Jonathan Swan, a political analyst from The New York Times, sheds light on Elon Musk's bold moves in Washington, D.C., exploring the potential impacts on governance and job security. Meanwhile, Liz Pelly, author of "Mood Machine," dives into the fascinating rise of ghost musicians on Spotify and how algorithms are reshaping music culture. They discuss the challenges artists face in the streaming era and ponder the cultural shifts driven by technology in both politics and music.

Join Jordan Schneider, the founder and editor-in-chief of ChinaTalk, as he unravels the intricacies of the Chinese AI industry and the geopolitical effects of DeepSeek’s rise. He discusses the U.S.-China AI race, stressing hardware challenges and global scrutiny. The conversation shifts to OpenAI’s new agent, Operator, detailing its impressive features and the ethical implications of AI tools. Schneider also touches on tech controversies, from drone delivery safety to biases in AI apps, offering a thought-provoking look at the future of technology.

Hosts Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore stories from the wild frontier of tech.What’s real? What’s hype? “Hard Fork” is here to help you make sense of it. Tune in every Friday. Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.