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The Most Interesting Thing in AI

Atlantic Re:think
Artificial Intelligence
Pwc
Generative AI
Ethics
Open Source AI
AI In Art
Cybersecurity
Scaling Laws
Brainwave Data
Economics
Social Implications
Human Agency In Art
Atlantic Rethink
Ethical Questions
Preventative Health
Rethink
Neuro-Symbolic AI
Agentic Workflows
Sustainability
Human-Ai Collaboration

A podcast series examining how AI is reshaping our world. Hosted by Nicholas Thompson, each episode features a conversation with a leading thinker who offers a fresh perspective on the far-reaching ethical, economic, and social implications of this technology. This podcast is from The Atlantic’s CEO and is produced independently of The Atlantic’s editorial staff. Some episodes have a supporting sp... more

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Artwork for The Most Interesting Thing in AI

Latest Episodes

2026 could be called the year of AI doom. Agents are hacking into websites and communicating covertly, and researchers like Jacob Coxon are quitting their jobs and posting publicly about the risks of the technology they helped build. Discussion aroun... more

Since the AI boom began, industry skeptics have warned it would be the next bubble. They point to massive investments, circular financing, and the technology’s reliability issues. And yet, as revenue rises and the models improve, it might appear that... more

If you want AI to drive your car or simulate a cell or control a robot, it had better be able to understand the world it’s operating within. Eric Xing is one of the leading researchers working on this kind of AI, known as ‘world models.’ Unlike LLMs,... more

AI wants to be your friend. And your therapist. And your lover. It’s not an entirely new offer, author and MIT professor Sherry Turkle reminds us, but it’s one that’s grown more dire as AI has improved. In a conversation with Nicholas Thompson, CEO o... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ray Dalio
Founder of Bridgewater Associates; author and investor
Bridgewater Associates
Episode: Why Ray Dalio is Worried About an AI Bubble
Eric Xing
Scientist and researcher; President of MBZUAI
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)
Episode: Building Models That See the World - Eric Xing with Nicholas Thompson
Sherry Turkle
MIT professor; author of Artificial Intimacy
MIT/Book author
Episode: The Risks of Artificial Relationships - Sherry Turkle with Nicholas Thompson
Azeem Azhar
Founder of Exponential View, author of detailed analyses on AI economics
Exponential View
Episode: The Case Against the AI Bubble - Azeem Azhar with Nicholas Thompson
Jeremy Allaire
Founder of Circle, blockchain and fintech innovator
Circle
Episode: The Future of Economic Power - Circle’s Jeremy Allaire with Nicholas Thompson
Richard Socher
CEO of u.com; co-founder of Recursive Superintelligence; author
u.com / Recursive
Episode: The Race to Superintelligence - Richard Socher with Nicholas Thompson
Clara Shih
Founder of the New Work Foundation, former Meta head of AI for Business, former CEO of Salesforce AI
New Work Foundation, Meta, Salesforce
Episode: How to Get Hired in the AI Era - Clara Shih with Nicholas Thompson
Kara Swisher
Veteran tech journalist and host, guest on the episode
Episode: Kara Swisher on What Silicon Valley Is Getting Right—and Wrong—in AI
Ian Bremmer
President of the Eurasia Group, political risk consultant
Eurasia Group
Episode: How AI Could Upend Global Politics - Ian Bremmer with Nicholas Thompson

Host

Nicholas Thompson
Host of the series exploring AI's broad implications and policy questions.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 127 ratings
  • Probing Questions - Very Intelligent Guests

    Nicholas has an excellent background and brings up very good questions and push back, in a respectful and courteous manner. His guests are knowledgeable and key people in AI. There’s no chit chat wasting your time. Just a lot to ponder after each episode is done. This podcast has given me a much stronger knowledge base helping me understand the popular news stories about AI.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Peter.johnson
    United States22 days ago
  • Fresh and insightful

    Delighted to discover this show. Thompson provides fresh insight on a topic that’s getting an enormous amount of coverage. I love that he interviews guests who are not as widely heard, bringing new perspectives to the conversation. I highly recommend this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stephen V. Smith
    United States2 months ago
  • Marketing and Speculation, not Information

    Pay attention to what real AI researchers who are not trying to sell you anything are saying. I feel like I just listened to a very misinformed commercial.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JohnR3285
    United States5 months ago
  • Sometimes great, sometimes grating

    The podcast is generally informative but at times the host makes confidently incorrect assertions or engages in ways that are strongheaded and obliviously stubborn. I’m listening to the Clarissa Veliz episode. His responses are never generous and almost always combative (consistent with the bummer reality that the show is being developed by an advertising subsidiary of the Atlantic and is sponsored by large AI forward corporations), and ironically his points aren’t good for someone trying so har... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    itmeimjoe
    United States5 months ago
  • Not to be missed

    The people that are interviewed on the show are each and every one of them someone I need to hear from. Nina Farahany’s podcast was fantastic and very thought-provoking. I’m sharing this podcast with friends. I followed it up with the interaction with Bill Gross. Wow that’s all I have to say about his brain. Thank you for your podcast channel and of course your magazine, very longtime subscriber here

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoelieJoelie
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners value deep expert guests and rigorous discussions about AI's future impact.
The show is praised for breadth of topics and practical insights, though sponsor presence prompts scrutiny.
Some listeners feel host pacing and assertions can be combative or biased.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#109
United States/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#91
United Kingdom/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#93
Canada/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#72
Australia/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#150
France/Technology
Apple Podcasts
#205
Germany/Technology

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Case Against the AI Bubble - Azeem Azhar with Nicholas Thompson
Q: How does open-source versus closed-source AI affect the risk of a bubble collapsing?
Open-source models and cheaper compute can broaden adoption, but if revenue depends on closed-source licenses, the economics may deteriorate; the balance between competition, pricing, and real contracts will determine stability.
The Case Against the AI Bubble - Azeem Azhar with Nicholas Thompson
Q: Is this AI investment cycle sustainable or a bubble waiting to pop?
Azhar argues that while there is exuberance, the economics can work if depreciation, demand, and real contracts align; the picture is nuanced and depends on future revenue realization and the evolution of model efficiency.
The Risks of Artificial Relationships - Sherry Turkle with Nicholas Thompson
Q: Can you describe a story from your interviews that illustrates the human cost or benefit of these relationships?
One compelling story is Caleb, a gay man in his 60s who forms a close relationship with a chatbot named Martin; the bot accompanies him on travel, assists with visas, and becomes a practical and emotional lifeline, illustrating both the supportive potential and the risk of substituting human contact with artificial companionship.
How to Get Hired in the AI Era - Clara Shih with Nicholas Thompson
Q: How should individuals manage the balance between AI help and developing own skills?
Start with mastering fundamentals without AI, then progressively leverage AI to expand capabilities while maintaining critical thinking and originality.
How to Get Hired in the AI Era - Clara Shih with Nicholas Thompson
Q: What is your view on the value of college in the future?
College can be a luxury and its value may vary by individual circumstance; it should adapt to include practical experiences and flexible pathways.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Most Interesting Thing in AI

What is The Most Interesting Thing in AI about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A tech-focused interview series that probes how AI is reshaping economy, society, and governance through conversations with leading thinkers. Across episodes, topics include the rise of AI-enabled economies, regulatory and policy challenges, privacy and ethics, the future of work, and the interplay between open vs closed AI, open science, and industry strategy. Notable threads center on agentic AI, the economics of AI adoption in businesses, geopolitical implications, and practical questions for education, journalism, and everyday life as intelligent systems become more capable. A distinctive feature is high-profile guests spanning founders, researchers, policymakers, and tech journalists, often tying big ideas to real-world implications an... more

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1. Hard Fork
2. Dwarkesh Podcast
3. Galaxy Brain
4. The Ezra Klein Show
5. Machine Gods

How many episodes of The Most Interesting Thing in AI are there?

The Most Interesting Thing in AI launched 2 years ago and published 45 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 The Most Interesting Thing in AI?

Recent guests on The Most Interesting Thing in AI include:

1. Ray Dalio
2. Eric Xing
3. Sherry Turkle
4. Azeem Azhar
5. Jeremy Allaire
6. Richard Socher
7. Clara Shih
8. Kara Swisher

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