Shows / Uncanny Valley | WIRED
Uncanny Valley | 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…
Episodes
Uncanny Valley | WIREDSilicon Valley Is Spending Millions to Stop One of Its Own
New York Assemblyman Alex Bores is running in a crowded race to replace longtime Democratic Congressman Jerry Nadler. Pro-AI PACs have targeted Bores, a former…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDOpenAI and Musk Fight Again; DOJ Mishandles Voter Data; Artemis II Comes Home
This week, we discuss why OpenAI and Elon Musk’s legal feud is heating up once again — and happening alongside SpaceX’s IPO filing. We also dive into how a…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDCan UpScrolled Keep Up With a Surge in Users?
Last year, Issam Hijazi launched UpScrolled after users decried censorship and shadow-banning on other platforms. When TikTok transferred ownership of its US…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDIran Targets U.S. Tech; Polymarket’s Bar Flop; Trump's Plans for Midterms
The team is back this week to discuss how top U.S tech companies are increasingly finding themselves as targets in the ongoing war with Iran. We also get an…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDThe Myth That AI Will Replace Language Learning
Luis von Ahn, Duolingo’s co-founder and CEO, joins Katie to discuss why we should still learn languages in the age of AI translation. He also talks about how…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDTrump's 80s Movie Approach to Foreign Policy w/ Chris Hayes
For the first episode of our second season, Katie sits down with fellow journalist Chris Hayes, host of MS NOW’S All In, to talk about covering the news and…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDNvidia’s “Super Bowl of AI”; Tesla Disappoints Fans; Meta’s VR Metaverse Is Over
This week, Brian and Zoë discuss the highlights from Nvidia’s annual developer conference, and why Tesla recently got in trouble with some of its most loyal…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDCan Anthropic Win Its Lawsuit?; War Memes; AI Comes for VCs Jobs
This week, the team discusses what’s at stake for Anthropic after the company sued the Department of Defense. They also take a look at the strategy behind the…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDIran Strikes in the AI Era; Prediction Markets Ethics; Paramount Beats Netflix
This week, the team dives into why disinformation and the AI industry battles have quickly positioned themselves at the center of the ongoing conflict between…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Open AI’s Former Safety Lead Calls Out Erotica Claims (Rerun)
Steven Adler used to lead product safety at OpenAI. When Katie read his recent op-ed asking OpenAI to prove that they have and continue to address safety…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDPentagon v. ‘Woke’ Anthropic; Agentic v. Mimetic; Trump v. the State of the Union
This week, the team dives into the feud that has been brewing between Anthropic and the Pentagon — and what it says about how the government interacts with…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Melinda French Gates on Secrets: ‘Live a Truthful Life, Then You Don’t Have Any’ (Re-Run)
On this week’s episode of The Big Interview podcast, the philanthropist sits down with Katie to offer her insights on billionaire donors, kids on phones, and…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDAI Researcher Resignations; Bots Hiring Humans; Evie Magazine’s Party
This week, Zoë dives into why some researchers at top AI companies have been resigning and publicly voicing their concerns around AI safety. Then, Brian tells…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDICE’s Secret Expansion Plans; Palantir Employees’ Ethical Concerns; AI Assistants
This week, Brian, Leah, and Zoë discuss WIRED’s big scoop on ICE’s startling plans to expand to nearly every state in the US. Then, they unpack Alex Karp’s…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDTech Elites in the Epstein Files; Musk’s Mega Merger; Crypto Scam Compound
This week, Brian and Leah dive into the key tech industry figures who show up in the final batch of the Epstein Files. Then, they discuss SpaceX and xAI’s…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Fallout Director Jonathan Nolan Says He's Still a Techno-Optimist
Katie sits down with the Westworld showrunner, Jonah Nolan for a wide ranging conversation about what keeps him coming back to sci-fi storytelling about…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Silicon Valley Tech Workers’ Campaign to Get ICE Out of US Cities
In the wake of the shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in the streets of Minneapolis, several prominent tech executives attended a private White House screening…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDMinneapolis Misinformation; TikTok’s New Owners; Moltbot Hype
In today’s episode, Brian and Zoë are joined by WIRED’s Tim Marchman to discuss the news of the week — including how far-right influencers spread…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDTrump Davos Drama; AI Midterms; ChatGPT's Last Resort
Welcome back to Uncanny Valley! This week, WIRED’s Brian Barrett and Leah Feiger are joining the show as the new co-hosts, alongside Zoë Schiffer. And our…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Wikipedia's Founder on Holding the Line in a Post Fact World
Katie sits down with Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales talks about what it means to build something used by billions of people that’s not optimized for growth at…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Reid Hoffman Wants Silicon Valley to ‘Stand Up’
The LinkedIn cofounder and frequent Trump target, Reid Hoffman has a simple message for his peers: “Just speak up about the things that you think are true.”…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Margaret Atwood on Doomscrolling: ‘I Want to Keep Up With the Latest Doom’
On this week’s episode of The Big Interview, the author of The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood talks about Elon Musk, political resistance, and why she still…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: CTO Elizabeth Stone On The Future of Netflix: “Personalized, Interactive, Immersive”
Netflix CTO Elizabeth Stone is an anomaly. Instead of coding, she spent her twenties getting a PhD in economics. She quietly rose through the ranks in Silicon…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: The Five Tech and Politics Trends That Shaped 2025
For better or for worse, this year had it all — from the AI industry shaping the global economy and our lives, to the so-called Department of Government…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDIntroducing A New Chapter for Uncanny Valley
As the year draws to an end, Mike and Lauren have some news to share with listeners. But first, they head over to the pool to unwind and reflect on what…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: AWS CEO Matt Garman Doesn’t Think AI Should Replace Junior Devs
The head of Amazon Web Services has big plans to offer AI tools to businesses, but says that replacing coders with AI is “a non-starter for anyone who's trying…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Making Art In the AI Era, With Wicked’s Jon. M Chu
You don’t have to be a fan of musicals to know about the Wicked film franchise — it’s been everywhere since the first film launched last year, and that’s…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDAMD CEO Lisa Su Isn’t Afraid of the Competition
Last week, some of the most forward-thinking minds in tech, culture, and politics came together for WIRED’s Big Interview event — a series of live, in-depth…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: ‘We Are a City on the Rise’
Since taking office, San Francisco’s mayor has been on a quest to revitalize the city and increase public safety. He’s also kept the National Guard out—with a…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: DOGE Isn’t Dead, Facebook Dating Is Real, Amazon AI Releases
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from how Amazon is trying to catch up in…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWhat Happens When Your Coworkers Are AI Agents
This year, AI agents have been at the forefront of tech companies' ambitions. OpenAI’s Sam Altman has often talked about a possible billion-dollar company…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Melinda French Gates on Secrets: ‘Live a Truthful Life, Then You Don’t Have Any’
On this week’s episode of The Big Interview podcast, the philanthropist sits down with Katie to offer her insights on billionaire donors, kids on phones, and…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Epstein Files Fallout, NVIDIA Earnings, Gemini 3 Release
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Max Zeff to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from the political fallout after the release…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDCan Tech Get Rid of Bad Trips?
Whether it's teenagers reviving the Benadryl TikTok challenge or people signing up for an out of body experience program previously used by the CIA, some of us…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Joe Weisenthal Has Predictions About How the AI Bubble Will Burst
Right now much of the US economy rests on AI’s future. In fact, Odd Lots cohost Joe Weisenthal says the rest of the economy that isn't tech or AI related is…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: AI Romantic Affairs; Google Sues Text Scammers; DHS’s Privacy Breach
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Brian Barrett to discuss five stories you need to know about this week — from how AI affairs can now be grounds…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDIn Alex Karp’s World, Palantir Is the Underdog
Recently, WIRED’s editor at large Steven Levy sat down for an interview with Palantir’s CEO Alex Karp. Karp defended his company’s contracts with clients like…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Open AI’s Former Safety Lead Calls Out Erotica Claims
Steven Adler used to lead product safety at OpenAI. When Katie read his recent op-ed asking OpenAI to prove that they have and continue to address safety…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Zuckerberg’s Illegal School, Nepal’s Discord Revolution, Fandom in Politics
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to discuss the top stories you need to know about this week — from Zuckerberg’s illegal school to the…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDThe Four Criteria for a Tech Bubble
Chatter about an AI bubble has been everywhere lately, and top tech companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have doubled down on their AI investments for…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Kara Swisher Says Silicon Valley's Biggest Lie is That They Care About People
Katie catches up with fellow journalist and podcast host, Kara Swisher to talk about interviewing arrogant pricks, the power of negging and who would play her…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Grokipedia, Real Estate AI Videos, Alpha School
In today’s episode, WIRED’s Brian Barrett is joined by Leah Feiger to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from the release of…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDHow to Hack a Poker Game
Last week, the US Justice Department published an indictment involving NBA stars and members of the mob for allegedly running a network of rigged gambling…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Why Nicholas Thompson Made a Custom GPT to Run Faster
The Atlantic CEO’s new book, The Running Ground, examines his complicated relationship with the sport. Nicholas Thompson, former WIRED editor, talks to Katie…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Protest Frogs, Google Bedbugs, AI Psychosis
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Louise Matsakis to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from how SEO is changing in…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDHow Data Centers Actually Work
Tech giants have been investing hundreds of billions of dollars into AI data centers just this year alone. But as the deals pile up, so have the concerns…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor
Mere months ago, New York's mayoral frontrunner was polling at the same level as literally "someone else." Zohran Mamdani talks to Katie about building a…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Satellites Data Leak, Cybertrucks, Politicized Federal Workers
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from how satellites are leaking…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDThe New Power of Far-Right Influencers
History professor Mark Bray is no stranger to death threats. As the author of the book Antifa: The Anti-Fascist Handbook, published in 2017, he has received…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Mark Cuban Would Still Have Dinner With Donald Trump
Billionaire Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and co-founder of Cost Plus Drugs, talks to Katie about the state of entrepreneurship, American…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Are We In An AI Bubble?
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Leah Feiger to run through five stories that you need to know about this week — from the Antifa professor who’s…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDHow China Is Hoping to Attract Tech Talent
When news broke last month that H1-B visa holders in the U.S would be subjected to a new hefty fee of $100,000, chaos and confusion ensued for a lot of tech…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Patreon CEO Jack Conte Wants You to Get Off of Your Phone
Jack Conte, founder of Patreon tells Katie if we can send rockets into space and have self-driving cars we can figure out how to pay creators for their work…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: The New Fake World of OpenAI’s Social Video App
In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Manisha Krishnan to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from how federal workers are…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDYour Delivery Robot Is Here
Earlier this week, DoorDash unveiled its own new autonomous robot, called Dot. The company says it’s part of its goal to have a “hybrid” model for deliveries…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Lareina Yee Discusses Breakthrough Technologies
Branded Content by McKinsey | WIRED’s Global Editorial Director, Katie Drummond sat down with McKinsey’s Global Institute Director and Senior Partner Lareina…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: Groypers Going Mainstream
In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from Customs & Border Protection…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDIs Silicon Valley Still the Tech Capital?
Earlier this month, we took the show to San Francisco for a live recording in front of a great audience at KQED's The Commons. WIRED'S Lauren Goode, Katie…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDBIG INTV: Signal's Meredith Whittaker Says AI Is Just A Branding Term
The Signal Foundation president, Meredith Whittaker recalls where she was when she heard Trump cabinet officials had added a journalist to a highly sensitive…
Uncanny Valley | WIREDWIRED Roundup: The Right Embraces Cancel Culture
In today’s episode, Zöe is joined by WIRED’s Manisha Krishnan to run through five of the best stories we published this week — from OpenAI implementing teen…