kill switch

• boomers, doomers, and the new empire

  Big Tech promised AI would solve our biggest problems. But behind the hype there is a more unsettling reality: labor exploitation, environmental harm, and the looming threat of mass automation. Dexter sits down with journalist Karen Hao to talk about her new book Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI. They dig into how today’s AI companies are operating less like tech innovators and more like empires. Make sure to check out Karen’s book: Empire of AI Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up [email protected], or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• why are predator drones flying over LA?

  When ICE raids sparked massive protests across Los Angeles, something unusual appeared in the sky: Predator drones. Dexter talks to Joseph Cox over at 404 Media to understand how military-grade surveillance aircrafts ended up flying over U.S. citizens and what that means for the future of civil liberties. Read + Watch: Joseph’s articles on the Predator drones flying over the protests: DHS Flew Predator Drones Over LA Protests, Audio Shows CBP Confirms It Is Flying Predator Drones Above Los Angeles To Support ICE Also: How to Protest Safely: What to Bring, What to Do, and What to Avoid How to Protest Safely in the Age of Surveillance Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up [email protected], or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• sideways thinking: why is Nintendo so weird?

  The Nintendo Switch 2 is out – but why did Nintendo credit someone who died in 1997 in a press release for the console? Dexter talked to Patrick Klepek, of the video game website Remap, and Jeremy Parish, an expert in video game history, to tell the story of Gunpei Yokoi and how his influence led us to the Switch 2. Read + Watch: Patrick's article on Switch 2 games he's excited to play with his kids – https://www.crossplay.news/p/best-games-for-kids-and-families-june-2025 Jeremy on Bad Dudes and Ronald Reagan – https://youtu.be/ZpZddGOKrIk Did You Know Gaming on Gunpei Yokoi – https://youtu.be/uLznLtgcqXI Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up [email protected], or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• is using AI worse than driving a car?

  Dexter doesn't have a car. But he uses AI… a lot. So, is his environmental impact worse than someone who drives a truck to work every day? This seemingly simple question led us to a bigger conversation about water, public health, and why we still don't know much about the true environmental cost of artificial intelligence. To help us understand all this, we talk to researchers Shaolei Ren and Alex de Vries, who’ve been studying the toll AI takes on the planet. Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up [email protected], or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  31:39
• how did Twitter’s AI get so obsessed with white genocide?

  For about 24 hours, Grok, Twitter’s AI chatbot, went berserk. You could ask it about puppies, sports, or movies, and it would reply with a bizarre diatribe about white genocide in South Africa. If you’ve already heard of this, you’ve probably seen people dunking on Elon Musk, and, well, that’s understandable. But Max Read, today’s guest, explains why this brief peek into a weird conspiracy theory might have actually been a good thing. Got something you’re curious about? Hit us up [email protected], or @dexdigi on IG or Bluesky. Read: Max’s Substack article on the whole thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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