Palantir: The Most Mysterious Company in Silicon Valley
Palantir Technologies is arguably one of the most notorious American corporations. Cofounded by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, the company has worked with ICE, the US Department of Defense, the Israeli military and sparked numerous protests in multiple countries. But what do they actually do? Palantir is often called a data broker, a data miner, or a giant database of personal information. In reality, it’s none of these—but even former employees struggle to explain it. Luckily, WIRED staff writer Caroline Haskins joins us to decode Palantir for us. Join us LIVE in San Francisco on September 9th Get your tickets HERE Articles mentioned in this episode:
What Does Palantir Actually Do?
Palantir Is Helping DOGE With a Massive IRS Data Project
ICE Is Paying Palantir $30 Million to Build ‘ImmigrationOS’ Surveillance Platform
Lauren’s latest article: Lisa Su Runs AMD - and Is Out for Nvidia’s Blood
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WIRED Roundup: OpenAI Announces New Government Partnership
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Jake Lahut to run through five of the most important stories we published this week — from how bitcoin miners have been racing this year to beat the tariffs, to how AI was used to find a missing hiker in the Italian Alps. Then, Zoë and Jake discuss the details around OpenAI’s latest partnership with the federal government. Live show tickets at: https://www.kqed.org/event/5459 Articles mentioned in this episode:
OpenAI Announces Massive US Government Partnership | WIRED
Trumpworld Knows Epstein Is a Problem. But They Can’t Solve It | WIRED
Charter Planes and Bidding Wars: How Bitcoin Miners Raced to Beat Trump’s Tariffs | WIRED
Google Will Use AI to Guess People’s Ages Based on Search History | WIRED
US Coast Guard Report on Titan Submersible Implosion Singles Out OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush | WIRED
A Hiker Was Missing for Nearly a Year—Until an AI System Recognized His Helmet | WIRED
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The Vibes-Based Pricing of "Pro" AI Software
AI chatbot premium subscriptions like ChatGPT Pro and Claude Max currently cost around $200, but it’s not entirely clear why. Lauren and Mike speak with WIRED’s Reece Rogers to find out what’s behind these models that AI companies bill as their most powerful, and whether they could become a staple in our future. Live show tickets at: https://www.kqed.org/event/5459Articles mentioned in this episode:
Seriously, Why Do Some AI Chatbot Subscriptions Cost More Than $200? | WIRED
Cheap AI Tools May Come at a Big Long-Term Cost | WIRED
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WIRED Roundup: ChatGPT Goes Full Demon Mode
In today’s episode, Zoë is joined by WIRED’s Louise Matsakis to run through five of the most important stories we published this week — from Meta continuing its AI talent poaching spree, to how much faster our brains have really aged since the pandemic. Afterwards, they dive into the surprising reason behind why ChatGPT reportedly went full demon mode last week. Articles mentioned in this episode:
The Real Demon Inside ChatGPT | WIRED
Meta’s AI Recruiting Campaign Finds a New Target | WIRED
The Pandemic Appears to Have Accelerated Brain Aging, Even in People Who Never Got Covid | WIRED
Age Verification Laws Send VPN Use Soaring—and Threaten the Open Internet | WIRED
This Smart Basketball Tracks Data About Every Shot. It Could Be Headed to the NBA | WIRED
The First Planned Migration of an Entire Country Is Underway | WIRED
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How to Not Die in Silicon Valley
Blood boys. Cryogenic freezing. Living by the algorithm. Silicon Valley is known for a culture of health optimization, but some recent biohacking ventures are becoming more extreme–aimed not just at longevity, but at beating death altogether. This week, we talk about the Silicon Valley moguls obsessed with living forever and the radical measures they're taking to do so.
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Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley—where each week, WIRED’s writers and editors bring you original reporting and analysis about some of the biggest stories in tech. On Thursdays, WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond is joined by Lauren Goode and Michael Calore to break down a recent story or phenomena bubbling up in Silicon Valley and explain its influence on our daily lives. And on Fridays, WIRED’s Zoë Schiffer has an urgent conversation about this week in the news.
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