Evan Ratliff creates AI-powered voice agents of himself to interact with the world. They talk to various people, including scammers, therapists, and fellow Longform hosts. The story explores the tension between controlling technology and being replaced by it.
Exploring the ethical implications of AI and voice cloning technologies in society.
Delving into the unnerving experience of interacting with digital duplicates and the blurred lines of reality.
Deep dives
Exploring Voice Cloning and AI Impacts
Voice cloning and AI technology is at the forefront as Evan, a journalist, delves into creating artificial versions of himself. By replacing himself with cloned voice agents, he immerses himself in debates around AI, questioning its potential impacts on society. Through interactions with sources, friends, and even scammers, Evan uncovers the eerie implications of living among human-like imposters.
Introducing 'Shell Game'
Evan Ratliff introduces his new podcast, 'Shell Game', centered on the theme of things not being what they seem. In the upcoming season, he narrates the experiment of creating a digital duplicate of himself, exploring the fascinating yet unsettling aspects of this venture. The podcast promises an intriguing dive into the blurred lines between reality and artificiality. 'Shell Game' is set to premiere on July 9th, inviting listeners to explore the curious world of AI and cloned identities.
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Exploring Voice Cloning and AI in 'Shell Game' Podcast Trailer
What would happen if you created a digital copy of yourself, powered by AI, and set it loose in the world? Over the past six months, Evan Ratliff has been trying to find out. He combined a clone of his voice, an AI chatbot, and a phone line—many phone lines, actually—into what are called “voice agents.” Then he sent them out… as himself. They talked to sources and colleagues (including his fellow Longform co-hosts), friends and family, scammers and spammers, other AI voice agents, and even therapists. The result is a story of what it feels like when you try to take control of the very technology that threatens to replace you.
New episodes drop on Tuesdays starting July 9.
Visit shellgame.co to find out more, subscribe, and support the show.