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Blood in the Machine

Brian Merchant
Google
Flock Safety
Enshittification
Artificial Intelligence
New York City
Microsoft
Xbox
Meta
Glassdoor
Deflock
ALPR
Surveillance
San Francisco, United States
Kenya
Silicon Valley
Cory Doctorow
Antitrust
Data Centers
Zenimax Online Studios
Flock Cameras

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes17Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Blood in the Machine

Latest Episodes

It’s election season, and while most of the national conversation is focused on the midterms and the increasing likelihood that Democrats will take back the House and perhaps even the Senate, in California, the eyes of the tech elite are focused on a... more

“Stochastic parrots,” a term coined in an influential 2021 paper written by two AI researchers and two computational linguists, essentially holds that large language models are not “intelligent” but are rather systems that output material based on wh... more

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

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Emily M. Bender
Computational linguist, University of Washington; co-author of The AI Con and On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots
University of Washington
Episode: The two words the AI industry hates more than anything
Joanne Kinyua
Former data worker and organizer for Data Labelers Association (DLA)
Data Labelers Association (DLA)
Episode: What’s really behind AI ‘super intelligence’
Michael Geoffery Asia
Data labeler and moderator with experience across multiple projects
Data Labelers Association (DLA)
Episode: What’s really behind AI ‘super intelligence’
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

Host

Brian Merchant
Host of Blood in the Machine; veteran tech journalist covering AI, labor, and power.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 61 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 Kingdom3 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 States4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for its rigorous critique of AI hype and the tech industry, and for centering workers' perspectives.
Some listeners note inconsistent audio levels across episodes, suggesting production improvements.
The guest lineup is seen as strong and diverse, offering deep context on labor, policy, and surveillance.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#158
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#122
Italy/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#209
France/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#21
Finland/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#98
Saudi Arabia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#133
Brazil/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The two words the AI industry hates more than anything
Q: What exactly is a Stochastic Parrot?
It's a metaphor for how language models generate text by sampling from training data, without genuine understanding or intent, which helps explain why these systems can produce plausible yet flawed outputs.
What’s really behind AI ‘super intelligence’
Q: What is it actually like to do data labeling and moderation work on AI systems?
The work involves labeling diverse and often graphic content, managing multiple profiles for chat moderation, long hours, strict performance thresholds, and exposure to disturbing material, all of which can be psychologically taxing and poorly compensated without clear career advancement paths.
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.

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?

A sharp, critical look at AI, labor, surveillance, and the power structures shaping technology. Across episodes, themes include the hype around AI and data centers, worker perspectives in data labeling and game development, grassroots organizing against surveillance capitalism, and calls for policy reform and accountability. Notably, this show frequently centers on labor rights, anti-surveillance activism, and the political economy of big tech, offering a grounded, activist-tinged perspective that contrasts industry narratives with on-the-ground experiences. Potential listeners who want to understand how AI impacts workers, privacy, and democracy—and who enjoy rigorous critique and diverse expert voices—will find it especially compelling.

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How many listeners does Blood in the Machine get?

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Which podcasts are similar to Blood in the Machine?

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

1. Tech Won't Save Us
2. This Machine Kills
3. Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000
4. Better Offline
5. The 404 Media Podcast

How many episodes of Blood in the Machine are there?

Blood in the Machine launched a year ago and published 17 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Blood in the Machine?

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What guests have appeared on Blood in the Machine?

Recent guests on Blood in the Machine include:

1. Emily M. Bender
2. Joanne Kinyua
3. Michael Geoffery Asia
4. Naomi Klein
5. Astra Taylor
6. Alex Hanna
7. Chris Gilliard
8. Gil Duran

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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