In the past six months, OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and others have released web-browsing agents that are designed to complete tasks independently, with only minimal input from humans. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has even called AI agents “the next giant breakthrough.” On today’s episode, we'll dive into what makes these agents different from other forms of machine intelligence, and whether their capabilities can live up to the hype.You can follow our hosts on Bluesky—Michael Calore is @snackfight, Lauren Goode is @laurengoode, and Katie Drummond is @katie-drummond.
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35:53
One, Big, Beautiful Breakup
WIRED's Senior Politics Editor Leah Feiger joins Zoë Schiffer, WIRED's Director of Business & Industry to discuss the ongoing fallout between President Trump and Elon Musk, and the future of DOGE.Articles mentioned in the episode:
Conspiracy World Thinks the Musk-Trump Breakup Is a 'Psyop'
DOGE Is on a Recruiting Spree
Silicon Valley Is Starting to Pick Sides in Musk and Trump’s Breakup
WIRED Talked to a Fired DOGE Staffer About Who Was Really in Charge
Trumpworld Is Getting Tired of Laura Loomer. They Hope the President Is Too
The Epic Rise and Fall of a Dark-Web Psychedelics Kingpin
You can follow Zoë Schiffer and Leah Feiger on Bluesky: @zoeschiffer , @leahfeiger
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22:51
Why Silicon Valley Needs Immigration
Expanded deportations, a virtually shutdown asylum process, increased scrutiny of H1-B visa applicants—immigration policy has been overhauled under the latest Trump administration. And, just last week the Trump administration said it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students who are currently studying at U.S. schools. On today’s episode, we dive into the impacts that these changes could have on the tech industry from the talent pipeline to future innovations.Articles mentioned in this episode: The Trump Administration Wants to Create an ‘Office of Remigration’, US Tech Visa Applications Are Being Put Through the WringerYou can follow our hosts on Bluesky—Michael Calore is @snackfight, Lauren Goode is @laurengoode, and Katie Drummond is @katie-drummond.
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34:57
Let's Talk About ChatGPT and Cheating In The Classroom
There’s been a lot of talk about how AI tools like ChatGPT are changing education. Students are using AI to do research, write papers, and get better grades. So today on the show, we debate whether using AI in school is actually cheating. Plus, we dive into how students and teachers are using these tools, and we ask what place AI should have in the future of learning. You can follow our hosts on Bluesky—Michael Calore is @snackfight, Lauren Goode is @laurengoode, and Katie Drummond is @katie-drummond.
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49:47
Why 3D Printing an Untraceable ‘Ghost Gun’ is Easier Than Ever
WIRED’s Senior Writer, Andy Greenberg, has been reporting on ghost guns for years. He first used a 3D printer to assemble a gun more than a decade ago, and says that today’s process is not only faster, but cheaper. We talk to Andy about how he legally printed the same gun Luigi Mangione allegedly used in the alleged killing of the United Healthcare CEO last year, and whether US law is keeping up with the technology of 3D printed guns.Articles mentioned in this episode:
We Made Luigi Mangione’s 3D-Printed Gun—and Fired It
Bluesky Is Plotting a Total Takeover of the Social Internet
The Delirious, Violent, Impossible True Story of the Zizians
You can follow Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky @zoeschiffer
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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 Tuesdays, WIRED’s Zoë Schiffer has an urgent conversation about this week in the news. And on Thursdays, WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond is joined by Lauren Goode, Michael Calore, to break down a recent story or phenomena bubbling up in Silicon Valley and explain its influence on our daily lives.
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