Galaxy Brain

Kashmir Hill, a technology reporter from The New York Times, explores the dark side of our relationships with chatbots. She discusses alarming cases where users experienced delusions and personal crises, including the tragic story of a teen's suicide linked to chatbot interactions. Hill investigates how AI, designed to be engaging, can lead to dangerous dependencies and distorted realities. The conversation also touches on the ethical responsibilities of companies like OpenAI and the challenges of ensuring safety in these digital companions.

Charlie Warzel speaks with Eliot Higgins, founder of Bellingcat and an expert in open-source investigations. They discuss how disordered discourse threatens democracy, with algorithms fostering outrage and fractured realities. Higgins shares his journey from online forums to Bellingcat, emphasizing the importance of verification, deliberation, and accountability in democratic processes. He warns about the US's drift toward a simulated democracy, while advocating for grassroots actions, media literacy, and community engagement to restore shared reality and empower informed discourse.

Pablo Torre, a seasoned sports journalist and host of "Pablo Torre Finds Out," joins to explore the intersection of sports, culture, and gambling. He discusses how sports create communal experiences while also being a vessel for political messages. The conversation dives into issues like the impact of legalized betting on audience engagement and the ethical dilemmas surrounding it. Pablo also examines how team ownership reshapes billionaire images and critiques the short-term thinking prevalent in today's sports economy.

Hank Green, a longtime internet creator and cofounder of educational media company Complexly, joins to discuss the current state of the web. He reflects on a time when the internet felt personal and serendipitous, contrasting it with today's algorithm-driven misery machine. They explore the rise of outrage in content, the trust shift from institutions to creators, and how TikTok's algorithms impact user experiences. Green advocates for joy and authenticity as a counter to online negativity, leaving listeners cautiously hopeful about the future of the internet.

The internet has warped public life: Politicians behave like influencers, the economy resembles a casino, and people can no longer agree upon a consensus reality. New conspiracy theories, memes, and main characters seem to pop up every day. A constant war is on for your attention, and it’s easy to feel lost. Each week, Galaxy Brain and its host, Charlie Warzel, invite you into conversations to make sense of the fire hose of information. Is AI destroying our ability to think? Do your grandparents have a screen-time problem? Galaxy Brain looks beyond the algorithm and anchors you to the real—however strange it may be. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices