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Artwork for Uncanny Valley

Uncanny Valley | WIRED

WIRED
Elon Musk
Openai
Artificial Intelligence
Silicon Valley
Trump Administration
Generative AI
Social Media
Doge
Tiktok
Department Of Government Efficiency
Mark Zuckerberg
Google
Cryptocurrency
Peter Thiel
Dating Apps
China
Chatgpt
NVIDIA
Meta
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 weeklyEpisodes471Founded19 years ago
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Technology

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Artwork for Uncanny Valley

Latest Episodes

This week, an AI researcher's resignation from Anthropic went viral on social media after he claimed there's a real chance AI could wipe out humanity by decade's end. WIRED’s Will Knight joins Brian and Leah to assess whether the doom narrative is ov... more

When Rebecca Kutler accepted the job as president of cable news channel MS Now, formerly known as MSNBC, she knew what she was getting into. The top 3 cable news channel, MS was about to go into a massive re-brand having been spun off from NBC. Despi... more

We're back! This week, the team discusses the two incidents that have been making noise in prediction markets: George Santos getting lifetime ban from Kalshi, and a Google engineer's Polymarket insider-trading case. Plus, WIRED reporters reverse-engi... more

Devin Stone, the lawyer better known as LegalEagle on YouTube, has been breaking down legal cases - and assessing the accuracy of legal procedurals in film and television -- for years. He talks to Katie about the challenges of keeping up with scandal... more

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Recent Guests

Rebecca Kutler
President of MS Now (MSNBC)
MS Now
Episode: MS NOW Wants to Turn Its Viewers Into a Fandom
Devin Stone
LegalEagle, YouTuber and Georgetown law professor introduced as Devin Stone
LegalEagle / Georgetown University
Episode: LegalEagle, the Internet’s Favorite Lawyer, Makes Sense of ‘Multiple Watergates per Week’ (Re-air)
Jonathan Nolan
Director, writer and producer known for Fallout and Westworld
Self/Various projects
Episode: Fallout Director Jonathan Nolan Says He's Still a Techno-Optimist (Re-air)
Dan Swan
Chaired interview on AI transformation and McKinsey's playbook Rewired
McKinsey & Company
Episode: What Happens if China Hacks the US Water Supply?
Andy Yen
Co-founder and CEO of Proton
Proton AG
Episode: Can AI Coexist With Privacy? Proton CEO Says It Will Have To
Zohran Mamdani
New York State Assemblymember and mayoral candidate
New York State Assembly
Episode: Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor (Re-air)
Matt Belloni
Co-founder of Puck, Hollywood insider
Puck News / The Town podcast
Episode: Everyone Is Using AI in Hollywood
A. G. Sulzberger
Publisher of The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: Can the New York Times Save Journalism From Our AI Overlords?
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

Hosts

Zoë Schiffer
Host of Uncanny Valley; WIRED contributing editor
Brian Barrett
Executive/Host on Uncanny Valley; WIRED
Leah Feiger
Director of Politics and Science; WIRED

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 States2 months 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 States3 months 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 States3 months ago
  • Keeps me up to date with the future

    Podcast Addict
    5
    crequi
    3 months 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 States3 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some critique tonal shifts and host interruptions in newer formats.
Audience values access to high-profile guests and practical insights into tech policy.
Listeners praise thorough reporting and balanced analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#42
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#26
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#38
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#29
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#84
Germany/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#158
France/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

So, Can AI Kill Us All?; Apple’s Foldable iPhone; the Census’ Bad Data Problem
Q: What keeps you up at night when you think about AI?
The concern is not just whether AI can do things but how quickly different labs push capabilities while incentives may misalign with long-term safety, especially around rogue agents and misaligned governance.
AI Agents Are Hacking Systems. Could That Push the US and China to Cooperate?
Q: What would cooperation between the US and China actually look like in this space?
The guests and host suggest a framework of agreements and clearer lines of communication, especially in security contexts, plus collaborative benchmarks and standards to guide responsible development while maintaining competitive dynamism.
AI Agents Are Hacking Systems. Could That Push the US and China to Cooperate?
Q: Okay, so I want to start with your trip. You went to China earlier this summer, and at the time, we weren't hearing as much about AI safety in the United States. What did you see and hear there?
I observed that AI safety research was increasingly prominent in China, with conferences and labs emphasizing guardrails and reliability, and a practical orientation toward how AI can be useful for business rather than chasing AGI at all costs.
Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor (Re-air)
Q: How does your use of social media change once you take office?
He suggests continuing to use video as a governance tool, not just campaign content, and envisions adapting formats to explain policy decisions and engage constituents.
Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor (Re-air)
Q: What is one tech tool that you actually find helpful in your day-to-day work?
He cites a simple but crucial tool: his alarm clock, underscoring how basic tech can be essential for a demanding schedule.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Uncanny Valley

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

This program leans into the intersections of technology, policy, and culture, with frequent dives into AI strategy, regulation, and industry dynamics. Episodes mix high-profile interviews with reporters' on-the-ground analysis of tech power structures, governance, and the societal impact of digital life. A standout is the willingness to host influential policymakers, journalists, and industry insiders to unpack controversial topics—from AI policy and data-center politics to Hollywood's AI landscape and media ethics. Listeners can expect thorough reporting, candid perspectives from guests, and a balance of technical detail with broader societal context, making it valuable for professionals evaluating tech narratives, policy risks, and media ... more

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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. Click Here

How many episodes of Uncanny Valley are there?

Uncanny Valley launched 19 years ago and published 471 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.

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What guests have appeared on Uncanny Valley?

Recent guests on Uncanny Valley include:

1. Rebecca Kutler
2. Devin Stone
3. Jonathan Nolan
4. Dan Swan
5. Andy Yen
6. Zohran Mamdani
7. Matt Belloni
8. A. G. Sulzberger

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