In a deep dive into the internet's precarious infrastructure, journalist Chris Stokel-Walker and tech commentator Ed Zitron dissect the recent CrowdStrike incident, revealing the shocking vulnerabilities in our digital world. They tackle the fragile state of open source software and the pressing need for greater support. The discussion highlights the societal implications of technology failures, while also addressing the fragile clouds and content delivery networks that keep our online lives running, stressing that accountability is crucial for tech's future.

Chris Stokel-Walker, a technology journalist and author, dives into the UK government's ambitious AI action plan, weighing its potential against risks like job displacement and environmental impacts. Nafeez Ahmed, an investigative journalist and author, explores the alarming rise of far-right ideologies and their implications for democracy and social cohesion. The conversation also tackles misinformation and the influence of figures like Elon Musk, all while introducing a fun segment to debunk out-of-touch political comments. It’s a critical look at technology and extremism!

Tech journalist Chris Stokel-Walker discusses AI, from its history to future implications. Topics include the rise of transformer models, AI disinformation, copyright dilemmas in AI training, and navigating tech regulation. Insightful and engaging conversation on the impact of AI on society.

Microsoft soft-launched its new AI-powered search engine in early February. After years of playing second fiddle to Google, the new Bing seemed to finally have something exciting to offer. More than a million people signed up on a wait list to try out the new feature. But it wasn’t long before some early testers reported that their interactions with the chatbot had taken an unsettling turn. For some, the bizarre interactions were disconcertingly similar to depictions of AI gone sentient straight out of science fiction. Today, Chris Stokel-Walker, a technology journalist and contributor to the Guardian’s TechScape newsletter, explains this latest chatbot, what the technology is doing and whether it’s as terrifying as it sounds.

Jesse Stiller, a fact-checker with experience combating misinformation at Meta, and Chris Stokel-Walker, a technology journalist focused on Meta’s societal impact, dive into the shifting landscape of social media under Mark Zuckerberg. They discuss the alarming end of partnerships with fact-checkers and its implications for the spread of misinformation. The duo reflects on notorious incidents like Pizzagate, the complexities of digital fact-checking, and the potential consequences of new tech regulations on user safety and content moderation.