Rephonic
Artwork for Ethical Machines

Ethical Machines

Reid Blackman
Artificial Intelligence
AI Ethics
Ethics
Generative AI
Large Language Models
Deepfakes
Corporations
Cybersecurity
Ethics Of AI
Risk Management
Philosophy
Bias In AI
Agentic AI
Technology Ethics
Chatgpt
AI Relationships
Digital Duplicates
Data Privacy
Ethics In AI
Grief

I have to roll my eyes at the constant click bait headlines on technology and ethics.

If we want to get anything done, we need to go deeper.

That’s where I come in. I’m Reid Blackman, a former philosophy professor turned AI ethics advisor to government and business.

If you’re looking for a podcast that has no tolerance for the superficial, try out Ethical Machines.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes85Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologyManagementBusiness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ethical Machines

Latest Episodes

My new book released just two days. It’s about how insanely complex the AI risk landscape has become, why the standard approach to Responsible AI is broken, and develops a novel approach to avoiding the worst of AI. In this episode I offer you the In... more

ISO 42001 sounds serious. It's got a serious (and boring) name, it's backed by 60+ countries, and some companies seek ISO 42001 certification. But is the standard any good? Does it actually prevent harms? Can we have generic standards? And how can th... more

My guest today, Josh Gellers, Dean at the University of North Florida, argues that AI has more awards. More specifically, he thinks that AI has been used to create new biological organisms that meet the criteria for moral worth. Does that mean that A... more

My guests today - Professor Kate Vredenburgh and VR specialist Lauren Wong - argue that there are at least two strong reasons for calming down: first, AI isn’t good enough to replace us at our jobs. Second, even if they were, it’s up to us to develop... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Hard Fork
Hard ForkThe New York Times
Conversations with Tyler
Conversations with TylerMercatus Center at George Mason University
In Our Time
In Our TimeBBC Radio 4
The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion

Recent Guests

Josh Gellers
Dean of Professional and Lifelong Learning and Inaugural Faculty Fellow for Artificial Intelligence at the University of North Florida
University of North Florida
Episode: Could AI Have Moral Worth?
Kate Vredenburgh
Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
Episode: Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Lauren Wong
Works at META in commercial virtual reality
META
Episode: Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Sven Nehom
Professor of ethics of AI at IMU Munich; principal investigator of AI ethics at the Munich Center for Machine Learning
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU) / IMU Munich
Episode: How AI Robs Us of Meaning
James Desir
Senior Corporate Counsel at Progressive Insurance, leader of their Responsible AI programs
Progressive Insurance
Episode: How an Attorney Leads Responsible AI Practices
Olle Häggström
Professor of mathematical statistics at Chalmers University of Technology
Chalmers University of Technology
Episode: We May Have Only 2-3 years Until AI Dominates Us
Luciano Floridi
John K. Castle Professor in the Practice of Cognitive Science and the Founding Director of the Digital Ethics Center
Yale University
Episode: Let AI Do the Writing
Jason Stanley
Head of AI research deployment and the director of applied AI research at ServiceNow
ServiceNow
Episode: What AI Risk Needs to Learn From Other Industries
Rocky Clancy
Research scientist in the Department of Engineering Education at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech
Episode: AI is Culturally Ignorant

Host

Reid Blackman
Host of Ethical Machines

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 73 ratings
  • I’m sorry

    I wrote the below review a couple weeks ago. I decided to give it anyone try last week and have now listened to half your catalog. The devils advocate / philosopher perspective annoys me occasionally but this podcast has helped me so much so I’m sorry and thank you.

    “I tired listening but the host was so flippant about companies collecting and using our data against us it turned me off. Why create a podcast about ethics if you don’t care about ethics? How do you not care that companies are cho... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tdemarr0
    United Statesa year ago
  • Insightful, relevant, and fun to listen to

    I’ve known Reid for over 20 years. He has a unique ability to ask penetrating questions that drive to the heart of complex issues while also being able to explain anything in simple, down to earth terms. Ethical Machines is a great resource for anyone interested in the multiple intersections of ethics and technology.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eric Corriel
    United States2 years ago
  • The best source for honest, rigorous insights about the ethics of AI

    Reid Blackman is a wellspring of rich insights and an extremely direct and honest communicator. This podcast is one of the few you should subscribe to in this foggy phase of our journey with AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    BrianEvergreen
    United States2 years ago
  • Substantive and legit!

    We see way too many buzz words and haphazard treatment of these topics generally. Reid goes deeper and with great frameworks. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J12J13
    United States2 years ago
  • Must-Listen for Tech Enthusiasts and Ethicists Alike

    Reid's podcast is a captivating exploration of the intersection between technology, ethics, and society. Reid, an expert in ethical risk consultancy and AI advisory, brings insightful discussions on pressing issues such as data privacy, AGI, healthcare equity, and online behavior's moral implications. Each episode features thought-provoking conversations with leading academics and industry professionals, making complex ethical dilemmas accessible and engaging. The podcast is a must-listen for an... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NewPlayer001
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

A must-listen for anyone interested in the ethical implications of AI and policy.
Clear, direct questions that cut to core issues without sacrificing nuance.
Thoughtful, rigorous discussions at the intersection of ethics and technology.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#237
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#125
South Korea/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Q: How should we think about the analogy between AI and VR/metaverse in terms of adoption and ROI?
VR failed to deliver universal ROI beyond niche use cases; the lesson for AI is to focus on concrete problems, measurable ROI, and real-world constraints rather than broad promises of productivity or replacement.
Don’t Believe the Hype About AI Job Displacement
Q: What are the two main reasons to calm down about AI-driven job displacement?
The technology isn't there yet to wholesale replace jobs, and even if it advances, we can shape its use through organizational redesign, training, and incentives to protect workers.
Should Anthropic Have Allowed Autonomous Weapons Systems?
Q: If autonomous weapon systems can be used under human supervision with proper accountability, could they be ethically preferable to certain conventional weapons?
Yes, the guest argues there are defensible scenarios where autonomy can align with humanitarian law and operational needs, provided a human remains responsible for the use of force and the system meets stringent safety benchmarks.
Should Anthropic Have Allowed Autonomous Weapons Systems?
Q: So Michael, is Anthropic's stance that their tools are not ready for autonomous weapon use mainly about safety, or is it also about strategic leverage and trust with the DoD?
The hosts and Michael suggest it's a mix: safety and readiness are core, but there's also a policy and trust dimension—without reliable testing and governance, collaboration with the DoD becomes risky for both sides.
We May Have Only 2-3 years Until AI Dominates Us
Q: So how do you personally get from uncertainty about the probability to the conclusion that we're doomed?
Olle emphasizes he isn't certain, but sees a significant probability of existential catastrophe without change.

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 Ethical Machines

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

Ethical Machines centers on the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence, exploring policy implications, risk management, accountability, and societal impact. Recent episodes thread through autonomous weapons, responsible AI programs, accountability for AI harms, international standards, education, and the cultural consequences of deploying AI at scale. The show routinely features academics, policy experts, and industry practitioners who offer rigorous frameworks and practical insights for organizations navigating AI ethics, governance, and compliant innovation. A standout angle is the emphasis on interoperability of ethical standards across organizations and sectors, plus a willingness to challenge conventional narratives about AI'... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Ethical Machines?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Ethical Machines. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Ethical Machines and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Ethical Machines get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Ethical Machines, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Ethical Machines?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Ethical Machines, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Ethical Machines have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Ethical Machines has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Ethical Machines?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ethical Machines:

1. The Rest Is History
2. Hard Fork
3. Conversations with Tyler
4. In Our Time
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of Ethical Machines are there?

Ethical Machines launched 2 years ago and published 85 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 Ethical Machines?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Ethical Machines?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Ethical Machines from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Ethical Machines?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Ethical Machines. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Ethical Machines?

Recent guests on Ethical Machines include:

1. Josh Gellers
2. Kate Vredenburgh
3. Lauren Wong
4. Sven Nehom
5. James Desir
6. Olle Häggström
7. Luciano Floridi
8. Jason Stanley

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days