Rephonic
Artwork for AI Skeptics
Artificial Intelligence
Section 230
Education
AI Ethics
Data Science Education
Nvidia
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Internet
AI Sandbox
Openai
Writing
Unemployment Rate
Young People
New York City Public Schools
Education Technology
University Of Virginia
AI In Education
Mars
Social Media Addiction
ARPANET

Cathy and Jake are experts on how AI can go wrong for individuals or society, because that's what they do for a living. In this podcast they'll explore all things AI-related, while drinking wine and hanging out with their friends. The intended audience is everyone, but with a special shout-out to the young, because they have been and continue to be absolutely screwed by AI.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes26Founded5 months ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Technology

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Artwork for AI Skeptics

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Recent Guests

Zach Boyd
Policy official at the Utah Office of AI Policy, discussing the state's sandbox program and governance approach
Utah Office of AI Policy
Episode: How Utah is Taking AI Seriously (with Zach Boyd)
Asad Ramzanali
Author of a Vanderbilt white paper on AI policy and finance
Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator
Episode: After the AI Crash (with Asad Ramzanali)
Laura McCleary
Senior Director of Unidos US Policy and Advocacy Shop, AI writer
UnidosUS
Episode: We're The Egg (with Laura Mac)
Andy Smart
Friend of the hosts, author and thinker referenced in the episode
Episode: The psychedelic computer brain (with Andy Smart)
Betty O'Neil
Mathematician and early computer researcher who worked at BBN and contributed to ARPANET
BBN (Bolt, Beranek and Newman) / MIT / Harvard / UMass Boston
Episode: The early Internet (with Betty O'Neil)
Nancy Costello
Director of the First Amendment Law Clinic at Michigan State University College of Law; expert on Section 230 and social media harms to children
Michigan State University College of Law; Harvard-based strategic training initiative for the prevention of eating disorders
Episode: Section 230 (with Nancy Costello)
Tom Adams
Colleague and friend, legal expert discussing case law and policy
Independent attorney
Episode: Social media is the new tobacco (with Tom Adams)
Shlomo Klapper
Founder of Learn at Hand, an AI company focused on legal AI tools
Learn at Hand
Episode: Should judges use AI? (with Shlomo Klapper)
Celeste Kidd
Lab director at UC Berkeley researching belief formation, with focus on how information and AI affect minds
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: The Kidd Lab (with Celeste Kidd)

Hosts

Cathy
Host of AI Skeptics; combines data science background with critical view on AI harms and governance.
Jake
Co-host of AI Skeptics; provides skeptical, conversation-driven framing and policy-oriented insights.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 7 ratings
  • We should all be AI skeptics!

    So start listening to this podcast now

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pppilariz
    Mexico3 months ago
  • Informative and clever

    I have read Cathy’s book Weapons of math destruction and it changed my life and my relationship with the online world. I am so glad she has this podcast now because it is so important and educative . Thank you !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Poshdrosofila
    Canada5 months ago
  • Informed and entertaining

    Podcast Addict
    5
    curmudgeon
    5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Consistently practical takeaways for educators, policymakers, and tech leaders
Rapid, thoughtful conversations that cut through AI hype
Accessible yet rigorous discussions with strong guest lineups

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#67
Denmark/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#175
Ireland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

After the AI Crash (with Asad Ramzanali)
Q: How do we prevent a bubble from becoming a crisis without waiting for one to occur?
Invest in pre-crisis regulations and public-interest channels, like publicly owned data centers and capacity for public good, plus stronger antitrust and oversight, so that when markets tighten there are intact guardrails and alternatives for researchers and startups alike.
After the AI Crash (with Asad Ramzanali)
Q: So Asad, what's the solution to this?
The solution starts with market-structure and utility-style regulation: treat digital AI markets like utilities to enforce neutrality, portability, interoperability, and clear separation of risky activities from consumer deposits, while ensuring transparency in who funds what and reducing cross-subsidies that mask risk.
The early Internet (with Betty O'Neil)
Q: Tell us why the internet was invented.
Betty explains it was about enabling quick and easy communication among scientists, with a broader aim of connecting distant computers and sharing data.
Social media is the new tobacco (with Tom Adams)
Q: What are potential long-term solutions discussed for protecting young users?
Developing experimental lab-style monitoring of harmful algorithmic behavior, creating age and wellbeing-based gating, and implementing safeguards like the variance reduction approach to housing ads as a blueprint for broader protections.
Social media is the new tobacco (with Tom Adams)
Q: Why is Section 230 relevant to these cases, and how did the focus on design help bypass it?
Section 230 protects platforms from liability for user content, but the cases targeted design choices and system architecture rather than content, which can fall outside the shield's scope and allow for liability based on product design.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About AI Skeptics

What is AI Skeptics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful, often skeptical look at AI and its social implications, with hosts drinking wine and inviting guests toground discussions in ethics, governance, education, and work. Episodes frequently cover belief formation, AI's impact on labor, education, and public policy, plus critiques of hype, surveillance, and the attention economy. Noteworthy are its strong emphasis on real-world harms and governance gaps, its mix of academic and practitioner guests, and a candid, accessible style that helps listeners navigate complex tech topics without surrendering critical scrutiny. The show's penchant for pairing practical anecdotes with rigorous critique makes it a valuable resource for brands and sponsors aiming at educated, policy-minded audie... more

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Which podcasts are similar to AI Skeptics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with AI Skeptics:

1. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
2. Dreaming Against the Machine
3. This American Life
4. Democracy Now! Audio
5. Hidden Brain

How many episodes of AI Skeptics are there?

AI Skeptics launched 5 months ago and published 26 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on AI Skeptics?

Recent guests on AI Skeptics include:

1. Zach Boyd
2. Asad Ramzanali
3. Laura McCleary
4. Andy Smart
5. Betty O'Neil
6. Nancy Costello
7. Tom Adams
8. Shlomo Klapper

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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