

MIT Technology Review Narrated
MIT Technology Review
Welcome to MIT Technology Review Narrated, the home for the very best of our journalism in audio. Each week we will share one of our most ambitious stories, from print and online, narrated for us by real voice actors. Expect big themes, thought-provoking topics, and sharp analysis, all backed by our trusted reporting.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 8, 2023 • 19min
In Machines We Trust: The AI in the newsroom
We asked ChatGPT to summarize this episode and this is what it wrote:"In the episode, the host discussed the increasing use of AI language models like ChatGPT in newsrooms. The host explained that ChatGPT, a large language model developed by OpenAI, is being used to automate tasks such as data analysis and writing, freeing up time for journalists to focus on more in-depth reporting. The host interviewed experts in the field who highlighted the benefits of using AI technology in newsrooms, including increased efficiency and consistency, as well as the potential to improve the accuracy and speed of reporting. However, the experts also discussed the challenges that come with using AI in journalism, such as issues around bias and accountability, and the need for human oversight to ensure ethical and accurate reporting. The episode concluded by exploring the future of AI in journalism, and how it will continue to shape the way news is produced and consumed."The episode was written by people.Links:https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/31/1067436/could-chatgpt-do-my-job/https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/27/1067338/a-watermark-for-chatbots-can-spot-text-written-by-an-ai/We meet:Mat Honan, MIT Technology ReviewJonah Peretti, BuzzfeedSayash Kapoor, Princeton UniversityFrancesco Marconi, Applied XLCredits:This episode was produced by Anthony Green and Emma Cillekens, and edited by Jennifer Strong and Mat Honan. It was mixed by Garret Lang with original music from Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Artwork by Stephanie Arnett.

Feb 1, 2023 • 19min
In Machines We Trust: Automating Agriculture (Live)
We're joined on stage by two startup founders working to bring automation to smaller scale farms. A live conversation from Lisbon, Portugal taped at one of the world's largest tech conferences, Web Summit.We meet:Praveen Penmetsa, CEO of Monarch TractorBarry Lunn, CEO of Provizio AI Credits:This episode was recorded and produced by Jennifer Strong with help from Emma Cillekens and Anthony Green. We’re edited by Mat Honan and mixed by Garret Lang, with original music from Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Artwork from Stephanie Arnett.

Jan 25, 2023 • 17min
In Machines We Trust: House training a robot
A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook?This episode we go behind the scenes of an investigation that uncovered how sensitive photos taken by an AI powered vacuum were leaked and landed on the internet. Reporting:A Roomba recorded a woman on the toilet. How did screenshots end up on Facebook?Roomba testers feel misled after intimate images ended up on FacebookWe Meet:Eileen Guo, MIT Technology ReviewAlbert Fox Cahn, Surveillance Technology Oversight ProjectCredits:This episode was reported by Eileen Guo and produced by Emma Cillekens and Anthony Green. It was hosted by Jennifer Strong and edited by Amanda Silverman and Mat Honan. This show is mixed by Garret Lang with original music from Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Artwork by Stephanie Arnett.

Jan 18, 2023 • 15min
In Machines We Trust: How to test a satellite (Audio Postcard)
Our reporting about farming, AI and satellites turned into three episodes of this podcast, which you can find linked here in the show notes, and as part of this reporting we also toured a satellite factory in downtown San Francisco, called Planet Labs. This week we bring you along for one of our audio postcards to hear how these satellites are built and tested.We meet: Jacob Stern, director of test engineering at Planet LabsCredits:This episode was produced by Jennifer Strong with help from Anthony Green and Emma Cillekens. It was edited by Mat Honan and mixed by Garret Lang, with original music from Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Art direction by Stephanie Arnett.

13 snips
Jan 11, 2023 • 24min
In Machines We Trust: Exploring AI's evolution (Live)
A panel of luminaries join us live on stage at MIT Technology Review’s flagship conference, EmTech MIT, and discuss the path forward for AI research.We Meet:Will Douglas Heaven, Senior Editor of AI at MIT Technology ReviewAshley Llorens, Vice President & Managing Director at Microsoft ResearchRaia Hadsell, Senior Director of Research and Robotics at DeepMindYann LeCun, NYU Professor, VP & Chief AI Scientist at MetaCredits:This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at the MIT Media Lab in Cambridge, Massachusetts with special thanks to Will Douglas Heaven, Amy Lammers and Brian Bryson. It was produced by Jennifer Strong, Emma Cillekens and Anthony Green, directed by Erin Underwood, edited by Mat Honan and mixed by Garret Lang.

Jan 4, 2023 • 28min
In Machines We Trust: How games teach AI to learn for itself (Update)
From chess to Jeopardy to e-sports, AI is increasingly beating humans at their own games. But that was never the ultimate goal. In this episode we dig into the symbiotic relationship between games and AI. We meet the big players in the space, and we take a trip to an arcade.We Meet: Julian TogeliusWill Douglas-HeavenDavid Silver David Fahri We Talked To: Julian TogeliusWill Douglas-HeavenKaren HaoDavid Silver David Fahri Natasha ReganSounds From:Jeopardy 2011-02:The IBM Challengehttps://archive.org/details/Jeopardy.2011.02.The.IBM.Challenge/Jeopardy.2011.02.16.The.IBM.Challenge.Day.3.HDTV.XviD-FQM.avi Garry Kasparov VS Deep Blue 1997 6th game (Kasparov Resigns)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsMk1Nbcs-s Attack Like AlphaZero: The Power of the Kinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0JK5Fa3AqI Miracle Perfect Anti Mage 16/0 - Dota 2 Pro Gameplayhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59KnNcU9iKc DOTA 2 - ALL GAME-WINNING Moments in The International History (TI1-TI9)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJcNbuASl-Y Credits:This episode was reported by Jennifer Strong and Will Douglas Heaven and produced by Anthony Green, Emma Cillekens and Karen Hao. We’re edited by Niall Firth, Michael Reilly and Mat Honan. Our mix engineer is Garret Lang. Sound design and music by Jacob Gorski.

Dec 28, 2022 • 22min
In Machines We Trust: Harvesting the future with AI and satellites
AI is used in farming in some ways you might not expect, like for tracking the health of crops—from space. We travel from test farms to labs in the second installment of our series on agriculture, AI, and satellites. We Meet:Joseph Liefer, senior product manager of autonomy at John DeereJulian Sanchez, director of emerging technology at John DeereShely Aranov, CEO of InnerPlantRod Kumimoto, CSO of InnerPlantCredits:This episode was reported and produced by Jennifer Strong, Emma Cillekens and Anthony Green. It was edited by Mat Honan, and mixed by Garret Lang, with original music by Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Artwork by Stephanie Arnett.

Dec 21, 2022 • 18min
In Machines We Trust: The future of farming lies in space
AI is used in agriculture to precisely target weeds and optimize irrigation practices. It’s also being used in ways you might not expect, like for tracking the health of cow pastures—from space. We travel from test farms to orchards in the first of a two-part series on agriculture, AI, and satellites. We Meet: Greg Brickner, Veterinarian and grazing specialist at Organic ValleyGeoff Klein, irrigation manager of Bullseye FarmsJohn Bourne, SVP Ceres ImagingDeanna Kovar, VP of Production and Precision Ag Production Systems at John DeereJahmy Hindman, CTO at John DeereCredits:This episode was reported and produced by Jennifer Strong, Emma Cillekens and Anthony Green. It was edited by Mat Honan, and mixed by Garret Lang, with original music by Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Artwork by Stephanie Arnett.

Dec 14, 2022 • 16min
In Machines We Trust: Optimizing for convenience
We’re in the middle of another major disruption in retail—one that’s been accelerated by the pandemic, and looks to take the convenience of e-commerce and apply it to physical environments. In this episode, we examine how AI is at the center of this transition.We meet:Prakhar Mehrotra, VP, Machine Learning, Walmart Global TechJordan Fisher, Chief Executive Officer, Standard AITerrence Griffin, Quality Control Specialist, Standard AISuresh Kumar, Global Chief Technology Officer and CDO, WalmartThis episode was produced by Anthony Green and Emma Cillekens. It was edited by Jennifer Strong and Mat Honan and mixed by Garret Lang, with original music by Garret Lang and Jacob Gorski. Artwork by Stephanie Arnett.

Dec 7, 2022 • 21min
In Machines We Trust: When Your Face is Your Ticket (Encore)
Face mapping and other tracking systems are changing the sports experience in the stands and on the court. In part-three of this latest series on facial recognition, Jennifer Strong and the team at MIT Technology Review jump on the court to unpack just how much things are changing. This episode was originally published December 8, 2020.We meet: Donnie Scott, senior vice president of public security, IDEMIAMichael D'Auria, vice president of business development, Second SpectrumJason Gay, sports columnist, The Wall Street JournalRachel Goodger, director of business development, FancamRich Wang, director of analytics and fan engagement, Minnesota VikingsCredits: This episode was reported and produced by Jennifer Strong, Anthony Green, Tate Ryan-Mosley, Emma Cillekens and Karen Hao. We’re edited by Michael Reilly and Gideon Lichfield.


