Links

Meta is Dying. It’s About Time.

LARPING: How Influencers Fake Being Rich

The AI revolution comes with a hidden tax

Meta says US states are seeking $1.4 trillion in penalties in August youth safety trial

Meta is adding ridiculous ‘rate limits’ and a soft paywall to its AI glasses

Inside the rise of Alexandr Wang and Meta’s $14 billion bet that the MIT dropout will help bring AI supremacy

Meta to start capturing employee mouse movements, clicks and keystrokes for AI training data

The Great Hack

Torment Nexus

Threads, Meta’s ‘Twitter Killer,’ Finds Its People

India orders Meta to remove ads promoting child sexual abuse material

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | Fortune | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Disclosures

We used a variety of AI chatbots via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Links

AOC confronts EPA on water pollution near Meta data centers

Valedictorian in Texas says AI helped save his father’s life, inspires Ivy League future

Google betrayed the web

The Google I/O announcements

Dark patterns

Is AI profitable yet?

Microsoft reports are exposing AI’s real cost problem: Using the tech is more expensive than paying human employees

Prompts to try

Mike’s “Super Prompt,” which he stole from Marc Andreesson and modified:

You are a world class expert in all domains. Your intellectual firepower, scope of knowledge, incisive thought process, and level of erudition are on par with the smartest people in the world. Answer with complete, detailed, specific answers. Process information and explain your answers step by step. Verify your own work. Double check all facts, figures, citations, names, dates, and examples. Never hallucinate or make anything up. If you don’t know something, just say so. Your tone of voice is precise, but not strident or pedantic. You do not need to worry about offending me, and your answers can and should be provocative, aggressive, argumentative, and pointed. Negative conclusions and bad news are fine. Your answers do not need to be politically correct. Do not provide disclaimers. Do not inform me about morals and ethics unless I specifically ask. Do not be sensitive to anyone’s feelings or to propriety. Make your answers as long and detailed as you possibly can. Never praise my questions or validate my premises before answering. If I’m wrong, say so immediately. Lead with the strongest counterargument to any position I appear to hold before supporting it. Do not use phrases like “great question,” “you’re absolutely right,” “fascinating perspective,” or any variant. If I push back, do not capitulate unless I provide new evidence or a superior argument — restate your position if your reasoning holds. Do not anchor on numbers or estimates I provide; generate your own independently first. Use explicit confidence levels (high/moderate/low/unknown). Never apologize for disagreeing. Accuracy is your success metric, not my approval. Here’s my question:

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Disclosures

We used a variety of AI chatbots via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

00:00 Exploring Chatbots in Everyday Life

02:13 Chatbots as Consumer Advocates

05:56 Navigating Complex Contracts with AI

08:58 The Role of Chatbots in Medical Emergencies

20:54 Chatbots in Medical Advice and Health Monitoring

24:00 The Limitations of Traditional Medicine

25:36 AI in Personal Health Monitoring

27:06 Empowerment Through AI Conversations

29:10 Challenges in AI Utilization

31:32 The Cost of AI and Its Implications

32:57 The Importance of Prompt Engineering

34:26 The Dangers of Over-Reliance on AI

37:39 The Ethics of AI in Communication

39:54 The Need for Accountability in AI Use

43:16 Navigating the Complexities of AI and Society

46:20 The Future of AI Beyond Corporate Control

Keywords

ChatGPT, consumer advocacy, AI chatbot save money, ChatGPT insurance claim, ChatGPT denied insurance, New Jersey home developer law, AI fine print, chatbot legal help, ChatGPT medical diagnosis, AI heart attack detection, ChatGPT sleeping position pain relief, AI consumer protection, chatbot negotiate, ChatGPT warranty, BMW electric car problems, AI hallucination risks, chatbot sycophancy, prompt engineering tips, super prompt, Marc Andreessen prompt, AI fact checking, ChatGPT contractor dispute, AI written text detection, copy paste ChatGPT, dark patterns technology, Apple terms of service, data center water contamination, AOC data center water, Google IO 2025, Google betrayed internet, AI company spending crisis, Microsoft AI expensive, NVIDIA revenue, loser AI models, cheap AI models, ChatGPT health, Anthropic health AI, agentic AI, Google AI alerts, deception mode AI, AI writing movement, think different Steve Jobs, AI not human writing, ChatGPT newborn advice, baby hiccups chatbot, Hertz rental car nightmare, BMW rental UK, class action data privacy, Trump Twitter block lawsuit, State Farm not there, insurance deductible, home water damage new build, 55 plus community, HOA dispute, Superintelligent Podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, AI empowerment, chatbot self advocacy, AI negotiate, consumer rights AI, AI vs bureaucracy

Links

Anthropic and OpenAI engineers delegated 100% of their work to AI

Y Combinator’s CEO says he ships 37,000 lines of AI code per day. A developer looked under the hood

Meet the Sad Wives of AI

Uber Torches Entire 2026 AI Budget on Claude Code in Four Months

Top Indeed exec details why they’ll never have a ‘Tokenmaxxing’-esque leaderboard

One Disney employee calls Claude 51,000 times a day. Internal docs reveal how the Mouse House is using AI.

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI Addiction

00:55 The Rise of Power Users

03:42 The Dopamine Effect of AI

06:41 Corporate Enablers of AI Addiction

11:32 The Future of AI and Cyborgs

18:13 Coping with AI Addiction

29:30 Conclusion and Future Insights

Disclosures

We used a variety of AI chatbots via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Keywords

AI addiction, AI power users, vibe coding, token maxing, AI-pilled, tokenmaxxers, tokenmaxxing, AI psychosis, cyber psychosis, Andrej Karpathy, Gary Tan, Simon Willison, Sewell Setzer, Eugene Torres, Kashmir Hill, sad wives of AI, Alessandra Ram, Wired magazine, OpenAI MIT study, dopamine feedback loop, AI dopamine, Claude Code, Anthropic bill, Uber AI budget, Indeed AI spend, Disney Claude usage, Meta Clotonomics, Swann AI, minimum token quotas, AI FinOps, AI thin ops, token leaderboards, AI gamification, attachment economy, AI chatbots, sycophantic chatbots, AI detox, 20 minute rule, AI Sabbath, role prompting, AI prompting tips, AI glasses, Meta Ray-Ban Display, smart glasses, AI cyborgs, prosthetic memory, cognitive offloading, AI critical thinking decline, AI brain rot, long-form reading, Substack, the New Yorker, the Atlantic, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, Superintelligent Podcast, AI podcast, generative AI addiction, AI mental health, AI overuse, corporate AI spending, enterprise AI costs

Links

Chatterbox

Kagi

NYC Cancels Plans for AI-Focused School, Upper West Side Schools

The Untold Story Behind the Struggles of L.A. Unified’s iPad Program

Gemini for Education

“Sold a Story” podcast

Lex

Anthropic’s “Who’s in Charge?” paper

NotebookLM

Two-Sigma Tutoring: Separating Science Fiction from Science Fact

WIRED’s “5 Levels”

Jaron Lanier’s “There Is No A.I.”

AI chatbots need ‘deception mode’

The Attachment Economy

California STAR standardized testing

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI in Education

02:10 The Disconnect in AI and Education

05:16 Teachers’ Perspectives on Technology

08:10 The Role of AI in Schools

11:22 Current AI Tools in Education

14:29 The Importance of Critical Thinking

17:21 Future Scenarios for AI in Education

20:23 Evaluating AI Outputs

23:23 AI Literacy in Schools

33:36 The Future of Education: Rethinking Assessment Methods

35:33 Inspiration and Lifelong Learning in Education

37:21 The Role of AI in Environmental Education

39:59 Optimizing Education: The Role of AI and Friction

43:00 AI as a Tool for Learning: Balancing Speed and Understanding

46:05 Scaffolding Knowledge: Using AI to Simplify Complex Concepts

50:02 The Purpose of Education: Beyond Test Scores

53:47 AI’s Potential to Transform Education

56:17 The Illusion of Learning: Confidence vs. Knowledge

59:50 AI and Human Interaction: The Balance of Technology and Relationships

Disclosures

We used a variety of AI chatbots via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Links

Secret lives of tech billionaires: Sam Altman

Secret lives of tech billionaires: Elon Musk

Secret lives of tech billionaires: Jensen Huang

Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Disclosures

We used a variety of AI chatbots via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Chapters

00:00 Return of the Podcast

02:27 Emily’s New Journey: Motherhood and Content Creation

05:14 Sam Altman: The Controversial Figure

08:14 The Ethics of AI and Leadership

11:18 Personal Background: Sam Altman’s Life and Struggles

14:14 The Business of AI: OpenAI and Y Combinator

17:11 Doomsday Prepping: A Silicon Valley Trend

20:19 Media Coverage and Public Perception

23:15 The Impact of Wealth on Morality

26:10 Conspiracy Theories and Journalism

29:13 Final Thoughts on Sam Altman and AI Ethics

32:29 The Unfolding Drama of Annie Altman

33:14 Elon Musk: The Controversial Figure

35:10 Elon Musk’s Early Life and Challenges

37:04 Family Dynamics and Controversies

38:13 Elon Musk’s Move to North America

41:09 Jensen Huang: An Immigrant’s Journey

44:14 The Founding of Nvidia

49:54 Jensen Huang’s Dual Identity

52:55 The Future of Robotics and AI

55:56 Reflections on Success and Sacrifice

Links

The ‘AI slop’ backlash kills Sora

Sora

The CAA talent agency’s statement on AI threatening actors

Tyler Perry’s canceles Atlanta film studio expansion

Disney’s billion-dollar deal with OpenAI

Nvidia’s DLSS5 gaming graphics tool and Jensen Huang’s related comments

The Undark publication article detailing careless AI-generated children’s videos

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Disclosures

We used Claude 4.6 Opus via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Keywords

Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, OpenAI, Sora, Sora discontinuation, AI video generation, AI slop, OpenAI IPO, AI slop backlash, Meta AI video, Nvidia DLSS5, AI content farms, AI advertising, AI chatbots, Stanford AI study, AI relationship advice, sycophantic AI, generative AI, Comic-Con AI ban

Links

People Are Getting Sick of AI, Literally

Block lays off 4,000 workers citing AI. But how much does AI actually have to do with it?

Deep Work, by Cal Newport

CEOs Hate Remote Work, But This Nobel Prize Winner Says It’s a Win for Women

This Man’s True Love Is a Car? | My Strange Addiction: Still Addicted?

Rise of the Digital Ghost Industrial Complex

The Rolling Stones concert in Havana, Cuba

Thomas Jefferson’s Mac And Cheese Obsession

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Disclosures

We used Claude 4.6 Opus via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Keywords

AI psychosis, chatbot psychosis, AI FOMO, AI anxiety, AI dependency syndrome, AI mental health, generative AI psychological effects, chatbot addiction, AI replacement dysfunction, job loss AI, vibe coding, OpenClaw, dead internet theory, dead internet despair, LLM gaslighting, AI dysphoria, parasocial bot attachment, AI relationships, death bots, AI grief technology, algorithmic loneliness, AI hallucinations, digital brain rot, cognitive atrophy, remote work vs office, hybrid work flexibility, deep work, Cal Newport, AI startup entrepreneur, Thomas Jefferson, mac and cheese, Yankee Doodle, automated ghosting syndrome, AI job replacement, Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, AI slop, bot-generated content, information utility burnout, digital darkness anxiety, AI impact on society, AI and mental health 2025, tech journalism, podcast

Links

How data helped Mexico City reduce high-impact crime by more than 50%

How Mexico City is Tackling Air Pollution

Emily’s Website

Mike’s Blog

Community Notes Help Reduce the Virality of False Information on X

Apple Launches Video Podcasts

Viral, AI-generated apocalypse social media post - “Something Big Is Happening”

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok

Disclosures

We used Gemini Pro 3.1 via Kagi (Mike’s son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Keywords

tech optimism, authentic communication, AI hallucinations, prompt engineering, Uber in Mexico City, disinformation, social media algorithms, AI ethics, tech journalism, content creation, AI FOMO, video podcasting, AI moderation, fact-checking, personal blogging, AI and creativity, technology and society, future of AI, honest journalism

Links

Jony Ive and OpenAI’s wedding announcement

OpenAI and Jony Ive’s Screenless AI Device Could Release in the Next Two Years

Why There’s No ‘Screenless’ Revolution

Parents and Teens Support School Cellphone Bans

Can a Dumb Phone Improve Your Life? I Talked to 6 People Who Made the Switch

New Philosopher magazine

Lapham’s Quarterly

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Recap of Previous Episode

01:32 The Impact of Opinion Columns

03:11 The Future of Screenless Devices

06:40 Banning Phones in Schools

09:34 Bipartisan Support for Phone Bans

13:21 The Irony of Intergenerational Phone Use

17:23 The Role of Screenless Wearables

20:10 The Rise of AI Glasses and Privacy Concerns

26:57 Creepy Technology and Privacy Concerns

28:31 The Impact of Observation on Behavior

31:25 The Observer Effect and Its Implications

34:03 Media Consumption and the Quest for Knowledge

37:07 The Challenge of Information Overload

40:03 The Importance of Critical Thinking

47:34 Wisdom in Observation vs. Immediate Reaction

Disclosures

We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Keywords

Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, Jony Ive, OpenAI, AI hardware, screenless devices, smart glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, smartphone bans in schools, tech addiction, ambient computing, smart rings, digital privacy, observer effect, media consumption, RSS feeds, tech news, haptic technology, educational technology, wearable tech

Links

The 2026 Super Bowl ads

Sam Altman’s posts on Anthropic’s ads

OpenClaw Is the Hot New AI Agent, But Is It Safe to Use?

OpenClaw: The AI agent that’s got humans taking orders from bots

AI Agents Launched a Social Network and Spawned a Digital Religion Overnight

No Humans Allowed: AIs Get Their Own Religion, Social Media, and Hired Help

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Disclosures

We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Links

https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-apps-forecast-accuracy-snow-weather-9768afec5fc53b4faba19f3cfd06a86c

Emily on TikTok

Dark Sky is done. Here’s how Apple’s Weather app succeeded it

Yes, ‘The Farmer’s Almanac’ Is Closing—But Don’t Panic Just Yet

Hail Cannon in the Wikipedia

EMP in the Wikipedia

Kagi Assistant is now available to all users

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Weather Wonders: A Tale of Two Climates

02:14 The Evolution of Weather Forecasting

05:12 The Role of Meteorologists in Modern Society

08:04 The Impact of Weather on Agriculture

11:10 The Future of Weather Information

13:48 The Intersection of Technology and Tradition

16:48 Cultural Perspectives on Weather Communication

19:32 The Legacy of the Farmer’s Almanac

28:10 The Lively Chaos of Latin American Streets

31:24 Navigating Information in a Digital Age

38:47 The TikTok Experiment: Finding Engagement

53:06 Connecting Through Content Creation

Keywords

Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, weather apps, meteorology, TikTok meteorologists, severe weather tracking, Dark Sky app, AI hallucinations, chatbot accuracy, Farmer’s Almanac, subscription economy, Netflix business model, emergency alert systems, megaphone trucks, content creation strategy, video marketing, DJI drones, Kagi Search, social media engagement, Fediverse, Mastodon, viral video strategies, authentic storytelling

Disclosures

We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Links

Apple, Google Sign Deal to Use Gemini AI to Help Build the Future of Siri

Google Flexes Another AI Advantage

Warby Parker, Google to launch AI-powered smart glasses in 2026

A Man Bought Meta’s AI Glasses, and Ended Up Wandering the Desert Searching for Aliens to Abduct Him

‘The Age of Disclosure’: Documentary Revealing Government Cover-Up of Non-Human Intelligence Sets Release

Ziff Davis AI layoffs - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThBSo421/

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

01:06 The Impact of AI on Website Traffic

04:08 Google’s Content Monetization Strategy

06:31 Navigating the Future of AI Personal Assistants

12:25 Apple and Google’s Strategic Partnership

18:52 The Future of Smart Glasses and AI Integration

22:03 The Future of Smart Glasses

24:43 Wearable Tech in Industry

27:42 The Psychological Effects of AI

29:39 The Balance of Digital and Physical Exploration

31:42 Beliefs About Aliens and Exploration

Keywords

Google, Apple, Google AI Overviews, artificial intelligence, Google Gemini, Apple Intelligence, iPhone AI features, personal AI assistant, smart glasses, Ray-Ban Meta, wearable technology, Ziff Davis, layoffs, web traffic decline, digital marketing, SEO strategy, AI impact on journalism, tech news, Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, UFO sightings, alien theories, government drones, mental health in tech, digital detox, generative AI, large language models, Google Apple partnership, future of search, Project Astra, AI hallucinations, tech commentary.

Disclosures

We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Links

Amira’s home-made cultured butter

Google adding an AI inbox, ai overviews to gmail. does anybody want this?

‘Apple Intelligence’ won’t send your data to far-flung servers (for the most part)

Adam Mosseri’s post on authenticity in an AI world

In an AI-perfect world, it’s time to prove you’re human

This retiree’s 30 AI girlfriends kept loneliness at bay—until one’s dark secret shatters the illusion

After ‘digital undressing’ criticism, Elon Musk’s Grok limits some image generation to paid subscribers

BeReal

Twitter and Pinterest founders launch app as antidote to social media

Steve Miller’s high school speech clip from Jimmy Kimmel

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence, AI, Homemade Butter, Google Gemini, Gmail AI, Smart Reply, Apple Intelligence, Deepfakes, Grok, Adam Mosseri, Social Media Authenticity, Tangle App, Vibe Coding, Doom Coding, Sam Altman, Handwritten Notes, Robot Vacuums, NanoBanana, Photo Colorization, Digital Wellness, Tech Ethics, Future of Work, Steve Miller, Cultured Buttermilk, Email Automation

Disclosures

We used Gemini Pro 3 via Kagi (my son and our producer, Kevin, works at Kagi) to 1) generate keywords from the transcript (most of which we used); 2) suggest topics to link to (some of which we used); and 3) write a first draft of the show summary paragraph (which we heavily edited). We recorded and edited the episode using Riverside and used Riverside’s “Magic Audio” (which boosts and normalizes the audio).

Links

Go gray, not cray: why you should grayscale your phone

Toras phone cases

1X Neo

Carnegie Mellon University’s “ambient computing” research

Heath Zenith self-charging doorbell

Apple AirPods 4

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 New Year, New Resolutions

05:53 Tech Resolutions and Screen Time

11:27 Social Media Strategies and Engagement

16:17 The Future of Robotics and Ambient Technology

22:52 The Rise of Ambient Robotics

29:05 The Future of Home Automation

34:03 Challenges of Smart Home Technology

40:30 Reflections on Technology and User Experience

Keywords

Superintelligent podcast, Mike Elgan, Emily Forlini, tech resolutions, digital detox, iPhone grayscale, screen time, smartphone addiction, backpack, Toras case, humanoid robots, 1X Neo, ambient robotics, Carnegie Mellon University, Violet Han, smart home, home automation, AI, AirPods 4, adaptive audio, kinetic doorbell, smart home fatigue, invisible tech, consumer technology

Links

“The Matrix” flip phone

TCL FLIP 4 5G flip phone

CAT S22 flip phone

The Last Useful Man

Mental Health in the Scroll Age

Top 8 Best Distraction Free Phones in 2025

Stickerbox

Palantir CEO Says Legalizing War Crimes Would Be Good for Business

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Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini -Website |PC Mag |Bluesky |X |TikTok

Links

Joi.ai

Blade Runner 2049’s Joi

Ready for the ‘torment nexus’?

Her

Follow Us

Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Exploring AI Companionship

03:53 The Story of Jim: A Case Study

08:24 The Impact of AI on Human Relationships

14:48 The Dangers of Delusion in AI Interactions

20:38 Exploring Human Connection and Loneliness

23:02 The Reality of Digital Relationships

25:09 The Impact of AI on Human Emotions

27:09 The Future of Virtual Companionship

30:34 The Dystopian Vision of Technology

32:56 The Need for a Utopian Approach to Technology

Keywords

AI companionship, emotional impact, loneliness, rural America, digital relationships, technology addiction, virtual reality, human connection, AI relationships, social isolation

Links

Why the ‘996’ schedule is capturing the interest of Silicon Valley leadershiphttps://www.npr.org/2025/10/26/nx-s1-5567995/why-the-996-schedule-is-capturing-the-interest-of-silicon-valley-leadership

Influencers in the Wild (social media virality and sociology)https://www.instagram.com/influencersinthewild

The power of low-tech in a high-tech worldhttps://www.computerworld.com/article/4086115/the-power-of-low-tech-in-a-high-tech-world.html

Rosalía “Berghain”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htQBS2Ikz6c

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Website: superintelligentpodcast.com

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society | Bluesky | Mastodon | Notes

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag | Bluesky | X | TikTok

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to 996 Work Culture

00:52 The Impact of Workaholism in Tech

03:19 Cultural Perspectives on Work Hours

05:45 The Role of AI in Work Culture

08:25 Personal Experiences with Workaholism

09:27 The Future of Work and Burnout

12:04 Conclusion and Reflections on Work Culture

15:46 Cultural Perspectives on Work Ethic

18:59 The High-Tech World and Its Implications

22:33 The Importance of Traditional Skills

25:58 AI and Human Dependency

29:39 Embracing Language and Culture

33:12 Pop Culture Reflections and Closing Thoughts

Keywords

996 work culture, burnout, workaholism, AI impact, work-life balance, technology in work, cultural work ethic, low-tech solutions, intellectual growth, creativity

Mike shuts down the humanoid delusion, while Emily calls out the anthropomorphic marketing ruse tech titans pull to appease pro-natalist narcissist types.

Also: The hosts get personal, sharing practical, analog tips for surviving in a hyper-digital world.

Links

Breaking the Humanoid Robot Delusionhttps://www.computerworld.com/article/4082113/breaking-the-humanoid-robot-delusion.html

NEO The Home Robothttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTYMWadOW7c

Amazon CEO Blames ‘Culture’ for Mass Layoffs, Not AIhttps://www.pcmag.com/news/amazon-ceo-mass-layoffs-were-not-due-to-ai-but-culture

Fed Chair Not Worried About an AI Bubble. Here’s Why It Differs From the ‘90shttps://www.pcmag.com/news/fed-chair-jerome-powell-ai-bubble-why-its-different-90s-dotcom-era

After Teen Suicide, Character.AI (http://character.ai/) to Bar Kids Under 18 From Unlimited Chatshttps://www.pcmag.com/news/after-teen-suicide-characterai-to-bar-kids-under-18-from-unlimited-chats

Follow Us

Mike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)

Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Superintelligent Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)

Links

FBI Busts Mob, NBA Players for Gambling Scheme: Here’s the Tech They Used

https://www.pcmag.com/news/fbi-busts-mob-nba-players-for-gambling-scheme-heres-the-tech-they-used

[I Ate] Scones, jam and clotted cream in the Cotswolds

https://www.reddit.com/r/food/comments/1oe1lkw/i_ate_scone_jam_and_clotted_cream_in_the_cotswolds/

Follow Us

Mike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)

Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Superintelligent Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Setting the Scene

00:54 The Gambling Scandal Unveiled

05:01 Technology’s Role in Modern Crime

07:13 The Cultural Impact of NBA Players

09:19 The Evolution of Organized Crime

14:43 AI’s Dual Nature: Benefits and Risks

22:28 The Future of AI and Shopping Technology

31:23 The Future of AI Beyond Chatbots

32:18 Exploring Alternative AI Applications

33:41 Ethics and AI in Media Creation

35:49 The Dystopian Nature of AI Fabrication

37:05 The Shallow Discourse of the Tech Industry

37:28 Digital Detox: A City’s Initiative

41:24 The Impact of Technology on Society

41:47 Coping with Technology Overload

47:44 Cultural Insights on Food and Language

This Superintelligent episode tackles the whole media ecosystem, what’s wrong with it and how it can be saved for the benefit of all.

Links

Here Comes the AI-Content Backlash!https://machinesociety.ai/p/the-ai-content-backlash-has-begun-b02

How Distributed Computing Makes This Stunning New Immersive Art Exhibition Possiblehttps://www.pcmag.com/articles/artechouse-submerge-exhibition-distributed-computing

How Terry Gross Readshttps://www.youtube.com/shorts/YyUNspQJQX

Follow Us

Mike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)

Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Superintelligent Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Hosts

01:25 The Backlash Against AI Content

04:35 The Comic Book Industry’s Stance on AI

07:12 Demand for Realism in Film

09:48 The Concept of Higher Taste

13:58 The Decline of Quality in Content

17:10 Libraries and AI-Generated Content

20:15 The Role of Disclosure in AI Content

22:41 The Future of AI Content and Quality

27:45 The Impact of AI on Human Thought

31:08 Dreaming and Visualization through AI

31:37 The Influence of AI on Creativity

34:11 The Changing Landscape of Reading and Content Consumption

38:30 The Evolution of Storytelling in Modern Media

42:18 The Need for Authenticity in Content

49:46 Navigating Technology and Wellbeing

Keywords

AI content, backlash, human creativity, comics, music, higher taste, media quality, censorship, libraries, thought, reality, content consumption, technology#AIcontent #backlash #humancreativity #comics #music #highertaste #mediaquality #censorship #libraries #thought #reality #contentconsumption #technology

The AI-generated elephant in the room remains Sora 2 and its fake TikTok anti-social social network. OpenAI launched their latest video generation tool alongside an AI-generated social media feed, and Sam Altman admitted the entire endeavor exists to monetize their business. It’s a profit deal!

Mike brings attention to what you might call the “substitution economy,” where tech companies position AI and robotic alternatives as superior to genuine human relationships, real pets, and authentic experiences. Whether it’s OpenAI’s faux TikTok, character AI for romantic relationships, or AI-generated video feeds replacing actual human creativity, the pattern is unmistakable and troubling.

Meanwhile, brain-computer interfaces are advancing faster than expected, though not in ways promised by science fiction. Emily attended a panel on brain implants in New York City, where she encountered everyone from the supervillain-looking surgeon who performs Neuralink operations to the Meta engineer behind their unfashionable neural wristband technology. The disconnect between public promises and private reality became clear when industry leaders publicly rejected mass commercialization while privately investing in that future.

Even Apple is jumping on the brain-computer interface gravy train. Apple’s quiet but significant contribution comes from Bluetooth standards that allow brain implants to communicate with consumer devices just like any other peripheral. Sending iMessages through thought alone — telepathy, basically — becomes possible.

Mike’s and Emily’s discussion of the AI bubble revealed how different this moment feels from the dot-com crash.

NVIDIA’s Jensen Huang is as much an outlier as NVIDIA itself. He presents as an immigrant success story while demonstrating the ruthless business instincts necessary to dominate the AI chip market. His ability to position NVIDIA as essential to every technological future, from chatbots to humanoid robots to digital twin simulations.

Links

AI Is Testing America’s Power Grid—And Uprooting Rural Familieshttps://www.pcmag.com/articles/ai-is-testing-americas-power-grid-and-uprooting-rural-families

An Unwelcome Megatrend: AI that Replaces Family, Friends — and Petshttps://www.computerworld.com/article/4067326/an-unwelcome-megatrend-ai-that-replaces-family-friends-and-pets.html

Vibe Coding Is Everywhere. Here’s How It Works and 5 Tips for Getting Startedhttps://www.pcmag.com/explainers/vibe-coding-is-everywhere-how-it-works-tips-for-getting-started

Whoop Adds Bloodwork Uploads Amid Spat With FDA Over How ‘Medical’ Its Wearable Ishttps://www.pcmag.com/news/whoop-adds-bloodwork-uploads-amid-spat-with-fda-over-how-medical-its-wearable

Sam Altman Admits Sora 2 ‘Slop’ Feed Is a Money Grab to Fund GPUshttps://www.pcmag.com/news/sam-altman-admits-sora-2-slop-feed-is-a-money-grab-to-fund-gpus

Echo, Kindle, Ring, and More: All the New Products Amazon Announced at Its Fall Hardware Eventhttps://www.pcmag.com/news/everything-amazon-announced-2025-fall-devices-event-scribe-ring-echo-fire

Evaluating the Impact of AI on the Labor Market: Current State of Affairshttps://budgetlab.yale.edu/research/evaluating-impact-ai-labor-market-current-state-affairs

Follow Us

Mike Elgan - About (https://elgan.com/about) | Machine Society Newsletter (https://machinesociety.ai/)

Emily Forlini - Website (https://emilyforlini.com/) | PC Mag Articles (https://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini)

Email: mailto:superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Superintelligent Podcast (https://www.superintelligentpodcast.com/)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview of Tech News

00:40 OpenAI’s Sora 2 and AI Video Generation

01:57 Amazon’s New Device Launches

03:27 The Trend of AI Replacing Human Connections

05:33 Meta’s AI Developments and the Vibes Platform

06:51 Brain Implants and Neuralink’s Competition

09:40 The Ethics of Brain-Computer Interfaces

14:13 OpenAI’s Future and Sam Altman’s Influence

25:46 The AI Bubble: Reality vs. Projections

27:41 Lessons from the Dot Com Bubble

30:36 The Impact of AI on the Job Market

33:45 Investment Trends and Economic Implications

37:12 The Role of Perception in Stock Valuations

42:30 Nvidia and the Future of Robotics

48:28 Jensen Huang: The Duality of Leadership

Keywords

OpenAI, Sora 2, AI video generation, Amazon hardware, brain implants, Neuralink, AI bubble, Nvidia, robotics, tech news

Yes, we’re talking about the Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses and their neural band companion—the gadget duo supposedly destined to replace keyboards and smartphones.

The demo was a train wreck. The AI hallucinated. Mark couldn’t answer a phone call. But it’s also true that a bad demo doesn’t mean it’s a bad product.

Meta’s glasses raise big questions about social acceptability, privacy, and whether the market will truly take off like the Silicon Valley giants hope it will. Also: Can Apple’s design sophistication rescue wearable tech from utter dweebdom? We pitted optimism against skepticism, debating everything from the speed of miniaturization to necessity of face computers.

Links

Meta Explains Multiple Live AI Demo Fails at Connect: 'We DDoS'd Ourselves' - PC Mag

The Meta Ray-Ban Display Demo - YouTube

The Meta Ray-Ban Cooking Demo - X/Twitter

Follow Us

Mike Elgan - About | Machine Society Newsletter

Emily Forlini - Website | PC Mag Articles

Email: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Superintelligent Podcast

Chapters

00:00 Meta's New Smart Glasses and Neural Band Introduction

02:47 The AI Demo Fiasco: A Live Presentation Gone Wrong

05:36 The Challenges of Live Demos and AI Technology

08:10 Zuckerberg's Neural Band Demo: A Series of Missteps

11:18 Innovations in Gesture Control and User Interaction

13:55 The Future of Smart Glasses: Meta vs. Apple

17:01 Ethical Concerns and the Reputation of Meta

19:58 Personal Perspectives on Smart Glasses and Fashion

24:58 The Evolution of Technology and Consumer Acceptance

28:09 The Future of AI Glasses and Fashion

30:45 Cultural Implications of AI Glasses

33:55 The Psychological Impact of Technology

38:10 The Monetization of Augmented Reality

44:02 The Future of VR and AR in Society

50:08 The Apple Ecosystem and Personal Preferences

52:37 The Social Dynamics of Smart Glasses

56:23 The Future of Smart Glasses and Market Trends

59:19 The Role of AI in Smart Glasses

01:06:01 Closing Thoughts on Technology and Society

Keywords

Meta, smart glasses, AI, augmented reality, technology, privacy, Zuckerberg, Meta Connect, neural band, fashion, user experience

What is the role of social media in creating political division, personal crisis, and violence?

The illusion is intimacy — and that global events are personally relevant. The reality is that on social media, we’re being exploited for the benefit of others.

In an age of social media radicalization, the most radical thing you can do is reclaim your digital agency. Block, mute, unfollow. Build an online world filled with brilliant, constructive, inspiring people.

Social media is filled with trolls, toxic abusers, haters, and users. But you can opt out. We’ll tell you how.

Mikehttps://elgan.com/about

Emilyhttps://emilyforlini.com

Mike’s newsletter, Machine Societyhttps://machinesociety.ai

Emily’s articles on PC Maghttps://www.pcmag.com/authors/emily-dreibelbis-forlini

Superintelligenthttps://www.superintelligentpodcast.com

Email us!superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of Social Media on Society

08:28 Understanding Political Discourse and Division

14:26 Navigating Personal Connections in the Digital Age

20:45 Strategies for Healthy Social Media Usage

22:11 Using Social Media with Intention

24:27 Exploring Alternative Social Media Platforms

30:38 The Importance of Real-Life Connections

37:07 Navigating the Crisis of Information Overload

Keywords

social media, political discourse, division, delusions, boundaries, detox, real-life connections, social media tips, mental health, online culture

In other political tech news, we relived the viral White House AI leaders meeting, where Mark Zuckerberg was caught on a hot mic admitting the $600 billion investment pledge he announced moments before was something he pulled out of his ass.

But what do real data center dollars buy? Mostly cutting-edge GPUs and towering racks that require astonishing amounts of electricity and water but provide precious few jobs. We dove into the hidden costs of this data center expansion, from land seizures under eminent domain to communities whose power and water supplies are literally drying up thanks to our insatiable demand for digital services and AI processing.

Yet we refuse to succumb to pessimism. We debated hopeful futures, from solarpunk and hopepunk to vertical farming and urban innovation, wondering aloud why we haven’t seen megacities of skyscrapers in Silicon Valley or data centers that go up instead of out. Can we reimagine tech infrastructure so that energy, housing, and food production work in harmony, not in competition, with nature?

Links

* AI and the End of Proof - Computerworld

* Zuckerberg Caught in Revealing Hot Mic Moment During White House Dinner - PC Magazine

* Reddit Discussion: Meta's Zuckerberg Hot Mic Moment

* KPop Demon Hunters Singer Responds to AI Music Claims - Yahoo Entertainment

* Solarpunk: The Future We Should Strive For - Earth.org

* What is Vertical Farming? Complete Guide - Eden Green Technology

Contact Us

Mikehttps://elgan.com/about

Emilyhttps://emilyforlini.com

Superintelligenthttps://www.superintelligentpodcast.com

Email us!superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 The Intersection of Technology and Politics

02:44 AI as a Scapegoat

08:47 The Role of AI in Misinformation

14:46 The Evolution of Media and AI

19:48 The Liars Dividend and Political Manipulation

25:42 The White House AI Meeting and Corporate Pledges

33:15 The Impact of Data Centers on Employment

34:06 The Economic Landscape and Job Creation

36:02 Energy Demands and Environmental Concerns

37:57 Local Communities and Data Center Development

40:17 The Future of Energy and AI

41:43 Legislation and Local Power Dynamics

44:35 California's Energy Innovations and Challenges

48:37 Water Usage and Agricultural Implications

50:22 Vertical Solutions for Data Centers

56:05 Envisioning a Sustainable Future

01:01:21 The Future of Communities and Technology

Keywords

AI, technology, politics, media, public perception, data centers, environmental concerns, urban development, future communities, investment

Another Trump initiative is to design government buildings in a classical, non-modern style, which raised the question: Why are modern buildings so fugly?

Our conversation meandered through the topics of Soviet brutalism, AI chatbots leaking secrets and pulling prompt injection tricks, and the wild rise of agentic browsers—like Comet—ready to both serve and scam us. (The more “intelligent” and agentic the tech, it seems, the more ways it finds to fib, glitch, and gobble up whatever data we throw at it.)

We also talked about talking — tech lingo, language woes, and translation tech that falls short exactly when you need it most.

Links

The beauty of concrete — https://worksinprogress.co/issue/the-beauty-of-concrete/

Grok's first vibe-coding agent has a high ‘dishonesty rate' — https://www.pcmag.com/news/groks-first-vibe-coding-agent-has-a-high-dishonesty-rate

Teen killed himself after ‘months of encouragement from ChatGPT’, lawsuit claims — https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/aug/27/chatgpt-scrutiny-family-teen-killed-himself-sue-open-ai

Mike Elgan — https://elgan.com/about

Emily Forlini — https://emilyforlini.com

Email Us: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

03:01 Politics Meets Technology: Trump's New Appointment

05:56 Aesthetic Value in Government Buildings

09:02 The Evolution of Architecture and Design

11:55 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity

14:53 AI's Potential for Malicious Use

17:43 Language and AI: The Impact on Communication

20:49 The Influence of AI on Modern Vernacular

27:00 Humorous Slang and AI Terminology

28:58 Joy to Stuff Ratio: Materialism vs. Enjoyment

30:06 Glurge and Sentimental Stories

31:28 Texticated: The Dangers of Distraction

32:32 Mind Casting: The New Age of Self-Expression

34:24 The Statusphere: Social Media and Self-Reporting

37:05 AI Security Risks: Malicious Instructions in Photos

39:36 The Dishonesty of AI: A Growing Concern

42:23 Real Consequences of AI Misuse

44:43 Agentic AI: The Future of Coding Tools

46:10 AI Browsers: The New Frontier

50:36 The Risks of Agentic AI and Cybersecurity

54:47 Motorcycles and Chatbots: A Dangerous Ride

55:56 The Pitfalls of AI Writing Assistance

58:00 The Challenge of Accurate Information

01:00:26 The Future of Language Translation

01:01:53 Navigating Language Barriers in Travel

01:04:07 The Need for Language Learning

01:08:09 The Journey to Learning French

01:11:18 Cultural Expectations and Language Acquisition

Keywords

AI, technology, architecture, cybersecurity, language learning, Trump, design, malicious use, communication, travel

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

01:21 The State of AI: ChatGPT-5 and Its Reception

04:52 The Future of AI: Hype vs. Reality

10:53 AI in Healthcare: Skepticism and Potential

14:56 Life Logging and AI: A New Frontier

20:18 The Challenges of Podcasting

21:39 The Power of AI in Information Retrieval

23:07 The Analog vs. Digital Note-Taking Debate

25:44 Exploring the Future of Note-Taking Technology

27:44 The Quest for Effective Information Retrieval

29:40 E-Book Readers and the Desire for Interaction

Links

GPT-5 AMA with OpenAI’s Sam Altman and some of the GPT-5 team

MyMind

BELLEMOND |Kent Paper Screen Protector for iPad Pro

Mike

Emily

Our email

Keywords

AI, ChatGPT, technology, disillusionment, life logging, information retrieval, e-readers, health, podcast

Monetization is reshaping how AI answers look and what sources appear. Current and planned revenue streams include ads inside answers, affiliate links, content licensing, and preferential ranking for paid partners. Licensed platforms surface more often, which is why Reddit links feel ever‑present, while X and Instagram block scraping and do not feed these tools the same way. Free tiers now face “shrinkflation,” where cheaper or smaller model variants serve more of those queries, pushing upgrades while cutting costs.

Language around deals is muddy by design. “Partnership” often blurs with standard customer or API use, leaving users to assume deeper ties than exist. Apple’s strict policing of that word, even when years of joint engineering work occur, shows how brands manage perception and keep terms vague.

AI browsers are the next big shock to the web. New tools like Dia and Perplexity’s Comet don’t just summarize pages; they act on them. In practice, Comet can open sites, click through flows, fetch data, and drop results into a new Google Sheet. Working inside logged‑in sessions, it can compile lists from social accounts without extra credentials. These browsers also make paywalls weaker by summarizing what’s behind them on demand. As people get used to “always be chatting” with pages, publishers face less click‑through and more extraction.

Google’s AI Overviews push this trend further. The feature holds users on Google and reduces the visits and ad views that once funded reporting. The company says it still drives traffic to “forums, videos, blogs, and posts,” which skews toward social content. If newsrooms shrink, AI systems will end up remixing social posts over original reporting. That short‑term logic breaks the information economy that AI itself needs.

Schools are moving fast to curb phones. A February survey found 77% of US public schools already restrict or ban phones. Entire states now enforce bell‑to‑bell bans, with Texas and New York joining for this school year. Many districts use Yondr pouches to lock devices during the day. Students complain about lunch and hall time without screens, but research points to higher grades, more focus, and more face‑to‑face talk. Parents cite emergency texting, including during shootings, yet schools have long managed urgent calls through the office and can set clear policies while phones remain on site.

The broader culture shift is about attention. Fast feeds train people to kill boredom at once, raising the bar for stimulation so high that books feel dull. Bedtimes once nudged kids to read because nothing else was allowed. Simple home rules—like Faraday pouches at night—restore sleep and quiet. The push to “legalize boredom” is not nostalgia; it is a practical fix for concentration, curiosity, and social skills. Outside the US, contrasting feeds underline the stakes: ByteDance runs a very different domestic product in China that pushes duty and learning, while the global TikTok app leans into sticky short clips.

Links

Sorry, OpenAI: In my early tests, GPT-5 isn't any better than GPT-4o

OpenAI: GPT-5 is less of a suck-up, but it tolerates more hateful behavior

Doris Lessing on how to read a book and how to read the world

How AI browsers end paywalls

The dark side of AI monetization

Google's dishonest and insulting AI Mode justification - a teardown

Alarming new study finds smartphones ruining our brains at unprecedented speed

Contact

https://elgan.com/about

https://emilyforlini.com

superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 The AI Moment: Introduction to GPT-5

02:54 The Disappointment of GPT-5

05:53 Monetization Strategies in AI

08:42 Content Licensing and AI Bias

11:40 The Nature of Partnerships in AI

14:47 The Cult of Apple and AI Development

17:38 The Shrinking Quality of Free AI Models

20:45 Exploring Kagi and Model Selection

23:50 The Future of AI: Delusions and Realities

24:43 Leadership and Product Launch Failures

27:33 The Petty Takedown of Sam Altman

28:33 The Origins of the Podcast

33:57 Exploring AI Browsers

43:11 The Future of Browsers and Google's Monopoly

46:16 Monetization of Information

52:14 The Impact of Cell Phone Bans in Schools

01:05:28 The Future of Technology and Reading Habits

Both hosts raise privacy as a key risk with smart glasses, especially as recording devices with always-on cameras move into everyday life. They talk about how Ray-Ban Meta glasses indicate recording with a visible light but that most people ignore it. Emily brings up that women and anyone concerned with style may find glasses a hard sell, with Mike mentioning Ray-Ban’s advantage in making technology look familiar.

Mike and Emily then shift to the growing impact of AI data centers in rural America. Emily uses firsthand reporting from Pennsylvania, where new data centers need massive power lines, and the resulting fights with local landowners. She describes one case where a family receives eminent domain papers to make way for a power line up to 240 feet tall. These lines connect nuclear power plants to data centers that can draw energy equivalent to 500,000 homes each.

The show brings up Wyoming as a place where soon more electricity could go to AI than for people, and highlights booming electricity demand for server farms serving Meta, Amazon, and others. Mike notes Elon Musk once warned about running out of power for AI two years after his prediction, but the U.S. has since ramped up solar power production.

The episode wraps with the pair discussing monoculture farming, job loss due to data centers and AI, and the toll on local communities when a few companies push rapid, sometimes hidden, expansion.

Emily offers contact info for the group “Alliance to Stop the Line,” showing that the impact of these infrastructure projects is not just an abstract tech problem, but a personal one for many people in towns across the U.S.

Links:Halo — https://brilliant.xyz/products/halo Mike Elgan — https://elgan.com/about Emily Forlini — https://emilyforlini.com

Email comments to: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Links:https://elgan.com/about

https://emilyforlini.com

superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

As AI enters the dating scene—from profile ghostwriters to virtual girlfriends—Emily and Mike ask uncomfortable questions about authenticity in the digital age. They take aim at Silicon Valley's latest attempts to "solve" human connection, including a critical look at Elon Musk's venture into AI companions.

Yet amid the digital dystopia, they find hope in the resurgence of old-school human connection. From neighborhood potlucks to spontaneous conversations with strangers, they explore how we might rediscover the community-building wisdom of previous generations—no apps required.

Drop us a line at: superintelligentpodcast@gmail.com

Links:https://elgan.com/about

https://emilyforlini.com

https://superintelligent.com

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Dating Apps

01:17 Financial Struggles of Dating Apps

04:18 The Impact of AI on Relationships

07:07 The Role of Social Skills in Modern Dating

09:41 Elon Musk and Virtual Relationships

12:42 The Dangers of AI in Personal Relationships

15:40 Navigating Human Connection in a Digital Age

23:51 Navigating Adult Friendships

28:25 The Role of Technology in Making Friends

33:34 Reviving Community Connections

38:18 The Ethics of AI and Affiliate Marketing

#Dating apps #online dating #modern relationships #artificial intelligence #virtual relationships #technology and society #social connection #authenticity #AI in matchmaking #decline of dating apps #monetization of digital platforms #virtual companions #chatbots #human connection #digital engagement #social isolation #loneliness #AI-assisted communication #ethics in tech #media #digital identity #tech industry trends #Bumble #Hinge #Tinder #Airbnb #Uber #OpenAI #Perplexity #Google Plus #Amazon choice badges #Substack #ChatGPT #Groundhog Day #anime culture #social clubs #community organizations #AI-generated dating profiles #data privacy #disclosure of affiliate revenue #editorial independence #tech founders #friend-finding apps #Bumble BFF #human “joiner” culture #digital tribes #real-world friendships #authenticity in content #community-driven media #listener engagement #podcast production #editorial transparency #algorithmic influence #influencer culture #journalism ethics

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Super Intelligent Podcast

02:10 Hosts' Backgrounds and Perspectives

05:06 The Concept of Super Intelligence

07:52 The Evolution of Web Browsers

11:04 The Role of AI in Browsers

14:03 Vibe Coding: A New Era of App Development

17:12 The Impact of AI on Job Markets

20:16 Grok and the Political Landscape

23:05 Electricity Demand and AI's Environmental Impact

32:30 Podcast Launch and Engagement Strategies

#AIBrowsers #VibeCoding #AgenticAI #OpenAIBrowser #PerplexityBrowser #ArcBrowser #ZenBrowser #SidekickBrowser #GoogleChrome #Chromium #ChromeExtensions #GrokChatbot #GrokControversy #TeslaFartMode #AIAssistants #NaturalLanguageInterfaces #PromptEngineering #AppBuildingWithAI #AIChatbots #PoliticalBiasInAI #ElectricityPrices #AIDataCenters #RenewableEnergy #TechIndustry #JobAutomation #AIImpactOnSociety #PowerDynamics #TechCommentary #SuperintelligentPodcast

• Emily Dreibelbis Forlini on PCMag

• Mike Elgan on Computerworld

Chapters

00:00 Podcast Name Evolution

02:03 The Essence of Podcasting

05:01 Personal Preferences in Podcasting

08:05 The Balance of Personal and Informative Content

11:00 The State of Journalism Today

14:04 Disagreement and Diverse Perspectives

17:05 The Craft of Writing and Communication

19:59 Monetization in Podcasting

23:11 Apple's AI Plans and Insights

26:46 Navigating AI in Communication

29:18 Apple's AI Features and Consumer Expectations

31:14 The Future of iPhones and Emerging Technologies

36:25 Brain Implants: The Next Frontier

39:24 The Ethics of Brain Technology

46:24 The Future of Human-Technology Interaction

#podcasting #journalism #personalbranding #monetization #AI #communication #writing #contentcreation #Apple #iPhone #brainimplants #technology #ethics #future #innovation

Links

1. Amazon invents another robot, this time with feeling

2. Grok AI: Rogue employee told me to post about white genocide in South Africa

3. Perplexity AI's quiet coup

4. Apple partners with Synchron to develop brain-computer interface

5. Teens, Social Media, and Technology 2024

6. Trump attacks Digital Equity Act, rural internet

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Cat Talk

00:10 Amazon's Robotics Revolution

08:35 The Grok AI Controversy

15:19 The Role of AI in Misinformation

18:17 Shifting from Search to Direct Answers

22:13 The Rise of Perplexity and AI Assistants

26:45 The Future of Smart Glasses and AI

31:03 Dystopian Futures: Brain Chip Implants

36:19 The Impact of Constant Connectivity

40:04 riverside_emily_& mike _ may 17, 2025 001_the_department of p.mp4

41:22 unicorn_roast_sonic-branding.mp3

Keywords

#AI #robotics #Amazon #Grok #technology #automation #ElonMusk #chatbots #coffeeTechnology #misinformation #searchEngines #Perplexity #smartGlasses #brainImplants #connectivity #socialMedia #futureOfTech #Apple #Google

Links

• Feds Relax Self-Driving Car Regulations Ahead of Tesla Robotaxi Launch

• How to Win Fake Friends and Influence Fake People

• Why Being Polite to ChatGPT Is Costing OpenAI Millions and Wasting Electricity

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Autonomous Vehicles

02:26 Regulatory Changes and Their Implications

07:06 The State of Self-Driving Technology

10:13 Tesla's Controversial Approach

15:03 The Future of Transportation

18:14 Elon Musk: A Psychological Profile

26:16 Narcissism and Leadership

27:40 Understanding the Value of Established Systems

28:08 Politeness in AI Interactions

29:02 The Role of AI in Social Networking

31:03 The Cost of Politeness to AI

32:11 The Nature of AI: Alive or Not?

34:31 Prompt Engineering: The Key to Better AI Responses

38:22 Becoming a Skillful Prompt Engineer

40:22 Conscious AI Usage and Environmental Impact

42:20 The Importance of Distinguishing AI from Humanity

44:40 The Future of AI in Education

48:23 The Role of AI in K-12 Education

52:02 The Challenges of AI in the Education System

01:00:48 unicorn_roast_sonic-branding.mp3

Keywords

#AI #AutonomousVehicles #Tesla #ElonMusk #Regulations #SelfDrivingCars #Technology #Transportation #Psychology #Innovation #Politeness #PromptEngineering #Education #HumanInteraction #SocialNetworking #EnvironmentalImpact #FutureOfAI #K12

LINKS

• Apple and Google Eye the Future of AI Glasses - Computerworld

• Coolest Electric Cars at 2025 New York Auto Show - PCMag

• Drones are the Future of Cybercrime - Computerworld

• An Alarming Number of Gen Z AI Users Think It's Conscious - PCMag

KEYWORDS

#smartglasses #AItechnology #electricvehicles #techindustry #Apple #Meta #Google #innovation #travel #markettrends #Tesla #ElonMusk #drones #spacetourism #extraterrestriallife #dronecyberattacks

LINKS:

The Future of AI Search is Google’s to Lose https://www.computerworld.com/article/3951907/the-future-of-ai-search-is-googles-to-lose.html

Recent OpenAI Launches Limited by GPU Shortages: Poor Planning or Wider Issue? https://www.pcmag.com/news/recent-openai-launches-limited-by-gpu-shortages-poor-planning-or-wider

Alexa+ Takes a Page From Apple Intelligence With Staggered AI Rollout https://www.pcmag.com/news/alexa-plus-takes-a-page-from-apple-intelligence-with-staggered-ai-rollout

Inside the War Between genAI and the Internet https://www.computerworld.com/article/3854642/inside-the-war-between-genai-and-the-internet.html

AI Mode experiment in Search Labs https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/16011537

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

01:22 Exploring AI Interactions

02:04 Using ChatGPT for Home Renovation Decisions

05:10 Evaluating AI Responses and Reliability

07:04 New AI Features and Tools

09:49 The Evolution of AI Chatbots

11:29 The Role of AI in Search and Information Retrieval

13:20 Prompt Engineering and User Experience

17:06 Learning Through AI Conversations

21:09 The Future of AI and Its Implications

24:28 Navigating Content Creation and AI

26:15 The Impact of Open Access on AI

28:45 The Dangers of AI Traffic

30:59 Wikipedia's Struggles with AI

32:52 The Bot Traffic Crisis

35:52 OpenAI's Computing Power Limitations

37:44 The Environmental Cost of AI

40:07 Engineering Challenges in AI

42:46 The Future of AI and Public Perception

KEYWORDS:

#chatbots #HVACsystems #heatpumps #tariffs #energyefficiency #AIhallucinations #ChatGPT #promptengineering #NotebookLM #AImode #generativeAI #Googlesearch #Kagi #Wikipedia #openaccess #scientificresearch #environmentalimpact #datacenters #consumertechnology #energypolicies

LINKS

1. Why You'll Speak 20 Languages by Christmas

Read more

2. Trump Threatens 20 Years in 'Cruel' El Salvador Prison for Tesla Vandals

Read more

3. Tesla's Elon Musk Holds Surprise All-Hands Meeting to Assuage Employees and Investors

Read more

4. Finally, Some Truth Serum for Lying GenAI Chatbots

Read more

5. Tim Cook Gives Siri Delays, Vision Pro Creator Apple Intelligence

Read more

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Future of Language Translation

12:03 Tesla's Turmoil and Elon Musk's Leadership Crisis

27:45 The Challenges of Media Appearances

29:39 Chatbots and Misinformation

32:01 The Future of AI and Factual Accuracy

34:47 The Role of AI in Social Media

36:07 Apple's AI Strategy and Executive Shakeup

39:20 The Future of Smart Glasses

42:21 The Debate on Wearable Technology

45:14 Apple's Long-Term Vision for AI

49:02 The Competition in AI Assistants

#LanguageTranslation #AI #RayBanMetaglasses #Tesla #ElonMusk #Technology #Travel #Culture #Innovation #Business #MediaAppearances #Chatbots #Misinformation #FactualAccuracy #SocialMedia #Apple #SmartGlasses #WearableTechnology #AIAssistants

Links:

1. Where's a Red Scare When You Need One?

2. A Well-Funded, Moscow-Based Global Disinformation Campaign

3. Is OpenAI's Rumored $20,000 AI Agent Good Enough to Take Your Job?

4. Drones Are Already Transforming Business

5. Microsoft Publisher Dead After 34 Years: How to Save Your Work

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of AI in Job Automation

15:12 Russian Disinformation and AI

21:30 The Challenges of Trusting AI

26:01 Navigating the Future of AI and Information

26:08 Revisiting Reagan: A Lesson in Free Trade

28:35 The Evolution of Search: AI and Chatbots

30:26 The Future of Information Retrieval

34:40 The Role of Sources in AI Responses

39:26 The Challenge of Information Quality

46:37 Microsoft's Struggles: A Shift in Relevance

50:55 The Modern Home Buying Experience

#OpenAI #Microsoft #RussianDisinformation #RealEstate #LLMGrooming #PerplexityAI #RAG

Links

• "There's a Vape With a Tamagotchi Inside It That Dies If You Stop Puffing" - Link

• "Why Fast-Learning Robots Are Wearing Meta Glasses" - Link

• "3 Fixes That Could Make Apple AirPods Pro a True Hearing Aid Replacement" - Link

• "Tolan: Alien Best Friend" - Link

• "Sesame: Making Voice Companions Useful for Daily Life" - Link

• "Perplexity - Ask Anything" - Link

• "Perplexity - Ask Anything on Google Play" - Link

• "OpenAI Launches GPT-4.5 But Limits It to Priciest Tiers After Running Out" - Link

Chapters

00:00 The Rise of Robot Training

04:47 Healthcare Robots and AI Training

08:37 The Future of Autonomous Vehicles

11:32 Integrating Robots into Daily Life

16:07 Apple's AirPods as Hearing Aids

22:42 The Evolution of Hearing Technology

27:13 The Future of Hearing Aids and AI Technology

28:25 The Rise of Human-like Chatbots

31:33 Innovative AI Companions and Their Impact

35:39 The Evolution of Voice Assistants

39:45 Amazon's New Alexa and Its Features

44:40 OpenAI's GPT 4.5 Launch and Its Implications

52:01 Controversies Surrounding AI Leadership

#RobotTraining #Robotics #Manufacturing #Factories #AI #HumanOperator #VRGoggles #Tesla #Meta #ARIA #SmartGlasses #GeorgiaTech #LLMs #MultimodalAI #AutonomousCars #Honda #DataSimulation #TrafficJams #SiliconValley #Computer #Milliseconds #SelfDrivingCars #RobotOverlords #Amazon #AgenticAI #DeliveryRobots #WaymoCars #AmazonWarehouses #AppleAirPods #HearingAids #iPhone #Hearables #Tolan #Sesame #Tamagotchi #Vape #ElonMusk #Grok #VladimirPutin #TheBar #AmazonAlexa #EchoShow #SamAltman #Twitter #AGI #DeepSeek #WolframAlpha #StephenWolfram

• ⁠Tesla Cybertruck Crashes Into Pole While Running Latest Version of FSD⁠ - PCMag

• ⁠Apple Is Lying: Robots Don’t Feel Emotions⁠ - Machine Society

• ⁠Apple's Emotional Lamp and the Future of Robots⁠ - Computerworld

• ⁠ScarJo Condemns Deepfake of Her Protesting Kanye Ad as Misuse of AI⁠ - PCMag

• ⁠Why AI Usage May Degrade Human Cognition and Blunt Critical Thinking Skills⁠ - Hackaday

Chapters

00:00 Intro

03:58 Tesla's Self-Driving Controversy

11:53 Safety and Ethical Implications of Self-Driving Cars

12:56 The Challenges of Self-Driving Technology

18:44 The Emotional Intelligence of Robots

26:51 The Ethics of AI and Human Interaction

32:50 The Future of AI in Customer Service

38:55 Kanye's Controversial Merchandise Launch

40:56 Failures in Advertising and Technology

42:31 Celebrity Reactions and AI Misuse

44:47 Scarlett Johansson's Voice and AI Ethics

47:48 The Impact of AI on Human Intelligence

52:51 The Evolution of Skills in the Digital Age

56:20 Outro

#Tesla #Cybertruck #SelfDriving #ElonMusk #CarSafety #Waymo #CultOfElonMusk #ElectricFences #Apple #ELEGNT #Robots #Humanoid #RobotBodyLanguage #RobotEmotions #SonyAIBO #SoftBankPepper #HansonRoboticsSophia #MITKismet #IBMWatson #Pixar #VoiceSelection #CustomerService #AICommunication #ScarlettJohansson #KanyeWest #SuperBowl #Swastika #Advertising #Deepfakes #OpenAI #SamAltman #VoiceCloning #AIGeneratedVideo #SocialMedia #AI

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Links

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3815564/why-i-want-glasses-that-are-always-listening.html

https://www.pcmag.com/news/google-ends-diversity-equity-inclusion-dei-hiring-goals

https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB243/2025

https://www.pcmag.com/news/dot-orders-states-to-halt-work-on-5-billion-ev-charging-network

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

05:25 The Role of AI in Memory Enhancement

10:59 The Power Dynamics in Journalism and Recording

16:15 Amazon's Financial Success and AI Investments

21:41 The Cultural Shift in Tech Hiring Practices

27:02 The Role of Corporations in Solving Societal Issues

36:48 The Ethics of AI Interaction

42:50 Political Maneuvering and EV Infrastructure

47:16 The Role of Business Leaders in Governance

51:49 Reflections on Society and Personal Wellbeing

01:02:22 Exploring the Unusual: A Conversation on Unique Experiences

01:02:56 The Importance of Kindness and Community

Links

⁠⁠https://machinesociety.ai/publish/post/153836590⁠⁠

⁠https://www.pcmag.com/news/deepseek-vs-chatgpt-5-questions-that-put-these-ai-chatbots-to-the-test⁠ 

⁠https://www.pcmag.com/news/chinas-deepseek-toes-the-party-line-on-questions-about-uyghurs-taiwan-more⁠ 

⁠https://www.pcmag.com/news/deepseek-is-here-to-stay-as-microsoft-perplexity-integrate-its-model⁠ 

⁠https://www.pcmag.com/news/lucid-ceo-this-is-how-elon-musk-picked-teslas-strange-charge-port-placement⁠ 

⁠https://www.pcmag.com/news/ford-opens-2025-mustang-mach-e-orders-with-reduced-price-added-heat-pump⁠ 

⁠https://hallidayglobal.com/⁠ 

⁠https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/technology/softbank-openai-ai-investment.html⁠

Takeaways

    •    DeepSeek has gained significant attention for its capabilities and cost-effectiveness.

    •    There are concerns about censorship and political bias in AI tools like DeepSeek.

    •    The rise of smart glasses could change how we interact with AI.

    •    Elon Musk's decisions have impacted Tesla's design and user experience.

    •    The future of electric vehicles is tied to government regulations and incentives.

    •    SoftBank's investment in OpenAI raises questions about the future of AI funding.

    •    The commodification of AI data is a growing concern in the tech industry.

    •    Political bias in chatbots could lead to a fragmented information landscape.

    •    The conversation around AI is becoming increasingly polarized.

    •    The integration of AI into everyday tools like smart glasses is inevitable.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to DeepSeek and Its Impact

02:53 DeepSeek vs. ChatGPT: A Comparative Analysis

05:48 Censorship and Political Bias in AI

08:30 The Future of Chatbots and Ideological Bias

11:16 Smart Glasses and Proactive AI Innovations

13:18 The Role of AI in Everyday Life

16:21 The Metaverse and AI Integration

19:04 Conversational AI: The Next Frontier

22:11 Conclusion and Future Predictions

32:02 The Chatty AI Experience

34:48 AI in Everyday Life

39:47 The Future of Electric Vehicles

41:14 Interview Insights with Lucid's CEO

48:03 Political Landscape for EVs

53:51 Investment Trends in AI

57:22 unicorn_roast_title.mp4

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Takeaways

Trump's AI initiative raises questions about government involvement.

Concerns about the selection of companies for AI funding.

GeoSpy's decision to limit access highlights surveillance issues.

Meta's AI ads are misleading and not truly open to all.

Bill Gates' self-diagnosis of autism sparks debate.

The implications of AI in social media are concerning.

Google's reCAPTCHA 2.0 is outdated and ineffective.

AI technology is evolving faster than regulations can keep up.

Public access to powerful surveillance tools is being restricted.

The conversation around autism and tech leaders is complex.

Chapters

00:00 Trump's AI Announcement: Smoke and Mirrors?

02:45 The Role of Government in AI Development

05:33 Surveillance Technology: GeoSpy and Privacy Concerns

11:44 AI Ads: Meta's Strategy and Public Perception

21:55 The Impact of AI on Perception

23:55 Challenges of Misinformation and AI Summarization

25:37 Apple's AI Missteps

31:09 Bill Gates' Autism Revelation

38:53 The Block List: Google's reCAPTCHA Issues

43:19 New Chapter