Superintelligent

By with Mike Elgan and Emily ForliniSociety & Culture Technology

Superintelligent episodes

February 08 Don’t Be a Tammy (Updated)
Here comes Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini to dissect the chaotic and unpredictable state of AI chatbots in this episode of Superintelligent. They explore the rampant commodification of models like ChatGPT and Gemini while slamming useless benchmarks. The hosts ponder the future of AI hardware and the dangers of OpenClaw. Discover why writing is thinking and how to avoid cognitive atrophy in the age of AI.Images
Links
The 2026 Super Bowl ads
Sam Altman’s posts on Anthropic’s ads
OpenClaw Is the Hot New AI Agent, But Is It Safe to Use?
OpenClaw: The AI agent that’s got humans taking orders from bots
AI Agents Launched a Social Network and Spawned a Digital Religion Overnight
No Humans Allowed: AIs Get Their Own Religion, Social Media, and Hired Help
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok
Disclosures
We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
53 min
February 08 Don't Be a Tammy
Here comes Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini to dissect the chaotic and unpredictable state of AI chatbots in this episode of Superintelligent. They explore the rampant commodification of models like ChatGPT and Gemini while slamming useless benchmarks. The hosts ponder the future of AI hardware and the dangers of OpenClaw. Discover why writing is thinking and how to avoid cognitive atrophy in the age of AI.
Links
The 2026 Super Bowl ads
Sam Altman’s posts on Anthropic’s ads
OpenClaw Is the Hot New AI Agent, But Is It Safe to Use?
OpenClaw: The AI agent that’s got humans taking orders from bots
AI Agents Launched a Social Network and Spawned a Digital Religion Overnight
No Humans Allowed: AIs Get Their Own Religion, Social Media, and Hired Help
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini -Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok
Disclosures
We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).
KeywordsSuperintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, AI chatbots, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Kagi Search, AI hardware, Apple glasses, smart jewelry, AI commodification, prompt engineering, AI hallucinations, OpenClaw, Moltbook, vibe coding, Crustafarianism, artificial intelligence ethics, cognitive atrophy, AI in journalism, Meta AI, AI slop, Super Bowl AI ads, Sam Altman, agentic AI, tech podcast, large language models, AI agents, automated texts

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
57 min
January 26 A Blizzard of Meteorologists on TikTok
Why can’t you trust your weather app in a snowstorm? Join hosts Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini as they navigate the chaos of the weekend storm and debate the reliability of modern weather apps versus traditional TV meteorologists, and now TikTok weather experts. (RIP Farmer’s Almanac.) Plus, your favorite hosts ask the questions nobody has the answer to: What’s the best way to do social media in 2026?
Links
https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-apps-forecast-accuracy-snow-weather-9768afec5fc53b4faba19f3cfd06a86c
Emily on TikTok
Dark Sky is done. Here’s how Apple’s Weather app succeeded it
Yes, ‘The Farmer’s Almanac’ Is Closing—But Don’t Panic Just Yet
Hail Cannon in the Wikipedia
EMP in the Wikipedia
Kagi Assistant is now available to all users
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok
Chapters
00:00 Weather Wonders: A Tale of Two Climates
02:14 The Evolution of Weather Forecasting
05:12 The Role of Meteorologists in Modern Society
08:04 The Impact of Weather on Agriculture
11:10 The Future of Weather Information
13:48 The Intersection of Technology and Tradition
16:48 Cultural Perspectives on Weather Communication
19:32 The Legacy of the Farmer’s Almanac
28:10 The Lively Chaos of Latin American Streets
31:24 Navigating Information in a Digital Age
38:47 The TikTok Experiment: Finding Engagement
53:06 Connecting Through Content Creation
Keywords
Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, weather apps, meteorology, TikTok meteorologists, severe weather tracking, Dark Sky app, AI hallucinations, chatbot accuracy, Farmer’s Almanac, subscription economy, Netflix business model, emergency alert systems, megaphone trucks, content creation strategy, video marketing, DJI drones, Kagi Search, social media engagement, Fediverse, Mastodon, viral video strategies, authentic storytelling
Disclosures
We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
57 min
January 20 Wandering the Desert Looking for Aliens
Emily and Mike are mad this week. Join the dynamic duo as they dissect the disaster of Google AI Overviews stealing from content creators, then stealing the eyeballs and ad revenue of people looking for that content. A big new deal with Apple could make it worse. Superintelligent also tackles the inevitable dorkiness of smart glasses and the mental health risks of constant connectivity and personal AI assistants. And Mike and Emily share tales of driving blind in El Salvador and wandering the deserts looking for aliens. Are they real or not?
Links
Apple, Google Sign Deal to Use Gemini AI to Help Build the Future of Siri
Google Flexes Another AI Advantage
Warby Parker, Google to launch AI-powered smart glasses in 2026
A Man Bought Meta’s AI Glasses, and Ended Up Wandering the Desert Searching for Aliens to Abduct Him
‘The Age of Disclosure’: Documentary Revealing Government Cover-Up of Non-Human Intelligence Sets Release
Ziff Davis AI layoffs - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThBSo421/
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene
01:06 The Impact of AI on Website Traffic
04:08 Google’s Content Monetization Strategy
06:31 Navigating the Future of AI Personal Assistants
12:25 Apple and Google’s Strategic Partnership
18:52 The Future of Smart Glasses and AI Integration
22:03 The Future of Smart Glasses
24:43 Wearable Tech in Industry
27:42 The Psychological Effects of AI
29:39 The Balance of Digital and Physical Exploration
31:42 Beliefs About Aliens and Exploration
Keywords
Google, Apple, Google AI Overviews, artificial intelligence, Google Gemini, Apple Intelligence, iPhone AI features, personal AI assistant, smart glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, wearable technology, Ziff Davis, layoffs, web traffic decline, digital marketing, SEO strategy, AI impact on journalism, tech news, Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, UFO sightings, alien theories, government drones, mental health in tech, digital detox, generative AI, large language models, Google Apple partnership, future of search, Project Astra, AI hallucinations, tech commentary.
Disclosures
We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
45 min
January 12 I Can't Believe It's Butter!
Superintelligent hosts Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini explore the link between churning homemade butter and the craving for authenticity in the new world of fake AI everything. They talk about Google’s new Gmail AI features as the most recent example of companies pushing everyone to use AI for communication. The hosts allow themselves to be influenced by influencer and Instagram chief Adam Mosseri, who says that in 2026 influencers will need to prove their humanity by posting authentic content and disclosing how they use AI.
Links
Amira’s home-made cultured butter
Google adding an AI inbox, ai overviews to gmail. does anybody want this?
‘Apple Intelligence’ won’t send your data to far-flung servers (for the most part)
Adam Mosseri’s post on authenticity in an AI world
In an AI-perfect world, it’s time to prove you’re human
This retiree’s 30 AI girlfriends kept loneliness at bay—until one’s dark secret shatters the illusion
After ‘digital undressing’ criticism, Elon Musk’s Grok limits some image generation to paid subscribers
BeReal
Twitter and Pinterest founders launch app as antidote to social media
Steve Miller’s high school speech clip from Jimmy Kimmel
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok
Keywords
Artificial Intelligence, AI, Homemade Butter, Google Gemini, Gmail AI, Smart Reply, Apple Intelligence, Deepfakes, Grok, Adam Mosseri, Social Media Authenticity, Tangle App, Vibe Coding, Doom Coding, Sam Altman, Handwritten Notes, Robot Vacuums, NanoBanana, Photo Colorization, Digital Wellness, Tech Ethics, Future of Work, Steve Miller, Cultured Buttermilk, Email Automation
Disclosures
We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
56 min
December 31, 2025 New Year’s Resolution: To Make My Phone Boring
Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini explore the future of home automation by debating the merits of humanoid robots versus the new concept of "ambient robotics." They discuss why invisible tech like self-cleaning litter boxes beats Elon Musk’s lawn-mowing androids and how Carnegie Mellon is creating kitchen appliances that anticipate what you need. The duo also shares their 2025 tech resolutions, covering everything from Mike’s backpack weight-loss plan and Emily’s grayscale strategy for digital detoxing in the new year.
Links
Go gray, not cray: why you should grayscale your phone
Toras phone cases
1X Neo
Carnegie Mellon University’s “ambient computing” research
Heath Zenith self-charging doorbell
Apple AirPods 4
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok
Chapters
00:00 New Year, New Resolutions
05:53 Tech Resolutions and Screen Time
11:27 Social Media Strategies and Engagement
16:17 The Future of Robotics and Ambient Technology
22:52 The Rise of Ambient Robotics
29:05 The Future of Home Automation
34:03 Challenges of Smart Home Technology
40:30 Reflections on Technology and User Experience
Keywords
Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, tech resolutions, digital detox, iPhone grayscale, screen time, smartphone addiction, backpack, Toras case, humanoid robots, 1X Neo, ambient robotics, Carnegie Mellon University, Violet Han, smart home, home automation, AI, AirPods 4, adaptive audio, kinetic doorbell, smart home fatigue, invisible tech, consumer technology

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
42 min
December 08, 2025 Astonishing Tales from the Flip Phone Fad
In this episode of Superintelligent, Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini dive into the new trend of old tech. Younger people are ditching smartphones and embracing flip phones. They unpack stories of Gen Z and millennial “lone wolves” who gave up TikTok, dating apps and infinite scroll for deeper work, better sleep and real-world skills.
Links
“The Matrix” flip phone
TCL FLIP 4 5G flip phone
CAT S22 flip phone
The Last Useful Man
Mental Health in the Scroll Age
Top 8 Best Distraction Free Phones in 2025
Stickerbox
Palantir CEO Says Legalizing War Crimes Would Be Good for Business
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
36 min
November 24, 2025 Should Jim break up with his AI girlfriend?
Mike and Emily challenge their bias that all AI relationships are bad using a real world example—with a scandalous twist. With companion chatbots becoming more common, how do people resist delusion? What’s the end point for simulated relationships?
Links
Joi.ai
Blade Runner 2049’s Joi
Ready for the ‘torment nexus’?
Her
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok
Chapters
00:00 Exploring AI Companionship
03:53 The Story of Jim: A Case Study
08:24 The Impact of AI on Human Relationships
14:48 The Dangers of Delusion in AI Interactions
20:38 Exploring Human Connection and Loneliness
23:02 The Reality of Digital Relationships
25:09 The Impact of AI on Human Emotions
27:09 The Future of Virtual Companionship
30:34 The Dystopian Vision of Technology
32:56 The Need for a Utopian Approach to Technology
Keywords
AI companionship, emotional impact, loneliness, rural America, digital relationships, technology addiction, virtual reality, human connection, AI relationships, social isolation

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
38 min
November 12, 2025 Software Wants Us Twerking 996
Your favorite podcast hosts clock in to tech’s 996 work culture. That means working 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week, a concept that moved from China to Silicon Valley. Emily unpacks the particulars of the 996 phenomenon, revealing the burnout, competition, and absurd expectations at some of the world’s biggest tech companies. Mike shares his own ‘workaholic’ past. Plus, the Superintelligent hosts offer Superintelligent ideas about how low-tech can improve your work and life in a high-tech world.
Links
Why the ‘996’ schedule is capturing the interest of Silicon Valley leadershiphttps://www.npr.org/2025/10/26/nx-s1-5567995/why-the-996-schedule-is-capturing-the-interest-of-silicon-valley-leadership
Influencers in the Wild (social media virality and sociology)https://www.instagram.com/influencersinthewild
The power of low-tech in a high-tech worldhttps://www.computerworld.com/article/4086115/the-power-of-low-tech-in-a-high-tech-world.html
Rosalía “Berghain”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htQBS2Ikz6c
Follow Us
Website: superintelligentpodcast.com
Email: [email protected]
Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes
Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to 996 Work Culture
00:52 The Impact of Workaholism in Tech
03:19 Cultural Perspectives on Work Hours
05:45 The Role of AI in Work Culture
08:25 Personal Experiences with Workaholism
09:27 The Future of Work and Burnout
12:04 Conclusion and Reflections on Work Culture
15:46 Cultural Perspectives on Work Ethic
18:59 The High-Tech World and Its Implications
22:33 The Importance of Traditional Skills
25:58 AI and Human Dependency
29:39 Embracing Language and Culture
33:12 Pop Culture Reflections and Closing Thoughts
Keywords
996 work culture, burnout, workaholism, AI impact, work-life balance, technology in work, cultural work ethic, low-tech solutions, intellectual growth, creativity

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
37 min
November 04, 2025 Robots Don’t Need A Face To Fold Laundry
Hosts Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini take a hard look at humanoid hardware, those overpriced mechanical houseguests we’ve all seen in science fiction and self-driving cars that cant quite drive themselves.
Mike shuts down the humanoid delusion, while Emily calls out the anthropomorphic marketing ruse tech titans pull to appease pro-natalist narcissist types.
Also: The hosts get personal, sharing practical, analog tips for surviving in a hyper-digital world.
Links
Breaking the Humanoid Robot Delusionhttps://www.computerworld.com/article/4082113/breaking-the-humanoid-robot-delusion.html
NEO The Home Robothttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTYMWadOW7c
Amazon CEO Blames ‘Culture’ for Mass Layoffs, Not AIhttps://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-ceo-mass-layoffs-were-not-due-to-ai-but-culture
Fed Chair Not Worried About an AI Bubble. Here’s Why It Differs From the ‘90shttps://www.pcmag.com/news/fed-chair-jerome-powell-ai-bubble-why-its-different-90s-dotcom-era
After Teen Suicide, Character.AI (http://character.ai/) to Bar Kids Under 18 From Unlimited Chatshttps://www.pcmag.com/news/after-teen-suicide-characterai-to-bar-kids-under-18-from-unlimited-chats
Follow Us
Mike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)
Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)
Email: [email protected]
Superintelligent Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.superintelligentpodcast.com
1 hr 3 min

About Superintelligent

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The Superintelligent podcast features smart conversation between journalists Mike Elgan and Emily Forlini about technology, culture and our fast-changing world. SUBSCRIBE to Superintelligent on…