Rephonic
Artwork for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000

Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000

Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna
Artificial Intelligence
Chatgpt
Large Language Models
AI Ethics
Openai
AI Technology
Healthcare
Machine Learning
Democracy
Labor Rights
Education
AI Hype
Nursing
Open-Source AI
Meta
Data Privacy
Climate Change
UK Government AI Initiative
AI and Automation
Journalism

Artificial Intelligence has too much hype. In this podcast, linguist Emily M. Bender and sociologist Alex Hanna break down the AI hype, separate fact from fiction, and science from bloviation. They're joined by special guests and talk about everything, from machine consciousness to science fiction, to political economy to art made by machines.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes78Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsTech NewsTechnology

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000

Latest Episodes

Why are some writers and publishers so excited to automate their work? Author Carmen Maria Machado joins Alex and Emily to unpack what writers are missing when they hand off their work to chatbots, and the underlying issues this reveals in the publis... more

The people who make automated translation possible are often low-paid gig workers. Usually, they don't even know who they're really working for — and it might be the US military. Reporter Niamh McIntyre joins Alex and Emily to dissect how one data la... more

We knew that the energy demands of data centers were preventing dirty energy sources from being sunsetted.  Now hyperscalers are reaching even further, resurrecting Pennsylvania's infamous Three Mile Island. Emily and Alex are joined by Maia Woluchem... more

Data centers are overburdening the planet, so tech billionaires have a new scheme — put 'em in space! Astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker joins Alex and Emily to launch this plan into the sun. We unpack all the reasons that this hilariously terrible idea ... 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.

This Machine Kills
This Machine KillsThis Machine Kills
Better Offline
Better OfflineCool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Recent Guests

Carmen Maria Machado
Author of In the Dream House and Her Body and Other Parties
Author
Episode: There's No Ghost in the Machine (with Carmen Maria Machado), 2026.04.13
Niamh McIntyre
Senior reporter at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism in London, covering AI, labor and surveillance tech
Bureau of Investigative Journalism
Episode: Uber for Military Surveillance (with Niamh McIntyre), 2026.03.30
Maia Woluchem
Director of Data & Society's Trustworthy Infrastructures Program, urban planner and technologist
Data & Society
Episode: Data Centers Go Nuclear (with Maia Woluchem and Dr. Livia Garofalo), 2026.03.09
Livia Garofalo
Cultural and medical anthropologist, researcher with Data & Society
Data & Society
Episode: Data Centers Go Nuclear (with Maia Woluchem and Dr. Livia Garofalo), 2026.03.09
Adam Becker
Astr astrophysicist, journalist, author
author of More Everything Forever; launching Dreaming Against the Machine podcast
Episode: Data Centers in Space!? (with Dr. Adam Becker), 2026.03.02
Naomi Klein
Award-winning journalist and international best-selling author of nine books
The Guardian
Episode: How the War Department Learned to Stop Worrying and Love AI (with Naomi Klein), 2026.02.09
Sophie Song
Researcher, organizer, and advocate working at the intersection of Tech and Social Justice
Distributed AI Research Institute
Episode: You Talked to Workers for This Labor Research... Right? (with Sophie Song), 2025.11.17
Decca Muldowney
Journalist and writer in residence at DAIR
Distributed AI Research Institute
Episode: Crunching the Numbers (with Decca Muldowney), 2025.10.20
Reo Eveleth
Reporter and writer, creator of the hit independent show Flash Forward
Episode: Building Worlds Through Better Reading (with Reo Eveleth), 2025.09.29

Hosts

Emily M. Bender
Professor of Linguistics and a co-host known for critical views on AI hype and policy.
Alex Hanna
Sociologist and co-host focusing on AI governance, ethics, and policy.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 213 ratings
  • ABSOLUTELY ABSOLUTIONIST!!

    If you don’t get it- you might just be an AI 😵‍💫

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Eclectic Nightmare
    United States2 months ago
  • Too snarky, absent evidence

    Came here because of the Nonzero interview, which I enjoyed. Robert Wright pushed the cohosts for specific information and they did well. Left to their own devices, they fill their hour with snark and little else. Present information please! I’d love to know more about why AI is less impressive than it seems but what I’m getting from this is reading a Time article and a snarky response of “doubtful.”

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Deejnarow
    United States3 months ago
  • We want our morphemes back

    Finally, a corner of the Internet where I don't have to pretend that a data center can spontaneously attain consciousness by feeding Unicode through a linear algebra function. Thank you, Alex and Emily!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GJ-1245
    United States5 months ago
  • Major WOOF

    Never made it through a full episode. Last episode was a major miss — you should probably have actual coders criticize vibe coding.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    BrandongAwesome
    United States9 months ago
  • Intelligent

    Finally some skepticism to counter the hype. Podcast does a good job of deflating the bubble.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ememqut
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners value the balance of critique and accessible discussion, plus high-profile expert guests.
Production quality and pacing receive mixed feedback, with some wanting more clarity and less snark.
Casts skepticism against hype with solid factual grounding, helpful for listeners seeking clear-eyed analysis.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#171
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#108
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#213
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#175
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#34
Norway/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#83
Netherlands/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Uber for Military Surveillance (with Niamh McIntyre), 2026.03.30
Q: What is the core concern with the way these data labeling firms frame their work for AI?”,
The hosts push back on the marketing language like AI for Good and responsible AI, arguing that the actual end-use—often military or surveillance—undermines the ethical claims and disguises labor exploitation.
Data Centers Go Nuclear (with Maia Woluchem and Dr. Livia Garofalo), 2026.03.09
Q: What is the central economic argument used to push data center development in Pennsylvania?
Proponents frame data centers as a driver of job creation, tax revenue, and energy demand that will revitalize local economies, often pointing to large-scale investments and long-term contracts with tech giants as proof of sustained growth.
Data Centers in Space!? (with Dr. Adam Becker), 2026.03.02
Q: What does the Kardashev scale mean in this context, and is it a useful framework for assessing AI compute goals?
Becker explains the Kardashev scale as a speculative framework for energy usage across civilizations, notes that claiming space-based data centers would reach planetary to universal energy control is a misapplication, and argues the framework is not practically useful for evaluating current AI compute strategies.
Data Centers in Space!? (with Dr. Adam Becker), 2026.03.02
Q: What is a sentient sun, and why is this language used in the discussion of space-based AI?
Becker analyzes the sensational language around 'a sentient sun' and 'extension of the light of consciousness,' explaining these as metaphorical, hype-driven rhetoric rather than technical goals, and he contextualizes it within Musk's broader technoutopian messaging.
Data Centers in Space!? (with Dr. Adam Becker), 2026.03.02
Q: Adam, is there anything you've been burning to say already about space-based AI data centers?
Becker argues forcefully that the idea of moving data centers to space is fundamentally flawed due to physics, heat dissipation limits, radiation, and astronomical costs, and that the timelines proposed by tech leaders are irresponsible and not grounded in engineering reality.

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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000

What is Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show provides a sharp, data-driven critique of AI hype, focusing on societal, political, and ethical implications. Across episodes, the hosts probe claims from tech leaders, media narratives, and policy debates, with guests ranging from journalists and researchers to educators and AI security experts. Expect rigorous analysis of topics like AI in warfare, labor and labor rights, education, data journalism, and the regulatory landscape, all delivered with a skeptical lens and a willingness to challenge the hype. The format often pairs rigorous critique with accessible conversations, occasionally incorporating humor to underscore serious points. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on worker advocacy, safety, and governance, plus a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000. 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000, 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000:

1. Tech Won't Save Us
2. This Machine Kills
3. The 404 Media Podcast
4. Better Offline
5. The Nerd Reich

How many episodes of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 are there?

Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 launched 3 years ago and published 78 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000. 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 Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000?

Recent guests on Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 include:

1. Carmen Maria Machado
2. Niamh McIntyre
3. Maia Woluchem
4. Livia Garofalo
5. Adam Becker
6. Naomi Klein
7. Sophie Song
8. Decca Muldowney

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