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Machines Like Us

The Globe and Mail
Artificial Intelligence
Social Media
Digital Governance
Disinformation
Canadian Information Ecosystem
Automation
AI Agents
Mental Health
Attention Economy
Journalism
Misinformation
Canada
Election Integrity
Historical Movements
Character AI
Democracy
Media Landscape
Trust In Media
Paul Wells Show
Higher Education

Machines Like Us is a technology show about people. We are living in an age of breakthroughs propelled by advances in artificial intelligence. Technologies that were once the realm of science fiction will become our reality: robot best friends, bespoke gene editing, brain implants that make us smarter. Every other Tuesday Taylor Owen sits down with the people shaping this rapidly approaching futur... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes66Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureTechnology

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Latest Episodes

When Prime Minister Mark Carney took the floor at the recent Liberal convention, he described a future where AI benefits all Canadians – not just a lucky few.

It’s an optimistic vision. But according to political theorist Hélène Landemore and democr... more

Four years ago, a Google engineer named Blake Lemoine went public with a strange claim: he thought the large language model he’d been working on had become sentient. At the time, virtually no one took him seriously. (Including, it would seem, Google,... more

Just a few years ago, it seemed like all anyone in AI wanted to talk about was existential risk – this idea that an artificial super intelligence could eventually break containment and destroy humanity. More than 30,000 experts signed an open letter ... more

On Feb. 10, 2026, an 18-year-old opened fire at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., killing eight people before turning a gun on herself. In the weeks that followed, OpenAI admitted that the perpetrator had been discussing the attack with ChatGPT –... more

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Recent Guests

Michael Pollan
Author of A World Appears, exploring consciousness
Author
Episode: Michael Pollan Says AI Isn’t Conscious – But Plants Might Be
Nate Soares
AI safety researcher and author of If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies
Independent AI safety researcher
Episode: Why Did We Stop Talking About The AI Apocalypse?
Meredith Whittaker
President of Signal, expert on encryption and privacy
Signal
Episode: In the Wake of Tumbler Ridge, Can We Trade Privacy for Safety?
Dr. Alondra Nelson
Former head of the Science, Technology, and Social Values Lab at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and a key figure behind the Biden administration's AI Bill of Rights.
Institute for Advanced Study
Episode: When Did Common Sense AI Policy Become Radical?
Derek Ruths
Professor of Computer Science
McGill University
Episode: Bonus: Inside the New Social Media Platform for AI Agents
Ava Smithing
Advocacy Director at the Young People's Alliance
Young People's Alliance
Episode: The Future According to Gen Z
Sneha Revanur
Founder and President of youth-led nonprofit Encode AI
Encode AI
Episode: The Future According to Gen Z
Keyu Jin
Professor at the London School of Economics and author of The New China Playbook
London School of Economics
Episode: Is China Winning the Technological Arms Race?
Stephen Witt
Author of 'The Thinking Machine'
Episode: The Man Behind the World’s Most Coveted Microchip

Host

Taylor Owen
Host of Machines Like Us

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings
  • A top ten show

    Taylor asks important tech related questions to guests who have keen insights. After hearing the show about China’s progress in high tech I’m more convinced than ever that China has upstaged the US when it comes to capitalism. This paradigm flip is the main reason this podcast excels. It transcends conventional wisdom and thinking providing a fresh, plausible perspective on the future of tech.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OlgaSpanier
    Canada3 months ago
  • The Cowards Podcast

    I waited for the newest episode of 2026 to drop before leaving this review. I had hoped to be proven wrong, but clearly the Globe and Mail is set on avoiding discussing the biggest AI controversy of January in favour of talking about how things are great. The briefest lip service paid to Grok and its deepfake assault on women and children. Not even worth its own segment on an episode about the future of AI. Pathetic

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Jake737
    Canada3 months ago
  • Thought-provoking and accessible

    I so appreciate this smart, open-minded podcast to help me think about what to think about.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LotstoLearnCDA
    Canada5 months ago
  • Recommended

    Stimulating, interesting and occasionally challenging

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    imrandall
    Canadaa year ago
  • excellent!

    well researched; energetically and engagingly hosted. kudos!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sir speaksalot
    Canadaa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Informative, high-quality discussions with credible guests and good balance of topics.
Listener sentiment is generally highly positive, praising research, guest selection, and clarity of explanation.
Great depth and engaging interviews; hosts ask tough questions without bias.
Thought-provoking and accessible—smart, open-minded analysis that helps me think about what to think next.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#71
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#154
Saudi Arabia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#191
Belgium/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#239
Hong Kong/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Michael Pollan Says AI Isn’t Conscious – But Plants Might Be
Q: But why do they wanna build consciousness? Like, what's the purpose here?
Pollan suggests that while monetization is unclear, researchers pursue consciousness to better understand the mind, to explore how feelings could emerge in machines, and to test theories about what consciousness actually is, even if practical applications remain unsettled.
In the Wake of Tumbler Ridge, Can We Trade Privacy for Safety?
Q: How should society approach the governance of AI and data to protect democratic values?
The hosts suggest treating governance as a political question about what world we want and emphasize instituting controls on how data is collected and used, balancing safety with civil liberties, and avoiding techno-deterministic traps.
In the Wake of Tumbler Ridge, Can We Trade Privacy for Safety?
Q: Is there a way to preserve privacy while still achieving safety goals?
Yes, by designing AI and messaging systems with stronger privacy protections, such as encrypted servers and limited data access, and by rethinking business models and governance to reduce data extraction and surveillance incentives.
In the Wake of Tumbler Ridge, Can We Trade Privacy for Safety?
Q: What are the risks of mandatory flagging and data sharing with law enforcement?
The guest highlighted that flagging conversations and sharing data can undermine privacy, threaten end-to-end encryption, and set dangerous precedents for surveillance, especially if data can be accessed for non-criminal purposes or by other governments.
When Did Common Sense AI Policy Become Radical?
Q: What would you say to the government about a rights-based approach?
There's a way to be bullish about the potentials of these technologies while also advocating for basic protections and rights for individuals.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Machines Like Us

What is Machines Like Us about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Machines Like Us is a tech-focused interview series that centers on how artificial intelligence and related technologies intersect with policy, society, and everyday life. Across recent episodes, the conversations cover AI regulation, rights-based tech governance, the economics and ethics of AI development, and the geopolitical implications of rapid technological change. Notable angles include debates about safety versus innovation, the role of government and institutions in steering tech, and the social consequences of AI—from mental health to job displacement. The show frequently features authoritative voices from academia, policy, journalism, and industry, offering listeners practical insights for navigating a future shaped by advanced t... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Machines Like Us?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Machines Like Us:

1. The Decibel
2. Ideas
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. Cost of Living
5. Front Burner

How many episodes of Machines Like Us are there?

Machines Like Us launched 6 years ago and published 66 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 Machines Like Us?

Recent guests on Machines Like Us include:

1. Michael Pollan
2. Nate Soares
3. Meredith Whittaker
4. Dr. Alondra Nelson
5. Derek Ruths
6. Ava Smithing
7. Sneha Revanur
8. Keyu Jin

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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