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Tech Won't Save Us

Paris Marx

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The Growing Divide Between MAGA and Big Tech w/ Tina Nguyen

Paris Marx is joined by Tina Nguyen to discuss the divisions within the American far-right between the Trump administration, the wider MAGA movement, and the tech executives trying to show they’re on their side. Tina Nguyen is a senior reporter at The Verge and author of The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out). Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tina wrote about visiting NatCon and Charlie Kirk’s memorial event. Tina also wrote about Peter Thiel’s ongoing obsession with the antichrist. Jared Isaacman was revoked as a candidate to lead NASA, highlighting the rifts Tina is discussing. Elon Musk is talking about starting a new political party.

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0000

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Donald Trump and Big Tech have formed an alliance. Not all of Trump’s supporters are happy about it.

Paris Marx is joined by Tina Nguyen to discuss the divisions within the American far-right between the Trump administration, the wider MAGA movement, and the tech executives trying to show they’re on their side. Tina Nguyen is a senior reporter at The Verge and author of The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out). Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tina wrote about visiting NatCon and Charlie Kirk’s memorial event. Tina also wrote about Peter Thiel’s ongoing obsession with the antichrist. Jared Isaacman was revoked as a candidate to lead NASA, highlighting the rifts Tina is discussing. Elon Musk is talking about starting a new political party.

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Tina Nguyen to discuss the divisions within the American far-right between the Trump administration, the wider MAGA movement, and the tech executives trying to show they’re on their side.</p> <p>Tina Nguyen is a senior reporter at The Verge and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781982189709"><em>The MAGA Diaries: My Surreal Adventures Inside the Right-Wing (And How I Got Out)</em></a>.</p> <p>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.</p> <p>Also mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Tina wrote about visiting <a href="https://www.theverge.com/politics/773154/maga-tech-right-ai-natcon">NatCon</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/policy/783707/charlie-kirk-memorial-christian-nationalism-maga">Charlie Kirk’s memorial event</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Tina also wrote about Peter Thiel’s <a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/785407/peter-thiel-antichrist-tech-regulation">ongoing obsession with the antichrist</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Jared Isaacman was revoked as a <a href="https://www.space.com/space-exploration/i-was-a-good-visible-target-jared-isaacman-on-why-trump-pulled-his-nasa-chief-nomination">candidate to lead NASA</a>, highlighting the rifts Tina is discussing. </p> </li> <li> <p>Elon Musk is talking about starting a <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dn04lvgpdo">new political party</a>.</p> </li> </ul>

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Is Tesla Still a Car Company? w/ Ed Niedermeyer

Paris Marx is joined by Ed Niedermeyer to discuss the mission to turn Elon Musk into the world’s first trillionaire, Tesla’s growing interest in making robots instead of cars, and how other automakers are coming for the EV market it once dominated. Ed Niedermeyer is the author of Ludicrous and co-host of the Autonocast. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tesla is paying out a series of lawsuits, and the California DMV has called for a one-month ban on Teslas being driven in the state. Curious to see what Tesla’s current Optimus robot is like? Is Tesla the world’s biggest meme stock? Tesla lied about data relating to a fatal accident until a hacker found it. ICE raided a Hyundai plant earlier this month.

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000

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Elon Musk is pivoting to robots instead of cars to boost Tesla’s share price, but as other companies eat its market share, it’s not clear it will succeed.

Paris Marx is joined by Ed Niedermeyer to discuss the mission to turn Elon Musk into the world’s first trillionaire, Tesla’s growing interest in making robots instead of cars, and how other automakers are coming for the EV market it once dominated. Ed Niedermeyer is the author of Ludicrous and co-host of the Autonocast. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tesla is paying out a series of lawsuits, and the California DMV has called for a one-month ban on Teslas being driven in the state. Curious to see what Tesla’s current Optimus robot is like? Is Tesla the world’s biggest meme stock? Tesla lied about data relating to a fatal accident until a hacker found it. ICE raided a Hyundai plant earlier this month.

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Ed Niedermeyer to discuss the mission to turn Elon Musk into the world’s first trillionaire, Tesla’s growing interest in making robots instead of cars, and how other automakers are coming for the EV market it once dominated.</p> <p>Ed Niedermeyer is the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781948836128"><em>Ludicrous</em></a> and co-host of the <a href="https://www.autonocast.com">Autonocast</a>.</p> <p>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>The podcast is made in partnership with <a href="https://www.thenation.com"><em>The Nation</em></a>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.</p> <p>Also mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Tesla is paying out a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/tesla-settles-two-lawsuits-2019-california-crashes-related-autopilot-software-2025-09-16/">series</a> of <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93dqpkwx4xo">lawsuits</a>, and the California DMV has called for a one-month <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/9/18/eyeing-the-future-of-self-driving-cars-musks-tesla-settles-accident-case">ban on Teslas being driven in the state</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Curious to see what Tesla’s current <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-hit-backlash-over-bizarre-231500117.html">Optimus robot</a> is like?</p> </li> <li> <p>Is Tesla the world’s biggest <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/09/06/elon-musk-1-trillion-compensation-pay-package-tesla-shareholders-governance/">meme stock</a>?</p> </li> <li> <p>Tesla lied about data relating to a fatal accident until a <a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2025/08/how-a-hacker-helped-win-a-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-tesla/">hacker found it</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy50yge052xo">ICE raided a Hyundai plant</a> earlier this month.</p> </li> </ul>

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Palantir is Thriving Under Trump w/ Caroline Haskins

Paris Marx is joined by Caroline Haskins to discuss what Palantir actually does and the growing influence it has within the US government and many large corporations. Caroline Haskins is a staff writer at Wired. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Peter Thiel is giving a series of lectures on the Antichrist. Caroline wrote about Palantir and getting confronted by the company at a conference. Paris mentioned a connection between Paypal and the founding of Palantir; a founding story for Palantir is that the concept for the company grew from the desire to use the fraud-detection software designed for PayPal to build counterterrorism software. Palantir is having a much better financial year than the rest of Silicon Valley.

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000

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Palantir is everywhere lately, but what does it really do?

Paris Marx is joined by Caroline Haskins to discuss what Palantir actually does and the growing influence it has within the US government and many large corporations. Caroline Haskins is a staff writer at Wired. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Peter Thiel is giving a series of lectures on the Antichrist. Caroline wrote about Palantir and getting confronted by the company at a conference. Paris mentioned a connection between Paypal and the founding of Palantir; a founding story for Palantir is that the concept for the company grew from the desire to use the fraud-detection software designed for PayPal to build counterterrorism software. Palantir is having a much better financial year than the rest of Silicon Valley.

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Caroline Haskins to discuss what Palantir actually does and the growing influence it has within the US government and many large corporations.</p> <p>Caroline Haskins is a staff writer at <a href="https://www.wired.com/author/caroline-haskins/">Wired</a>.</p> <p>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.</p> <p>Also mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Peter Thiel is giving a series of <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-09-09/peter-thiel-s-antichrist-lectures-are-a-safe-move-for-the-palantir-billionaire">lectures on the Antichrist</a>.</p> </li> <li>Caroline wrote about <a href="%E2%81%A0https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-what-the-company-does/">Palantir</a> and <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/palantir-defense-conference-journalists/">getting confronted by the company</a> at a conference.</li> <li> <p>Paris mentioned a connection between Paypal and the founding of Palantir; <a href="https://archive.ph/20250207164133/https://www.wired.com/story/joining-the-dots/">a founding story for Palantir</a> is that the concept for the company grew from the desire to use the fraud-detection software designed for PayPal to build counterterrorism software.</p> </li> <li> <p>Palantir is having a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/28/palantir-tech-stocks.html">much better financial year</a> than the rest of Silicon Valley.</p> </li> </ul>

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A New Economy Will Deliver Better Technology w/ Aaron Benanav

Paris Marx is joined by Aaron Benanav to discuss his vision for a multi-criterial economy and how it would alter the type of technology our society creates. It’s a plan to center human experience through democratic discourse while driving true social and technological innovation. Aaron Benanav is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University and the author of Automation and the Future of Work. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: The two parts of Aaron’s essay on a Multi-Criterial Economy were published in the New Left Review. Learn more about the briefly discussed Bangladesh youth led revolution.

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000

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A vision for a different economic system would also change how we use and develop new technology

Paris Marx is joined by Aaron Benanav to discuss his vision for a multi-criterial economy and how it would alter the type of technology our society creates. It’s a plan to center human experience through democratic discourse while driving true social and technological innovation. Aaron Benanav is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University and the author of Automation and the Future of Work. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: The two parts of Aaron’s essay on a Multi-Criterial Economy were published in the New Left Review. Learn more about the briefly discussed Bangladesh youth led revolution.

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Aaron Benanav to discuss his vision for a multi-criterial economy and how it would alter the type of technology our society creates. It’s a plan to center human experience through democratic discourse while driving true social and technological innovation.</p> <p><a href="https://www.aaronbenanav.com">Aaron Benanav</a> is an Assistant Professor at Cornell University and the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781839761324"><em>Automation and the Future of Work</em></a>.</p> <p>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.</p> <p>Also mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li> <p>The <a href="https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii153/articles/aaron-benanav-beyond-capitalism-1">two</a> <a href="https://newleftreview.org/issues/ii154/articles/aaron-benanav-beyond-capitalism-2">parts</a> of Aaron’s essay on a Multi-Criterial Economy were published in the New Left Review.</p> </li> <li> <p>Learn <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/8/7/how-bangladeshs-gen-z-protests-brought-down-pm-sheikh-hasina">more</a> about the briefly discussed Bangladesh <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/5/theyre-selling-the-revolution-bangladesh-a-year-after-hasinas-downfall">youth led revolution</a>.</p> </li> </ul>

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Will AI Kill Your Job? w/ Brian Merchant

Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss whether the AI bubble is about to burst and how bosses are deploying AI tools to kill jobs and degrade work. Brian Merchant is the author of Blood in the Machine and writes a newsletter of the same name. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Brian has a series called AI Killed My Job with existing entries on tech workers and translators. Brian encourages listeners to check out the work being done by the National Writer’s Union, Translators Against the Machine, and Lucile Danilov at Loc’d and Loaded. You can contact Brian directly by emailing aikilledmyjob@pm.me A Stanford paper published this week explores the effects of AGI on employment.

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0000

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AI tools haven’t gotten a lot better; bosses are just using AI hype to justify degrading jobs and reducing pay

Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss whether the AI bubble is about to burst and how bosses are deploying AI tools to kill jobs and degrade work. Brian Merchant is the author of Blood in the Machine and writes a newsletter of the same name. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Brian has a series called AI Killed My Job with existing entries on tech workers and translators. Brian encourages listeners to check out the work being done by the National Writer’s Union, Translators Against the Machine, and Lucile Danilov at Loc’d and Loaded. You can contact Brian directly by emailing aikilledmyjob@pm.me A Stanford paper published this week explores the effects of AGI on employment.

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Brian Merchant to discuss whether the AI bubble is about to burst and how bosses are deploying AI tools to kill jobs and degrade work.</p> <p>Brian Merchant is the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780316487740">Blood in the Machine</a> and writes a <a href="https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/">newsletter</a> of the same name.</p> <p>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.</p> <p>Also mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li>Brian has a series called AI Killed My Job with existing entries on <a href="https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/how-ai-is-killing-jobs-in-the-tech-f39">tech workers</a> and <a href="https://www.bloodinthemachine.com/p/ai-killed-my-job-translators">translators</a>.</li> <li>Brian encourages listeners to check out the work being done by the <a href="http://nwu.org/chapters/toc">National Writer’s Union</a>, <a href="https://www.guerrillamedia.coop/en/translators-against-the-machine-a-call-to-arm-ourselves-against-precarity-technological-tyranny-and-obsolescence/">Translators Against the Machine</a>, and <a href="https://locdandloaded.net/author/lucile/">Lucile Danilov</a> at Loc’d and Loaded.</li> <li>You can contact Brian directly by emailing aikilledmyjob@pm.me</li> <li>A <a href="https://digitaleconomy.stanford.edu/publications/canaries-in-the-coal-mine/">Stanford paper</a> published this week explores the effects of AGI on employment. </li> </ul>

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How China’s Renewable Push Upends Geopolitics w/ Kate Mackenzie & Tim Sahay

Paris Marx is joined by Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay to discuss the geopolitics behind China’s investments in green tech and electrification, and how it presents the prospect of a new development model based on renewables instead of fossil fuels. Kate Mackenzie is an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University. Tim Sahay is co-director of the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They are the co-writers of the Polycrisis newsletter from Phenomenal World. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tim and Kate wrote about the potential role of the BRICS in future geopolitics. The Financial Times explored the implications of China as an electrostate. China leads the growing electric vehicle market, ⁠by a lot⁠. Pakistan imported 17 gigawatts of solar panels in 2024 alone, as Africa is in the midst of its own surge in Chinese solar panel imports. Trump’s policies are pushing China and India to ⁠strengthen ties⁠.

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000

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China’s green tech investments could free other countries from dependence on fossil fuels and the US dollar

Paris Marx is joined by Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay to discuss the geopolitics behind China’s investments in green tech and electrification, and how it presents the prospect of a new development model based on renewables instead of fossil fuels. Kate Mackenzie is an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University. Tim Sahay is co-director of the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They are the co-writers of the Polycrisis newsletter from Phenomenal World. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon. The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson. Also mentioned in this episode: Tim and Kate wrote about the potential role of the BRICS in future geopolitics. The Financial Times explored the implications of China as an electrostate. China leads the growing electric vehicle market, ⁠by a lot⁠. Pakistan imported 17 gigawatts of solar panels in 2024 alone, as Africa is in the midst of its own surge in Chinese solar panel imports. Trump’s policies are pushing China and India to ⁠strengthen ties⁠.

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Kate Mackenzie and Tim Sahay to discuss the geopolitics behind China’s investments in green tech and electrification, and how it presents the prospect of a new development model based on renewables instead of fossil fuels.</p> <p>Kate Mackenzie is an adjunct fellow at Macquarie University. Tim Sahay is co-director of the Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab at Johns Hopkins University. They are the co-writers of the <a href="https://www.phenomenalworld.org/series/the-polycrisis/">Polycrisis newsletter</a> from Phenomenal World.</p> <p>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.</p> <p>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.</p> <p>Also mentioned in this episode:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Tim and Kate wrote about the potential <a href="https://www.phenomenalworld.org/analysis/brics-in-2025/">role of the BRICS</a> in future geopolitics.</p> </li> <li> <p>The <em>Financial Times</em> explored the implications of <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/f86782fa-9f2e-448a-b710-29e787dc9831">China as an electrostate</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p>China leads the growing electric vehicle market, <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/ev-sales-china-iea-1.7535190">⁠by a lot⁠</a>.</p> </li> <li> <p>Pakistan imported <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/pakistan-solar-energy-panels-imports-china-b2732711.html">17 gigawatts of solar panels</a> in 2024 alone, as Africa is in the midst of <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/african-imports-of-chinese-solar-panels-increase/">its own surge</a> in Chinese solar panel imports.</p> </li> <li> <p>Trump’s policies are pushing China and India to <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/20/did-trumps-tariff-war-force-india-and-china-to-mend-ties">⁠strengthen ties⁠</a>.</p> </li> </ul>

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Why Countries Must Fight For Digital Sovereignty w/ Cecilia Rikap

Paris Marx is joined by Cecilia Rikap to discuss how countries’ dependence on US tech companies is harming them and why they need to get serious about digital sovereignty.Cecilia Rikap is Associate Professor in Economics at University College London and Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Cecilia (and Paris!) worked on a report offering a roadmap to reclaiming digital sovereignty. The UK Labour Party forced the chair of the Competition and Markets Authority to step down earlier this year to promote its pro-growth agenda. A Microsoft executive told a French Senate committee that it could not guarantee data sovereignty if the US government requested information stored on its servers in Europe. Alexandre de Moraes is the Brazilian judge pushing back against big tech. The US is sanctioning judges from the ICC (as well as Alexandre de Moraes) Support the show

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Why Countries Must Fight For Digital Sovereignty w/ Cecilia Rikap

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Paris Marx is joined by Cecilia Rikap to discuss how countries’ dependence on US tech companies is harming them and why they need to get serious about digital sovereignty. Cecilia Rikap is Associate Professor in Economics at University College London and Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Supp...

Paris Marx is joined by Cecilia Rikap to discuss how countries’ dependence on US tech companies is harming them and why they need to get serious about digital sovereignty.Cecilia Rikap is Associate Professor in Economics at University College London and Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Cecilia (and Paris!) worked on a report offering a roadmap to reclaiming digital sovereignty. The UK Labour Party forced the chair of the Competition and Markets Authority to step down earlier this year to promote its pro-growth agenda. A Microsoft executive told a French Senate committee that it could not guarantee data sovereignty if the US government requested information stored on its servers in Europe. Alexandre de Moraes is the Brazilian judge pushing back against big tech. The US is sanctioning judges from the ICC (as well as Alexandre de Moraes) Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Cecilia Rikap to discuss how countries’ dependence on US tech companies is harming them and why they need to get serious about digital sovereignty.<br><br>Cecilia Rikap is Associate Professor in Economics at University College London and Head of Research at the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Cecilia (and Paris!) worked on a report offering a roadmap to <a href="https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10202865/">reclaiming digital sovereignty</a>.</li> <li>The UK Labour Party forced the chair of the Competition and Markets Authority to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/21/chair-of-competition-watchdog-steps-down-after-labour-intervention">step down</a> earlier this year to promote its pro-growth agenda.</li> <li>A Microsoft executive told a French Senate committee that it <a href="https://www.theregister.com/2025/07/25/microsoft_admits_it_cannot_guarantee/">could not guarantee data sovereignty</a> if the US government requested information stored on its servers in Europe.</li> <li> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/brazil-prosecutors-question-meta-over-changes-fact-checking-program-2025-01-08/">Alexandre de Moraes is the Brazilian judge</a> pushing back against big tech.</li> <li>The US is sanctioning judges <a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/international-criminal-court-deplores-new-sanctions-us-administration-against-icc-officials">from the ICC</a> (as well as <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/30/us-sanctions-brazils-supreme-court-judge-overseeing-case-against-bolsonaro">Alexandre de Moraes</a>)</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Will the Pope Be An Ally Against AI? w/ Paolo Benanti

Paris Marx is joined by Paolo Benanti to discuss what Pope Leo XIV’s statements on AI, the publications under Pope Francis, and the ethics of AI from a theological perspective.Paolo Benanti is an author, academic, and priest. He teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was an advisor to Pope Francis on artificial intelligence and technology ethics.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Paris wrote about what Pope Leo XIV and the Church have been saying about AI. In June, Pope Leo sent a message to the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence. Under Pope Francis, the Church published a note on AI called Antiqua et nova. Here is a short breakdown of its content. Support the show

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Will the Pope Be An Ally Against AI? w/ Paolo Benanti

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Paris Marx is joined by Paolo Benanti to discuss what Pope Leo XIV’s statements on AI, the publications under Pope Francis, and the ethics of AI from a theological perspective. Paolo Benanti is an author, academic, and priest. He teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was an advisor to Pope Francis on artificial intelligence and technology ethics. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to deman...

Paris Marx is joined by Paolo Benanti to discuss what Pope Leo XIV’s statements on AI, the publications under Pope Francis, and the ethics of AI from a theological perspective.Paolo Benanti is an author, academic, and priest. He teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was an advisor to Pope Francis on artificial intelligence and technology ethics.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Paris wrote about what Pope Leo XIV and the Church have been saying about AI. In June, Pope Leo sent a message to the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence. Under Pope Francis, the Church published a note on AI called Antiqua et nova. Here is a short breakdown of its content. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Paolo Benanti to discuss what Pope Leo XIV’s statements on AI, the publications under Pope Francis, and the ethics of AI from a theological perspective.<br><br>Paolo Benanti is an author, academic, and priest. He teaches at the Pontifical Gregorian University and was an advisor to Pope Francis on artificial intelligence and technology ethics.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Paris <a href="https://www.disconnect.blog/p/will-pope-leo-xiv-be-an-ally-against">wrote about</a> what Pope Leo XIV and the Church have been saying about AI.</li> <li>In June, Pope Leo <a href="https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/pont-messages/2025/documents/20250617-messaggio-ia.html">sent a message</a> to the Second Annual Rome Conference on Artificial Intelligence.</li> <li>Under Pope Francis, the Church published a note on AI called <a href="https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/it/bollettino/pubblico/2025/01/28/0083/01166.html#ing">Antiqua et nova</a>. Here is <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/vatican-city/news/2025-01/new-vatican-document-examines-potential-and-risks-of-ai.html">a short breakdown</a> of its content.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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What Google Zero Means for Journalism w/ Matt Pearce

Paris Marx is joined by Matt Pearce to discuss how Google’s use of generative AI is sending far less traffic to all manner of websites, but especially news publications, and what that might mean for the future of journalism.Matt Pearce is Director of Policy at Rebuild Local News and a former reporter at the Los Angeles Times.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Matt makes the case that unchecked AI may cause newsprint to outlive the hyperlink AI scrapers are driving traffic away from traditional sites while increasing their operational costs. Learn more about coping with news fatigue. Support the show

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0000

What Google Zero Means for Journalism w/ Matt Pearce

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Paris Marx is joined by Matt Pearce to discuss how Google’s use of generative AI is sending far less traffic to all manner of websites, but especially news publications, and what that might mean for the future of journalism. Matt Pearce is Director of Policy at Rebuild Local News and a former reporter at the Los Angeles Times. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world....

Paris Marx is joined by Matt Pearce to discuss how Google’s use of generative AI is sending far less traffic to all manner of websites, but especially news publications, and what that might mean for the future of journalism.Matt Pearce is Director of Policy at Rebuild Local News and a former reporter at the Los Angeles Times.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Matt makes the case that unchecked AI may cause newsprint to outlive the hyperlink AI scrapers are driving traffic away from traditional sites while increasing their operational costs. Learn more about coping with news fatigue. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Matt Pearce to discuss how Google’s use of generative AI is sending far less traffic to all manner of websites, but especially news publications, and what that might mean for the future of journalism.<br><br>Matt Pearce is Director of Policy at Rebuild Local News and a former reporter at the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Matt makes the case that unchecked AI may cause <a href="https://mattdpearce.substack.com/p/ai-could-cause-newsprint-to-outlive">newsprint to outlive the hyperlink</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.pcmag.com/news/wikipedia-faces-flood-of-ai-bots-that-are-eating-bandwidth-raising-costs">AI scrapers are driving traffic away from traditional sites</a> while increasing their operational costs.</li> <li>Learn more about coping with <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/feeling-overwhelmed-by-the-news-heres-how-to-protect-your-mental-health/">news fatigue</a>.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Trump’s Crypto Profiteering Is Worse Than You Think w/ Jacob Silverman

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire’s Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech’s politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams.Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Jacob has reported on the Aqua 1 Foundation’s mysterious crypto deal that puts $75 million dollars in Donald Trumps pocket. Trump signed the GENIUS Act last week, which aims to make crypto more mainstream and is widely viewed as openly corrupt. Trump has already made millions of dollars from crypto. Crypto is coming for the US 401k. Support the show

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Trump’s Crypto Profiteering Is Worse Than You Think w/ Jacob Silverman

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Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire’s Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech’s politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams. Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiri...

Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire’s Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech’s politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams.Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Jacob has reported on the Aqua 1 Foundation’s mysterious crypto deal that puts $75 million dollars in Donald Trumps pocket. Trump signed the GENIUS Act last week, which aims to make crypto more mainstream and is widely viewed as openly corrupt. Trump has already made millions of dollars from crypto. Crypto is coming for the US 401k. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Jacob Silverman to discuss Sequoia partner Shaun Maguire’s Islamophobic attack on Zohran Mamdani, what it tells us about the state of tech’s politics, and how Donald Trump is enriching himself through crypto scams.<br><br>Jacob Silverman is a journalist and the author of the forthcoming book <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781399419987"><em>Gilded Rage: Elon Musk and the Radicalization of Silicon Valley</em></a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Jacob has reported on the <a href="https://www.jacobsilverman.com/p/revealed-trumps-100-million-man">Aqua 1 Foundation’s mysterious crypto</a> deal that puts $75 million dollars in Donald Trumps pocket.</li> <li>Trump signed the <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/7/18/trump-says-newly-signed-crypto-law-will-establish-american-dominance">GENIUS Act</a> last week, which aims to make crypto more mainstream and is widely viewed as <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/17/trump-crypto-memecoin-corruption">openly corrupt</a>. Trump has already <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/21/trump-djt-bitcoin-net-worth.html">made millions of dollars</a> from crypto.</li> <li> <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/07906211-5ab8-4917-bcad-5397c0bc3170">Crypto is coming</a> for the US 401k.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Decomputing For a Better Future w/ Dan McQuillan

Paris Marx is joined by Dan McQuillan to discuss the global push by governments to rapidly adopt AI at all costs and how citizens can critically rethink our dependence on these technologies while imagining a collective future that benefits everyone.Dan McQuillan is a lecturer at Goldsmiths College, University of London and the author of Resisting AI.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Dan recently gave a talk about decomputing as resistance and published the text on his website. The UK Labour Government is going all in on data centre development, while planning for future water shortages. Academic institutions are rapidly adopting AI technologies, with a little help from industry leaders. The GKN Factory Collective offers an inspiring example of collective action. Support the show

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Decomputing For a Better Future w/ Dan McQuillan

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Paris Marx is joined by Dan McQuillan to discuss the global push by governments to rapidly adopt AI at all costs and how citizens can critically rethink our dependence on these technologies while imagining a collective future that benefits everyone. Dan McQuillan is a lecturer at Goldsmiths College, University of London and the author of Resisting AI. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better...

Paris Marx is joined by Dan McQuillan to discuss the global push by governments to rapidly adopt AI at all costs and how citizens can critically rethink our dependence on these technologies while imagining a collective future that benefits everyone.Dan McQuillan is a lecturer at Goldsmiths College, University of London and the author of Resisting AI.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Dan recently gave a talk about decomputing as resistance and published the text on his website. The UK Labour Government is going all in on data centre development, while planning for future water shortages. Academic institutions are rapidly adopting AI technologies, with a little help from industry leaders. The GKN Factory Collective offers an inspiring example of collective action. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Dan McQuillan to discuss the global push by governments to rapidly adopt AI at all costs and how citizens can critically rethink our dependence on these technologies while imagining a collective future that benefits everyone.<br><br>Dan McQuillan is a lecturer at Goldsmiths College, University of London and the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781529213508"><em>Resisting AI</em></a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Dan recently gave a talk about <a href="https://danmcquillan.org/decomputing_as_resistance.html">decomputing as resistance</a> and published the text on his website.</li> <li>The UK Labour Government is going <a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/the-uks-ai-strategy-risks-entrenching-the-power-of-big-tech/">all in on data centre development</a>, while planning for future <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/26/southern-water-considers-shipping-supplies-from-norwegian-fjords">water shortages</a>.</li> <li>Academic institutions are <a href="https://www.eweek.com/news/ai-education-cheating-chatgpt/">rapidly adopting</a> AI technologies, <a href="https://www.aft.org/press-release/aft-launch-national-academy-ai-instruction-microsoft-openai-anthropic-and-united">with a little help from industry leaders</a>.</li> <li>The GKN Factory Collective offers an <a href="https://www.fbu.org.uk/blog/fbu-supports-italian-gkn-workers-struggle-jobs-and-climate-justice">inspiring example</a> of collective action.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Microsoft is Gutting the Video Game Industry w/ Nathan Grayson

Paris Marx is joined by Nathan Grayson to discuss the latest round of Microsoft layoffs and how the company’s ambition to remake the video game industry around its streaming service has had significant consequences.Nathan Grayson is a co-founder of Aftermath and author of Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: An Xbox producer told laid off staff to use AI to help cope with unemployment. Microsoft is moving towards pressuring staff to use AI through employee evaluations. Nathan mentions that it’s unclear whether Game Pass is even profitable given how they balance the books. Support the show

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Microsoft is Gutting the Video Game Industry w/ Nathan Grayson

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Paris Marx

Paris Marx is joined by Nathan Grayson to discuss the latest round of Microsoft layoffs and how the company’s ambition to remake the video game industry around its streaming service has had significant consequences. Nathan Grayson is a co-founder of Aftermath and author of Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand ...

Paris Marx is joined by Nathan Grayson to discuss the latest round of Microsoft layoffs and how the company’s ambition to remake the video game industry around its streaming service has had significant consequences.Nathan Grayson is a co-founder of Aftermath and author of Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: An Xbox producer told laid off staff to use AI to help cope with unemployment. Microsoft is moving towards pressuring staff to use AI through employee evaluations. Nathan mentions that it’s unclear whether Game Pass is even profitable given how they balance the books. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Nathan Grayson to discuss the latest round of Microsoft layoffs and how the company’s ambition to remake the video game industry around its streaming service has had significant consequences.<br><br>Nathan Grayson is a co-founder of Aftermath and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781982156763">Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen</a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>An Xbox producer told laid off staff to <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/ai-can-provide-emotional-clarity-and-confidence-xbox-executive-producer-tells-staff-after-microsoft-lays-off-9000-employees/ar-AA1I6VUA">use AI</a> to help cope with unemployment.</li> <li>Microsoft is moving towards <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/ai-is-no-longer-optional-microsoft-is-allegedly-pressuring-employees-to-use-ai-tools-through-manager-evaluations/">pressuring staff to use AI</a> through employee evaluations.</li> <li>Nathan mentions that it’s <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2025/07/08/why-it-does-matter-if-xbox-game-pass-is-profitable-or-not/">unclear whether Game Pass is even profitable</a> given how they balance the books.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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How the US Weaponizes Tech in the Middle East w/ Laleh Khalili

Paris Marx is joined by Laleh Khalili to discuss how the United States uses its control of key technologies to shift global power dynamics, and how that specifically plays out in the Middle East.Laleh Khalili is Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and author of the forthcoming book Extractive Capitalism.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Laleh mentions Iran’s accusations towards Meta regarding WhatsApp.  Tech executives are joining the US army. Laleh mentioned The Global Interior by Megan Black. Several years ago, Israel used an AI-assisted gun to kill an Iranian nuclear scientist. Support the show

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

How the US Weaponizes Tech in the Middle East w/ Laleh Khalili

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Paris Marx is joined by Laleh Khalili to discuss how the United States uses its control of key technologies to shift global power dynamics, and how that specifically plays out in the Middle East. Laleh Khalili is Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and author of the forthcoming book Extractive Capitalism. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Sup...

Paris Marx is joined by Laleh Khalili to discuss how the United States uses its control of key technologies to shift global power dynamics, and how that specifically plays out in the Middle East.Laleh Khalili is Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and author of the forthcoming book Extractive Capitalism.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Laleh mentions Iran’s accusations towards Meta regarding WhatsApp.  Tech executives are joining the US army. Laleh mentioned The Global Interior by Megan Black. Several years ago, Israel used an AI-assisted gun to kill an Iranian nuclear scientist. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Laleh Khalili to discuss how the United States uses its control of key technologies to shift global power dynamics, and how that specifically plays out in the Middle East.<br><br>Laleh Khalili is Professor of Gulf Studies at the University of Exeter and author of the forthcoming book <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781836740285"><em>Extractive Capitalism</em></a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Laleh mentions <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/6/18/meta-concerned-iran-could-ban-whatsapp-after-snooping-claims">Iran’s accusations towards Meta</a> regarding WhatsApp. </li> <li> <a href="https://archive.ph/eNyz3">Tech executives</a> are joining the US army.</li> <li>Laleh mentioned <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780674271197"><em>The Global Interior</em></a> by Megan Black.</li> <li>Several years ago, Israel <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/18/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-fakhrizadeh-assassination-israel.html">used an AI-assisted gun</a> to kill an Iranian nuclear scientist.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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The Geopolitical Fight Over Huawei w/ Yangyang Cheng

Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss how Huawei became one of the most powerful companies in China and how current geopolitical narratives distract from the issues at the heart of surveillance capitalism in the US and China.Yangyang Cheng is a Research Scholar in Law and Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Yangyang wrote about how Huawei is emblematic of China’s capitalist model for ChinaFile. We also discuss Eva Dou’s The House of Huawei. Donald Trump discussed how the USA uses the same tactics the government accuses China of employing in bad faith. Support the show

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0000

The Geopolitical Fight Over Huawei w/ Yangyang Cheng

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Paris Marx

Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss how Huawei became one of the most powerful companies in China and how current geopolitical narratives distract from the issues at the heart of surveillance capitalism in the US and China. Yangyang Cheng is a Research Scholar in Law and Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a bett...

Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss how Huawei became one of the most powerful companies in China and how current geopolitical narratives distract from the issues at the heart of surveillance capitalism in the US and China.Yangyang Cheng is a Research Scholar in Law and Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Yangyang wrote about how Huawei is emblematic of China’s capitalist model for ChinaFile. We also discuss Eva Dou’s The House of Huawei. Donald Trump discussed how the USA uses the same tactics the government accuses China of employing in bad faith. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Yangyang Cheng to discuss how Huawei became one of the most powerful companies in China and how current geopolitical narratives distract from the issues at the heart of surveillance capitalism in the US and China.<br><br>Yangyang Cheng is a Research Scholar in Law and Fellow at Yale Law School’s Paul Tsai China Center.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Yangyang wrote about how Huawei is emblematic of China’s capitalist model for <a href="https://www.chinafile.com/reporting-opinion/viewpoint/capitalism-chinese-characteristics">ChinaFile</a>.</li> <li>We also discuss Eva Dou’s <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780593544631"><em>The House of Huawei</em></a>.</li> <li>Donald Trump <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/donald-trump-us-hacking-china-b2779104.html">discussed</a> how the USA uses the same tactics the government accuses China of employing in bad faith.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Chatbots Are Repeating Social Media’s Harms w/ Nitasha Tiku

Paris Marx is joined by Nitasha Tiku to discuss how AI companies are preying on users to drive engagement and how that’s repeating many of the problems we’re belatedly trying to address with social media companies at an accelerated pace.Nitasha Tiku is a technology reporter at the Washington Post.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Nitasha wrote about how chatbots are messing with people’s minds. Paris wrote about Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about people needing AI friends. AI companies are facing ongoing lawsuits over harmful content. Support the show

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Chatbots Are Repeating Social Media’s Harms w/ Nitasha Tiku

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Paris Marx is joined by Nitasha Tiku to discuss how AI companies are preying on users to drive engagement and how that’s repeating many of the problems we’re belatedly trying to address with social media companies at an accelerated pace. Nitasha Tiku is a technology reporter at the Washington Post. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon....

Paris Marx is joined by Nitasha Tiku to discuss how AI companies are preying on users to drive engagement and how that’s repeating many of the problems we’re belatedly trying to address with social media companies at an accelerated pace.Nitasha Tiku is a technology reporter at the Washington Post.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Nitasha wrote about how chatbots are messing with people’s minds. Paris wrote about Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about people needing AI friends. AI companies are facing ongoing lawsuits over harmful content. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Nitasha Tiku to discuss how AI companies are preying on users to drive engagement and how that’s repeating many of the problems we’re belatedly trying to address with social media companies at an accelerated pace.<br><br>Nitasha Tiku is a technology reporter at the <em>Washington Post</em>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Nitasha wrote about how chatbots are <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/05/31/ai-chatbots-user-influence-attention-chatgpt/">messing with people’s minds</a>.</li> <li>Paris wrote about Mark Zuckerberg’s comments about <a href="https://www.disconnect.blog/p/mark-zuckerberg-wants-to-you-be-lonely">people needing AI friends</a>.</li> <li>AI companies are <a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/12/10/nx-s1-5222574/kids-character-ai-lawsuit">facing</a> ongoing <a href="https://apnews.com/article/chatbot-ai-lawsuit-suicide-teen-artificial-intelligence-9d48adc572100822fdbc3c90d1456bd0">lawsuits</a> over harmful content.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Brazil's Battle to Rein In Big Tech w/ Laís Martins

Paris Marx is joined by Laís Martins to discuss the recent enforcement measures against tech companies like X and Rumble in Brazil, how the country is grappling with the overreach of US tech companies, and the wider discussion about tech policy in Brazil.Laís Martins is a technology reporter at The Intercept Brasil.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Laís has reported on Rumble's fight against the Brazilian Supreme Court as well as the decisions the Brazilian government is making to welcome AI data centers. Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff was spied on by US intelligence services. The Brazilian government has long used and supported open source software. Support the show

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Brazil's Battle to Rein In Big Tech w/ Laís Martins

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Paris Marx is joined by Laís Martins to discuss the recent enforcement measures against tech companies like X and Rumble in Brazil, how the country is grappling with the overreach of US tech companies, and the wider discussion about tech policy in Brazil. Laís Martins is a technology reporter at The Intercept Brasil. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Supp...

Paris Marx is joined by Laís Martins to discuss the recent enforcement measures against tech companies like X and Rumble in Brazil, how the country is grappling with the overreach of US tech companies, and the wider discussion about tech policy in Brazil.Laís Martins is a technology reporter at The Intercept Brasil.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Laís has reported on Rumble's fight against the Brazilian Supreme Court as well as the decisions the Brazilian government is making to welcome AI data centers. Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff was spied on by US intelligence services. The Brazilian government has long used and supported open source software. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Laís Martins to discuss the recent enforcement measures against tech companies like X and Rumble in Brazil, how the country is grappling with the overreach of US tech companies, and the wider discussion about tech policy in Brazil.<br><br>Laís Martins is a technology reporter at <em>The Intercept Brasil</em>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Laís has reported on <a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/why-the-rumble-suit-against-a-brazilian-justice-is-not-about-free-speech/">Rumble's fight against the Brazilian Supreme Court</a> as well as the decisions the Brazilian government is making to welcome <a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/brazil-is-handing-out-generous-incentives-for-data-centers-but-what-it-stands-to-gain-from-it-is-still-unclear/">AI data centers</a>.</li> <li>Former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff was <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/24/brazil-president-un-speech-nsa-surveillance">spied on</a> by US intelligence services.</li> <li>The Brazilian government has long <a href="https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-the-end-of-google-as-we-know-it-could-be-your-biggest-opportunity-yet/">used and supported</a> open source software.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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We All Suffer from OpenAI’s Pursuit of Scale w/ Karen Hao

Paris Marx is joined by Karen Hao to discuss how Sam Altman’s goal of scale at all costs has spawned a new empire founded on exploitation of people and the environment, resulting in not only the loss of valuable research into more inventive AI systems, but also exacerbated data privacy issues, intellectual property erosion, and the perpetuation of surveillance capitalism.Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist and the author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Karen was the first journalist to profile OpenAI. Karen has reported on the environmental impacts and human costs of AI. The New York Times reported on Why We're Unlikely to Get Artificial General Intelligence Anytime Soon.  Support the show

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000

We All Suffer from OpenAI’s Pursuit of Scale w/ Karen Hao

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Paris Marx is joined by Karen Hao to discuss how Sam Altman’s goal of scale at all costs has spawned a new empire founded on exploitation of people and the environment, resulting in not only the loss of valuable research into more inventive AI systems, but also exacerbated data privacy issues, intellectual property erosion, and the perpetuation of surveillance capitalism. Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist and the author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI. T...

Paris Marx is joined by Karen Hao to discuss how Sam Altman’s goal of scale at all costs has spawned a new empire founded on exploitation of people and the environment, resulting in not only the loss of valuable research into more inventive AI systems, but also exacerbated data privacy issues, intellectual property erosion, and the perpetuation of surveillance capitalism.Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist and the author of Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Karen was the first journalist to profile OpenAI. Karen has reported on the environmental impacts and human costs of AI. The New York Times reported on Why We're Unlikely to Get Artificial General Intelligence Anytime Soon.  Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Karen Hao to discuss how Sam Altman’s goal of scale at all costs has spawned a new empire founded on exploitation of people and the environment, resulting in not only the loss of valuable research into more inventive AI systems, but also exacerbated data privacy issues, intellectual property erosion, and the perpetuation of surveillance capitalism.<br><br>Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist and the author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780593657508"><em>Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman’s OpenAI</em></a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Karen was the <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/02/17/844721/ai-openai-moonshot-elon-musk-sam-altman-greg-brockman-messy-secretive-reality/">first journalist</a> to profile OpenAI.</li> <li>Karen has reported on the <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2024/03/ai-water-climate-microsoft/677602/">environmental impacts</a> and <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/chatgpt-openai-content-abusive-sexually-explicit-harassment-kenya-workers-on-human-workers-cf191483?mod=author_content_page_1_pos_3">human costs</a> of AI.</li> <li> <em>The New York Times </em>reported on <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/16/technology/what-is-agi.html">Why We're Unlikely to Get Artificial General Intelligence</a> Anytime Soon. </li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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The New Military Industry Complex w/ Sam Biddle

Paris Marx is joined by Sam Biddle to discuss how Silicon Valley is shamelessly courting government military contracts, using tactics to silence employee dissent and normalize the situation to the public, and what it all means for the future of military geopolitics.Sam Biddle is a senior technology reporter at The Intercept.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Sam wrote about how defense tech companies sought to capitalize on Trump’s return to office and OpenAI’s embrace of nationalism. Trae Stephens was interviewed by Wired last year, where he made his comments about the military industrial complex. Meta and Anduril teamed up to provide VR and AR devices to the US military. Trump’s US Army appointee won’t give up his Anduril stock. Palantir’s CEO wrote the Defense Reformation report and Andreessen Horowitz launched an American Dynamism division. Support the show

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0000

The New Military Industry Complex w/ Sam Biddle

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Paris Marx is joined by Sam Biddle to discuss how Silicon Valley is shamelessly courting government military contracts, using tactics to silence employee dissent and normalize the situation to the public, and what it all means for the future of military geopolitics. Sam Biddle is a senior technology reporter at The Intercept. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. ...

Paris Marx is joined by Sam Biddle to discuss how Silicon Valley is shamelessly courting government military contracts, using tactics to silence employee dissent and normalize the situation to the public, and what it all means for the future of military geopolitics.Sam Biddle is a senior technology reporter at The Intercept.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Sam wrote about how defense tech companies sought to capitalize on Trump’s return to office and OpenAI’s embrace of nationalism. Trae Stephens was interviewed by Wired last year, where he made his comments about the military industrial complex. Meta and Anduril teamed up to provide VR and AR devices to the US military. Trump’s US Army appointee won’t give up his Anduril stock. Palantir’s CEO wrote the Defense Reformation report and Andreessen Horowitz launched an American Dynamism division. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Sam Biddle to discuss how Silicon Valley is shamelessly courting government military contracts, using tactics to silence employee dissent and normalize the situation to the public, and what it all means for the future of military geopolitics.<br><br>Sam Biddle is a senior technology reporter at <em>The Intercept</em>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://www.patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Sam <a href="https://theintercept.com/2024/11/17/tech-industry-trump-military-contracts/">wrote about</a> how defense tech companies sought to capitalize on Trump’s return to office and OpenAI’s <a href="https://theintercept.com/2025/06/03/openai-sam-altman-trump-china/">embrace of nationalism</a>.</li> <li>Trae Stephens was <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/big-interview-trae-stephens-has-built-ai-weapons-and-worked-for-donald-trump-as-he-sees-it-jesus-would-approve/">interviewed</a> by <em>Wired</em> last year, where he made his comments about the military industrial complex.</li> <li>Meta and Anduril <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/29/meta-anduril-partner-on-vr-ar-project-intended-for-us-army.html">teamed up</a> to provide VR and AR devices to the US military.</li> <li>Trump’s US Army appointee <a href="https://theintercept.com/2025/05/08/mike-obadal-army-trump-anduril-stock-elizabeth-warren/">won’t give up</a> his Anduril stock.</li> <li>Palantir’s CEO wrote the <a href="https://www.18theses.com">Defense Reformation</a> report and Andreessen Horowitz launched an <a href="https://a16z.com/american-dynamism/">American Dynamism</a> division.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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The Case for a Digital Detox w/ Casey Johnston

Paris Marx is joined by Casey Johnston to discuss why she pared back on social media, made her smartphone much dumber, and what she learned about how bodies are treated online through her fitness journey.Casey Johnston is the creator of the She’s A Beast newsletter and author of A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Casey wrote about her DIY Dumbphone Method and reducing social media use. Facebook reportedly detected when teenage girls deleted photos so it could serve them beauty ads. Support the show

Thu, 29 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000

The Case for a Digital Detox w/ Casey Johnston

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Paris Marx is joined by Casey Johnston to discuss why she pared back on social media, made her smartphone much dumber, and what she learned about how bodies are treated online through her fitness journey. Casey Johnston is the creator of the She’s A Beast newsletter and author of A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting. Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to dema...

Paris Marx is joined by Casey Johnston to discuss why she pared back on social media, made her smartphone much dumber, and what she learned about how bodies are treated online through her fitness journey.Casey Johnston is the creator of the She’s A Beast newsletter and author of A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: Casey wrote about her DIY Dumbphone Method and reducing social media use. Facebook reportedly detected when teenage girls deleted photos so it could serve them beauty ads. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Casey Johnston to discuss why she pared back on social media, made her smartphone much dumber, and what she learned about how bodies are treated online through her fitness journey.<br><br>Casey Johnston is the creator of the She’s A Beast newsletter and author of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9781538773253"><em>A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting</em></a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with <em>The Nation</em>. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul> <li>Casey wrote about her <a href="https://www.shesabeast.co/the-diy-dumbphone-method/">DIY Dumbphone Method</a> and <a href="https://www.shesabeast.co/how-to-return-to-the-real-world-from-social-media/">reducing social media use</a>.</li> <li>Facebook reportedly <a href="https://futurism.com/facebook-beauty-targeted-ads">detected when teenage girls deleted photos</a> so it could serve them beauty ads.</li> </ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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Generative AI is Not Inevitable w/ Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna

Paris Marx is joined by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna to discuss the harms of generative AI, how the industry keeps the public invested while companies flounder under the weight of unmet promises, and what people can do to push back.Emily M. Bender is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at University of Washington. Alex Hanna is Director of Research at the Distributed AI Institute. They are the authors of The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: New York Magazine reported on the consequences of increasingly widespread use of ChatGPT in education. Support the show

Thu, 22 May 2025 07:00:00 -0000

Generative AI is Not Inevitable w/ Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna

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Paris Marx is joined by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna to discuss the harms of generative AI, how the industry keeps the public invested while companies flounder under the weight of unmet promises, and what people can do to push back. Emily M. Bender is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at University of Washington. Alex Hanna is Director of Research at the Distributed AI Institute. They are the authors of The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want. Tec...

Paris Marx is joined by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna to discuss the harms of generative AI, how the industry keeps the public invested while companies flounder under the weight of unmet promises, and what people can do to push back.Emily M. Bender is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at University of Washington. Alex Hanna is Director of Research at the Distributed AI Institute. They are the authors of The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want.Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.Also mentioned in this episode: New York Magazine reported on the consequences of increasingly widespread use of ChatGPT in education. Support the show

<p>Paris Marx is joined by Emily M. Bender and Alex Hanna to discuss the harms of generative AI, how the industry keeps the public invested while companies flounder under the weight of unmet promises, and what people can do to push back.<br><br>Emily M. Bender is a Professor in the Department of Linguistics at University of Washington. Alex Hanna is Director of Research at the Distributed AI Institute. They are the authors of <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/18331/9780063418561"><em>The AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want</em></a>.<br><br>Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on <a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Patreon</a>.<br><br>The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Kyla Hewson.<br><br>Also mentioned in this episode:</p><ul><li> <em>New York Magazine</em> reported on the consequences of <a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/openai-chatgpt-ai-cheating-education-college-students-school.html">increasingly widespread use of ChatGPT</a> in education.</li></ul><p><a href="https://patreon.com/techwontsaveus">Support the show</a></p>

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