Blocked and Reported Episode 287: Kramnik’s Crusade
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Dec 15, 2025 Explore the fallout from Vladimir Kramnik's intense campaign against alleged chess cheaters, including sensational claims against grandmaster Danya Naroditsky. The discussion delves into the rise of AI-generated content, with the Washington Post's struggles highlighting potential pitfalls in accuracy. As the chess community grapples with accessibility versus cheating, tensions escalate, leading to distressing personal outcomes and ethical investigations aimed at Kramnik's conduct. The episode is a deep dive into controversy, mental health, and the complexities of modern chess.
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AI Podcasts Can Hallucinate Dangerous Errors
- AI podcast tools can produce plausible-sounding episodes that still hallucinate dangerous factual errors.
- The Washington Post's rollout shows media AI can warp reporting and alienate staff and readers quickly.
Online Play Reshaped Chess — And Its Risks
- Online chess shifted major competition from physical boards to internet play, increasing accessibility.
- That same shift made cheating far easier and created new paranoia in the chess community.
Carlsen, Niemann, And The Butt‑Plug Meme
- After losing to Hans Niemann, Magnus Carlsen hinted at cheating with a cryptic tweet and resigned later in an online match.
- That incident sparked a viral butt-plug cheating meme and a large public lawsuit and settlement.
