The Take Is AI headed for a breaking point?
Jan 7, 2026
Brian Merchant, a tech journalist and author of the newsletter Blood in the Machine, joins to discuss the fast-evolving world of AI. He shares his reluctance to use AI due to ethical concerns and critiques the marketing hype surrounding agentic AI. Expect warnings about the immediate harms from AI in surveillance and job losses affecting artists and writers. Merchant highlights the risk of an investment bubble in AI and describes the rise of resistance against unchecked technology, concluding with a hopeful outlook for governance and public interest.
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Episode notes
Agentic AI Is Mostly Marketing
- 'Agentic AI' is largely a marketing term used to sell a next phase of autonomy.
- Brian Merchant warns adoption in 2026 will be limited and to remain skeptical of handing over sensitive data.
Don't Share Cards With Unproven Agents
- Avoid handing over payment or sensitive details to unproven 'agent' services.
- Merchant explicitly cautions being very wary of giving credit card info to emergent agentic AI.
Humanoid Robots Are Not Ready For Homes
- Humanoid robots attract investment but remain technically limited in real environments.
- Merchant says many robots are still remotely operated and can't reliably perform complex physical tasks yet.
