Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast

AI, we’re told, has the potential to free us from mundane tasks, revolutionise industries, and solve global problems. Linguistics Professor Emily Bender, warns that the big tech companies who promote AI, with an almost spiritual zeal, may be off the mark. The warning? Don’t believe the hype.GUEST: Dr Emily M. Bender, Professor of Linguistics, University of Washington and co-author of “The AI Con. How To Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We WantPRODUCER: Ali Benton

In 2019 an Australian white supremacist lifestreamed his shooting rampage through Christchurch mosques. He killed 51 people and injured more than 80 during Friday prayers.  He's been treated as a lone actor.Journalist Joey Watson argues that by unpicking the disguised interactions the terrorist had online leading up to the mosque attacks, and following his movements in Europe, that we should not be seeing this Australian terrorist as a lone actor. Guest: Joey Watson -  Investigative journalist at Southern Cross Austereo. The six episodes of the new podcast Lone Actor  are available for free now through the LiSTNER app, website or anywhere from August 1.  Producer: Sarah Allely

Right now, the world is experiencing a profound break from the orthodoxy of globalisation. The US has gradually made moves to withdraw itself from the global trading system, China’s President Xi Jinping has been advocating self-reliance for his nation, and EU leaders are talking up the idea of strategic autonomy from the US. It might all seem like a modern surprise, but in fact, the temptation to face inward is an ancient need.GUEST: Ben Chu, Policy and Analysis Correspondent, BBC VerifyPRODUCER: Ali Benton

A toddler twin girl was stolen by Chinese officials. She was adopted by a family in Texas. Two decades later, a journalist who traced both girls would then reunite them.Guest: Barbara Demick, former China bureau chief for The Los Angeles Times. Author of ‘Daughters of the bamboo grove’ (Text Publishing - in Australia) Producer: Ann Arnold

The Dalai Lama turns 90 on Sunday. Machinations have been underway for some time to anoint the Dalai Lama who will replace him. The Chinese Government wants to choose one who will serve their geopolitical interests, and the Dalai Lama and his supporters will choose their own 'reincarnated' Dalai Lama. So there will probably be two Dalai Lamas. Guest: Ruth Gamble, La Trobe University historian specialising in Tibet and the Himalayas. Producers: Ann Arnold and Jack Schmidt

Nobody knows precisely where the game of cricket was born, but test cricket as we know it has been played for nearly 150 years. The so-called gentleman's game has not always been accessible to all - indeed the sport's development in the early years reflected prevailing attitudes to race, class and empire in the 19th Century. It's a sport full of marvels and contradictions, that continues to appeal to this day.Guest: Tim Wigmore, journalist and author of Test Cricket: A history

Will Trump's 'big beautiful bill' pass by his preferred deadline of July 4th? And what will the Democratic party learn from the success of 33 year-old democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, in New York's mayoral candidacy race?Guest: Bruce Shapiro, contributing editor with The Nation magazine; Executive Director of the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma at Columbia University.  

Samuel Flinders was the de facto astronomer on Matthew Flinders' circumnavigation of Australia. But a family feud meant Samuel was never given due credit, for anything he did Guest: Richard de Grijs, Professor of Astrophysics, Macquarie University. Visiting Fellow at the State Library of NSW, researching Samuel Flinders Producer: Ann Arnold

The first female head of Britain’s Secret Intelligence Service, often known as MI6, will take the reins in a few months. The chief of the SIS is the only role that's made public. Blaise Metreweli is a mother and just 47 but a career intelligence officer who’s held very senior roles and risen up through the ranks. Judi Dench played MI6 chief in James Bond films for many years, so reality is catching up with fiction. Why now, what does this mean, and how has MI6 changed over time? Guest: Dan Lomas - Assistant Professor, International Relations at the University of Nottingham. Soon to publish two books - a history of UK security vetting and a new history of the Secret Intelligence Service.  Producer: Sarah Allely

On the back of a monumental election victory, and with a thumping majority in the parliament, how will Prime Minister Albanese approach politics - both at home and with world leaders abroad?Guest: Tom McIlroy, Chief Political Correspondent, Guardian Australia