act like moral agents, we need to start acting like responsible creators.

This episode doesn’t offer easy answers — but it does ask the questions we can’t afford to ignore.

Psych Experiments, Rogue Chatbots, and the Ethics of Influence

What do a broken-fingered chess prodigy, a rogue AI chatbot, and a cafeteria fruit bowl have in common?

In this wide-ranging episode, Kate and Andrew explore how power, influence, and *ethical blind spots* play out across psychology, technology, and behavioural science. From the dark legacy of the Stanford Prison and Milgram experiments to modern-day AI failures and manipulative nudges, they ask: when does guidance become control — and who gets to decide?

They unpack the promise and risk of behavioural nudging, the rise of ethical oversight in tech, and the fine line between empowering users and quietly steering them. Along the way, they confront the replication crisis in psychology, the dangers of unchecked data, and what it really means to build *trust* in systems designed to influence.

This is an unflinching conversation about accountability, transparency, and why ethical design matters more than ever in a world increasingly shaped by invisible forces.

AI, Ethics, and the Fight to Stay Human

A chess robot breaks a child’s finger. A self-driving car fails to stop. A learning algorithm starts to forget how to think.

In this wide-ranging and quietly provocative episode, Kate and Andrew dive deep into the ethical tensions shaping our AI future. From real-world failures to the philosophical question of whether machines should be held to human standards, they explore how bias, accountability, and trust intersect in the systems we’re rapidly integrating into daily life.

They unpack the EU AI Act, the promise (and limits) of regulatory tools like compliance checkers, and the dangers of relying too heavily on AI in education and decision-making. At the heart of it all is a single question: how do we build systems that enhance, not erode, our humanity?

This is a clear-eyed conversation about responsibility, design, and what’s really at stake when machines start making decisions for us.

A clean interface. A focused tool. A moment of silence in the noise. None of it happened by accident.

In this thoughtful, quietly revealing conversation, Kate and Andrew trace the influence of Japanese philosophy on the tech we use every day, from the Walkman and the iPhone to today’s digital environments. They unpack ideas like wabi-sabi, Kaizen, and hodo-hodo, demonstrating how concepts of imperfection, restraint, and continuous improvement continue to shape product design, software development, and user experience at the highest level.

They revisit the cultural legacy of Sony’s Akio Morita, explore Steve Jobs’ obsession with Zen simplicity, and reflect on how modern platforms could benefit from doing less, not more.

This is a conversation about clarity, intention, and the quiet power of design that respects your attention.

This episode doesn’t push — it invites.

What if the very tools designed to make us smarter are also making us vulnerable?

As LLMs weave themselves into the fabric of our daily lives, their promise feels limitless — until you look beneath the surface. In this wide-ranging and quietly urgent conversation, Kate and Andrew explore the evolving landscape of AI vulnerabilities, from adversarial attacks and prompt injections to multilingual blind spots and poisoned training data. They share stories from real-world projects, reflect on the role of collaborative tools in catching threats early, and unpack why even small teams must prioritise security from day one.

Together, they don’t just highlight what can go wrong — they illuminate the pathways forward. This is a thoughtful, human-centred episode about risk, responsibility, and the power of working together in a rapidly changing world.

This is one of those episodes that stays with you long after the headlines fade.

This episode unpacks how algorithms hijack our sense of self, reward mimicry, and turn identity into performance. It's a clear-eyed look at the psychological cost of living online — and what it might take to reclaim your attention.

Explore the transformative epochs of innovation with hosts Andrew McLean and Kate Bennett as they delve into the Renaissance, the Gutenberg Printing Press, the Industrial Age, and the AI Revolution. Discover the societal upheavals and adaptations that have shaped our modern world.

René Girard's mimetic theory offers profound insights into rivalry, desire, and societal conflicts. In this episode, we discuss imitation's role in human behavior, the scapegoat mechanism, and the resonance of Girard's ideas in modern technology, social media, and cancel culture. Featuring real-world examples, we analyze how these patterns shape society and propose strategies for fostering inclusivity in competitive environments.