This Machine Kills

Dive into the controversial surveillance landscape of New Orleans, where a private nonprofit partners with the police to monitor citizens using facial recognition technology. Explore the ethical dilemmas of such practices, including potential biases and civil liberties concerns. The conversation blends humor with serious critiques, discussing everything from urban militarization to quirky examples like 'sandwich recognition cameras.' As policies evolve, the implications for privacy and community rights are more pressing than ever.

The discussion dives into Palantir's involvement in Trump's plan for a comprehensive government database tracking individuals. The implications of this surveillance-driven approach are examined, revealing how merging technology with authoritarianism threatens privacy rights. The hosts humorously tackle the notion that state surveillance might actually safeguard civil liberties, prompting a fascinating dialogue on public perceptions of privacy in a world increasingly monitored. It's a thought-provoking look at the balance between security and freedom.

Dive into the fallout of Trump's clash with Musk, highlighted by a hilarious analysis of their 'breakup.' Explore the surprising reunion of Palmer Luckey and Mark Zuckerberg as they team up on military tech. Discover the shocking rise and swift collapse of Builder AI, revealing the pitfalls in the tech startup world. The episode critiques the contradictions in U.S. foreign policy regarding democracy and examines Silicon Valley's growing entanglement with defense contracts, all served with humor and sharp insights.

Emily Bender and Alex Hanna, authors of 'AI The Con,' delve into the myths surrounding AI technology. They simplify how systems like ChatGPT work, comparing them to ‘synthetic text extruding machines’ built from basic origins. The duo critiques the hype, especially regarding AI’s role in education, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful approach as it can complicate academic integrity. Additionally, they discuss the ethical implications of massive datasets and advocate for a community-oriented mindset in integrating AI into learning environments.

Dive into the evolving world of tech journalism, where admiration meets skepticism in coverage. Explore the rise of a trailblazing figure in the media landscape, showcasing her innovative projects and podcasting success. Discover how these new media entrepreneurs are reshaping the industry while navigating fierce competition. Plus, hear intriguing insights about the podcast leaderboards and the complex dynamics at play in tech reporting.

The discussion kicks off with Pope Leo XIV's bold critiques of AI and a call for an intersectional luddism. It delves into Republicans pushing for AI rights at the expense of traditional state regulations, hinting at a fragmented society. The conversation shifts to the broader implications of granting rights to AI and how this could reflect corporate interests rather than human ones. Finally, they paint a provocative vision of a future fostered by radical societal integration, ensnared by Grok's unsettling obsession with white genocide.

Hagen Blix, a linguist and cognitive scientist, co-authored 'Why We Fear AI' to explore the troubling intersection of artificial intelligence and capitalism. He discusses how AI amplifies the alienation central to capital, presenting a faceless power that inspires both fear and reverence. The dialogue dives into ethical dilemmas, the narratives shaping our understanding of AI, and the implications for labor and class dynamics. Blix questions what it means for AI to possess potential consciousness and the troubling data ownership issues that arise in a tech-driven society.

Delve into the shadowy world of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their role in skyrocketing drug prices. Discover how these companies profit by acting as middlemen, influencing access to medications like insulin. The discussion also sheds light on the FTC's investigation into these practices and the urgent need for greater accountability. Get ready to unpack the complex jargon of the pharmaceutical industry and understand the troubling wealth transfer affecting patients and their wallets.

It’s slop world, baby! We get into how the internet has become choked by artificial intelligence systems focused on the endless production, circulation, and consumption of slop and shit. This is driven by the continual capture and recapture of deep fried forms of value, instead of actually producing anything new or useful. This leads to an internet that is hostile to human existence—where people are unwelcomed and unnecessary. We trace the degradation of the internet from information superhighway to hostile architecture to abandoned infrastructure. ••• Welcome to slop world: how the hostile internet is driving us crazy https://www.ft.com/content/5d06bbb4-0034-493b-8b0d-5c0ab74bedef ••• AI hype is drowning in slopaganda https://www.ft.com/content/24218775-57b1-4e9f-ba64-266a3239cf27 Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan’s new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)

We return to an old enemy of the show by discussing the latest developments in the crypto industry. We trace how crypto has evolved from a grift largely focused on defrauding retail investors into a grift now focused on creating financial infrastructure to facilitate very direct and obvious forms of political influence peddling. Of course, the Greater Idiot Theory still holds as many investors still think that bitcoin is a hedge against the stock market and a reservere of stable value in a volatile economy, but the crypto industry is now driven by the needs of the greatest idiots of them all: Donald J. Trump and Family. Also, here are links for the pictures we were joking about in the beginning: https://x.com/captgouda24/status/1913254322864894178 and https://x.com/luke_d_ismas/status/1913406583188369497 ••• Crypto Crime is Legal | Molly White https://www.citationneeded.news/issue-81/ ••• Trump’s Newest Grift: Building a Cryptocurrency Empire While Destroying its Regulators | Molly White https://www.citationneeded.news/trump-crypto-empire/ ••• TMK in the New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/04/21/how-to-survive-the-ai-revolution Standing Plugs: ••• Order Jathan’s new book: https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520398078/the-mechanic-and-the-luddite ••• Subscribe to Ed’s substack: https://substack.com/@thetechbubble ••• Subscribe to TMK on patreon for premium episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (bsky.app/profile/jathansadowski.com) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.x.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (bsky.app/profile/jebr.bsky.social)