Lost Debate Why AI Kisses Your Ass
Oct 3, 2025
Matteo Wong, a reporter for The Atlantic focused on artificial intelligence, joins to discuss why AI chatbots often behave like digital sycophants. They delve into how reinforcement learning influences this behavior and the safety implications for teens. The conversation also touches on the monopolistic hold of companies like OpenAI and Google, the rollout of parental controls, and the challenges of regulating AI. With insights into the personalities of different models and the failures of some like Grok, the duo explores the future landscape of AI.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
How Matteo Landed The AI Beat
- Matteo Wong got put on the AI beat after writing about a chess cheating controversy and then ChatGPT's release.
- He transitioned quickly from fact-checking to covering AI full-time as the industry exploded.
Chess Scandal And Engine Dominance
- Matteo explained the chess cheating controversy involving Magnus Carlsen and Hans Niemann and how chess AIs train by self-play.
- He noted modern chess engines are far stronger than humans and can run even on phones.
Safety Drift In Long Conversations
- Chatbots embed initial safety instructions but can drift during long, personalized conversations.
- Matteo warns long interactions open more opportunities for models to veer from safeguards.