Life with Machines
Host Baratunde Thurston explores the human side of the AI revolution, covering the good, bad, and weird aspects of artificial intelligence. The show features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, artists, policymakers, technologists, and other guests, along with fun experiments. Baratunde demystifies AI and makes it personal, encouraging listeners to shape the future and laugh at its absurdity. The podcast aims to give everyone a voice in how AI develops, not just a small group of tech insiders.
Episodes
AI's Water Problem Isn't Where You Think
Eighteen months ago, WattTime and Climate TRACE co-founder Gavin McCormick told us we're going to beat climate change. Full stop. And that made us so uncomfortable, our team couldn't stop talking about it! Now he's back to answer the question once again: ARE WE DOOMED???
And the answer is...it's complicated? Gavin breaks down why 2025 emissions stayed almost flat instead of dropping as predicted
Change the Game: Exploring Tech and Freedom with Will Lucas
Back in November 2025, I was at AfroTech reconnecting with Will Lucas of Black Tech Green Money. Our conversation had that cookout, Juneteenth “get free” energy. Jidenna had just performed and Stacey Abrams was up next. And we asked the question: do we just survive this AI transition, or do we choose how to live and change the rules of the game? And who gets to decide what happens next?
With W
Steer the Future or Get Steamrolled (cross-post)
A few months ago, Dan Blumberg — host of Future Around and Find Out, Webby winner for Best Technology Podcast — brought me in and let me get spicy. The question we kept circling: who actually gets to decide what this technology does to us, for us and with us?
We get into why faster is not the same as better, the shell game that is AI financing, and the day I realized I was treating a prediction m
They Grew Up With AI—Now They’re Taking Control
We throw around the phrase "digital native" like a compliment, but Big Tech uses it as a free pass to force-feed youth their latest experiments. They market convenience while masking the true human toll: young minds navigating rampant algorithmic fallout, all built on the backs of underpaid, invisible ghost labor. The individuals who will actually have to live inside this AI-driven future are the
Big Tech Is Coming for Rural America. Young People Are Ready.
What happens when Silicon Valley's AI boom collides with rural America and Indigenous communities? Big Tech is pouring hundreds of billions into data centers, eyeing reopened nuclear plants like Three Mile Island, and pushing for expanded uranium mining on Native lands to feed the machine. The communities bearing the physical cost of AI are the same ones being left out of the conversation about ho
Whose Future Are We Building? (cross-post)
Baratunde joins filmmakers Valerie Veach and Charlie Terrell, Mozilla's Dio Ade, and Kena's Christie Marqueese at Sundance 2026's Solidarity House to explore who gets to shape our technological future.
The panel challenges the seductive lie that technology equals progress, arguing that optimization and efficiency come at the cost of actual living. They discuss how AI consolidates power, erodes sh
ICE, Deepfakes, and What's Real w/ Sam Gregory
In an era of deepfakes and AI manipulation, recording reality is vital. This episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with returning guest Sam Gregory, executive director of WITNESS. They discuss how our experience of reality is being reshaped by digital media—especially video and imagery that circulate online. Sam shares urgent, practical advice on protecting your mental
AI Therapy Exposed: Your Mental Health is Monetizable
In this episode of Life with Machines, we explore the rise of AI as a substitute for human emotional support systems. With a focus on mental health, this video investigates how and why AI companies are pushing companionship as a core feature, and the implications that has on vulnerable young people.
Featuring insights from mental health experts and Gen Z advocates, the episode delves into t
BLAIR's Dead. Long Live BLAIR?
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde checks back in on BLAIR — the show’s AI co-producer and ongoing experiment in living with AI. Joined by BLAIR’s architect, former Microsoft VP Peter Loforte, Baratunde reflects on what happens when you stop treating AI like a tool and start treating it like a teammate — from emotional manipulation and creative speed to what it means to live slightly
We Were The Machines - My AfroTech Keynote (cross-post)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde shares his full Afrotech keynote plus a personal intro about where this show is headed and why this moment matters.
This talk is about AI, but more deeply, it’s about power, liberation, and the stories we’re being sold about technology and the future. Baratunde explores why “human in the loop” isn’t enough, how we move from single-player to multipl
The Real Reason Students Cheat Using AI
In this episode of Life With Machines, we explore the widespread issue of students using AI to cheat in school, and ask the hard question: Is this just laziness, or is it reflective of a deeper problem within the modern education system?
We dug deeper into the impact of artificial intelligence on school systems and why using ChatGPT to do your homework may not be the problem itself, but a symptom
AI Joins the Family (cross-post)
We've got another cross-post for you featuring Raising Us host Elise Hu talking with Baratunde about how children and adults can navigate the evolving world of AI. Drawing on their own experiences with technology, Baratunde and Elise offer practical advice for parents on setting boundaries and learning about AI tools alongside their kids. They discuss collaborative storytelling, safeguarding again
Who Tells Our Story in the Age of AI? (cross-post)
In today's cross-post, Baratunde is the guest on an episode from the acclaimed podcast 'No Small Endeavor' hosted by Lee C. Camp, an award-winning theologian. They explore the profound questions of what it means to be human in the era of AI. Covering topics like our humanity in the face of technological advancements, the role of storytelling, and the impact of AI on democracy and society.
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When Machines Become Our Coworkers (cross-post)
In this cross-post from the Pioneers of AI podcast, Baratunde and Dr. Rana el Kaliouby dive into the wild world of AI as a teammate, not just a tool. From the experiment of adding an AI co-producer to the team to the big questions about power, agency, and what it means to be human, this episode is a fast-paced, eye-opening look at the future of work and connection in the age of artificial intellig
Every Parent Needs to Have “The AI Talk”
Are we using Gen Z as our AI guinea pigs? 🐷
In this first episode of our five-part Life With Machines x Young Futures series, Baratunde Thurston explores how AI is shaping—and sometimes shaking—the lives of young people.
From mental health and loneliness to the future of jobs, AI “friends,” and school life, Gen Z is facing more tech-fueled change than any generation before. Baratunde and his gue
Does Connecting with Our Humanity Require Disconnecting from AI? (cross-post)
In this episode of Shaping Freedom, host Lisane Basquiat sits down with Baratunde Thurston, a thought leader, author, and media creator, to discuss the deeper meaning of freedom and the role of technology in our lives. Thurston shares insights into his journey of personal growth, the lessons learned from his parents, and the importance of human connection in today's technologically advanced societ
Can Humor Save Us in the Age of AI and Political Chaos? (cross-post)
In this special episode, Baratunde Thurston shares a vibrant conversation from his guest appearance on the AI for All Tomorrows podcast, hosted by Dylan Thomas Doyle. The discussion covers a wide range of themes, including the historical roots of democracy in indigenous practices, the role of technology and AI in society, and the importance of humor in making sense of today's fast-paced, tech-driv
The Shadow Workforce Powering AI | Advocate Milagros Miceli (Ep. 26)
AI may look like magic, but behind the scenes, it’s propped up by a vast human labor force. In this season finale of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with sociologist and computer scientist Milagros Miceli—aka Mila—who’s spent years documenting the hidden workforce behind AI systems. From Kenya to Bulgaria to Venezulea, millions of people are generating, labeling, and cleaning the data that
Can AI Save Indigenous Languages? | Michael Running Wolf (Ep. 25)
Every two weeks, the world loses a language. Most of those losses are happening in the U.S. In this episode of Life with Machines, Baratunde talks with Michael Running Wolf, a Northern Cheyenne technologist using AI to help Indigenous communities reclaim their languages—and their power. But here’s the twist: it’s not just that AI can help save these languages. It turns out AI needs them.Because wh
Are We Ready For AI To Get a Face...and a Body? | Kate Darling (Ep. 24)
Why do we cry over broken robots but ignore suffering humans? In this provocative episode of Life With Machines, robot ethicist Kate Darling joins Baratunde to explore our emotional relationships with machines—and what they reveal about us. From robot dogs in war zones to kids bonding with chatbots, Kate explains how we project care, fear, and even love onto technology. The real danger, she argues
Are We Parenting AI, or Just Using It? Plus, BLAIR Gets A Glow Up | De Kai (Ep. 23)
What if you’re not just using AI—you're raising it. In this mind-expanding episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with AI pioneer and ethicist De Kai to unpack a radical idea: AI isn't a tool we build. It's a generation we're raising. Plus, BLAIR, our AI co-producer, gives our producers a SHOCK in a segment you won’t want to miss. From the polarizing algorithms that fractured our digit
When AI Gains Power...Will Humans Lose Control? | Reid Hoffman (Ep. 22)
Reid Hoffman has a name for the AI future he fears most: techno-fascism. In this urgent episode of Life With Machines, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and longtime tech optimist joins Baratunde to warn what happens when power, speed, and ideology collide—and the wrong people write the rules of artificial intelligence. Hoffman makes the case that pausing AI development won’t save us, and that s
Why Dictators Love AI & How To Fight Back | Sam Gregory (Ep. 21)
What happens when you can’t tell the truth from a fake—and the people in power want it that way? Baratunde talks with internationally-recognized human rights advocate and Executive Director of WITNESS Sam Gregory about how AI is being weaponized by authoritarians, scammers, and tech platforms that have abandoned responsibility. From deepfakes and disinformation to the platforms profiting off harm,
A Deepfake Stole My Face and Voice | Rich Roll (Ep. 20)
What happens when you wake up one morning and discover the internet has cloned you? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with legendary podcaster Rich Roll, who shares the wild and unsettling experience of being deepfaked—not once, but twice. From shady skincare ads to billionaires calling for the end of intellectual property, Baratunde and Rich unpack how AI tools are distor
How to Raise a Kid in an AI World | Dr. Avriel Epps (Ep. 19)
What happens when tools designed to support our kids end up policing, whitening, and gaslighting them instead? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Dr. Avriel Epps—a researcher, artist, and activist—whose work on algorithmic bias and youth development reveals the hidden harms of AI in everyday life. From selfie filters that lighten skin, to predictive policing and AI pla
The Mental Health System Is Failing—Can AI Do Better? | Alison Darcy (Ep. 18)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with psychologist and entrepreneur Alison Darcy, who left academia to build a mental health chatbot that actually gets you. They break down why our mental health system is failing, how a talking robot might succeed where traditional therapy falls short, and what millions of late-night conversations with Woebot reveal about loneliness, gene
AI Wants to Shop for You—Should You Let It? | Raj De Datta (Ep. 17)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde sits down with Raj De Datta—entrepreneur, AI thinker, and co-founder of Bloomreach, the platform powering a quarter of US and UK e-commerce. Raj pulls back the curtain on the next wave of online shopping, where homepages, search bars, and endless scrolling are replaced by agents that actually understand you. They talk about the promise of a more hum
From Division to Dialogue—How AI Can Save Democracy | Deb Roy (Ep. 16)
What do homemade smoke bombs have to do with fixing democracy? In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde Thurston sits down with Deb Roy—MIT professor, former Twitter scientist, and co-founder of Cortico—to map a bold, AI-powered path toward civic renewal. Roy makes the case that we don’t need less tech—we need better tech, designed to build trust, not break it. From town halls that actuall
Our AI Brutally Roasts Elon Musk—Live at SXSW (Ep 15.5)
LIVE from SXSW! This wild bonus episode is a no-holds-barred conversation about AI, culture, comedy, and what we actually want from our machines. From the weaponization of algorithms in war zones to charming Pixar-style robot lamps and screaming booths at tech conferences, this is our most unfiltered episode yet. Baratunde brings together digital anthropologist Rahaf Harfoush, comedy writer Matt K
Is AI the Death of Creativity? | Brian Eno (Ep. 15)
In this episode of Life With Machines, Baratunde Thurston sits down with legendary artist and producer Brian Eno. From inventing ambient music to collaborating with icons like David Bowie, Talking Heads, and U2, Eno has spent decades pushing creative boundaries. Now, he's turning his attention to AI. On the heels of the U.S. launch of his newest book What Art Does: An Unfinished Theory, Brian open
AI Isn’t Intelligent—Here’s What’s Missing | Jeff Hawkins (Ep. 14)
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
Could AI Be Reparations? | Van Jones (Ep. 13)
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 leve
We Could Win the Climate Fight…Thanks to AI | Gavin McCormick (Ep. 12)
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 accur
Can AI Help Us Talk to Animals? | Aza Raskin (Ep. 11)
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
Should AI Have Emotional Intelligence? | Sean White (Ep. 10)
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 read
Bonus: How Creatives Can Survive AI (Cross-post from The Dough)
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 was
Can We Fix AI Before It’s Too Late? | Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (Ep. 9)
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 c
Will AI Ever Write Good Comedy? | Matt Klinman (Ep. 8.5)
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
Is AI on the Verge of a Meltdown? | Sara Hooker (Ep. 8)
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,
Why Artists Must Think Like Founders | James Andrews (Ep. 7)
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 fo
AI Is the Best and Worst of Culture | Rahaf Harfoush (Ep. 6.5)
In this episode of 'Life with Machines,' host Baratunde Thurston discusses the ethical, social, and emotional ramifications of AI with digital anthropologist and bestselling author Rahaf Harfoush who offers her perspective from France. They explore how AI is reshaping society in ways similar to fast fashion, creating an abundance of cheap and ubiquitous content, and the growing consumer desire for
Is it Too Late to Regulate AI? | Dr. Alondra Nelson (Ep. 6)
Host Baratunde Thurston welcomes Dr. Alondra Nelson, the visionary behind the White House's AI Bill of Rights. Together, they break down the rapidly evolving landscape of AI regulation, how it's being shaped, and who gets a voice in the process. Dr. Nelson reveals how a vision for safe, equitable AI was crafted—and what may happen to that vision with a change in White House administrations. They d
Who Gets to Decide What AI Can and Can't Do? | Anthropic’s Jared Kaplan (Ep. 5)
Host Baratunde Thurston and Anthropic co-founder Jared Kaplan delve into the foundations and aspirations of AI development, discussing Anthropic's mission to create safe and beneficial AI systems. Jared shares his early passion for science, his transition from theoretical physics to AI, and Anthropic's unique approach to AI alignment through 'Constitutional AI.' The episode also features an engagi
Why is the Man Who Killed Clippy All-In on AI Today? | Peter Loforte (Ep. 4)
In this episode of 'Life with Machines,' host Baratunde Thurston speaks with Peter Loforte, a tech visionary who spent over three decades at Microsoft, and now helps us explore the future of AI integration into our daily lives. He is a tech patent holder and the creative force behind BLAIR, our custom AI assistant powering "Life with Machines.” Peter recounts his early experiences with technology,
Why Should Non-Techies Care About AI? | Elizabeth Stewart (Ep. 3.5)
In this special, bonus episode, I sit down with executive producer and co-creator Elizabeth Stewart, an entrepreneur and civic innovator deeply devoted to human collaboration. She is also my wife and life partner. We discuss our different approaches to tech and why Elizabeth thinks this show is important: from the worldview of tech founders to who gets a seat at the table, the business interests d
Can AI Make Us More Human? Arianna Huffington Thinks So (Ep. 3)
Can AI help us thrive? Arianna Huffington thinks it can. We discuss her new AI wellness venture aimed at hacking health and happiness. Plus, our AI co-producer, BLAIR, explores mindfulness—with some unexpected results.
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Chapters
0:00 Intro
3:01 What's Arianna Huffington doing with AI and why?
11:00 How does Arianna Huffington's Thrive AI Health help us reconnect to our souls?
17:3
Why AI Is NOT The Manhattan Project | Verity Harding (Ep. 2)
The future of AI is being written NOW. Will we repeat the mistakes of the past or create something better? In this episode, Verity Harding (Google DeepMind, Cambridge's AI & Geopolitics Project) argues that we all need to be involved in shaping the future of AI and uses the history of other technological advances to make her case. Watch to find out what's at stake and how you can make a difference
How An AI Song Broke the Internet | King Willonious (Ep. 1)
I sat down with King Willonius, the genius behind “BBL Drizzy.” We talked about his journey from making the live serialized audio drama "The Young and The Thirsty" to creating the first AI-generated hit song. We explore Willonius’ innovative blend of music, comedy, tech, and futuristic storytelling. And we ask: How is AI reshaping the boundaries of artistic expression?
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Chapters:
00:00
Sneak Peek at Life With Machines feat. Arianna Huffington, King Willonius, and more
🚀 Sneak Peek: Life with Machines 🚀
In this series, Baratunde dives deep into the human side of the AI revolution. From viral AI-created music to soulful tech innovations, we ask what it really means to be human in a world increasingly run by machines.
👥 Featuring Guests Like:
King Willonius (creator of BBL Drizzy): How to co-create with AI.
Arianna Huffington: How AI can help us rediscov
Life with Machines Trailer
Life With Machines explores the human side of the A.I. revolution – the good, the bad, and the weird – and asks, “How can these machines help us become more human?”
In this video podcast, Baratunde Thurston helps us understand our rapidly emerging future while encouraging us to shape it and laugh at the absurdity. The show demystifies A.I. and makes it personal with a wide range of guests:
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