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Uncanny Valley | WIRED

WIRED
Elon Musk
Artificial Intelligence
Openai
Silicon Valley
Generative AI
Trump Administration
Social Media
Doge
Tiktok
Google
Department Of Government Efficiency
NVIDIA
Mark Zuckerberg
Cryptocurrency
Chatgpt
Donald Trump
Peter Thiel
Dating Apps
China
Tesla

Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech. On Tuesdays, The Big Interview with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond in conversation with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and be... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes459Founded19 years ago
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Technology

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Artwork for Uncanny Valley

Latest Episodes

This week, Nvidia launched a splashy push for an open source AI security alliance alongside companies like Microsoft, SpaceX, and Palantir — notably absent were OpenAI and Anthropic. We break down what the split means for the industry and the Trump a... more

A.G. Sulzberger, who took on the publisher role at The New York Times a decade ago and has been an influential leader in the Times’ much-lauded push into digital innovation, has no shortage of defending to do lately. Nearly three years ago, the Times... more

This week, the White House accused Chinese-owned Moonshot AI of distilling Anthropic's Fable 5 to build their much talked about Kimi K3 model. Zoë, Leah, and Brian break down whether this is a repeat of the DeepSeek moment and what it means for the A... more

More than a hundred Stanford students left their own graduation to protest Google’s military contracts and deals with ICE. Two organizers, Amanda Campos and Eva Jones, tell us why.

Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect th... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Hugo Lowell
Author of Inner Loop politics newsletter, WIRED reporter
WIRED
Episode: Did China’s Moonshot AI Steal From Anthropic?; OpenAI Loses Control of Two Models
Amanda Campos
Stanford graduate and environmental policy student activist
Stanford University
Episode: Stanford Grads Say Big Tech Is Creating a 'Modern-Day Draft’
Eva Jones
Stanford graduate and student organizer
Stanford University
Episode: Stanford Grads Say Big Tech Is Creating a 'Modern-Day Draft’
Bernie Sanders
United States Senator from Vermont
U.S. Senate
Episode: Bernie Sanders Wants You to Own Half the Profits from AI
Anna Gomez
FCC Commissioner
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Episode: Until Trump Fires Her, Anna Gomez Will Fight for Press Freedom
Tim Heidecker
Comedian, actor, and creator involved with Infowars project
Infowars (creative director)
Episode: Tim Heidecker Thinks Twitter Should Be a World Heritage Site
Noah Shockman
Contributing editor at WIRED; national security journalist
WIRED
Episode: Why You Might Already Own SpaceX Shares; Inside the Knicks' Owner's Surveillance Machine
Zak Brown
CEO of McLaren Racing
McLaren
Episode: The Tech Behind McLaren Racing’s F1 Dominance
Jason Rezaian
Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post
The Washington Post
Episode: How the Internet Could Help the Iranian People

Hosts

Zoë Schiffer
Host; WIRED; Director of Business and Industry (per various listings)
Brian Barrett
Executive Editor; hosts Uncanny Valley interview segments
Leah Feiger
Director of Politics and Science; WIRED
Katie Drummond
Host of The Big Interview; WIRED Global Editorial Director

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Can’t take the valley up-speak

    The ads (ads on other podcasts) for Uncanny Valley have better elocution than that of Uncanny Valley itself. So sophomoric. Too many “likes” every half sentence. I stopped using fillers like “like” in high school. How about some public speaking lessons?

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Refined Taster
    United States25 days ago
  • Great Podcast

    Great podcast, thoughtful reporting. I love Wired’s podcasts and tech coverage. It’s consistently great work and they talk about real things in a balanced way.

    Honestly, would probably be a paying subscriber for the magazine again except that Condé Nast makes it too hard to unsubscribe.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    amikins13
    United Statesa month ago
  • Informative and entertaining

    The hosts are extremely knowledgeable about a wide range of tech development topics – even as they relate to domestic politics, and they are also surprisingly warm and even funny. I really appreciate their work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Royce1629
    United Statesa month ago
  • Keeps me up to date with the future

    Podcast Addict
    5
    crequi
    a month ago
  • Opinion, not tech news

    Good format and execution. Sold as tech news source, and at first sounded like info on AI and its effects on society. But then the names of politicians came up again and again. Not what I came to hear.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SuperChargedAuburn
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Audience appreciates accessible WIRED-brand journalism with insider access.
Listeners praise the show's strong reporting and nuanced tech coverage.
Format changes divide audiences; some crave traditional interview depth.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#55
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#36
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#59
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#63
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#97
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#182
Italy/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Apple Sued OpenAI; New York Takes On Data Centers; Cyclosporiasis Outbreak
Q: What is the core issue Apple is pursuing in its lawsuit against OpenAI and how might this influence OpenAI's hardware ambitions?
The hosts suggest Apple seeks to slow down OpenAI's hardware ambitions by portraying the alleged theft of confidential hardware information as a strategic leverage point, potentially shaping how quickly OpenAI can scale its physical hardware and related AI capabilities.
Tim Heidecker Thinks Twitter Should Be a World Heritage Site
Q: What goes into the uncanny parody of Alex Jones and how did you try to capture his id?
He describes finding a rhythm of talking without stopping, leaning into the absurdity to reveal the darker aspects of the character and the platform, while balancing humor with the real impact of Jones's actions.
Why You Might Already Own SpaceX Shares; Inside the Knicks' Owner's Surveillance Machine
Q: What does the space around the SpaceX IPO mean for everyday investors and the tech stock landscape?
The IPO could elevate Elon Musk's wealth and validate SpaceX as a public company, while the high retail allocation suggests broader participation and a potential structural shift that could influence meme-stock dynamics alongside traditional fundamentals.
Why You Might Already Own SpaceX Shares; Inside the Knicks' Owner's Surveillance Machine
Q: Can you summarize how MSG's surveillance program operates today and who is affected?
The system combines facial recognition at entry points with a broader video management system to track individuals across the venue, often targeting lawyers or others who have sued MSG, as well as a specific case involving a trans woman, illustrating pervasive dossiers and tracking across spaces.
The Tech Behind McLaren Racing’s F1 Dominance
Q: What is the balance between live race attendance and viewing via screens for new fans?
Seeing a race live is unparalleled, but the sport thrives when fans engage with strategy and telemetry on second screens, pairing in-race data with TV viewing to deepen understanding and excitement.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About Uncanny Valley

What is Uncanny Valley about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Uncanny Valley pulls back the curtain on Silicon Valley power, influence, and the people shaping tech policy, media, and culture. Episodes typically fuse sharp reporting with thoughtful commentary on AI, governance, and the societal impact of technology, often weaving in on-the-ground reporting, expert explainers, and candid creator and industry interviews. Notably, the show blends rapid-fire tech policy debates with in-depth creator stories, space, and science topics, offering listeners a mix of hard analysis and insider access. Potential sponsors and guests can expect a rigorous, WIRED-flavored look at how tech intersects with politics, culture, and everyday life, delivered with lively banter and accessible storytelling.

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Which podcasts are similar to Uncanny Valley?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Uncanny Valley:

1. Hard Fork
2. Decoder with Nilay Patel
3. The Vergecast
4. The 404 Media Podcast
5. The Political Scene | The New Yorker

How many episodes of Uncanny Valley are there?

Uncanny Valley launched 19 years ago and published 459 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 Uncanny Valley?

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 Uncanny Valley?

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What guests have appeared on Uncanny Valley?

Recent guests on Uncanny Valley include:

1. Hugo Lowell
2. Amanda Campos
3. Eva Jones
4. Bernie Sanders
5. Anna Gomez
6. Tim Heidecker
7. Noah Shockman
8. Zak Brown

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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