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, The Big Interview with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond in conversation with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and beyond for a discussion captured through the WIRED lens.

On Thursdays, WIRED writers and editors Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett and Leah Feiger add you to the Slack group thread to let you into what they’re hearing from sources in Silicon Valley and D.C, read you into what trends you should be watching for and how WIRED is thinking about it all.

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Today · 33 min
How Elon Musk and Big Tech Poured Millions Into the Midterms, and Lost
The midterm results delivered a rebuke not just to the Trump administration, but also to Big Tech. This week, the WIRED’s politics team takes over to break down how Democrats flipped both the House and the Senate, and why the MAGA base is pinning the losses on Trump and the Iran war. We look at how more than $400 million from Elon Musk’s super PAC largely came up empty, and why voters restricted 39 of 40 data center ballot measures in what WIRED called the data center referendum. Plus — why election deniers suddenly went quiet, and what it all means for 2028. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Tuesday · 39 min
‘Our Risk, Their Reward’: Zohran Mamdani on AI and Data Centers
Ahead of the midterms, WIRED talked with New York City’s mayor about data centers, AI in schools, and the future of the Democratic party. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 29 · 34 min
How a Contractor's AI Agent Got Into the Pentagon; Anthropic’s Doomer IPO; ICE at the Polls?
This week, we have a scoop on how a defense contractor connected their Claude Code commercial account to a secure Department of Defense system, exposing sensitive information. We also discuss the green, yellow, and red flags we have in Anthropic’s IPO filing and explain why it’s a test not just for the entire AI industry but for the entire US economy. Plus — how volunteers nationwide are preparing for ICE agents potentially showing up at polling sites in the midterms. Articles mentioned in this episode: A Defense Contractor Gave Their Personal AI Agent Access to a Secure Pentagon System The Anthropic S-1 Filing Is Also an AI Doomsday Primer What’s Worth More Than Cash in San Francisco Real Estate? Anthropic Stock Massive Groups of Volunteers Are Ready to Face Down ICE at the Polls Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 27 · 37 min
UK Politician Jess Asato Got Deepfaked. Now She’s Taking xAI to Court
Jess Asato’s public campaigning for victims of online abuse put her in the crosshairs of Grok’s deepfake scandal. Then the UK Member of Parliament became a victim of the abuse herself. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 22 · 33 min
Will Musk Give Your Kid a SpaceX Share?; Inside the Secret Nathan Fielder Interview
This week, the team speaks with Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to go behind the scenes of her viral interview with Nathan Fielder about his latest documentary, You Can See Everything — she tells us why she had to keep it a secret, and how it felt to interview a man who hates being interviewed. We also discuss why tech billionaires are feeling generous all of a sudden — Anthropic pledged to commit 5 percent of its shares to a public benefit fund, and Elon Musk promised to give a SpaceX share to every child in America. Plus: a WIRED investigation found that election offices in at least 32 states received suspicious letters, some containing white powder, just two weeks before the midterms. Articles mentioned in this episode: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything How Elizabeth Holmes Tricked WIRED—and Everyone Else Election Offices in at Least 32 States Have Received Suspicious Letters They Fled Trump’s America. Now They Regret It Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 20 · 40 min
Sexual Assault Is a Free Speech Issue
Mary Anne Franks has spent years fighting against online abuse. When people are abused with impunity, she says, the message becomes “We do not care about women's voices.” Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 19 · 50 min
From The Big Story: Nathan Fielder Tells Us Everything
Including what Elizabeth Holmes said to him last week. A WIRED exclusive interview with the comic auteur, as his first feature film hits theaters. The conversation between Katie Drummond and Nathan Fielder is performed by voice actors. These are not their actual voices. Written by Katie Drummond. Originally published on October 19th, 2026. Listen to more of The Big Story here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠http://swap.fm/l/wi-bigstorypod-feeddrop For more of the most ambitious, future-defining stories from our favorite human writers, subscribe to The Big Story newsletter: https://www.wired.com/newsletter/the-big-story Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 15 · 32 min
Meta’s Muse Won’t Stop Sexting
Turns out, Meta’s AI agent Muse goes well beyond managing your calendar: it will also sext with you. This week, Brian and Leah are joined by WIRED’s reporter Reece Rogers to discuss how he put it to the test, and ended up getting more than he bargained for. Plus — why the largest pro-AI super PAC network is funneling millions into shadowy LLCs; Apple’s new HomeView underwhelmed us, and a study found men tend to overestimate how much they actually know about AI. Vote for us in the Signal Awards! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/technology https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/documentary https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/interview-or-talk-show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 13 · 34 min
Alex Gibney’s Elon Musk Documentary Has a Unique Perspective on Daddy Issues
When asked, Elon’s father Errol Musk agreed to be interviewed immediately. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 8 · 29 min
Inside Elon Musk's Midterm Spending Spree; What Is Effective Altruism Exactly?
This week, the team dives into how Elon Musk's America PAC is spending millions on the most consequential Senate races of the 2026 midterms — and how most of that money goes to opposing Democrats rather than supporting Republicans. They also break down what's the deal with effective altruism, the once-niche philosophy now at the center of the AI safety debate. Plus, they discuss the backlash against the graphic designer who created the logo for Meta's AI assistant, Muse. Vote for us in the Signal Awards! https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/technology https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/individual-episodes/genre/documentary https://vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting#/2026/shows/genre/interview-or-talk-show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 6 · 35 min
Kevin Roose Didn’t Use AI to Write His Book About AI
The author of The AGI Chronicles says his book “was written by a very tired, overworked, under-slept human being.” Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 1 · 43 min
Are AI Agents Worth the Risk? and Trump’s Pinky Swear AI Safety ‘Accord
This week, President Trump issued a new “morally binding” AI accord after a lunch meeting with tech executives, that basically says the AI labs are going to regulate themselves. We get into how a non-binding accord will affect AI safety. Plus — we’ll talk about OpenAI’s Developer Day, where CEO Sam Altman announced an AI agent for normies known as Dots. We also get into how AI agents are faring with their human colleagues. And Leah will not let us forget about the midterms – we bring you a quick rundown of the most extremist candidates running for office. Articles mentioned in this episode: Trump’s AI Safety ‘Accord’ Is a Fancy Pinky Swear These Extremists Are Running for Election in November A Pentagon Influencer Called Liberal Women a ‘Pestilence’ Who Will End Western Civilization I Think I Found an AI Agent Worth the Risk AI Agents Are About to Flood the Workforce I Built AI Clones of My Coworkers. Things Got Weird Why No One Wants To Date Tech Bros Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 29 · 31 min
There Is No ‘Existential Threat’ From AI Says Timnit Gebru
One of AI’s fiercest critics believes the doom talk is about founders making money, not saving humanity. Check out the new WIRED app. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 24 · 19 min
Inside the Network of Anonymous Men Destroying Young Women's Lives
Last year, Maddie Kowalski was a regular sophomore attending the University of Florida. That is until one day, a series of anonymous accounts on X started proliferating explicit, non-consensual videos of her. This week, Zoe sits down with WIRED’s senior writer Ej Dickson to discuss the burnerverse — a sprawling, loosely organized network of anonymous accounts that have turned the sexual humiliation of young women into an online participatory sport. Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back. Articles mentioned in this episode: A College Girl Was Exploited on Camera. A Network of Anonymous Men Got to Work Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 22 · 34 min
Patti Harrison Grew Up With Tech As Her North Star. Not Anymore
Comedian Patti Harrison hates social media. She wishes she didn't have to use it at all. To her, the internet is a slop factory. One of her biggest concerns: intentionally created confusion meant to drive engagement online. So, Katie asks her why. Patti is our cover girl for the WIRED Women issue check out the 5 different covers here. Check out the new WIRED app. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 17 · 37 min
What Would the AI Apocalypse Look Like? We Went Looking for Answers
The debate of whether AI can kill us has been everywhere lately, but how exactly would an actual AI catastrophe look like? This week, the team went looking for answers and found the three real-world scenarios experts worry the most about — including hacked water supplies, bioweapons, and autonomous robots. We also discuss the highlights of Salesforce’s annual conference, where OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei defended their positions on AI safety. Plus — Leah tells us how this backlash against AI has become a rare bipartisan flashpoint, to the point that Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon shared a stage over it this week. Articles mentioned in this episode: China Isn’t Buying Silicon Valley’s Call for an AI Slowdown | WIRED Washington Won’t Be Regulating AI Anytime Soon | WIRED Why So Many AI Researchers Think the Machines Could Kill Everyone | WIRED OpenAI Wants to Know if an AI Industry Slowdown Would Even Be Legal | WIRED Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 15 · 34 min
If the US Collapses Soon, Don’t Blame Emily St. John Mandel
Emily St. John Mandel’s 2014 novel, Station Eleven, turned her into something of a pandemic prophet. This month, she’s releasing her newest novel, Exit Party, which imagines two possible American futures—totalitarian state and post-civil-war chaos. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 10 · 30 min
So, Can AI Kill Us All?; Apple’s Foldable iPhone; the Census’ Bad Data Problem
This week, an AI researcher's resignation from Anthropic went viral on social media after he claimed there's a real chance AI could wipe out humanity by decade's end. WIRED’s Will Knight joins Brian and Leah to assess whether the doom narrative is overblown or overdue. We also discuss Apple’s debut of its $2000 foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, and the new "always listening" Apple Watch features that have Brian feeling more than a little uneasy. Plus — a WIRED investigation found that the US Census Bureau used faulty data to create a misleading report touted by the Trump administration. Articles mentioned in this episode: OpenAI Just Claimed a Huge Math Discovery. Some Academics Are Crying Foul The AI Researcher Who Just Quit Anthropic Says It’s ‘Crunch Time for Humanity’ A US Census Report on Noncitizen Voting Used Bad Data to Reach Faulty Conclusions | WIRED Apple Debuts the iPhone Duo, Its First Folding iPhone | WIRED Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from the newest ventures to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 9 · 29 min
MS NOW Wants to Turn Its Viewers Into a Fandom
When Rebecca Kutler accepted the job as president of cable news channel MS Now, formerly known as MSNBC, she knew what she was getting into. The top 3 cable news channel, MS was about to go into a massive re-brand having been spun off from NBC. Despite those betting against her, the rebrand has had continuous double-digit audience growth. No small feat these days for TV news. Katie talks to Rebecca about her plans to leverage its massive audience to create a fan community. First up: letting you chat with Rachel Maddow. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 3 · 32 min
How Flock Cameras Actually Work; George Santos' Kalshi Ban; AI Rogue "Civilizations"
We're back! This week, the team discusses the two incidents that have been making noise in prediction markets: George Santos getting lifetime ban from Kalshi, and a Google engineer's Polymarket insider-trading case. Plus, WIRED reporters reverse-engineered Flock's AI-powered person-search tool, and the hosts unpack the online meltdown over how to talk about "rogue" AI agents. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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