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 / 22:00 UTC.
Records live every Wednesday at 5:00pm Eastern / 2:00pm Pacific / 22:00 UTC.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Nov 20, 2025 • 2h 58min
IM 846: Chivelord - From Leather-Bound to Cloud Powered
Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia and author of The Seven Rules of Trust, joins the discussion about building trust in technology. He shares insights from Wikipedia's origins, emphasizing the importance of user engagement and community trust. Wales highlights the potential and pitfalls of AI, showcasing amusing examples of AI hallucinations. He outlines the significance of a clear mission and civility in online spaces, while also critiquing emerging AI platforms. The conversation delves into how AI could enhance Wikipedia by automating tasks and improving accuracy.
28 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 2h 49min
IM 845: Pregnant With 83 Digital Assistants - Are AIs Really Alien Minds?
In this engaging discussion, Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired and tech futurist, shares his optimistic views on AI, proposing the concept of 'artificial aliens.' He challenges the prevailing fears surrounding AI, arguing they distract from the potential benefits. Kelly emphasizes the need for collaboration between humans and AI, envisioning a future enriched by 'protopia’—small, continuous improvements. He also explores the implications of AI's personalization in media and calls for a publicly owned AI that serves everyone.
28 snips
Nov 6, 2025 • 2h 43min
IM 844: Poob Has It For You - Spiky Superintelligence vs. Generality
Jeremy Berman, a post-training researcher at Reflection.ai, dives into the evolution of AI's capabilities. He addresses the challenge of 'spiky superintelligence'—smart in specific tasks but limited overall. The discussion contrasts pre-training and post-training methods, underscoring the potential of reinforcement learning for developing generality in AI. Berman shares insights on ARC AGI benchmarks, the risk of AGI, and why open-weight models are crucial for adoption. Their outlook on how AI could learn tasks easier for humans promises a fascinating future.
18 snips
Oct 30, 2025 • 3h 2min
IM 843: Immortal Beloved, You've Arrived - AI's Emotional Intelligence Paradox
Dr. Alan Cowen, chief scientist and founder of Hume AI, dives into the intriguing world of AI's emotional intelligence. He explores whether AI can truly empathize or if it merely manipulates emotions. Cowen discusses the concept of emotional affordances and the ethical implications of AI's role in enhancing human well-being. The conversation touches on the risks of parasocial relationships, the challenges of synthetic voices, and the potential loneliness caused by AI interactions. Prepare for a thought-provoking journey into the intersection of emotion and technology!
17 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.
33 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!
25 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.
