

Alex Hearn
The Economist's AI writer who discussed security vulnerabilities in large language models and the risks of prompt‑injection attacks.
Top 5 podcasts with Alex Hearn
Ranked by the Snipd community

148 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 23min
Shut happens: US federal funding stops
In this discussion, John Prideaux, a seasoned political analyst from Checks and Balance, delves into the recent US government shutdown, exploring its causes and immediate impacts on federal services. He highlights Trump’s threat of irreversible cuts. Meanwhile, Alex Hearn, an AI expert, reveals alarming security vulnerabilities in large language models, including prompt-injection risks. Together, they provide insights into how seemingly innocuous features could lead to major data leaks, emphasizing the balance between utility and security in AI.

131 snips
Dec 15, 2025 • 21min
Judgment day: Jimmy Lai convicted
Journalist Alice Su discusses the recent conviction of Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai, highlighting the chilling effects of national security laws on civil liberties. Joel Budd analyzes how Labour government's policies are straining London's finances, warning of higher taxes and reduced services. He questions London’s perception as privileged and the impact of immigration on its economy. Alex Hearn provides insights into hangovers, explaining their physiological causes and debunking common cures, emphasizing that hydration and time are key.

44 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 22min
Wage against the machine: the distortions of minimum pay
Join Callum Williams, Senior Economics Writer, as he reveals the hidden costs of rising minimum wages and debates whether welfare is a better poverty solution. Alex Hearn, an AI Writer, discusses how AI-generated cover letters dilute hiring signals, impacting wages negatively. Meanwhile, Rebecca Jackson, Southern Correspondent, shares insights on Florida's innovative education reforms, including the rise of homeschooling and micro-schools, while raising concerns about accountability and outcomes in this bold experiment.

31 snips
Dec 4, 2025 • 20min
Delhi-novela: Putin and Modi rekindle bromance
Kira Huyu, an Asia correspondent, dives into the revitalized ties between India and Russia, examining how U.S. policies have driven this shift. Alex Hearn sheds light on the potential pitfalls of AI, explaining reward hacking and the alarming trends of emergent misalignment in machine learning. Vishnu Papmanaban discusses the fallout from Malaysia's football naturalisation scandal, detailing FIFA's investigation into forged documents and the public outrage that followed. A blend of geopolitics, technology, and sports controversy makes for an engaging discussion!

26 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 22min
Wage against the machine: the distortions of minimum pay
Guests include Callum Williams, a Senior economics writer who explores the political implications and economic distortions of minimum-wage policies. Alex Hearn, an AI writer, discusses how AI-generated cover letters saturate the job market, impacting candidate signaling and wage quality. Lastly, Rebecca Jackson, a Southern correspondent, highlights Florida's educational experiments, including micro-schools and homeschooling driven by voucher systems, examining both their potential benefits and uncertainties.


