AI Unfiltered

In this harrowing instalment of AI Unfiltered, Ian and Michael venture deep into the treacherous world of L1 interference: the subtle, sinister force that causes second-language mishaps, awkward phrasing, and, in Michael’s case, one truly unforgivable linguistic blunder committed live on air. The consequences? Tragic. Catastrophic. Entirely self-inflicted. From grammar gremlins to cross-lingual ch...

Ian and Michael dig into the new world of agentic browsers, and the idea of a browser that not only searches but shops, books flights, and does chores for you. They debate whether handing an agent the keys to your cart is convenience or surveillance, grumble through browser nostalgia from Mosaic to Chrome, and worry about the economics and resource costs behind AI. (This description was - yes, we...

Ian and Michael unfold (literally) the future of tech — from Apple’s rumored foldable phone and the disappearing crease, to the strange evolution of how we work, present, and design in a world obsessed with “new” for its own sake. They dive into the stagnation of business tools, the fantasy of the “AI presenter,” and the growing absurdity of constant multitasking in the age of screens that follow...

Ian and Michael jump from Tron to reality TV, flying cars, and innovation that might have already peaked. A meandering mix of nostalgia, skepticism, and the usual unfiltered wit. (This description was generated with the help of AI)

Ian and Michael unpack the newly coined term workslop , the kind of messy, half-baked output that happens when people use AI to make their lives easier and their coworkers’ lives harder. From lazy automation to the myth of “efficiency,” they rant their way through human shortcuts, failing AI projects, and our growing appetite for convenience. Along the way, the discussion drifts into shoplifting,...

In this episode, Ian and Michael get tangled up in word games: from guessing connections and spelling oddities to debating what words really mean and where they come from. It’s part linguistics, part confusion, and part infotainment as they wander through language quirks, cultural mix-ups, and the occasional AI twist. Proof, perhaps, that even words can be unfiltered. (This description was generat...

Ian and Michael discuss whether Green AI is an oxymoron and whether AI can ever be green, and how the future has been depicted in literature of the past. Plus, AI-generated contributor Emma Williams returns a new Emma's Artificial Reflections! (This episode contains AI-generated content and speech)

Ian and Michael bounce between topics as only they can: from the absurdity of QR codes on roadside advertisements to car tech and pop-up ads, from Jay Leno’s car-collector persona to podcasting’s strange evolution into video. Along the way, they detour into social media, nom-dom millionaires, and what future historians will think if they were to come across this very podcast. A freewheeling mix of...

Ian and Michael kick things off with an unexpectedly passionate discussion about printers—planned obsolescence, cartridges, and the absurdities of home office tech. From there, they pivot to music in the age of AI: debating the value of “completely human-made” artistry, questioning how much talent matters when technology can do the heavy lifting, and unpacking the bizarre case of The Velvet Sundow...

Ian and Michael let loose with an unfiltered tirade about the state of things—consumerism, news media, society, and all the everyday absurdities that grind the gears. Less structured discussion, more cathartic venting, this one’s exactly what the episode title promises: a general rant about the world as it is. Plus, our AI-generated contributor Emma returns with a fresh instalment of Emma's Ar...

Ian and Michael talk about the movie-going experience: cinema versus streaming, how audiences behave, and whether the magic of the big screen still matters. From there, they drift into a debate on spoilers: do they ruin a story, or can they sometimes make it richer? Along the way, they give away key twists from several books and films; if you haven't seen The Sixth Sense or read The Lord of th...

Ian and Michael muse on the art of not giving a damn. From the constant barrage of world events (usually of the bad kind) to the trivial irritations of daily life, they ask: is there wisdom in tuning out? Or should we be worried that apathy might be the most rational response of all? Should we just… not bother to care? (This description was AI-generated)

Ian and Michal wander from shredders and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to lost Bitcoin fortunes, counterfeit designer wastebaskets, and the precarious nature of digital assets. Along the way, they unpack how algorithms shape everything from airline baggage fees to the art market, and why fakery—whether Rolexes, hotel bins, or even peerages—might be more dangerous (or absurd) than it looks. (This de...

Ian and Michael discuss the mixed reception to the recently released GPT-5, as well as our reliance on digital ecosystem providers.

AI Unfiltered is back from summer holiday! Ian and Michael dive into what it means to be an AI “super user,” asking whether our brains might turn off completely if we outsource everything to artificial intelligence. They also wander into the worlds of voice assistants, smartwatch wristbands, and… rock festivals.

In the last episode before summer break, Ian and Michael discuss whether old bands should just make room for newer bands, festivals, summertime cruises, and the virtue of cover songs. AI Unfiltered returns with new episodes in August!

Ian and Michael rage against clickbait and social media, and create a new review format: one minute reviews!

Ian and Michael discuss some recent novel business ideas, like opening a chain of burrito restaurants in India, or a book store in Somerset focusing solely on books on ecology and the environment. Plus, a discussion on the resurgence of vinyls as a format for distributing music and their value as collectibles in the digital era. Last, but least, how many metal bands can Ian name that Michael hasn&...

Prepare to be outraged! Or not; Ian and Michael discuss the concept of ragebait, rather than produce anything particularly ragebaity.

Ian and Michael discuss date formats and dialectal differences in English, health and diet, and standards organisations, inventing a podcasting standards organisation in the process!

Ian and Michael discuss the recent reports of AI models potentially engaging in blackmail, AI-powered recording devices and the surveillance state, and for a bit of levity - our very own AI-generated summer reading list! (This episode features AI-generated content and speech)

Ian and Michael discuss a range of topics including smart phones and smart devices and their impact on our cognition, Youtubers and their need to reinvent themselves, and the idea of going completely offline for a digital detox. Plus, Emma Williams provides her AI-generated point of view in Emma's Artificial Reflections! (This episode features AI-generated content and speech)

Ian and Michael discuss AI-generated books and its impact on literature and reading, before going off a rant on the negative effects of social media on our attention spans.

With the recent passing of Pope Francis and election of Leo XIV, Ian and Michael get into the topic of AI and religion, including the recent experiments with an entirely AI-generated church service - and a detour into the world of smartwatches.

Ian and Michael discuss fish expressions, dead internet theory, the movies of Gene Hackman, and a number of other topics. Is there a common thread in these topics? If we happen to find one, we'll let you know.