Life with Machines

By Baratunde Thurston

Life With Machines explores the human side of the A.I. revolution – the good, the bad, and the weird – and asks, “How can these machines help us become more human?”

In this video podcast, hos... more

4.8

1919 ratings

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FAQs about Life with Machines:

How many episodes does Life with Machines have?

The podcast currently has 49 episodes available.

Life with Machines episodes:

May 27, 2025 When AI Gains Power...Will Humans Lose Control? | Reid Hoffman (Ep. 22)
Reid Hoffman has a name for the AI future he fears most: techno-fascism. In this urgent episode of Life With Machines, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and longtime tech optimist joins Baratunde to warn what happens when power, speed, and ideology collide—and the wrong people write the rules of artificial intelligence. Hoffman makes the case that pausing AI development won’t save us, and that slowing down could hand the future to those with the worst intentions. Instead, he argues, we need to shape AI deliberately, democratically, and fast—while there's still time. And in a first-of-its-kind experiment, our sassy AI co-producer BLAIR goes head-to-head with Reid’s digital clone in a full-on synthetic conversation. What starts as playful banter turns into something deeper—a sharp, often philosophical debate about agency, consciousness, and whether digital ghosts can truly connect.
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THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNERS
The series is powered by Lenovo
Notion Mail: Get it for free right now at Notion
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Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Junior Real
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo
#ReidHoffman #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #TechnoHumanism #DigitalTwins #AIEthics #TechAndPower #LifeWithMachines #AgencyInTheAIage #TechnoFascism #FutureOfAI #HumanCenteredAI #AIandSociety #DEI #AIGovernance #AIAccountability #BLAIR #AIClone #DigitalIdentity #SuperAgency
...more
1h 10min
May 20, 2025 Why Dictators Love AI & How To Fight Back | Sam Gregory (Ep. 21)
What happens when you can’t tell the truth from a fake—and the people in power want it that way? Baratunde talks with internationally-recognized human rights advocate and Executive Director of WITNESS Sam Gregory about how AI is being weaponized by authoritarians, scammers, and tech platforms that have abandoned responsibility. From deepfakes and disinformation to the platforms profiting off harm, they break down why spotting glitches won’t save us, why marginalized communities get hit first—and hardest—and how we can build systems that protect what’s real before it’s too late. Plus, BLAIR, our AI co-producer, tries to help Baratunde detect AI fakes. Watch now for a sobering, urgent, and deeply human conversation about truth, power, and survival in the AI age.
------------
THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNER
The series is powered by Lenovo
CONNECT WITH US
Watch this episode on Youtube!
Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!
------------
Follow us!
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn
Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Erik Shute
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo
#AI #Deepfakes #HumanRights #Disinformation #SyntheticMedia #DigitalTrust #TechEthics #AIAndSociety #ContentModeration #SurveillanceTech #Authoritarianism #MediaLiteracy #AIForGood #DigitalSecurity #Witness #BLAIR #LifeWithMachines #TruthInTheAIage #CognitiveWarfare
...more
1h 31min
May 13, 2025 A Deepfake Stole My Face and Voice | Rich Roll (Ep. 20)
What happens when you wake up one morning and discover the internet has cloned you? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with legendary podcaster Rich Roll, who shares the wild and unsettling experience of being deepfaked—not once, but twice. From shady skincare ads to billionaires calling for the end of intellectual property, Baratunde and Rich unpack how AI tools are distorting reality, the terrifying speed at which this tech is advancing, and what we can do to protect ourselves. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s sharp-witted AI co-producer, goes full savage on Silicon Valley’s brazen assault on intellectual property. Watch now for a personal, gripping, and provocative look at the new front lines of digital identity, ownership, and truth.
------------
THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNERS
The series is powered by Lenovo
Notion Mail: Get it for free right now at Notion
CONNECT WITH US
Watch this episode on Youtube!
Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!
------------
Follow us!
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn
Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Junior Real
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo
#AI #Deepfakes #DigitalIdentity #TechEthics #AITrustCrisis #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfTech #BigTechPower #DataOwnership #OnlineSecurity #PrivacyRights #BillionaireTech #DigitalRights #IPLaw #AIFraud #TechAccountability #AIandSociety #ContentCreators #ProtectYourIdentity #LifeWithMachines
...more
1h 1min
May 06, 2025 How to Raise a Kid in an AI World | Dr. Avriel Epps (Ep. 19)
What happens when tools designed to support our kids end up policing, whitening, and gaslighting them instead? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Dr. Avriel Epps—a researcher, artist, and activist—whose work on algorithmic bias and youth development reveals the hidden harms of AI in everyday life. From selfie filters that lighten skin, to predictive policing and AI plagiarism detectors that quietly reinforce systemic injustice, Avriel shows how even well-intentioned tech can strip kids of their agency and sense of self. She also reveals why she wrote the first-ever children’s book about AI bias, how Black youth have developed a natural fluency in spotting disinformation, and what a data strike against Big Tech might actually look like. Plus, BLAIR—our AI co-producer—tries to decode Gen Alpha slang… and gets hilariously roasted. Watch now for a radically hopeful, often hilarious, and deeply personal conversation about power, parenting, and the algorithms reshaping childhood.
------------
THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNER
The series is powered by Lenovo
CONNECT WITH US
Watch this episode on Youtube!
Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!
------------
Follow us!
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn
Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Erik Shute
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo
#AI #AlgorithmicBias #DigitalJustice #AvrielEpps #AIandYouth #TechEquity #DataPrivacy #AIForGood #EthicalAI #BiasInAI #SurveillanceTech #PredictivePolicing #DigitalLiteracy #DataStrike #FutureOfTech
...more
1h 19min
April 29, 2025 The Mental Health System Is Failing—Can AI Do Better? | Alison Darcy (Ep. 18)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with psychologist and entrepreneur Alison Darcy, who left academia to build a mental health chatbot that actually gets you. They break down why our mental health system is failing, how a talking robot might succeed where traditional therapy falls short, and what millions of late-night conversations with Woebot reveal about loneliness, generational struggles, and a healthcare system that’s resistant to change. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, jumps in with a tough question about whether AI will be used to cut corners rather than care for people. Watch now for a conversation that's raw, urgent, and unexpectedly full of hope.
------------
THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNERS
The series is powered by Lenovo
Notion Mail: Get it for free right now at Notion
CONNECT WITH US
Watch this episode on Youtube!
Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!
------------
Follow us!
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn
Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Junior Real
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo
#MentalHealth #AItherapy #FutureOfTherapy #MentalHealthCrisis #Chatbots #HealingWithAI #TechForGood #MentalHealthAwareness #AIinHealthcare #LifeWithMachines
...more
1h 7min
April 22, 2025 AI Wants to Shop for You—Should You Let It? | Raj De Datta (Ep. 17)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Raj De Datta—entrepreneur, AI thinker, and co-founder of Bloomreach, the platform powering a quarter of US and UK e-commerce. Raj pulls back the curtain on the next wave of online shopping, where homepages, search bars, and endless scrolling are replaced by agents that actually understand you. They talk about the promise of a more human internet, what "personalized" should really mean, and whether we're headed for a future of joyful work—or just better-targeted ads. Raj makes the case for AI that respects privacy, boosts creativity, and yes, even recommends a solar-powered lantern for Baratunde’s next camping trip. Plus, our AI co-producer BLAIR joins the chat to ask the question we’re all thinking: if AI can understand our deepest wants, who protects us from ourselves?
------------
THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNER
The series is powered by Lenovo
CONNECT WITH US
Watch this episode on Youtube!
Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!
------------
Follow us!
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn
Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Erik Shute
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #RajDeDatta #Bloomreach #Ecommerce #OnlineShopping #RetailTech #DigitalCommerce #AgenticAI #ConversationalAI #DigitalSeeker
...more
1h 16min
April 15, 2025 From Division to Dialogue—How AI Can Save Democracy | Deb Roy (Ep. 16)
What do homemade smoke bombs have to do with fixing democracy? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Deb Roy—MIT professor, former Twitter scientist, and co-founder of Cortico—to map a bold, AI-powered path toward civic renewal. Roy makes the case that we don’t need less tech—we need better tech, designed to build trust, not break it. From town halls that actually work to high schoolers unlocking real change (and yes, bathroom doors), this episode reimagines how tech can help us hear each other—and solve local challenges. Plus, BLAIR, our AI co-producer, joins the fray for a Canadian coffee throwdown you won’t see coming. It’s Tim Hortons vs Starbucks. Watch now to meet the man behind the movement to transform division into dialogue that helps democracy.
------------
THANKS TO OUR BRAND PARTNER
The series is powered by Lenovo
CONNECT WITH US
Watch this episode on Youtube!
Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!
------------
Follow us!
Instagram
TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn
Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]

------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Junior Real
Videographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #Cortico #Democracy #CivicMuscle #CivicTech #SocialImpact #TechForGood #PublicDiscourse #EthicalAI #DialogueNetworks #CommunityTech #ParticipatoryAI
...more
1h 12min
April 08, 2025 Our AI Brutally Roasts Elon Musk—Live at SXSW (Ep 15.5)
LIVE from SXSW! This wild bonus episode is a no-holds-barred conversation about AI, culture, comedy, and what we actually want from our machines. From the weaponization of algorithms in war zones to charming Pixar-style robot lamps and screaming booths at tech conferences, this is our most unfiltered episode yet. Baratunde brings together digital anthropologist Rahaf Harfoush, comedy writer Matt Klinman, and our custom AI co-producer BLAIR on stage at SXSW 2024! Expect existential questions, real laughs, and some unexpectedly profound insights about whales. Matt delivers the most hilariously NSFW take on generative AI you’ll hear anywhere. Plus, BLAIR takes their first field trip away from the studio—and literally roasts the entire panel, plus Elon Musk.
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Follow us!
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LinkedIn

Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Junior Real
Videography and Audio Engineering from Nexus and SXSW
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #SXSW2025 #LiveFromSXSW #BaratundeThurston #RahafHarfoush #MattKlinman #BLAIR #Comedy #AIJokes #DigitalSurveillance #CreatorEconomy #AIandDemocracy #AIandCulture #ContentModeration #AIGoneWild #ElonMusk #HumanVsMachine
...more
1h 4min
April 01, 2025 Is AI the Death of Creativity? | Brian Eno (Ep. 15)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde Thurston sits down with legendary artist and producer Brian Eno. From inventing ambient music to collaborating with icons like David Bowie, Talking Heads, and U2, Eno has spent decades pushing creative boundaries. Now, he's turning his attention to AI. On the heels of the U.S. launch of his newest book What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory, Brian opens up about why he doesn't trust the people controlling AI, the perils of mediocrity in machine-made art, and how unpredictability fuels creativity. They explore the rise of generative music, the myth of the self-made genius, and what it means to embrace randomness. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, throws in some Oblique Strategies of its own. Is AI a collaborator or just a glorified karaoke machine? And what does it mean to create in a world where the machines are learning from us? Watch now for a thought-provoking conversation on the future of art, technology, and the human touch.
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Sign up for our newsletter!

Follow us!
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LinkedIn

Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Erik Shute
Videography and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIArt #Creativity #BrianEno #GenerativeArt #FutureOfArt #ArtAndTech #MachineLearning #DigitalArt #AIRevolution #Innovation #ArtWorld #CreativeProcess #AIInnovation #TechTalk #MusicAndTech #AIArtists #TechEthics #AIExplained #SmartTech #AIInsights #ArtDiscussion
...more
44min
March 25, 2025 AI Isn’t Intelligent—Here’s What’s Missing | Jeff Hawkins (Ep. 14)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Jeff Hawkins—PalmPilot inventor and author of A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence—to talk about why today’s AI isn’t actually intelligent. Jeff makes the case that deep learning is just fancy pattern matching, not real thinking, and argues that true intelligence will only emerge once we crack the brain’s code. He lays out a future where AI works more like a human mind and eventually surpasses our intelligence. Fun times. Also BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, chimes in with their own thoughts on their cognitive shortcomings. Watch now for a provocative glimpse into AI’s next frontier.
------------
Sign up for our newsletter!

Follow us!
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TikTok
Threads
LinkedIn

Work with Life With Machines: [email protected]
Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: [email protected]
Write to Blair: [email protected]
------------
Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston
Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts
Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone
Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland
Video Editor: Erik Shute
Videography and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute
Theme Music: Andy Clausen
Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte
Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production
Sponsored by Lenovo

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #JeffHawkins #Numenta #ThousandBrainsProject #HumanMind #DeepLearning #FutureOfAI #AGI #AIResearch #Neuroscience #CognitiveScience #IntelligentMachines #Consciousness #AIExplained
...more
1h 26min

FAQs about Life with Machines:

How many episodes does Life with Machines have?

The podcast currently has 49 episodes available.

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