Uncanny Valley | WIRED

For better or for worse, this year had it all — from the AI industry shaping the global economy and our lives, to the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) taking over U.S federal agencies under Elon Musk’s leadership. In today’s episode, Zoë and WIRED’s executive editor Brian Barrett get together to reflect on some of this year’s key moments — and how they give us important clues as to what we can expect this upcoming year. Articles mentioned in this episode:  The AI Data Center Boom Is Warping the US Economy | WIRED The US Needs an Open Source AI Intervention to Beat China | WIRED DOGE Is the Deep State | WIRED ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team | WIRED The FBI's Jeffrey Epstein Prison Video Had Nearly 3 Minutes Cut Out | WIRED Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

As the year draws to an end, Mike and Lauren have some news to share with listeners. But first, they head over to the pool to unwind and reflect on what they’ll be watching for in the tech space this upcoming year, and what they think should stay behind. Articles mentioned in this episode:  OpenAI's Big Bet That Jony Ive Can Make AI Hardware Work | WIRED  Tech CEOs Praise Donald Trump at White House Dinner | WIRED  IPOs | Latest News, Photos & Videos | WIRED  Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

The head of Amazon Web Services has big plans to offer AI tools to businesses, but says that replacing coders with AI is “a non-starter for anyone who's trying to build a long-term company.” Katie sits down to discuss German's vision, and why Amazon could be a dark horse in the AI race. Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

You don’t have to be a fan of musicals to know about the Wicked film franchise — it’s been everywhere since the first film launched last year, and that’s exactly how director Jon. M Chu wanted it. At WIRED’s Big Interview event last week, senior culture editor Manisha Krishnan sat down with Chu to discuss what it takes to make a blockbuster during a moment of deep changes in the film industry. In today’s episode, we are taking a break from the week’s headlines and bringing you their conversation.   Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Last week, some of the most forward-thinking minds in tech, culture, and politics came together for WIRED’s Big Interview event — a series of live, in-depth conversations with industry leaders. To kick off the event, Lauren sat down with AMD’s CEO Lisa Su. In today’s episode, Mike and Lauren sit down to discuss the key ideas that came up during the interview, as well as the other conversations that caught everyone’s attention during the event. Articles mentioned in this episode:  AMD CEO Lisa Su Says Concerns About an AI Bubble Are Overblown | WIRED  Can AI Look at Your Retina and Diagnose Alzheimer’s? Eric Topol Hopes So | WIRED San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie: ‘We Are a City on the Rise’ | WIRED  Watch the Highlights From WIRED’s 2025 Big Interview Event Right Here | WIRED  Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian's newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices