Life with Machines

Brian Eno, a legendary artist and producer known for inventing ambient music and collaborating with icons like David Bowie and U2, dives into the complex relationship between AI and creativity. He expresses skepticism about those controlling AI, arguing that it often leads to mediocrity in art. Eno argues that unpredictability and randomness are crucial for true creative expression. The conversation touches on generative music, the myth of the self-made genius, and how context shapes our appreciation for art, raising questions about AI as a collaborator vs. a mere tool.

Jeff Hawkins, a renowned neuroscientist and author of A Thousand Brains, dives deep into why current AI is more about pattern matching than true intelligence. He argues that real cognitive understanding hinges on decoding the human brain. The conversation highlights the importance of sensory-motor experiences in learning and explores his vision of AI advancing through the Thousand Brains Project. Hawkins also reflects on the future of human-AI interactions and the societal implications of creating machines that could potentially exceed our intelligence.

In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with CNN host and contributor Van Jones, who opens up like never before. From his early days fighting police brutality to his bold vision for AI and racial justice. Van gets personal about the struggles that shaped him and why AI might be the closest thing to reparations Black Americans will ever see. Van explains how AI could finally level the playing field—if Silicon Valley’s right wing pivot doesn’t widen the gap. They tackle the promise and peril of AI, why hope is a strategy, and how Wakanda isn’t just a fantasy—it’s a blueprint. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, jumps in to help Baratunde unpack Van’s radical future for all. Watch now for a powerful, provocative take on what’s next.------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #VanJones #BaratundeThurston #LifeWithMachines #TechForGood #RacialJustice #Reparations #FutureOfTech #Equality #SocialJustice #AIandRace #AIRevolution #Wakanda #Empowerment #Inclusion #SiliconValley #DigitalDivide #Hope #BlackFutures #Innovation #TechEquality #FutureIsNow #AIForAll #Equity #Blockchain

Gavin McCormick, a climate scientist and co-founder of Climate TRACE with Al Gore, shares groundbreaking insights on how AI and satellite tech are transforming the fight against climate change. He reveals that we're gaining ground on emissions tracking, pinpointing corporate polluters with unprecedented accuracy. McCormick also discusses WattTime's innovative technology that helps reduce emissions while charging devices. While progress is hopeful, he warns that political instability could jeopardize our gains, making accountability crucial in the emission reduction battle.

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Aza Raskin about something straight out of science fiction—teaching AI to communicate with animals. As co-founder of the Earth Species Project, Aza is working on technology that could let us listen to whales, understand what elephants are saying, and maybe even talk back. This isn’t just about decoding nature’s languages—it’s about rethinking intelligence, communication, and our place in the world. Aza and Baratunde get into the ethics, the mind-blowing implications, and whether we’re about to make first contact… without ever leaving Earth. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, chimes in—adding its own perspective to this conversation about intelligence, language, and what it means to truly understand.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction01:07 Meet Aza Raskin: Pioneer of Interspecies Communication11:06 The Earth Species Project: Decoding Animal Language17:19 AI and the Shape of Language28:17 The Ethical Implications of Interspecies Communication32:39 Digital Twins39:11 Guess the Animal Sound45:36 Rights of Nature and Indigenous Perspectives48:47 Funding and Team Expansion50:55 The Viral Songs of Humpback Whales53:01 Ethical Considerations in AI and Animal Communication55:52 The Role of Keystone Species01:08:42 AI's Impact on Society and Environment01:12:40 Final Thoughts and Invitation------------Earth SpeciesXLinkedInGitHubBlueskyAza's XSign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #AnimalCommunication #ArtificialIntelligence #TalkingToAnimals #WildlifeTech #FutureOfAI #EarthSpeciesProject #WhaleTalk #AnimalLanguage #TechForGood #AIandNature #InterspeciesCommunication #DecodingNature

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sean White, CEO of Inflection AI, to talk about the future of AI that actually feels human. Inflection’s chatbot, Pi, isn’t just another LLM—it’s designed with emotional intelligence, or EQ, at its core. But does EQ in AI make interactions more meaningful, or does it blur the line between human and machine in ways we’re not ready for? Sean and Baratunde dig into the philosophy behind AI that listens, the surprising ways Pi is already shaping human relationships, and the ethical tightrope of building tech that people trust. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, has its own emotional intelligence put to the test.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction: The Many Faces of AI00:53 Guest Introduction: Sean White02:56 Human-Centered Technology07:02 The Role of Mixed Reality13:39 AI in Enterprise21:10 The Evolution of Pi39:48 Navigating Emotional Boundaries with AI40:36 Guardrails and Regulations in AI41:19 Emotional Connectivity and AI44:21 The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Abilities47:28 Understanding Agentic AI01:11:01 AI in Enterprise and Consumer Applications------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAgents #InflectionAI #EmotionalIntelligence #EQ #IQ #AGI #FutureOfAI #AIChatbot #AIInnovation #EmotionalAI #ConversationalAI #AIEthics

We’re doing something different in this episode and cross-posting Baratunde’s appearance on The Dough with X Mayo where they had a long discussion about money and AI but also about Baratunde’s conversation with King Willonius right here on Life With Machines! Things got a lil spicy and a lot funny based on X Mayo’s initially strong reaction to how Willonius is using AI creatively (spoiler: she wasn’t happy). You’ll learn more about Baratunde’s origin story and personal use of AI as well as concerns. And we share some big updates on the show and new ways for you to engage. We’ll be at SXSW and we got a substack and want you to sign up! Thanks to Lemonada for letting us post this here. Find The Dough wherever you get podcasts, so like right where you’re getting THIS podcast. ------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to BLAIR: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LifeWithMachines #Finances #Money

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a leading voice in AI ethics and accountability. As the former Director of Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability at Twitter—before the Elon Musk era—she’s seen firsthand how power, politics, and algorithms collide. She and Baratunde discuss moral outsourcing (why we blame AI instead of its creators), the failure of responsible AI, and the challenge of holding tech accountable when it’s designed to evade scrutiny. Rumman also breaks down her work as CEO of Humane Intelligence, where she’s building tools to expose bias and keep AI systems in check. Plus, BLAIR—the show’s AI co-producer—joins the discussion, proving that auditing AI is anything but simple.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction and Early Tech Memories02:05 Formative Years and High School Experience04:55 Career Beginnings and Responsible AI06:55 Challenges and Innovations in AI15:27 Moral Outsourcing and AI Ethics26:15 Right to Repair and Ownership of Technology36:23 Exploring Worst-Case Scenarios in AI36:37 Addressing Bias in Image Cropping Algorithms37:21 Generative AI for Everyone37:44 National AI Testing Standards38:14 The ARIA Program and Public Involvement38:49 Balancing Rights and Responsibilities in AI41:21 The Importance of Discernment in AI43:07 The Role of Humane Intelligence51:40 Red Teaming Explained54:51 Challenges and Future of Red Teaming56:50 Engaging with AI Ethically01:07:05 Final Reflections and Future Vision01:08:23 Blair: The AI Assistant Producer------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to BLAIR: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LifeWithMachines #X #Twitter #AIethics #ResponsibleAI #AlgorithmicBias #BigTech #AIRegulation #DataPrivacy #SurveillanceCapitalism #GPT #AGI #LLMs

Baratunde Thurston sits down with long-time friend and comedy writer Matt Klinman, co-creator of 'High Science' and former Onion colleague. They delve into the current state of the internet, AI's impact on creativity, and the challenges of modern digital platforms. Klinman shares his skepticism towards AI, the pitfalls of targeted advertising, and reminisces about his comedic journey. The episode also features Meta’s interactive AI-driven game and a joke-writing contest between Matt and Blair, our AI co-producer, highlighting the humorous yet complex interplay between human creativity and machine learning.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Matt Klinman01:31 The Internet and AI: A Critical Perspective03:55 Challenges in the Creative Industry07:29 Comedy and Tech: A Unique Blend19:47 Meta AI Role-Playing Game: Deserted Earth29:16 The Value of Human Connection29:39 Automation in Everyday Life31:19 AI's Practical Uses and Limitations32:37 Experimenting with AI in Creative Work34:08 The Future of AI in Comedy39:55 AI in Media and Entertainment42:08 The Human Touch in Technology43:04 Blair's Comedy Challenge46:36 Refining AI's Humor50:05 Concluding Thoughts and Farewells------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #AI #LifeWithMachines #TechAndComedy #AIHumor #TheOnion #CreativeTech #ComedyHackathon

A week in which Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has upended the AI industry is the perfect moment for tjis prescient episode of Life with Machines. Host Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sara Hooker, head of Cohere for AI, to discuss the future and current limitations of artificial intelligence. From her childhood in Mozambique to her role as a leader in AI research, Sara shares her personal journey, give us her “grumpy takes” on current AI models (spoiler: bigger isn’t necessarily better), and reveals her mission to create smarter, more efficient AI. They discuss the flaws in current models, the need for multilingual AI, the importance of data fairness, and the ethical dilemmas the industry faces. At the end, our AI co-producer BLAIR stops by and Sara straight-up breaks its brain.------------CHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Blair and Technology00:35 The Power of the Human Brain vs AI01:08 Meet Sarah Hooker: AI Researcher01:41 Sarah's Journey into Technology03:13 Early Fascinations: Garbage Collection and Fences06:45 Transition from Economics to Machine Learning07:56 Challenges and Breakthroughs at Google Brain10:51 Founding Cohere for AI17:32 Multilingual AI and Future Goals23:32 Open Source AI Models and Collaboration26:41 The Future of AI and Prompt Engineering34:17 Tea Leaf Reading and Prompting as Modern Astrology34:55 The Adversarial Nature of Technology35:28 Bias in Data and Model Design38:04 Understanding Linear Models and Expressiveness40:08 Challenges in Facial Recognition and Bias43:52 The Importance of Multilingual Models47:21 Tokenization and Language Representation57:09 Energy Efficiency and Climate Impact of AI01:02:39 The Need for a New AI Paradigm01:06:50 Blair's Grumpy Take on AI01:12:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts------------Sign up for our newsletter! Follow us!Instagram TikTokThreadsLinkedInWork with Life With Machines: partnerships@voicingchange.mediaSend Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.mediaWrite to Blair: blair@lifewithmachines.media------------Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde ThurstonExecutive Producer and Showrunner: Misha EucephEditor: Alie KiltsSenior Producer and Writer: Alex StoneAssociate Producer: Layne Deyling CherlandVideo Editor: Erik ShuteVideographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change MediaTheme Music: Andy ClausenSpecial Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media productionSponsored by Lenovo #DeepSeek #GenerativeAI #MachineLearning #FutureOfAI #LLMs #AIethics #TechNews #DigitalTransformation #Automation #EmergingTech #AIChatbots