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Artwork for Blood in the Machine

Blood in the Machine

Brian Merchant
Google
Flock Safety
Enshittification
Artificial Intelligence
New York City
Microsoft
Xbox
Meta
Glassdoor
Deflock
ALPR
Surveillance
Silicon Valley
Cory Doctorow
Antitrust
Data Centers
Zenimax Online Studios
Flock Cameras
Luxury Surveillance
The Luddite Lab

A show about AI, labor, and power. Veteran tech journalist Brian Merchant chronicles the growing backlash and resistance to Silicon Valley and big tech. www.bloodinthemachine.com

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes15Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Blood in the Machine

Latest Episodes

While billionaires and world leaders expound the dangers of all-powerful, “super intelligent” AI, the reality on the ground is that it's a tech product that’s only made possible by countless human beings, laboring for sometimes dollars a day, doing w... more

In a year rife with backlash to big tech, data centers, and AI, one company still manages to stand out: Flock Safety. Over the past decade, Flock has been building out a massive network of surveillance cameras across the nation. The images those came... more

End Times Fascism by Naomi Klein & Astra Taylor. Naomi Klein’s Newsletter, Patterns.Astra Taylor on BlueskyBlood in the Machine Newsletter: Brian’s Bluesky.Producer Ryan’s Newsletter: Ryan’s Bluesky.Articles mentioned in this episode:

The Automation... more

AI executives like Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and OpenAI’s Sam Altman have been forecasting an incipient AI jobs apocalypse for three years now. So where is it? Well it’s here, kind of. But instead of replacing tens of millions of workers, it’s mostly ... more

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Recent Guests

Naomi Klein
Author and activist known for No Logo, The Shock Doctrine
Author, Activist
Episode: The ‘End Times Fascists’ of AI, ft. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
Astra Taylor
Documentary filmmaker and author
Author, Filmmaker
Episode: The ‘End Times Fascists’ of AI, ft. Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor
Alex Hanna
Sociologist, director at the Distributed AI Research Institute, co-author of the AI Con
Distributed AI Research Institute (DARE)
Episode: The real AI jobs apocalypse
Chris Gilliard
Surveillance scholar, author of Luxury Surveillance (MIT Press forthcoming)
Surveillance studies
Episode: The revolt against Meta’s ‘pervert glasses’ is part of a growing storm
Gil Duran
Author of The Nerd Reich, Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy
Author and journalist
Episode: Charting the rise of tech fascism
Ed Zitron
CEO of EZPR, AI critic
EZPR
Episode: The State of the AI Bubble with Ed Zitron
Quinn Slobodian
Co-author of Muskism, A Guide for the Perplexed
Co-author, Muskism
Episode: What is an 'Elon Musk'?
Chris Hayes
Lead Services Programmer at id Software; long-tenured employee
id Software
Episode: Xbox workers speak out about layoffs, AI, and how big tech brought a crisis to gaming
Morgan Gowan
Senior Encounter Designer at CineMax Online Studios; bargaining committee member
CineMax Online Studios / Elder Scrolls Online
Episode: Xbox workers speak out about layoffs, AI, and how big tech brought a crisis to gaming

Host

Brian Merchant
Host with a focus on labor, tech power, and anti-monopoly perspectives; central voice behind the show's critical lens on Silicon Valley and AI-driven workplace shifts.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 42 ratings
  • The podcast about tech rebellion by the number one expert in the field

    If you are fed up to hear that Silicon Valley is synonymous with innovation, that their tech is all the progress we need, that their AI future is inevitable, you will love this podcast.

    Brian Merchant demonstrates empathy for the people whose lives are cast into disarray by the extractive nature of the Silicon Valley model, which always makes it an enjoyable listen in spite of the topic.

    Great guests and a brilliant catch up on the news at the beginning of each episode.

    Thanks from the UK!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    One tech user
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Great content but

    I love this guy and his POV, but the mixing of this pod is so bad! He’s kind of a low talker so you will have the volume up, but the episodes are interspersed with clips with the volume up so high I kept getting blasted in my headphones. Please work on this!

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    picsofyorkies
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The host asks tough questions about tech power and labor, which is refreshing for the industry.
Content is timely and provocative, but some listeners crave more actionable takeaways.
Guests bring diverse perspectives from activism to journalism, enriching debates.
Production quality and audio balance are common topics for improvement.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#118
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#71
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#165
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#77
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#21
Argentina/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#30
Finland/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How to kick Flock out of your town
Q: What is the typical pitch to law enforcement for deploying ALPRs?
The pitch centers on fear-mongering about crimes like kidnapping and stolen cars, supplemented by anecdotes; however, there's little independent research showing meaningful crime-reduction effects.
The revolt against Meta’s ‘pervert glasses’ is part of a growing storm
Q: So what's going on here? What is the difference now?
The guest explains that Meta's glasses are marketed as aspirational and integrated with influential branding, but insider documents and public backlash reveal concerns about facial recognition and everyday surveillance, which may undermine adoption and push for tighter boundaries.
The real AI jobs apocalypse
Q: What role do unions currently play in AI protections, and what are the limits of contract language?
Unions have achieved partial wins—AI-related protections in some contracts—but such language can lack teeth if not backed by ongoing organization and enforcement. The Politico arbitration example shows gains exist, yet workers still face pressure as technology evolves, underscoring the need for continued mobilization and broader coalitions.
The real AI jobs apocalypse
Q: Why is the Luddite Lab focusing on three top-line findings, and how do these shape strategy for workers?
The three findings are that fears about AI often center on broader technological threats to labor, that control and dignity matter, and that real gains come from organized, coalition-building efforts rather than isolated efforts. These shape strategies toward alliances across unions and community groups, developing practical resources, and advocating for governance that ensures dignified work.
The real AI jobs apocalypse
Q: What are you hearing on the ground from workers about AI in the workplace?
Workers talk about anxiety and the fear of job loss, but also insist that AI tools should come with protections, governance, and dignity on the job. They worry about surveillance, workload, and whether automation truly adds value or simply shifts risk and noise onto the workforce. There is a push for collective organizing and bargaining language to ensure they control how AI is implemented.

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 Blood in the Machine

What is Blood in the Machine about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Prolific conversations center on labor, technology power, and the economics of Silicon Valley. Across episodes, listeners hear firsthand accounts from game developers and union organizers about layoffs, AI's impact on work, and strategies for collective bargaining. Other frequent threads critique tech monopolies, data power, and platform governance, with guests offering historical and evaluative context on how labor, policy, and culture intersect in the digital era. A standout trait is the mix of on-the-ground organizing insight with sharp critiques of corporate tech strategy, making it a resource for both workers and policy-minded readers. Potential listeners will likely find the discussions timely for understanding worker organizing movem... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Blood in the Machine:

1. This Machine Kills
2. Tech Won't Save Us
3. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
4. Better Offline
5. Kill The Computer

How many episodes of Blood in the Machine are there?

Blood in the Machine launched a year ago and published 15 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 Blood in the Machine?

Recent guests on Blood in the Machine include:

1. Naomi Klein
2. Astra Taylor
3. Alex Hanna
4. Chris Gilliard
5. Gil Duran
6. Ed Zitron
7. Quinn Slobodian
8. Chris Hayes

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