Rephonic
Artwork for Life, Automated
Artificial Intelligence
Sensory Gratification
Technology
AI In Education
Live Translation Technology
Bottlenecks
Technology and Convenience
Mathematical Proofs
Kellogg School Of Management
Northwestern University
KQED
Automation
Labor Market
Data Centers, United States
Magic
Education Technology
Generative AI
Te Reo Maori
Translation and Interpretation
K-12 Education

Life, Automated explores how to live, work, and make decisions in a world increasingly shaped by machines. Through thoughtful conversations with researchers, practitioners, artists, and more, we do our best to make sense of how technology is changing—and how it is changing us. We ask: What does the economy look like if AI can do much of what humans can? Will AI tools isolate us further, or steer u... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes12Founded4 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
TechnologySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Life, Automated

Latest Episodes

What happens when AI can produce a mathematical proof before any human understands it? And what does that mean for the rest of us?

Northwestern mathematician Bryna Kra, a former president of the American Mathematical Society, joins Jess Love to expl... more

Modern technology has generally made our lives faster, easier, and more convenient. But in swapping out stick shifts and paper menus for automatic transmissions and QR codes, have we accidentally optimized away many of the rich sensory experiences th... more

YouTube

AI is making cyberattacks cheaper, faster, and more sophisticated. Recent reports of autonomous agents compromising Hugging Face show how quickly misaligned systems can create real-world risk. But ideally those same tools could help defenders find an... more

YouTube

Live AI translation tools are making it easier to converse across languages without a human translator, a phrasebook, or years of study. So will we all just stop taking Spanish or Mandarin classes? Sociolinguist Abby Walker doesn’t think so. She shar... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Bryna Kra
Northwestern mathematician and former president of the American Mathematical Society
Northwestern University
Episode: Is Math the Canary in the AI Coal Mine? (with Bryna Kra)
Ian Bogost
Journalist, academic, and award-winning video-game designer
The Atlantic
Episode: Is Technology Making Our Lives Less Gratifying? (with Ian Bogost)
V. S. Subrahmanian
Professor of engineering; Northwestern Security and AI Lab, Buffett Institute
Northwestern University
Episode: The Cybersecurity Crisis Is About More Than “Rogue AI” (with V.S. Subrahmanian)
Abby Walker
Sociolinguist, Virginia Tech; co-director of the Speech Lab
Virginia Tech
Episode: Will We Still Learn Languages When Machines Can Translate? (with Abby Walker)
Ben Jones
Economist at the Ryan Institute on Complexity, Kellogg
Northwestern University
Episode: AI, Artists, and the Future of Creative Work
Yevgenia Nayberg
Artist and author, discusses diverse lanes of art and AI's impact on her practice
Independent/Artist
Episode: AI, Artists, and the Future of Creative Work
Justin Reich
Researcher and director of the Teaching Systems Lab at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Episode: Why AI Might Not Change Education Much at All (with Justin Reich)
Sébastien Martin
Associate professor of operations, Kellogg School of Management, studies AI in education
Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Episode: An Optimist’s Take on AI and the Future of Learning (with Sébastien Martin)
Pat Pataranutaporn
Assistant Professor, MIT Media Lab
MIT Media Lab
Episode: Our Chatbot Friends and Lovers (with Pat Pataranutaporn)

Host

Jess Love
Host of Life, Automated

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#86
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#79
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#40
Indonesia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#110
Philippines/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#153
South Korea/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#205
India/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#240
Chile/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#243
Saudi Arabia/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is Math the Canary in the AI Coal Mine? (with Bryna Kra)
Q: Would you still advise a student who is very interested in mathematics to go into the field?
Kra says yes, enthusiastically. She expects major conjectures to fall and new areas to become understandable, while acknowledging that mathematical education and career pathways will need to adapt quickly to AI.
Is Math the Canary in the AI Coal Mine? (with Bryna Kra)
Q: Why is OpenAI's solving of the Navier-Stokes problem such a big deal?
Kra explains that it is one of the seven Millennium Problems, and that the field values the understanding, methods, and partial results developed along the way, not just a final solution. She says the announcement also raised concerns about competition, transparency, and the norms of collaborative mathematical work.
Is Technology Making Our Lives Less Gratifying? (with Ian Bogost)
Q: Are these hybrid experiences, are they giving us a path toward gratification or away from gratification?
Bogost says digital and physical experiences can both offer distinct pleasures. Rather than treating one as an inferior substitute for the other, he encourages being open to both and noticing the sensory qualities of each.
Is Technology Making Our Lives Less Gratifying? (with Ian Bogost)
Q: Could you identify a moment when you first realized we'd lost some of the sensory pleasures of actually interacting with the world?
Bogost points to the strong, passionate response to his writing about the end of the stick shift. Readers' memories showed him that people missed a whole family of sensory experiences, not just the ability to control a car.
Why AI Might Not Change Education Much at All (with Justin Reich)
Q: Should schools be rethinking what education is for in this moment with AI on the horizon?
We should acknowledge we don't know for sure, and any reforms need to be translated into curriculum and practice with substantial teacher development; AI might provoke important conversations about goals, but broad shifts require systemic effort and careful design, not just hype.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Life, Automated

What is Life, Automated about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Life, Automated investigates how intelligence—both human and machine—reshapes daily life, work, decision making, and social dynamics. Across recent episodes, listeners are invited to explore practical and ethical questions around AI's role in society, from human–machine relationships and emotional implications of chatbots to the environmental impact of data centers and the economics of automation. Conversations often balance rigorous research with accessible storytelling, featuring researchers, practitioners, and artists who illuminate both the promises and risks of an increasingly algorithmic world. A standout throughline is the attempt to help non-specialists gauge AI's future effects on work, education, and community, while not shying aw... more

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2. Are We Doomed?
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Life, Automated launched 4 months ago and published 12 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 Life, Automated?

Recent guests on Life, Automated include:

1. Bryna Kra
2. Ian Bogost
3. V. S. Subrahmanian
4. Abby Walker
5. Ben Jones
6. Yevgenia Nayberg
7. Justin Reich
8. Sébastien Martin

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