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Computer Says Maybe

Alix Dunn
Artificial Intelligence
Big Tech
Generative AI
Data Centers
Scams
Cryptocurrency
Climate Change
Enshittification
Genomics
Regulation
Data Privacy
Privacy
Digital Public Infrastructure
23andme
Silicon Valley
Digital Sovereignty
Worldcoin
AI Technologies
AI Summit
Digital Identity

Technology is changing fast. And it's changing our world even faster. Host Alix Dunn interviews visionaries, researchers, and technologists working in the public interest to help you keep up. Step outside the hype and explore the possibilities, problems, and politics of technology. We publish weekly.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes127Founded2 years ago
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Society & CultureTechnology

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Artwork for Computer Says Maybe

Latest Episodes

Maria Pilar Llorens, Divij Joshi, Gabriel Geiger, and Purity Mukami reveal how digitised welfare is not welfare — it’s just efficiency theatre.

More like this: REAL Resistance: The AI Information Warp

This is REAL Resistance, a collection of conver... more

Klaudia Jaźwińska, Aliya Bhatia, and Yanick Kemayou come together to answer: What happens when a small collection of AI companies start colonising the truth?

More like this: The Toxic Relationship Between AI & Journalism w/ Nic Dawes

This is REAL R... more

How do we stand up against the human rights violations that exist in the gruesome relationship between the business of AI and war?

More like this: Computer Says Kill: The AI Safety Circus w/ Heidy Khlaaf

In our final installment of Computer Says Ki... more

The AI industry loves to talk about safety, but their version of safety is putting us at risk.

More like this: The Palestine Laboratory w/ Antony Loewenstein

For our second to last series episode of Computer Says Kill, we’re joined by Heidy Khlaaf,... more

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Recent Guests

Heidy Khlaaf
Chief AI Scientist at the AI Now Institute
AI Now Institute
Episode: Computer Says Kill: The AI Safety Circus w/ Heidy Khlaaf
Antony Loewenstein
Independent journalist, filmmaker and author
Author of The Palestine Laboratory
Episode: Computer Says Kill: The Palestine Laboratory w/ Antony Loewenstein
Nabih Bulos
Middle East Bureau Chief for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Episode: SPECIAL: Israel’s AI Kill List in Lebanon w/ Nabih Bulos
Madeleine Batt
Legal fellow at Tech Justice Law
Tech Justice Law
Episode: Computer Says Kill: Anthropic is NOT the Good Guy w/ Madeline Batt
Lis Siegel
Doctoral researcher at University of Oxford, expert on US–China AI competition
University of Oxford
Episode: Computer Says Kill: The Blank Check to Beat China w/ Lis Siegel
Jeff Stern
Episode: Computer Says Kill: How a Calculator Company Reshaped Modern Warfare w/ Jeff Stern
Matt Mahmoudi
Assistant Professor in Digital Humanities at the University of Cambridge; Researcher and Advisor at Amnesty International
University of Cambridge; Amnesty International
Episode: Computer Says Kill: Collapsing the Chain w/ with Matt Mahmoudi
Brian Merchant
Author of Blood in the Machine; media critic and commentator on labor and technology
Author/Writer, Blood in the Machine
Episode: Fantasy Factory: Luddite Horror w/ Brian Merchant
Naomi Klein
Author and activist known for The Shock Doctrine and No Logo; author of End Times Fascism
Author and activist
Episode: How to Scare a Fascist w/ Naomi Klein

Host

Alix Dunn
Host of the show, guiding interviews with experts in tech, policy, and public interest.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 69 ratings
  • My favorite podcast

    An excellent insightful podcast with great guests and intelligent insight. Thanks Alix and team.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joe Sooleeman
    Canada9 months ago
  • Human says definitely listen to this podcast.

    Great insights on tech and global impact.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Supvaf
    Germany2 years ago
  • Epic analysis on top tech issues

    The team at Computer Says Maybe gets at key tech insights through meaningful conversations with leading voices. I love the way they make complex topics accessible and engaging!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    first-time-caller-
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful and accessible analysis of tech in society.
Engaging, clear explanations of complex issues with practical takeaways.
High-quality guests and rigorous scrutiny of AI hype.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#232
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#39
Belgium/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#205
Colombia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#219
Netherlands/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Computer Says Kill: The Palestine Laboratory w/ Antony Loewenstein
Q: How do global tech companies fit into this picture, and do their profits justify or excuse the role they play in weaponization and surveillance?
Tech companies provide the architecture—cloud services, data pipelines, and AI tooling—that allow these systems to scale. While they may frame it as necessary infrastructure, the broader reality is that their platforms enable mass violence and repression abroad, often with limited transparency or accountability, which deserves serious scrutiny and potential legal responsibility.
Computer Says Kill: The Palestine Laboratory w/ Antony Loewenstein
Q: Can you describe what makes the labeling of a 'Palestine Laboratory' accurate from your perspective, and what elements constitute the testing ground for these technologies?
The 'laboratory' concept refers to how occupation enables continuous data collection, surveillance, and field testing of AI and surveillance tools on Palestinians, which then become exportable to other markets. This is not about isolated experiments but an ongoing cycle of data gathering, model training, and deployment in real-world conflict zones, with little accountability.
Computer Says Kill: The AI Safety Circus w/ Heidy Khlaaf
Q: How do you view the role of independence and verification in verifying safety claims for AI systems, especially non-deterministic ones?
Independence is crucial: researchers or regulators must examine systems without ties to the deploying company, and verification should involve transparent documentation and concrete evidence that the system meets a well-defined standard, not just narrative assurances.
Computer Says Kill: The AI Safety Circus w/ Heidy Khlaaf
Q: Could you describe how a well-trained safety engineer approaches a safety problem in critical systems like a nuclear plant?
A safety engineer starts with a specific safety claim about whether the system is safe enough for its use, then audits the system to verify it meets that claim using independent assessment, access to code and documentation, and a rigorous, standard-driven process rather than vague benchmarks.
Computer Says Kill: The Toxic Love Triangle of Big Tech, Big War & Big Science w/ David Gray Widder
Q: What are the practical implications for students and academics in this funding ecosystem?
The discussion highlights how grants, internships, and part‑time industry appointments pull academics toward corporate and military priorities, influencing tenure and daily research practices, with a recommendation to build resistance and alternative coalitions.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Computer Says Maybe

What is Computer Says Maybe about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Tech-focused conversations exploring the rapid evolution of technology and its societal, political, and ethical implications. Episodes frequently cover AI in warfare, governance and accountability, data privacy, corporate power, and digital rights, often through the lens of law, policy, and activism. Notable are rigorous interviews with researchers, journalists, and practitioners who push back on hype and scrutinize who benefits from technological advances. The show's strength lies in its ability to connect high-level ideas to real-world consequences, making it valuable for listeners who want thoughtful, critical perspectives on tech's future and its governance.

Potential listeners from policy, academia, journalism, and activism circles ma... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with Computer Says Maybe:

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

How many episodes of Computer Says Maybe are there?

Computer Says Maybe launched 2 years ago and published 127 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 Computer Says Maybe?

Recent guests on Computer Says Maybe include:

1. Heidy Khlaaf
2. Antony Loewenstein
3. Nabih Bulos
4. Madeleine Batt
5. Lis Siegel
6. Jeff Stern
7. Matt Mahmoudi
8. Brian Merchant

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