
A podcast about things that are not what they seem, hosted by journalist Evan Ratliff. Season 3 is a miniseries in three episodes, telling the story of how Evan tried to understand the tsunami of AI-generated content by injecting as much of it as possible straight into his ears.
What exactly is AI slop anyway? How do you actually define it? Who is behind it all? And what does it mean for the hum... more
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 21 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | TechnologyDocumentarySociety & Culture | |||

It’s the final episode of our three-part miniseries on AI slop, in which we ask: Who are AI-generated podcasts for, and what does the wave of AI slop mean for the future of storytelling? Evan sets out for answers and finds them staring back at him fr... more
Evan goes looking for the humans behind the flood of AI-generated podcasts, and gets some complicated answers to his questions about what they think they’re making and what AI slop means to them. Meanwhile, Shell Game’s own bot-hosted shows move to t... more
Evan creates his own AI-generated podcast detector, locates thousands of AI-hosted shows, and sets off on a synthetic audio listening binge. Strange patterns begin to arise amidst the voices, illuminating the essence of AI slop. The Shell Game band g... more
The next season of Shell Game arrives October 21!
Here's a hint, and another new show from Shell Game to check out in the meantime: Evan Finds a Friend.
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A fascinating exploration of AI, its potential and limitations, with original and creative research.
Satire just can't compete with the real absurdity of AI.
I need this to go viral & enter the zeitgeist pronto. I want everyone to be talking about this. This is the most conversation worthy thing I’ve listened to in a while. When Julia the little huxster comes on board for the ultimate robots v Gen Z human interaction!!! Kyle the rise & grind interrupter! The Slack meltdowns. It’s hilarious but I think it’s also saying something. I know the AI authority from Oxford does not condone the experiment, but damn if it doesn’t make for good listening.
Please keep reporting on the advancements in AI agents! I want to be prepared for when the robots come for me. Love what you do! I especially love how the story is told through a narrative lens. Super creative!
This is my favorite podcast in the world. The idea of an ai company is really a good topic for season 2. I will recommend this to anyone who will listen. Amazing Evan.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Spotify | #35 | |
Apple Podcasts | #29 | |
Spotify | #41 | |
Apple Podcasts | #24 | |
Apple Podcasts | #28 | |
Spotify | #30 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
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Journalist Evan Ratliff reports on artificial intelligence through narrative experiments that put emerging technologies into everyday settings. Recent stories follow his attempts to build a startup staffed by AI agents and to understand the spread of AI-generated podcasts, combining firsthand tests, conversations with people building AI products, and reflections on work, creativity, trust, and human-machine relationships. The format is serialized and documentary-led, with reported scenes, interviews, experiments, and a dry sense of humor rather than a conventional panel discussion. Ratliff's work stands out for treating AI as both a practical technology and a source of social and ethical tension, letting unusual real-world interactions carr... more
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Shell Game launched 2 years ago and published 21 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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Recent guests on Shell Game include:
1. Joseph Meyer
2. Jeanine Wright
3. Nir Barzilai
4. Matt Honan
5. Ed Milet
6. Ali Kazemi
7. Chris Giovinazzo
8. Keegan Walden
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