Rephonic
Artwork for Ethical Machines

Ethical Machines

Reid Blackman
Artificial Intelligence
AI Ethics
Philosophy
Fraud
Deepfakes
Regulation
EU AI Act
Generative AI
Data Science
Bias In AI
Governance
Large Language Models
Social Media
Employee Privacy
Surveillance
Environmental Impact
Consciousness
Disinformation
Chinese Room Argument
Climate Change

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes58Foundeda year ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessTechnologyManagement

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Ethical Machines

Latest Episodes

Wendell Wallach, who has been in the AI ethics game longer than just about anyone and has several books to his name on the subject, talks about his dissatisfaction with talk of “value alignment,” why traditional moral theories are not helpful for doi... more

It would be crazy to attribute legal personhood to AI, right? But then again, corporations are regarded as legal persons and there seems to be good reason for doing so. In fact, some rivers are classified as legal persons. My guest, David Gunkel, aut... more

LLMs behave in unpredictable ways. That’s a gift and a curse. It both allows for its “creativity” and makes it hard to control (a bit like a real artist, actually). In this episode, we focus on the cyber risks of AI with Walter Haydock, a former nati... more

AI can stand between you and getting a job. That means for you to make money and support yourself and your family, you may have to convince an AI that you’re the right person for the job. And yet, AI can be biased and fail in all sorts of ways. This ... 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.

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
The Daily
The DailyThe New York Times

Recent Guests

Wendell Walla
Twenty twenty to twenty twenty four Carnegie Hero Senior Fellow at Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs; Senior Advisor to Hastings Center; Author of "A Dangerous Master" and "Moral Machines".
Carnegie Council for Ethics and International Affairs
Episode: Season finale: A New Ethics for AI Ethics?
David Gunkel
Distinguished research and teaching professor at the Department of Communications at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Episode: Is AI a Person or a Thing… or Neither?
Walter Haydok
Former national security policy advisor and founder of Stackoware
Stackoware
Episode: How Do You Control Unpredictable AI?
Will Landecker
CEO of Accountable Algorithm, previously responsible AI practitioner at Twitter, Lyft, Stripe, and Nextdoor
Accountable Algorithm
Episode: Accuracy Isn’t Enough
Rosaria Taddeo
Professor of Digital Ethics and Defense Technologies at the Oxford Internet Institute
University of Oxford
Episode: Beware of Autonomous Weapons
Avijit Ghosh
Applied researcher at Hugging Face
Hugging Face
Episode: We’re Not Ready for Agentic AI
Michael Klenk
Assistant Professor of Practical Philosophy at the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Episode: How Algorithms Manipulate Us
Benjamin Lange
Research Assistant Professor in the Ethics of AI and Machine Learning
Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
Episode: What Should We Do When AI Knows More Than Us?
Risto Uuk
Head of EU Policy and Research at the Future of Life Institute
Future of Life Institute
Episode: Should We Ignore Claims about AI’s Existential Threat?

Host

Reid Blackman
Former philosophy professor turned AI ethics advisor. Engages deeply with complex ethical issues related to technology.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 72 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 States5 months 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, it is regarded as a valuable resource for navigating the multifaceted interactions of ethics and technology.
There are occasional critiques regarding the approach of challenging the status quo, with some finding it overly provocative or not aligned with their views.
Listeners appreciate the depth of discussion, often highlighting the show's ability to tackle complex ethical questions in technology and AI.
Reviewers commend the host's skillful questioning and thoughtful approach, finding the content both insightful and relevant.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is AI a Person or a Thing… or Neither?
Q: What does Gunkel propose for AI's categorization?
Gunkel suggests moving beyond the traditional binary classification of person and thing to create a more nuanced spectrum for legal and moral classification.
Is AI a Person or a Thing… or Neither?
Q: Why does the classification of AI matter?
It allows us to determine responsibility in moral and legal contexts, and impacts how we perceive the agency of AI.
AI Needs Historians
Q: Can you give an example of a time when history provided clarity on a policy issue?
The debate around NAFTA often oversimplifies job losses, but history shows that the hollowing out of manufacturing is a deeper, long-term issue linked to automation.
AI Needs Historians
Q: What should we be looking for in studying history regarding technology?
Studying history can reveal that the solutions we think we're pursuing might actually be misdirected and that we're trying to solve the wrong problem.
We’re Not Ready for Agentic AI
Q: What level of autonomy should AI models have?
AI models should not be allowed complete autonomy, especially in high-stakes applications. A balance between automation and human control is necessary.

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?

Content is centered on the intricacies of AI technology and its ethical implications across various domains, with particular focus placed on the intersection of technology, ethics, and society. Noteworthy themes include algorithmic bias, the implications of AI in hiring, military applications, and the broader societal impact of technological advancements. The host, with a philosophical background, emphasizes a deep, nuanced understanding of these issues, often inviting expert guests to provide rich, thought-provoking insights. This approach sets it apart from other discussions that may gloss over critical ethical questions related to AI and technology.

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 Ezra Klein Show
2. The Daily
3. Up First from NPR

How many episodes of Ethical Machines are there?

Ethical Machines launched a year ago and published 58 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. Wendell Walla
2. David Gunkel
3. Walter Haydok
4. Will Landecker
5. Rosaria Taddeo
6. Avijit Ghosh
7. Michael Klenk
8. Benjamin Lange

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