

Intelligent Machines (Audio)
TWiT
The 21st Century began with the rise of the Internet and social media. The next decade will mark the rise of the Intelligent Machines. AI will inhabit all our devices from cars and appliances to smart phones and robots. The Intelligent Machines podcast explores the most exciting revolution humanity has ever seen, filled with promise and peril. More than ever we need to understand what these new devices will bring to our lives and how to make best use of them as the 21st century unfolds. On this show you'll meet the AI pioneers, inventors, and innovators who are about to disrupt every aspect of modern life. You'll learn what's real and what's hype, and you'll come away with a deep understanding of the intelligent future that awaits us all.
Records live every Wednesday at 5:00pm Eastern / 2:00pm Pacific / 21:00 UTC.
Records live every Wednesday at 5:00pm Eastern / 2:00pm Pacific / 21:00 UTC.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 30, 2025 • 3h 2min
IM 843: Immortal Beloved, You've Arrived - AI's Emotional Intelligence Paradox
Can an AI truly care about your feelings—or is emotional intelligence in machines just the most sophisticated form of manipulation? Dr. Alan Cowen of Hume AI joins the crew to unpack the promise and peril of emotionally adept bots, even as they're quietly shaping how we connect, seek help, and parent in the digital age.
Virtual Try On Free Online - AI Clothes Changer | i-TryOn
Oreo-maker Mondelez to use new generative AI tool to slash marketing costs
OpenAI Moves to Generate AI Music in Potential Rivalry With Startup Suno
Surprising no one, researchers confirm that AI chatbots are incredibly sycophantic
Microsoft's Mico heightens the risks of parasocial LLM relationships
Armed police swarm student after AI mistakes bag of Doritos for a weapon - Dexerto
A Definition of AGI
OpenAI Finalizes Corporate Restructuring, Gives Microsoft 27% Stake and Technology Access Until 2032 - Slashdot
This mom's son was asking Tesla's Grok AI chatbot about soccer. It told him to send nude pics, she says
Nvidia Becomes World's First $5 Trillion Company - Slashdot
Paris Hilton Has Been Training Her AI for Years
How Realistic is OpenAI's 2028 Timeline For Automating AI Research Itself?
Tesla's "Mad Max" mode is now under federal scrutiny
Zenni's Anti-Facial Recognition Glasses are Eyewear for Our Paranoid Age
Alphabet earnings
Meta earnings
You Have No Idea How Screwed OpenAI Actually Is
Elon Musk's Grokipedia Pushes Far-Right Talking Points
AOL to be sold to Bending Spoons for roughly $1.5B
Casio's Fluffy AI Robot Squeaked Its Way Into My Heart
For the sake of the show, I will suffer this torture -jj
Machine Olfaction and Embedded AI Are Shaping the New Global Sensing Industry
A silly little photoshoot with your friends
Bugonia
Celebrating 25 years of Google Ads
The Data Is In: The Washington Post Can't Replace Its "TikTok Guy"
Peak screen?
Hosts: Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Paris Martineau
Guest: Dr. Alan Cowen
Download or subscribe to Intelligent Machines at https://twit.tv/shows/intelligent-machines.
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16 snips
Oct 23, 2025 • 2h 20min
IM 842: None Pizza Left Beef - AI On the Edge
Joey de Villa, a developer and AI educator, joins the discussion on the future of AI with tools that can run on personal machines. He delves into local language models and the implications of Nvidia's Blackwell chip and HP's ZGX Nano for privacy and cost control. They explore real-world applications, from healthcare to personal projects, and consider the accuracy concerns raised by the BBC study on AI-generated news. Additionally, insights on the pushback against AI content highlight the evolving landscape of technology and ethics.
25 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 3h 4min
IM 841: Dust and Deli Meat - Open Source AI Revolution
Jeffrey Quesnelle, Founder and CEO of Nous Research, champions open-source, user-aligned AI. He argues that truly neutral AI models can empower users against corporate influences. Topics include the Hermes model's transparency and the Psyche training network's innovative use of idle GPUs. Quesnelle emphasizes the ethical importance of user-directed prompts and the necessity of principled, competitive talent attraction. The conversation also touches on decentralized consensus through cryptocurrency and the potential ethical dilemmas posed by AI-generated media of deceased individuals.
Oct 9, 2025 • 2h 39min
IM 840: Pudding Forks - Industrial Bubble or Tech Boom?
California is cracking down on loud streaming ads, leaving the hosts to discuss the evolution of commercial audio. OpenAI's growth is evident as ChatGPT hits 800 million weekly users amidst debates on AI job displacement. Deloitte faces backlash over AI-generated errors, while concerns about AI's impact on creative careers rise, with creators like MrBeast voicing fears. The hosts explore the quirky rise of older tech trends among youth and a bizarre viral pudding phenomenon in Germany, adding a dash of humor to the serious tech talk.
31 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 2h 25min
IM 839: Cogsuckers and Clankers - Radio's New Golden Age or Apocalypse?
Ryza Martin, a former Google innovator and co-founder of Hux, dives into the world of AI-powered personalized radio stations. He shares insights on how Hux transforms personal data into unique listening experiences, turning subreddits and emails into interactive audio. Ryza discusses the challenges of ensuring content accuracy and transparency, along with the potential for dynamic advertising tailored to listener preferences. The conversation also touches on AI-generated content, the risks of deepfakes, and the future of media consumption.
20 snips
Sep 25, 2025 • 2h 49min
IM 838: Fat Bears Live Now! - Inside the AI Gold Rush
Join acclaimed technology journalist Steven Levy as he dives into the complexities of the AI gold rush. He discusses the importance of compensating authors when models train on their work, drawing parallels with music licensing. Levy also warns of AI's potential to centralize power, impacting startups and jobs. He shares insights on the cultural shifts in Silicon Valley and the risks of bad AI applications. Plus, with a nod to Fat Bear Week, it’s a mix of tech and wildlife that's both entertaining and thought-provoking!
24 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 2h 26min
IM 837: Could Should Might Don't - Why Tomorrow Doesn't Feel Like Sci-Fi
In a thought-provoking discussion, designer Nick Foster explores frameworks for thinking about the future, as outlined in his book, Could, Should, Might, Don't. He critiques the oversimplified sci-fi narratives that often dominate tech predictions. Delving into AI's real-world applications, he discusses how tools like ChatGPT are frequently misused as simple search engines and highlights the complexities of privacy in AI interactions. Nick emphasizes the importance of a design-led approach to shape a more realistic and collective future.
20 snips
Sep 11, 2025 • 2h 43min
IM 836: I See OJ and He Looks Scared - Modern Oracles or Modern BS?
Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West, professors at the University of Washington, dive into the world of misinformation and AI. They discuss their innovative 'BS Machines' curriculum aimed at teaching critical thinking skills in an age inundated with synthetic information. The duo tackles the ethical implications of AI in communication, highlights recent legal battles over copyright infringement involving AI, and shares humorous anecdotes, including a memorable sandwich experience. Harper Reed joins to add playful insights on AI as both a companion and a source of potential disappointment.
39 snips
Sep 4, 2025 • 2h 45min
IM 835: Glitch Lord - Inside OpenAI's Secret Struggles and the "Empire of AI" With Karen Hao
Karen Hao, bestselling author of 'Empire of AI' and former senior editor at MIT Technology Review, dives into the tumultuous world of OpenAI. She reveals insights on internal conflicts, the shifting ambitions of leadership, and the commercialization of AI research. Delving into issues like the definition of AGI and the hype surrounding GPT-5, she critiques the AI industry's resource grabs and debates the implications of AI's rise on creativity and ethics. With engaging anecdotes, Karen showcases a landscape where AI’s trajectory is inconstant and requires vigilant scrutiny.
26 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 2h 41min
IM 834: Gewgaw - Google's Nano Banana Model
M.G. Siegler, a seasoned venture capitalist and former tech journalist, dives into the fascinating world of AI with the hosts. They discuss Google's innovative 'Nano Banana' model for image editing and how large language models comprehend the world. The conversation touches on the energy efficiency of AI queries, the humorous ways to load a dishwasher, and the evolving landscape of venture capital influenced by AI technology. They also explore the dual nature of AI, addressing both its potential and risks in a lighthearted manner.


