CNN Podcasts

Terms of Service with Clare Duffy

New technologies like artificial intelligence, facial recognition and social media algorithms are changing our world so fast that it can be hard to keep up. This cutting-edge tech often inspires overblown hype — and fear. That’s where we come in. Each week, CNN Tech Writer Clare Duffy will break down how these technologies work and what they’ll mean for your life in terms that don’t require an engineering degree to understand. And we’ll empower you to start experimenting with these tools, without getting played by them.

Author

CNN Podcasts

Category

Technology

Podcast website

www.cnn.com

Latest episode

Jul 7, 2026

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Episodes

How Fake Videos Are Adding to the Fog of War 15.07.2025

In June, violence escalated between Israel and Iran. Footage from this conflict traveled quickly, with images and videos spreading online. The problem is that not all this footage was real. Hany Farid, a professor at UC Berkeley and the Chief Science Officer at GetReal, explains just how widespread AI-generated war footage has become — and shares some tips to avoid getting misled. Learn more about...

Producing Hit Songs in the Age of AI 08.07.2025

AI is poised to transform the way music gets written, recorded, and produced. And it’s possible that you’ve already heard AI-generated music without even knowing it. What does this mean for the future of the music industry? Harvey Mason Jr., CEO of the Recording Academy and the GRAMMYs, shares his thoughts on what musicians need to thrive in the age of AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit p...

AI Is Changing the Game for Heart Disease Diagnosis 01.07.2025

For doctors, diagnosing diseases early is a huge priority. New AI systems can analyze medical tests and images to help diagnose patients faster and more accurately, potentially picking up on patterns or issues that doctors can’t. Dr. Pierre Elias, NewYork-Presbyterian’s Medical Director for Artificial Intelligence and a cardiologist at the hospital and Columbia University, explains why he’s hopefu...

Will AI Replace Human Artists? One Study Says Not Yet 24.06.2025

AI-generated art is sweeping the internet. With programs like Midjourney or DALL-E, users can generate images from text prompts in seconds. Should working artists be alarmed by these tools? Sheena Iyengar, a professor at Columbia Business School, says not quite. In a recent study, she had participants rate AI-generated art versus human-made art — and found that people still like human-made art mor...

Digg’s Founder on Making Social Media More Human Again 17.06.2025

Tech entrepreneur Kevin Rose is relaunching Digg, the Reddit-like platform he founded in 2004. He’s doing it with an unlikely partner: Reddit co-founder and former rival Alexis Ohanian. In a moment when bots and AI-generated content are flooding the internet, leading to more division and confusion, they say their goal is to make social media human again. Kevin explains what exactly that means, and...

Can Fitness Trackers Really Make You Healthier? 10.06.2025

From smartwatches to rings, the market for wearable health trackers has exploded in recent years. There are also apps to track your sleep, your exercise, your food intake and more. Can this tracking technology really lead us to make healthier choices? Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and CNN's health and wellness expert, weighs in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/ad...

How Safe Is Online Gaming for Kids? Roblox’s CEO Has Some Thoughts 03.06.2025

Children and teens are spending more time than ever in online gaming spaces. But how safe are these platforms for kids? David Baszucki has thought about this question a lot. He’s the co-founder and CEO of Roblox, an online game platform that millions of young people use every day. Clare spoke with him while he was in Washington, DC, talking to members of Congress about how to protect kids online....

Cars Are In Their Computer Era 27.05.2025

Self-driving cars have hit the streets of several US cities. And even in human-driven cars, giant tablet screens and automated driver assistance features can make it feel like a computer is your co-pilot. What does this all mean for the future of driving? Aarian Marshall, staff writer at WIRED, has tips for drivers and passengers alike. The Mozilla report Aarian mentioned about the data different...

How Safe Is It to Fly Right Now? 20.05.2025

As US travelers gear up for Memorial Day, one question is on many people’s minds: Is it safe to fly right now? In the wake of frightening headlines about plane crashes and communication issues, Pete Muntean shares some insights. He’s CNN’s aviation and transportation correspondent – and a pilot himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How Are Algorithms Changing Our Beauty Standards? 13.05.2025

From “looksmaxxing” to “glass skin,” algorithms are changing how we define beauty — online and in real life. In a world of ever-evolving beauty trends and hyper-realistic AI filters, journalist Elise Hu has some tips for navigating it all. Elise’s book is called Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital. You can also hear her on Ted Talks Daily and NPR. What questions do you...

Could Genetic Testing Tell You Who to Have Kids With? 06.05.2025

After 23andMe filed for bankruptcy in March, VC-backed genetic testing company Nucleus Genomics put up its hand to acquire the platform. Nucleus uses whole-genome testing to give users a fuller picture of their DNA. The company also recently released a new feature that raised eyebrows among some ethicists. Kian Sadeghi, Nucleus’ founder and CEO, lays out his vision for a future where genetic testi...

Why Do People Believe Conspiracy Theories? 02.05.2025

Conspiracy theories are not new. They’re as old as time itself. But if you feel like they’re everywhere right now, you’re not alone. So, what do you do when somebody you love has fallen down a rabbit hole? CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan has been covering the world of misinformation for more than a decade, but now he's less interested in what people believe than why they believe it. So, he’s trying to find...

How to Recession-Proof Your Personal Finances 29.04.2025

With tariffs kicking in and stock prices taking wild swings, uncertainty has racked the US economy in recent weeks. What’s the best way to navigate your personal finances in a moment like this? Jeanne Sahadi, a senior writer for CNN Business, has some tips for weathering the storm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s Going on When Airport Security Scans Your Face 22.04.2025

If you’ve been to the airport recently, you might have noticed something different while going through security: a TSA agent taking your photo. Face scans can speed up the security process, but according to Dr. Joy Buolamwini, this technology comes with big picture risks. She explains what’s going on with these face scans — and how to opt out. Read more about Dr. Joy’s nonprofit, the Algorithmic J...

This Tech Could Change Conspiracy Believers’ Minds 15.04.2025

Conspiracy theories can take many forms, from misgivings about the first moon landing to false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. As anyone who’s tried to reason with a conspiracy theorist knows, it’s hard to debunk such deeply held beliefs – and arguing with a loved one about them can be emotionally taxing. What if an AI chatbot could help? A recent study, published in Science, asked that...

Can Grief Bots Help Us Heal? 08.04.2025

Grief is one of the most human experiences we have—so what happens when AI gets involved? How are people using it in their healing process? Audio producer Rebecca Nolan shares her own experience creating an AI chatbot based on her deceased father, and University of Arizona psychology professor Mary-Frances O’Connor talks with Clare about whether using AI for the grieving process has therapeutic be...

Think Before You Ring: Keeping Home Surveillance Safe 01.04.2025

In the past decade, technology has transformed the way we use doorbells. Home security cameras that capture footage of people around your home give some people peace of mind in the face of potential break-ins or theft. Clare talks with Matthew Guariglia, a senior policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation working on issues of surveillance and policing, about where that footage is going a...

Online Genetic Testing: How Private Is Your DNA? 25.03.2025

The popularity of for-profit genetic testing services like Ancestry and 23andMe has skyrocketed in recent years. These tests can teach users more about their ancestry or health. But they can also have some unexpected outcomes. 23andMe recently filed for bankruptcy to pursue a sale, raising questions about what could happen to users’ data under a new owner. University of Iowa law professor Anya Pri...

Baby Tech: What Do New Parents Actually Need? 18.03.2025

Becoming a parent is overwhelming. So is all the technology out there that’s marketed toward new parents, from smart bassinets to high-tech baby monitors and breastfeeding tracker apps. What gadgets do new parents actually need, and do you need them at all? Sophie Brickman explored this in her book Baby, Unplugged, and she shares some insights for fellow parents in the digital age. What questions...

Can AI Turn Music into Medicine? 11.03.2025

It’s no surprise that music can affect our emotions. But can music actually improve our mental health? Aaron Labbé, founder and chief technology officer at the Toronto-based company LUCID, believes it can. With the help of AI-curated music playlists, and technology that reads your facial expressions as you listen, LUCID is trying to turn music into medicine. LUCID has an app called Resonance Rx th...

Robot Recruiters: How AI is Helping Decide Who Gets Hired 04.03.2025

If you apply for a job online, there’s a good chance that your application will be put through some kind of AI evaluation. But what is the AI algorithm looking for, and how effective is AI at helping the most qualified candidates get the job? Hilke Schellmann, an investigative reporter and assistant professor at New York University, gives us the lowdown on how AI is changing hiring and what you sh...

Are Your Conversations With AI Killing the Planet? 25.02.2025

Every time users talk to AI chatbots, their queries go to data centers, where stacks of computers do rapid, complex calculations in order to respond. This process requires significant amounts of electricity and water, and experts worry about the environmental cost of this rapidly growing technology. But what is that cost, exactly? And is there anything we can do as individuals to reduce the impact...

What Happens to Your Digital Footprint When You Die? 18.02.2025

Many of us have seen this happen. Someone dies IRL, but their online presence lives on. It’s estimated that millions of accounts on Facebook belong to people who have died. And many of us have so many online accounts, it’s hard to keep track of them ourselves – let alone leaving that work to loved ones after we’re gone. So, what “digital remains” are we leaving behind when we die? And how do we en...

Love and Robots: How AI is Changing the Dating Scene 11.02.2025

Since the dawn of match.com in 1995, people have had a lot of questions about how online dating would change the experience of falling in love. But that was 30 years ago, and it was only the beginning of a total sea change in the way we date. Now, artificial intelligence is promising to switch things up in the dating world once more. And just like in 1995, we’re left wondering—what does all of thi...

Do Young People Need Smartphones? A Parent and a Teen Weigh In. 04.02.2025

It’s become the norm for teens and tweens to have smartphones — but lately, the pendulum has been swinging back. Parents and educators worry smartphones can cause distraction, loneliness and other mental health challenges among young people. So when is the right time to give your kid a smartphone, if at all? Mark SooHoo, a parent involved with the organization Wait Until 8th, shares why he and his...

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