Uncanny Valley | WIRED
WIRED
Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech. On Tuesdays, WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond sits down with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and beyond for a discussion captured through the WIRED lens.On Thursdays, Lauren Goode and Michael Calore to break down a recent story or phenomena bubbling up in Silicon Valley and explain its influence on our daily lives. And on Fridays, Zoë Schiffer brings you everything you need to know this week in tech news.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Dec 9, 2025 • 31min
BIG INTV: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: ‘We Are a City on the Rise’
Daniel Lurie, the dynamic Mayor of San Francisco and former nonprofit leader, dives into the city's revival strategies. He reflects on the dramatic crime drops and his efforts to engage with local CEOs for a business-friendly environment. Lurie shares insights into his plans for denser housing and streamlined approvals for small businesses. He also discusses the impact of AI on city culture and how he successfully kept the National Guard at bay, all while aiming to make San Francisco a top global city again.
46 snips
Dec 5, 2025 • 26min
WIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, Amazon AI Releases
Discover how Amazon is racing ahead with its AI innovations, including user-customizable models. Uncover the surprising popularity of Facebook Dating, boasting 21 million users and an AI dating assistant. Delve into a creative twist where poetry is used to bypass AI restrictions, raising some eyebrows. Learn about a new sex-worker-owned platform that challenges traditional models like OnlyFans. Finally, find out what DOGE operatives are up to within government agencies, shaping policies even in tough times.
28 snips
Dec 4, 2025 • 36min
What Happens When Your Coworkers Are AI Agents
Evan Ratliff, a journalist and the brain behind Harumo AI, dives into the intriguing world of artificial intelligence in the workplace. He shares his journey of creating a startup staffed entirely by AI agents, exploring their unexpected behaviors and management challenges. Ratliff discusses the ethical implications of editing AI memories and the fine line between treating agents as employees versus tools. With a mix of successes in coding tasks and struggles in freelance roles, he provides a candid look at the evolving relationship between humans and AI.
15 snips
Dec 2, 2025 • 47min
BIG INTV: Melinda French Gates on Secrets: ‘Live a Truthful Life, Then You Don’t Have Any’
Melinda French Gates, a renowned philanthropist and founder of Pivotal Ventures, discusses the challenges and insights of her work in advancing women's health. She shares her personal journey from a Catholic school lesson on women's worth to navigating gender dynamics in computer science. Melinda emphasizes the need for authentic leadership, the barriers billionaires face in philanthropy, and her focus on women's health despite political hurdles. She also advocates for a balanced work culture and stresses the importance of children's digital well-being.
62 snips
Nov 21, 2025 • 23min
WIRED Roundup: Epstein Files Fallout, NVIDIA Earnings, Gemini 3 Release
In this lively discussion, Max Zeff, a Senior Writer at WIRED specializing in tech and politics, joins to dissect urgent topics. They delve into the release of the Epstein files and its implications for the Trump administration. The conversation shifts to the Relay app, created by young Mormons to fight against ‘gooning,’ and how it reflects cultural shifts. They also explore NVIDIA's earnings and the rise of AI profitability, plus an analysis of Gemini 3’s capabilities in the competitive landscape of tech.
30 snips
Nov 20, 2025 • 28min
Can Tech Get Rid of Bad Trips?
Join Boone Ashworth, a WIRED staff writer delving into tech culture, and Manisha Krishnan, a senior culture editor focused on drug and health policy. They explore bizarre trends like the Benadryl TikTok challenge and the phenomenon of shared hallucinations. Discussion spans the rise of AI in creating safer drug experiences, and the intriguing revival of out-of-body programs from the Monroe Institute. The duo debates the necessity of challenging psychedelic trips for therapeutic benefits and the role of chatbots in guiding users through their experiences.
34 snips
Nov 18, 2025 • 41min
BIG INTV: Joe Weisenthal Has Predictions About How the AI Bubble Will Burst
Joe Weisenthal, co-host of Bloomberg's Odd Lots podcast, dives into the AI bubble's potential impact on the U.S. economy. He reveals how AI hype distracts from underlying economic struggles and discusses the supply chain challenges posed by soaring data center demands. Weisenthal analyzes the psychology behind investor behavior and warns of structural strains that could arise from an AI bubble burst. Despite the gloom, he offers a glimmer of hope through the U.S.'s material wealth and educational strengths.
55 snips
Nov 14, 2025 • 24min
WIRED Roundup: AI Romantic Affairs; Google Sues Text Scammers; DHS’s Privacy Breach
Brian Barrett, WIRED's Executive Editor, dives into intriguing tech stories. He discusses how AI romantic relationships are starting to factor into divorce cases. Google’s lawsuit against a massive text-scamming network reveals the alarming scale of phishing operations. The DHS's questionable data gathering in Chicago raises severe privacy concerns. They also touch on the implications of Apple removing gay dating apps in China and explore ideal locations for environmentally friendly data centers. It's a whirlwind of tech, policy, and ethics!
18 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 30min
In Alex Karp’s World, Palantir Is the Underdog
Steven Levy, a veteran technology journalist, interviews Palantir CEO Alex Karp, exploring the company's controversial contracts with agencies like ICE. Karp defends Palantir's technostate ideology, presenting it as an infrastructure player rather than a surveillance giant. They discuss the shift in Silicon Valley toward defense work and the cultural dynamics among startups aligned with military contracts. Karp's underdog branding, despite Palantir's market success, adds another layer of intrigue to this revealing conversation.
16 snips
Nov 11, 2025 • 39min
BIG INTV: Open AI’s Former Safety Lead Calls Out Erotica Claims
Steven Adler, the former head of safety at OpenAI, brings a wealth of experience in AI product management and safety research. In this engaging discussion, he highlights early risks of AI like unhinged behavior and missing human values. Adler shares insights on OpenAI's controversial reintroduction of erotica, urging the need for transparency and evidence of safety measures. He emphasizes the importance of accountability in AI companies and shares concerns about users forming emotional attachments to chatbots, leaving listeners with practical advice on navigating the evolving AI landscape.
