The Internet is Crack

Gambling is being radically transformed by the internet and AI, and Dr. Kasra Ghaharian joins us to break down what that shift really means. From there, we zoom out to explore how AI is reshaping the world at large and where it’s all headed next.

We talk with Daniel S. Schiff of Purdue University about how AI is reshaping culture, work, art, and everyday life, exploring what we gain, what we risk losing, and how humanity can adapt.

Together with Dr. Joanna Bryson, we explore what AI really is and discuss how humans can regulate this new technology in a way that benefits all.

This week on "The Internet is Crack," we talk with renowned actor/director Andy Lauer about raising kids in a screen-saturated world and the collapse of job security for actors in the age of internet streaming.

This week, we speak with Dr. Ryan Jenkins about the ethics of using AI in warfare and autonomous vehicles. How do we build these systems without losing what makes us human?

Dr. Williams is a roboticist trying to build robots that act with ethics, empathy, and imagination. He asks how robots can serve everyone, not just tech billionaires.

Cory Doctorow explains how tech giants seize control of the web and lock the rest of us out. He tells us what it will take to break their grip and reclaim the internet for everyone.

Bitcoin: brilliant innovation or pure speculative smoke? NYU’s David Yermack breaks down the blockchain hype, the real economics, and whether the bubble is finally ready to burst.      

We talk with Dr. Motahhare Eslami about the invisible algorithms that shape our online lives and how to manage their influence. This episode breaks down how these systems drive addiction, control, and what we experience.

Dr. David Gunkel joins us to explore whether AI can truly create on its own and what that answer means for human originality. We discuss how the law is already shifting to recognize machines and why failing to keep up with this technology could have serious consequences.

Adam Rodnitzky shares his journey of building businesses in Silicon Valley, from securing funding to scaling his startup's success. We get the inside scoop from the capital of the internet.

David Rodnitzky offers an insider's look at Silicon Valley's culture, power dynamics, and what shapes success in the tech world.

This week’s guest, Maribeth Rauh, formerly of Google DeepMind, breaks down why so many people treat AI like a person. She explains how that illusion can distort judgment and lead to real-world harm.

Brenda Sauter of the legendary bands The Feelies and Wild Carnation talks music, piracy, and the internet's influence on creativity.

Vanessa Briscoe Hay, lead vocalist of "Pylon Reenactment Society" and formerly of the legendary Athens, Georgia band "Pylon" joins "The Internet is Crack" to talk about the intersection of technology and music. From the evolution of music to the rise of AI, we discuss how artists adapt to technology, and we even create an AI-generated song together.

This week, we sit down with Professor Taha Yasseri to discuss how AI shapes the data we see and the ways we interpret it. We explore how small changes in data and design can create major real-world outcomes, from chatbot gender to data privacy.

This week, we sit down with Dr. Aram Sinnreich to talk about AI’s viability in a world increasingly dominated by corporate interests. Our conversation examines how powerful institutions influence and control this transformative resource, and how ordinary people can challenge and push back against overwhelming systems.

This week, we sit down with Anita Say Chan and discuss the past, present, and future of the use and misuse of data, along with the ethical lapses that have happened, are happening now, and will continue to emerge. We also talk about the sense of superiority this misuse fosters and the marginalization of groups who are most harmed by it.

This week, we sit down with Dr. Michael Zimmer to discuss data ethics: who has your data, and what they’re doing with it. We also dive into the Zuckerberg Files and the ethical challenges of studying digital data.

This week, we sit down with Jillian York, Director for International Freedom of Expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). We discuss her work defending digital rights and the EFF’s broader mission to keep the internet free, open, and accessible for people around the world.

This week we sit down with Professor Luke Stark and discuss how humans interpret and make sense of digital technology, the ways we calculate and often miscalculate what these systems can actually do. Our conversation explores the messy, human side of digital life.

This week, we sit down with Professor Sarah T. Roberts of UCLA and discuss how Big Tech has twisted the internet into a tool for profit and control.  Our conversation asks what it means to push back and reclaim a web that serves people, not just powerful corporations.

This week, we sit down with Glen Reynolds, a veteran producer’s rep who has helped countless independent films find their way to audiences. With experience spanning production, sales, and distribution, Glen shares insights from every corner of the indie film business.

This week, we sit down with Professor Michael Littman of Brown University to break down the basics of AI and reinforcement learning. He does a brilliant job of explaining how it works, why it works, and whether AI is actually intelligent or just really good at faking it.  

This week, we sit down with acclaimed author Daniel Kraus and discuss his new book, Angel Down. We talk about AI, the internet, and writing and creativity in the digital era.