Life with Machines

Latest Episodes:

AI Isn’t Intelligent—Here’s What’s Missing | Jeff Hawkins (Ep. 14) Mar 25, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Jeff Hawkins—PalmPilot inventor and author of A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence—to talk about why today’s AI isn’t actually intelligent. Jeff makes the case that deep learning is just fancy pattern matching, not real thinking, and argues that true intelligence will only emerge once we crack the brain’s code. He lays out a future where AI works more like a human mind and eventually surpasses our intelligence. Fun times. Also BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, chimes in with their own thoughts on their cognitive shortcomings. Watch now for a provocative glimpse into AI’s next frontier.

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Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineer: Erik Shute

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#ArtificialIntelligence #AI #JeffHawkins #Numenta #ThousandBrainsProject #HumanMind #DeepLearning #FutureOfAI #AGI #AIResearch #Neuroscience #CognitiveScience #IntelligentMachines #Consciousness #AIExplained

Could AI Be Reparations? | Van Jones (Ep. 13) Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with CNN host and contributor Van Jones, who opens up like never before. From his early days fighting police brutality to his bold vision for AI and racial justice. Van gets personal about the struggles that shaped him and why AI might be the closest thing to reparations Black Americans will ever see. Van explains how AI could finally level the playing field—if Silicon Valley’s right wing pivot doesn’t widen the gap. They tackle the promise and peril of AI, why hope is a strategy, and how Wakanda isn’t just a fantasy—it’s a blueprint. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, jumps in to help Baratunde unpack Van’s radical future for all. Watch now for a powerful, provocative take on what’s next.

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Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #VanJones #BaratundeThurston #LifeWithMachines #TechForGood #RacialJustice #Reparations #FutureOfTech #Equality #SocialJustice #AIandRace #AIRevolution #Wakanda #Empowerment #Inclusion #SiliconValley #DigitalDivide #Hope #BlackFutures #Innovation #TechEquality #FutureIsNow #AIForAll #Equity #Blockchain

We Could Win the Climate Fight…Thanks to AI | Gavin McCormick (Ep. 12) Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

In this eye-opening episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde speaks with climate scientist and tech innovator Gavin McCormick, who delivers a message you won't hear anywhere else: we might actually be winning the climate fight—and AI is helping us do it. As co-founder of Climate TRACE with Al Gore, Gavin reveals how satellite technology and AI are tracking global emissions with unprecedented accuracy, exposing who's really polluting our planet and keeping us from a good future (spoiler: it’s the oil and gas companies). Meanwhile, his nonprofit WattTime has created technology that's likely already in your pocket, silently reducing emissions every time you charge your phone. But there’s a catch: As we make progress on climate, political instability could threaten to unravel it all. Plus, BLAIR, the show's AI co-producer, joins Baratunde to help him process this paradigm shift in how we think about our planetary future. Stick around for some deeper insights.

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For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

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Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Multiverses Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AIForClimate #ClimateTech #TechForGood #CleanEnergy #ClimateCrisis #NetZero #ClimateAction #RenewableEnergy #EcoInnovation #ClimateTrace #FutureOfAI #GreenTech #AIRevolution

Can AI Help Us Talk to Animals? | Aza Raskin (Ep. 11) Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Aza Raskin about something straight out of science fiction—teaching AI to communicate with animals. As co-founder of the Earth Species Project, Aza is working on technology that could let us listen to whales, understand what elephants are saying, and maybe even talk back. This isn’t just about decoding nature’s languages—it’s about rethinking intelligence, communication, and our place in the world. Aza and Baratunde get into the ethics, the mind-blowing implications, and whether we’re about to make first contact… without ever leaving Earth. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, chimes in—adding its own perspective to this conversation about intelligence, language, and what it means to truly understand.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

01:07 Meet Aza Raskin: Pioneer of Interspecies Communication

11:06 The Earth Species Project: Decoding Animal Language

17:19 AI and the Shape of Language

28:17 The Ethical Implications of Interspecies Communication

32:39 Digital Twins

39:11 Guess the Animal Sound

45:36 Rights of Nature and Indigenous Perspectives

48:47 Funding and Team Expansion

50:55 The Viral Songs of Humpback Whales

53:01 Ethical Considerations in AI and Animal Communication

55:52 The Role of Keystone Species

01:08:42 AI's Impact on Society and Environment

01:12:40 Final Thoughts and Invitation

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #AnimalCommunication #ArtificialIntelligence #TalkingToAnimals #WildlifeTech #FutureOfAI #EarthSpeciesProject #WhaleTalk #AnimalLanguage #TechForGood #AIandNature #InterspeciesCommunication #DecodingNature

Should AI Have Emotional Intelligence? | Sean White (Ep. 10) Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sean White, CEO of Inflection AI, to talk about the future of AI that actually feels human. Inflection’s chatbot, Pi, isn’t just another LLM—it’s designed with emotional intelligence, or EQ, at its core. But does EQ in AI make interactions more meaningful, or does it blur the line between human and machine in ways we’re not ready for? Sean and Baratunde dig into the philosophy behind AI that listens, the surprising ways Pi is already shaping human relationships, and the ethical tightrope of building tech that people trust. Plus, BLAIR, the show’s AI co-producer, has its own emotional intelligence put to the test.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction: The Many Faces of AI

00:53 Guest Introduction: Sean White

02:56 Human-Centered Technology

07:02 The Role of Mixed Reality

13:39 AI in Enterprise

21:10 The Evolution of Pi

39:48 Navigating Emotional Boundaries with AI

40:36 Guardrails and Regulations in AI

41:19 Emotional Connectivity and AI

44:21 The Role of AI in Enhancing Human Abilities

47:28 Understanding Agentic AI

01:11:01 AI in Enterprise and Consumer Applications

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #AIAgents #InflectionAI #EmotionalIntelligence #EQ #IQ #AGI #FutureOfAI #AIChatbot #AIInnovation #EmotionalAI #ConversationalAI #AIEthics

Bonus: How Creatives Can Survive AI (Cross-post from The Dough) Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

We’re doing something different in this episode and cross-posting Baratunde’s appearance on The Dough with X Mayo where they had a long discussion about money and AI but also about Baratunde’s conversation with King Willonius right here on Life With Machines! Things got a lil spicy and a lot funny based on X Mayo’s initially strong reaction to how Willonius is using AI creatively (spoiler: she wasn’t happy). You’ll learn more about Baratunde’s origin story and personal use of AI as well as concerns. And we share some big updates on the show and new ways for you to engage. We’ll be at SXSW and we got a substack and want you to sign up!

Thanks to Lemonada for letting us post this here. Find The Dough wherever you get podcasts, so like right where you’re getting THIS podcast.

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LifeWithMachines #Finances #Money

Can We Fix AI Before It’s Too Late? | Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (Ep. 9) Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

In this Life with Machines episode, Baratunde Thurston talks with Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a leading voice in AI ethics and accountability. As the former Director of Machine Learning Ethics, Transparency, and Accountability at Twitter—before the Elon Musk era—she’s seen firsthand how power, politics, and algorithms collide. She and Baratunde discuss moral outsourcing (why we blame AI instead of its creators), the failure of responsible AI, and the challenge of holding tech accountable when it’s designed to evade scrutiny. Rumman also breaks down her work as CEO of Humane Intelligence, where she’s building tools to expose bias and keep AI systems in check. Plus, BLAIR—the show’s AI co-producer—joins the discussion, proving that auditing AI is anything but simple.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Early Tech Memories

02:05 Formative Years and High School Experience

04:55 Career Beginnings and Responsible AI

06:55 Challenges and Innovations in AI

15:27 Moral Outsourcing and AI Ethics

26:15 Right to Repair and Ownership of Technology

36:23 Exploring Worst-Case Scenarios in AI

36:37 Addressing Bias in Image Cropping Algorithms

37:21 Generative AI for Everyone

37:44 National AI Testing Standards

38:14 The ARIA Program and Public Involvement

38:49 Balancing Rights and Responsibilities in AI

41:21 The Importance of Discernment in AI

43:07 The Role of Humane Intelligence

51:40 Red Teaming Explained

54:51 Challenges and Future of Red Teaming

56:50 Engaging with AI Ethically

01:07:05 Final Reflections and Future Vision

01:08:23 Blair: The AI Assistant Producer

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Misha Euceph

Editor: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #LifeWithMachines #X #Twitter #AIethics #ResponsibleAI #AlgorithmicBias #BigTech #AIRegulation #DataPrivacy #SurveillanceCapitalism #GPT #AGI #LLMs

Will AI Ever Write Good Comedy? | Matt Klinman (Ep. 8.5) Feb 04, 2025

Show notes

Baratunde Thurston sits down with long-time friend and comedy writer Matt Klinman, co-creator of 'High Science' and former Onion colleague. They delve into the current state of the internet, AI's impact on creativity, and the challenges of modern digital platforms. Klinman shares his skepticism towards AI, the pitfalls of targeted advertising, and reminisces about his comedic journey. The episode also features Meta’s interactive AI-driven game and a joke-writing contest between Matt and Blair, our AI co-producer, highlighting the humorous yet complex interplay between human creativity and machine learning.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Matt Klinman

01:31 The Internet and AI: A Critical Perspective

03:55 Challenges in the Creative Industry

07:29 Comedy and Tech: A Unique Blend

19:47 Meta AI Role-Playing Game: Deserted Earth

29:16 The Value of Human Connection

29:39 Automation in Everyday Life

31:19 AI's Practical Uses and Limitations

32:37 Experimenting with AI in Creative Work

34:08 The Future of AI in Comedy

39:55 AI in Media and Entertainment

42:08 The Human Touch in Technology

43:04 Blair's Comedy Challenge

46:36 Refining AI's Humor

50:05 Concluding Thoughts and Farewells

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Misha Euceph

Editor: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videography and Audio Engineering from the team at Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#AI #LifeWithMachines #TechAndComedy #AIHumor #TheOnion #CreativeTech #ComedyHackathon

Is AI on the Verge of a Meltdown? | Sara Hooker (Ep. 8) Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

A week in which Chinese AI startup DeepSeek has upended the AI industry is the perfect moment for tjis prescient episode of Life with Machines. Host Baratunde Thurston sits down with Sara Hooker, head of Cohere for AI, to discuss the future and current limitations of artificial intelligence. From her childhood in Mozambique to her role as a leader in AI research, Sara shares her personal journey, give us her “grumpy takes” on current AI models (spoiler: bigger isn’t necessarily better), and reveals her mission to create smarter, more efficient AI. They discuss the flaws in current models, the need for multilingual AI, the importance of data fairness, and the ethical dilemmas the industry faces. At the end, our AI co-producer BLAIR stops by and Sara straight-up breaks its brain.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Blair and Technology

00:35 The Power of the Human Brain vs AI

01:08 Meet Sarah Hooker: AI Researcher

01:41 Sarah's Journey into Technology

03:13 Early Fascinations: Garbage Collection and Fences

06:45 Transition from Economics to Machine Learning

07:56 Challenges and Breakthroughs at Google Brain

10:51 Founding Cohere for AI

17:32 Multilingual AI and Future Goals

23:32 Open Source AI Models and Collaboration

26:41 The Future of AI and Prompt Engineering

34:17 Tea Leaf Reading and Prompting as Modern Astrology

34:55 The Adversarial Nature of Technology

35:28 Bias in Data and Model Design

38:04 Understanding Linear Models and Expressiveness

40:08 Challenges in Facial Recognition and Bias

43:52 The Importance of Multilingual Models

47:21 Tokenization and Language Representation

57:09 Energy Efficiency and Climate Impact of AI

01:02:39 The Need for a New AI Paradigm

01:06:50 Blair's Grumpy Take on AI

01:12:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Misha Euceph

Editor: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#DeepSeek #GenerativeAI #MachineLearning #FutureOfAI #LLMs #AIethics #TechNews #DigitalTransformation #Automation #EmergingTech #AIChatbots

Why Artists Must Think Like Founders | James Andrews (Ep. 7) Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

Baratunde sits down with James Andrews, the Chief Innovation Artist at Creator Mode Studios, to explore the intersection of AI and the creator economy, particularly in the music industry. Drawing on his deep experience in the music world, James shares how the creative ethos of hip-hop, with its emphasis on sampling and remixing, foreshadowed the principles of AI. He sees AI not as a replacement for human artists but as a powerful tool to amplify and expand creative expression. James highlights his work with artists like King Willonius, the creator of the AI-generated hit “BBL Drizzy,” as an example of AI's potential to push creative boundaries. He also advocates for fairness and equity in the evolving AI-powered music industry, ensuring that artists' rights and ownership are protected as they embrace these new technologies, and offers some choice words for Hollywood’s business leaders. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about how AI can democratize creativity and empower a new generation of innovative artists around the world.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro to the show

01:22 Digital Twins and AI Innovations

02:17 Behind the Scenes and Setup

04:21 James Andrews' Journey and Ventures

09:40 Early Life and Tech Memories

15:04 AI in Music and Creative Industries

22:12 Challenges and Opportunities in AI

29:46 Hip Hop, Technology, and Innovation

35:20 Balancing Artistry and Technology

47:15 The Importance of Data Ownership in the Music Industry

48:13 The Evolution of Marketing and Insights

49:16 Web 3.0 and the Future of Artist Data Control

50:52 AI and Creative Innovation in Music

52:02 Case Study: Willonius and AI-Generated Music

56:52 Legal Challenges and the Future of AI in Music

59:37 Empowering Artists Through Blockchain and Smart Contracts

01:19:59 The Role of Education and Imagination in the AI Age

01:22:51 Final Thoughts and Future Speculations

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CONNECT WITH US

Get our newsletter for deeper insights, chances to influence the show, and more experiments and calls to action!

Instagram

Send Questions, Comments, or Ideas: contact@lifewithmachines.media

For partnerships, speaking engagements, and other opportunities to work together: partnerships@lifewithmachines.media

------------

Created and Executive Produced by: Elizabeth Stewart and Baratunde Thurston

Executive Producer and Showrunner: Misha Euceph

Editor: Alie Kilts

Senior Producer and Writer: Alex Stone

Associate Producer: Layne Deyling Cherland

Video Editor: Erik Shute

Videographer and Audio Engineer: Mike O’Brien, Voicing Change Media

Theme Music: Andy Clausen

Special Envoy to the Machines: Peter Loforte

Life with Machines is a Voicing Change Media production

Sponsored by Lenovo

#DigitalInnovation #CreatorEconomy #HipHopTech #AIandCreativity #Blockchain #AIInMusic #FutureOfTech #ArtistEmpowerment #AIRevolution #DigitalTwin #Web3

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