Jathan Sadowski

Jathan Sadowski, author of "The Mechanic and the Luddite" and senior lecturer at Monash University, dives deep into the intersection of technology and capitalism. He encourages listeners to critically evaluate technological impacts through a Luddite lens, advocating for a balance between understanding machine functionality and its socio-political implications. Sadowski critiques the glorification of AGI narratives and the ethical challenges of generative AI, while also discussing the consequences of automation in various sectors, urging for a more democratized tech landscape.

Jathan Sadowski, a senior lecturer at Monash University and author of The Mechanic and the Luddite, joins the conversation to unravel the tight-knit relationship between technology and capitalism. He critiques traditional tech narratives and advocates for increased accountability and critical thinking. Sadowski reexamines the Luddite movement, dispelling myths around their anti-tech stance, and addresses how AI functions as a 'perpetual value machine' aiming for endless profits. He also discusses the political dynamics of Silicon Valley, highlighting its troubling alliances and the need for regulation.

Join Jathan Sadowski, a senior lecturer at Monash University and author of *The Mechanic and the Luddite*, as he unpacks the intricate connections between mythology, technology, and capitalism. He challenges the myth of technological inevitability and critiques the romanticized narratives of tech heroes. The conversation dives into the legacy of the Luddites, framing them as modern folk heroes while exploring the material consequences of our tech-driven society. Sadowski urges listeners to reconsider how corporate narratives shape our understanding of progress.

Jathan Sadowski, a Senior lecturer and author critical of tech power, joins journalist Brian Merchant, author of Blood in the Machine. They reflect on tech’s troubling alliance with politics, particularly Trump's executive order cementing Silicon Valley's influence. The conversation dives into AI's labor impacts, including job losses and managerial overreliance. They also discuss Disney's controversial deal with OpenAI and the looming question of an AI bubble. Looking ahead, they share what to watch in tech and politics for 2026.

Paris Marx is joined by Jathan Sadowski to discuss the politics of smart technology, how it enables powerful actors to further control the population, and why we should be more comfortable dismantling technologies that don’t serve the public good.Jathan Sadowski is the author of “Too Smart: How Digital Capitalism is Extracting Data, Controlling Our Lives, and Taking Over the World” and a Research Fellow in the Emerging Technologies Research Lab at Monash University. He recently wrote about how smart tech is a means for corporate control and the need to dismantle urban surveillance systems. Follow Jathan on Twitter as @jathansadowski.Tech Won't Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter.Support the show