Podcast · Tech & Science

The TED AI Show

Sure, some predictions about AI are just hype – but others suggest that everything we know is about to fundamentally change. Creative technologist Bilawal Sidhu talks with the world’s leading experts, artists, journalists, and more to explore the thrilling, sometimes terrifying, future ahead.…

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 39 min
Latest: 10 Jul 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

10 Jul 2026 · 28 min

The Data Center Next Door with Dr. Sacoby Wilson | from TED Tech

Imagine if one day, your quiet neighborhood came alive with a steady hum… and it never went away? All throughout the United States, data centers are popping up next door and in your backyards. These buildings guzzle millions of water, cause noise pollution, and are raising homeowners’ utility bills. In this first episode of a four-part miniseries, Sherrell interviews environmental health scientist Dr. Jacoby Wilson on what happens when data centers infiltrate a neighborhood. They discuss why data centers disproportionately undermine working class communities and how Dr. Wilson is working…

Play episode WhatsApp Download

Earlier episodes 29 most recent

15 Apr 2025 · 41 min

Trends for 2025: AI x Crypto - From Agents in Games & DePIN to Proof of Personhood and More | web3 with a16z crypto

Today, we are sharing a special episode from the chart-topping tech podcast web3 with a16z crypto. Produced by venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, the podcast explores the technology, people, and business ideas driving the next era of internet innovation. This episode – part of a series covering leading “Trends for 2025” – covers the intersection of crypto and AI. Topics range from why having a unique ID matters in a world of deepfakes to AI agents in games to truly autonomous chatbots. You’ll also get to hear from a16z crypto team members, including chief technology officer Eddy…
11 Apr 2025 · 46 min

The magic intelligence in the sky | Good Robot

This episode is part of a feed swap from our friend at Vox’s Unexplainable podcast. Good Robot is a miniseries hosted by Julia Longoria. Today’s episode, “The magic intelligence in the sky” examines how before AI became a mainstream obsession, one thinker sounded the alarm about its catastrophic potential. So why are so many billionaires and tech leaders worried about… paper clips? Good Robot was made in partnership with Vox’s Unexplainable team. Episodes will be released on Wednesdays and Saturdays. For more, go to vox.com/goodrobot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
21 Jan 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

How Pokemon Go and augmented reality are transforming how we’ll navigate the world w/ Niantic's Brian McClendon

Whether you’re trying to find your way around a new city or just looking for a place to eat, it’s become second nature to many people to turn to Google Maps to get us from point A to point B. On the last episode of this season of The TED AI Show, we’re chatting with Keyhole (now known as Google Earth) founder and current Niantic SVP of Engineering Brian McClendon. Brian and Bilawal discuss how even the most detailed digital maps have blind spots, how Pokemon Go could be an unlikely partner to fill in the blanks – and how augmented reality is making the future of navigation immersive. In the…
17 Dec 2024 · 50 min

How AI digital doppelgängers could change the way we communicate w/ Synthesia CEO Victor Riparbelli

As AI technology advances, it’s becoming harder and harder to distinguish between work done by humans and work done by computers. But is AI becoming more human, or are we becoming more digital? Synthesia is a video platform that uses AI to generate lifelike video avatars, further blurring the lines between humans and their digitized lookalikes. In this episode, Bilawal sits down with Synthesia’s CEO, Victor Riparbelli, to discuss the benefits of having your own AI avatar, how companies are using this tool to improve communication, and why media literacy is more important than ever in a world…
10 Dec 2024 · 57 min

Could AI really achieve consciousness? w/ neuroscientist Anil Seth

Human brains are often described as computers — machines that are “wired” to make decisions and respond to external stimuli in a way that’s not so different from the artificial intelligence that we increasingly use each day. But the difference between our brains and the computers that drive AI is consciousness – our inner world, defined by experience and awareness. Anil Seth is a professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at the University of Oxford. He studies human consciousness and he’s concerned about the way we’ve come to think about AI as conscious minds rather than useful…
3 Dec 2024 · 53 min

How AI robots learn just like babies — but a million times faster w/ NVIDIA’s Rev Lebaredian

Computers have been outperforming humans for years on tasks like solving complex equations or analyzing data, but when it comes to the physical world, robots struggle to keep up. It can take years to train robots to function in the messy chaos of the “real world” — but thanks to some unlikely help from the film and video gaming industry, robots today are using AI to fast-track their learning and master new skills using simulated environments. Rev Lebaredian is the vice president of Omniverse and simulation technology at NVIDIA, a company known for its work on advancements in AI, video game…
26 Nov 2024 · 35 min

How to stop doom scrolling – and have a better experience online with Jay Van Bavel (from ReThinking)

It’s impossible to separate the way people engage with AI with the way they engage with the internet as a whole. This is an episode of ReThinking, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, featuring a compelling discussion of why the internet can feel so unfriendly–and where we can go from there. You’ll hear from Jay Van Bavel, an award-winning professor of psychology and neural science at NYU, on the science of virality, why bad news commands our attention, and how we can find common ground around more uplifting content. If you liked this episode, you can find more ReThinking wherever…
19 Nov 2024 · 50 min

Building an AI creator community w/ Civitai founders Justin Maier and Maxfield Hulker

Ever since generative AI tools like Midjourney became available to the public in 2022, curious users and AI fanatics alike have been experimenting with the technology. But for tech aficionados and AI enthusiasts like Justin Maier and Maxfield Hulker, Midjourney’s closed-source model wasn’t enough — they wanted to go deeper. That’s why Justin and Max created Citivai, an open-source generative AI tool and social platform where users can create, share, and experiment with new image generation models. They sit down with Bilawal to discuss why community is so important to open-source development,…
12 Nov 2024 · 31 min

An AI chatbot that talks back w/ ChatGPT’s Advanced Voice Mode

When it comes to preparing for an interview or making an important life decision, more and more people are turning to AI for advice. ChatGPT’s new voice interface, Advanced Voice Mode, allows users to speak out loud and converse with a chatbot as they would with another human — but is it really as seamless as a chat with a friend? Bilawal runs a series of experiments with Advanced Voice Mode to test the limits of this new technology and its potential uses, from weighing the pros and cons of a cross-country move to coaching an intense personal workout. He and producer Dominic Girard discuss…
5 Nov 2024 · 55 min

How AI is changing national security w/ Kathleen Fisher

We’ve had conversations about AI’s online influence on politics, from deepfakes to misinformation. But AI can also have profound effects on hardware – especially when it comes to national security and military capabilities like weapons and stealth technologies. Kathleen Fisher is an office director at DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency tasked with the research and development of emerging technologies for use by the U.S. military. Despite its bureaucratic name, DARPA is anything but conventional – and they’re solving problems that are thrillingly complex. Kathleen shares how…
29 Oct 2024 · 40 min

How open-source AI will reshape power dynamics in tech w/ Hugging Face CSO Thomas Wolf

Many people associate innovation with secrecy—privately toiling away on a project until you're ready to share it with the world. While that may work for some, there's a benefit to putting all your cards on the table. Bilawal sits down for a conversation with Thomas Wolf, whose company Hugging Face pivoted from privately building an AI chatbot to sharing all of its knowledge with a growing online community. Thomas discusses the history of Hugging Face, why embracing open source development has shifted the trajectory of AI, and how open source can challenge existing power structures in the AI…
22 Oct 2024 · 39 min

How AI is changing who gets hired – and who doesn’t w/ Hilke Schellmann

From vetting resumes to screening candidates, many employers are using AI tools to identify top talent. But what happens when companies start relying on AI to help them decide who to hire or promote…and who to fire? Bilawal speaks with journalist Hilke Schellmann, whose research on the rapidly growing use of AI in the workplace highlights where algorithms are helping – and hurting – business. Hilke shares the surprising (and not surprising) ways AI works in the hiring process, and argues that transparency, regulation, and oversight are essential if AI is going to actually benefit employees…
15 Oct 2024 · 50 min

How Meta wants to shape our digital future with open source AI w/ Ragavan Srinivasan

Llama is Meta’s Large Language Model trained on over 15 trillion tokens of publicly available information. It’s available to anyone – from people making custom fan-made entertainment on a smartphone… to, potentially, complex projects that may not have the public’s well-being in mind. So if Llama is such a widely available and powerful product, why is Meta releasing it – for free? Bilawal chats with Meta’s own Vice President of Product, Ragavan Srinivasan, to discuss the pressing questions around Llama’s benefits and risks. For transcripts for The TED AI Show, visit…
8 Oct 2024 · 36 min

Is Google’s reign over? The future of AI search w/ Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas

Whether finding a restaurant or fact-checking a new claim, search engines are one of the main avenues we use to navigate the world. So why are modern engines so clunky and frustrating – and how is AI already changing the infrastructure we use to access information on the internet? Bilawal sits down with CEO of Perplexity AI Aravind Srinivas to discuss how we got to a world with too many links, and what the future may hold for your experience on the web. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
1 Oct 2024 · 41 min

How AI will transform dubbing in Hollywood w/ Scott Mann

If you've ever cringed at a poorly-dubbed film, you are not alone. That's why Scott Mann founded Flawless, a company that’s transforming the world of dubbing using AI. He talks with Bilawal about why good dubbing is essential for movie making and shares the mind-blowing technology that not only lets Robert DeNiro speak perfect Spanish, but radically changes how films might get made. The two also discuss what to keep in mind as creativity, industry, and AI technology continue to intertwine — and what we need to protect artists' rights. For transcripts for The TED AI Show, visit…
24 Sep 2024 · 14 min

Your right to mental privacy in the age of brain-sensing tech (from TED Talks Daily)

Today's episode is from another podcast from the TED Audio Collective, TED Talks Daily. If you missed our newest episode, you can listen to it HERE . The TED AI Show will be back with new episodes soon! You've heard Nita Farahany on this show before (and if you haven't, check the episode out HERE ). Nita's the neurotech and AI ethicist who is calling for the legal recognition of our "cognitive liberty." In her TED Talk, Nita shares examples of how neurotechnology can let you track your own brain activity and help you deeply understand your health -- but why without privacy protections, your…
19 Sep 2024 · 54 min

The UN is speaking up about AI — here’s what they’re saying (w/ Ian Bremmer)

AI is shaping every aspect of our lives — but only a handful of tech giants are having a say in what this technology can do. So what’s going on with world governments? Bilawal sits down with geopolitical expert Ian Bremmer to unpack the UN’s just-released plan for “Governing AI for Humanity,” a report that focuses on the urgent need to guide AI towards helping everyone – rather than the powerful few – thrive. Together, they explore the complexities of AI’s rapid growth on a worldwide scale and take a clear-eyed look at the pivotal decisions facing us in the very near future. For transcripts…
17 Sep 2024 · 39 min

Humanity’s first AI election w/ WIRED's Vittoria Elliott

2024 is the biggest election year in modern history, with over 50 countries going out to the polls across the globe. And artificial intelligence has fully seeped into global politics – from deepfakes to AI bots that can ingest thousands and thousands of documents to make policy decisions. Bilawal talks with journalist Vittoria Elliot, who’s been leading on WIRED’s AI Elections Projects, to discuss how AI is reshaping the political landscape in surprising ways. The two explore the good, the bad, and the downright bizarre – and share what the U.S. can learn from other countries to adapt and…
10 Sep 2024 · 35 min

Can AI read your mind? The battle for your brain w/ Nita Farahany

Imagine a world where your thoughts are no longer private – where employers, friends, and even companies can see, hack, or exploit your thinking. According to ethicist Nita Farahany, that reality is closer than you think. Nita and Bilawal discuss the rapidly advancing field of neurotechnology and its potential to completely transform our everyday lives, from tools that could help you deeply understand your health to tech that could manipulate your dreams. Nita also shares why we need to protect our "cognitive liberty" and how to exercise our rights to think freely in an age of mind-reading…
3 Sep 2024 · 37 min

Can AI predict (and control) the weather? w/ Dion Harris and Tapio Schneider

Cutting-edge technology and vast amounts of data are revolutionizing climate modeling with unprecedented accuracy. So could AI be the crystal ball we need to predict — and even control — Earth's climate? Bilawal sits with Dion Harris, the head of data center product marketing at NVIDIA, and climate physicist Tapio Schneider to discuss how technology could reshape our approach to climate change and influence global decision-making. The three also dive into how AI could help us make hyper-local climate predictions — and debate the ethical dilemmas of geoengineering. For transcripts for The TED…
27 Aug 2024 · 36 min

Sal Khan says AI won’t destroy education — but there’s a catch

Cheating has never been easier with the rise of AI like ChatGPT. It's definitely something to worry about, but what do we know about the upsides of AI in education? Khan Academy founder Sal Khan says education won't destroy our kids' brains, but we have to integrate AI the right way. After launching a new chatbot, Khanmigo, Sal has found that AI opens up opportunities for students to learn in ways they couldn't before, leaving room for more creativity, deeper thinking and gained perspective. Sam and Bilawal discuss why AI seeping into the classroom is inevitable — and how to use it to our…
20 Aug 2024 · 50 min

Why Google search isn’t going anywhere anytime soon (from The Next Wave)

Is Google's dominance in search engines at risk with the rise of generative AI models? In this episode from The Next Wave, a podcast we think you'll like, hosts Matt Wolfe and Nathan Lands dive in to the conversation with Bilawal. They explore the potential challenges facing Google's search engine supremacy due to advancements in generative AI models and discusses the implications for the future of search engines and advertising. Bilawal discusses the impact of AI-generated content on search results and the need for a nuanced approach in navigating the evolving landscape of digital…
13 Aug 2024 · 34 min

How to make yourself more human in an automated world (from How to Be a Better Human)

Kevin Roose is a tech journalist who writes about the intersection of tech, business, and culture. In today’s episode from How to Be a Better Human, another podcast in the TED Audio Collective, he talks about the shift of technology’s role in our lives and how we can set up boundaries with our devices to regain our autonomy. He also shares why he’s optimistic about the future, and his view on how futureproofing your job in an automated world has less to do with sharpening up our coding skills and more to do with leaning into our shared humanity. Find more How to Be a Better Human wherever…
6 Aug 2024 · 15 min

Why AI needs a "nutrition label" (from TED Talks Daily)

What do sandwiches have to do with AI? Data reformist Kasia Chmielinski helps us think about artificial intelligence with a useful food metaphor — and breaks down why AI systems should have "nutrition labels" to ensure the development of fairer, more transparent algorithms. This is an episode of TED Talks Daily. Every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio. Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between — given by the world's leading thinkers and creators.…
30 Jul 2024 · 32 min

will.i.am on AI – and the future of creativity (from ReThinking with Adam Grant)

You may know will.i.am as the 7-time Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter, producer, and frontman of The Black Eyed Peas. But his interests beyond music have also taken him down a surprising and creative path – from serving as the director of creative innovation at Intel, to becoming the first artist to stream a song from the surface of Mars, to hosting the first radio show with an AI co-host. In this episode of ReThinking with Adam Grant, organizational psychologist Adam Grant asks about will.i.am about his creative process and digs into how he turns his expansive ideas into reality.…
23 Jul 2024 · 34 min

Will AI replace me? with AJ. Jacobs (from Fixable)

How will AI change the way you work? A.J. Jacobs is a journalist and author who has written books like "The Year of Living Biblically", "The Puzzler", and "Thanks a Thousand." And although he's built a career off of his creative ideas, the rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI has made him concerned there will still be a place for his work as technology gets more advanced. In this episode from Fixable, another podcast from TED, leadership experts Anne Morriss and Frances Frei chat with AJ about how to use AI a resource, and the ethical dilemmas that must be confronted as AI becomes a…
16 Jul 2024 · 18 min

The AI-powered tools supercharging your imagination

The TED AI Show is going on a short summer break! In the meantime, we're sharing a special episode of TED Tech, another podcast from the TED Audio Collective that we think you'll love. Listen every Friday as TED speakers explore the way tech shapes how we think about society, science, design, business, and more. How is AI changing the nature of human imagination and creativity? Bilawal shares how anyone can use AI-powered tools — like 3D scans that let you redesign the physical world in real time — to expand the possibilities of artistic expression, often within just minutes. After his talk,…
9 Jul 2024 · 39 min

Is AI just all hype? w/ Gary Marcus

Are we mistaking the remarkable skills of tools like ChatGPT with genuine intelligence? AI skeptic Gary Marcus pulls no punches when he warns that believing in the hype of generative AI models might be distracting us from building the type of AI future we actually want. Bilawal and Gary delve into the nuanced perspectives beyond the AI hype cycle, and try to find the common ground between healthy skepticism and techno-optimism. For transcripts for The TED AI Show, visit go.ted.com/TTAIS-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2 Jul 2024 · 30 min

Will AI “eat software” — and what’ll happen to coders? w/ GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke

AI is reshaping software development so much that someday soon, anyone will be able to build an app or a game. What does that mean for programming now? Bilawal and Thomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub, explore the soaring possibilities and discuss the lingering concerns as “AI eats software.” Whether you are a coder or a tech enthusiast, think AI will supercharge programmers or fear it will render human coders obsolete, this episode will have your mind racing about the future of tech. For transcripts for The TED AI Show, visit go.ted.com/TTAIS-transcripts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for…

About The TED AI Show

The TED AI Show is a English tech & science podcast from TED. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: TED
Language: English
Category: Tech & Science
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 39 min
Latest episode: 10 Jul 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1741574582
Website: play.prx.org/listen?uf=https%3A%2F%2Fpodcasts.ted.com%2FtheTEDAIshow
Rights: TED

RSS feed Apple Podcasts Website

More English tech & science 6

Take it with you

The Melo app keeps playing with the screen off, works in the car and on your watch, wakes you to your station, and browses the whole catalogue offline. Free, no ads, no account.