Jonna Mendez, a former CIA Chief of Disguise with a legendary career in espionage, shares gripping tales of her covert operations during the Cold War. Holly Herndon, an artist pushing the boundaries of machine learning, discusses the ethical complexities of AI-generated voices. Anthropologist Mary L. Gray exposes the unseen labor behind online services, while digital fashion designer Gala Marija Vrbanic explores how technology is revolutionizing identity through virtual clothing. Together, they unravel the intricate layers of disguise in our digital and physical realities.

Nilay Patel, Editor-in-chief of The Verge, dives into the copyright battle sparked by an AI-generated track featuring the voices of Drake and The Weeknd. He discusses the implications of AI in music, questioning the balance between creativity and technology. Collaborating with Holly Herndon, a Berlin-based artist known for her innovative use of AI in music, they explore how technology empowers non-mainstream musicians and raises ethical questions around artist consent and authenticity in a rapidly changing music landscape.

Original broadcast date: August 26, 2022. Everything is not what it seems. We can easily disguise ourselves in both the digital and physical world. This hour, TED speakers explore the ways we go incognito... from espionage to virtual reality. Guests include former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez, artist Holly Herndon, anthropologist Mary L. Gray and digital fashion designer Gala Marija Vrbanic. TED Radio Hour+ subscribers now get access to bonus episodes, with more ideas from TED speakers and a behind the scenes look with our producers. A Plus subscription also lets you listen to regular episodes (like this one!) without sponsors. Sign-up at: plus.npr.org/tedLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Everything is not what it seems. We can easily disguise ourselves in both the digital and physical world. This hour, TED speakers explore the ways we go incognito... from espionage to virtual reality. Guests include former CIA Chief of Disguise Jonna Mendez, artist Holly Herndon, anthropologist Mary L. Gray and digital fashion designer Gala Marija Vrbanic.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Sterling Crispin, an innovative artist and software developer, teams up with Holly Herndon, a renowned musician and host, to tackle the challenges creators face in the evolving landscape of NFTs and royalties. They explore how Holly utilized her Holly Plus Project for royalty payments and discuss the complexities of creator compensation in digital economics. The duo debates whether NFT royalties benefit larger creators more than smaller ones and suggests alternative profit-sharing models that could revolutionize how artists monetize their work.