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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
Donald Trump
Peter Thiel
Dating Apps
China
Chatgpt
Meta

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 weeklyEpisodes465Founded19 years ago
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Technology

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Artwork for Uncanny Valley

Latest Episodes

Earlier this year, insurance executives gathered in a Times Square conference room to play out a scenario — a Chinese cyberattack that knocks out 5,000 US water utilities at once. If you think that’s a far-fetched scenario, think again. WIRED's Andy ... more

Andy Yen is co-founder of Proton, a Geneva-based company that operates a suite of privacy focused products like email, calendars, password managers and more. A former physicist and economist, Yen is a champion of encryption for everyone. So why is he... more

This week, the team breaks down Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg's 6,500-word AI manifesto and why it ultimately rings hollow. Plus — why job seekers are scheduling bot-run interviews at 1 AM, and WIRED's Andy Greenberg joins to unpack Black Hat and DEF CO... more

Before he burst through the 2025 primaries, Zohran Mamdani was polling at the same level as literally "someone else." Then-candidate Zohran Mamdani sat down with Katie to talk about building a social media juggernaut, Big Tech capitulation, and what ... more

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Recent Guests

Andy Greenberg
Senior security writer for WIRED, joining to discuss Black Hat and DEF CON coverage
WIRED
Episode: Zuckerberg's AI Manifesto Explained; Inside Black Hat and DEF CON's Best Hacks
Zohran Mamdani
New York State Assemblymember and mayoral candidate
New York State Assembly
Episode: Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor (Re-air)
Molly Taft
Wired senior writer
WIRED
Episode: How ICE Has Been Collecting DNA; SpaceX’s Rocket Crashes Into the Moon
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
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

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

    Podcast Addict
    5
    crequi
    2 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 States2 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
#34
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#22
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#29
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#26
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#47
France/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#71
Italy/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Zohran Mamdani, the Internet’s Mayor (Re-air)
Q: What is your screen time average in a given week?
He acknowledges the number is high but refrains from guessing, highlighting that the exact figure is less important than the overall trend of increased online engagement.
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.

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 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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These podcasts share a similar audience with Uncanny Valley:

1. Hard Fork
2. Decoder with Nilay Patel
3. The Vergecast
4. The Political Scene | The New Yorker
5. Version History

How many episodes of Uncanny Valley are there?

Uncanny Valley launched 19 years ago and published 465 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 Uncanny Valley?

Recent guests on Uncanny Valley include:

1. Andy Greenberg
2. Zohran Mamdani
3. Molly Taft
4. Matt Belloni
5. A. G. Sulzberger
6. Hugo Lowell
7. Amanda Campos
8. Eva Jones

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