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, The Big Interview with WIRED’s Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond in conversation with influential figures in culture, politics, business, science, and beyond for a discussion captured through the WIRED lens.
On Thursdays, WIRED writers and editors Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett and Leah Feiger add you to the Slack group thread to let you into what they’re hearing from sources in Silicon Valley and D.C, read you into what trends you should be watching for and how WIRED is thinking about it all.
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It's long been believed that Silicon Valley is a hotbed for libertarian ideals, but where did that idea come from? Aside from some high-profile tech founders and investors who either identify as libertarian or express libertarian-esque beliefs, does this set of ideologies really define the Valley? And what is libertarianism anyway? You can follow Michael Calore on Bluesky at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on Bluesky at @laurengoode , and Zoë Schiffer on Bluesky @zoeschiffer . Learn about your ad cho...
The mission of Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurs has long been to change the world. But, how do you know whether a pursuit is good or bad? ACTS17 collective, a Christian faith based group of tech entrepreneurs, says a strong relationship with God is the answer. Today on the show, we talk about the people promoting a faith-based approach to tech, we learn what a “good quest” is, and we ask, what impact religion will have on the type of ventures the valley pursues in the future? Learn about your ad c...
She sits in on his business meetings, defends him on X, and travels to give talks about how she raised him, the richest man in the world — but who is Elon Musk’s mother? Today on the show, we learn all about the model, influencer and author, Maye Musk, while dissecting her most recent travels to China and her possible influence on foreign politics. Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on BlueSky at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on BlueSky at @laurengoode , and Zoë ...
WIRED’s Vittoria Elliot joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to discuss what real government auditors think of DOGE’s work, and what happened during DOGE’s first six weeks. Articles mentioned in this episode: ‘It’s a Heist’: Real Federal Auditors Are Horrified by DOGE , Inside Elon Musk’s ‘Digital Coup’ , Donald Trump Held Another Million-Dollar ‘Candlelight’ Dinner—With Elon Musk in Tow Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
If you’ve spent time in San Francisco or Phoenix in the last couple years, chances are you’ve probably seen a self-driving car making its way around. This week, we’re joined by WIRED’s Aarian Marshall to talk about the race to flood our streets with self-driving cars. We’ll get into safety regulations, the pros and cons of robo taxis, and we imagine a future where driverless cars become mainstream. You can follow Michael Calore on Bluesky at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on Bluesky at @laurengoode ...
WIRED Senior Editor Leah Feiger joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to discuss some breaking news about why Elon Musk would want a government shutdown. Plus, WIRED’s Emily Mullin joins for an update on misinformation surrounding the latest measles outbreaks in the United States. Articles mentioned in this episode: Elon Musk Has Wanted the Government Shutdown ; This Is How Measles Kills ; The Worst 7 Years in Boeing’s History—and the Man Who Won’t Stop Fighting for Answers Learn about ...
This episode explores the pronatalism movement, where Silicon Valley's wealthiest advocate for increasing birth rates due to perceived population collapse. It delves into the movement's diverse motivations, from economic growth to national identity, and its intersection with politics and eugenics concerns. The discussion also covers the historical context of birth rates, the complex societal factors influencing fertility decisions, and the ethical dilemmas presented by advanced reproductive technologies, alongside the potential for immigration and improved fertility tech.
WIRED’s Director of Business & Industry Zoë Schiffer and Katie Drummond, Global Editorial Director, talk about credit card freezes and AI technology at DOGE, and how each is a move from the Twitter playbook. Articles mentioned in this episode: DOGE Puts $1 Spending Limit on Government Employee Credit Cards , Elon Musk’s $1 Spending Limit Is Paralyzing Federal Agencies , DOGE Is Working on Software That Automates the Firing of Government Workers , Elon Musk’s DOGE Is Working on a Custom Chatb...
We’ve been so busy at WIRED, covering politics, science, culture, security, gear and so much more, that this week we decided to do something a little different – we’re talking through three stories from February that we just can’t stop thinking about. In today’s episode, we talk about the Tesla backlash, a saga involving deepfaked images, and we dive into the world of microchips. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
WIRED’s Deputy Editor Brian Barrett joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to talk about the many conflicts of interests within DOGE which are popping up across the federal government , including most recently at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Plus, they unpack the chaos which followed an email that Elon Musk sent to federal workers over the weekend. Articles mentioned in this episode: DOGE Staffers at HUD Are From an AI Real Estate Firm and a Mobile Home Operator , The...
The relationship between Sam Altman and Elon Musk goes back to the early days of OpenAI– then, a non-profit research lab. But now, the two men find themselves in a very public feud over the billion dollar AI company. Today on the show, we catalogue their friendship-turned-feud and how the company that started it all still remains core to their beef. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Andrew Couts, WIRED’s Senior Editor of Security and Investigations, joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to talk about how The 1974 Privacy Act is being leveraged as Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency continues to collect massive amounts of sensitive federal data. Plus, they discuss how you can protect yourself from government surveillance. Articles mentioned in this episode: The 50-Year-Old Law That Could Stop DOGE in Its Tracks—Maybe , The WIRED Guide to Protec...
Dating apps have evolved a lot over the years, with apps dedicated to any romantic niche– dog lovers, astrology heads, and big, bushy beards. Despite the seemingly endless options of dating platforms, the industry seems to be at a low. So this week, we talk about the current state of dating apps and what it means for those looking for love (or something like it). Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
WIRED Politics Senior Editor Leah Feiger joins Global Editorial Director Katie Drummond to talk about the latest at DOGE and the inexperienced engineers holding key positions at the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. They discuss how WIRED’s been preparing for this moment since the first assassination attempt on Trump last summer, and how, despite the unprecedented chaos of this moment, the courts will catch up. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
On a Sunday in January, TikTok users were greeted with a notification in the app which said that TikTok was no longer available to use in the U.S ., but that it hoped to be back soon. The following day, President Trump took office and signed an executive order keeping the app around another 75 days. But, it’s still unclear what will happen with TikTok after those 75 days are up. This week, we break down years of drama around the potential ban on TikTok, and we ask each other: what makes this app...
It wasn’t that long ago that one of Silicon Valley's most prominent and influential venture capitalists, Marc Andreessen, was a major supporter of the Democratic Party. So how did he, in such a short time, transform into a top advisor to the Trump administration? This week, we retrace Andreesen’s steps–from his early days at Netscape to his current role of “unpaid intern” at DOGE. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
With the news that Meta is ending its third-party fact-checking program, we dig into the future of content moderation. From Community Notes to automated systems, how do you manage trust and safety for a site with two billion daily active users? Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on BlueSky at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on BlueSky at @laurengoode , and Zoë Schiffer on Threads @reporterzoe . Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Sometimes you just need a little help. That’s where the robots come in! But, have we actually reached a place where AI is more helpful than working with a human expert? This week, we compare notes on our week with AI assistants. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
What do Dogecoin and the Department of Government Efficiency have in common? Elon Musk, of course. This new government committee led by Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy is being tasked with cutting the federal budget. So this week, we examine the Silicon Valley mindset behind it. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
In her new FX docuseries “Social Studies,” the artist and filmmaker Lauren Greenfield delves into the post-pandemic lives—and phones—of a group of L.A. teens. Screen recordings of the kids’ social-media use reveal how these platforms have reshaped their experience of the world in alarming ways. On this episode of Critics at Large, Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss how the show paints a vivid, empathetic portrait of modern adolescence while also tapping into the long tr...
Wearable tech, self-driving cars and AI mishaps. There were a lot of new product launches this year – some more successful than others. This week on Uncanny Valley, we talk about the tech out there that we are most excited about and the tech that has us most terrified for the coming year. Plus, we share our gifting recommendations. Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on BlueSky at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on BlueSky at @laurengoode , and Zoë Schiffer on Threa...
In a post-Twitter world, text-based social media apps have taken a new shape. X, BlueSky, and Threads are home to wildly different types of discourse. So, which of these apps are actually worth our time? This week on Uncanny Valley, we talk about the state of text-based social apps and how they impact journalism. And finally, we ask–is it time to quit? Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on Mastodon at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on Threads and @laurengoode , an...
Sam Altman is the king of generative artificial intelligence. But is he the person we should trust to guide our explorations into AI? This week, we do a deep dive on Sam Altman. From his Midwest roots, to his early startup days, to his time at Venture Capital, and his rise and fall and rise again at OpenAI. Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on Mastodon at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on Threads and @laurengoode , and Zoë Schiffer on Threads @reporterzoe . Learn...
It's long been believed that Silicon Valley is a hotbed for libertarian ideals, but where did that idea come from? Aside from some high-profile tech founders and investors who either identify as libertarian or express libertarian-esque beliefs, does this set of ideologies really define the Valley? And what is libertarianism anyway? Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
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. Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on Mastodon at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on Threads and...
Much of the tech workforce has become accustomed to remote or hybrid jobs over the last several years. But lately, we’ve seen big tech companies demanding their teams head back into the office. This week, we look at some of these return-to-office mandates and discuss their ripple effects. Plus, we ask the question on all of our minds: does working in person actually make employees more productive? Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on Mastodon at @snackfight ,...
For years, Mark Zuckerberg’s style could be summed up in a look: the hoodie. But now, he’s entered a new style era. One that involves gold chains and oversized tees of his own creation (with a little help from a high-end designer). In this episode of Uncanny Valley, we look into Zuckerberg’s style evolution, how it aligns with the future of Meta, and why you should care. Write to us at uncannyvalley@wired.com . You can follow Michael Calore on Mastodon at @snackfight , Lauren Goode on Threads an...
Welcome to Uncanny Valley—an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley. Join hosts Lauren Goode, Michael Calore, and Zoë Schiffer as they break down new stories or phenomena bubbling up in Silicon Valley. Whether it’s a pivotal decision made inside a tech company, a quirky, new habit of a CEO, or the overwhelming expansion of generative AI, we’ll explain why these matter and how they affect you. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Everybody wants to talk to their pet. Or to try to get them to listen, anyway. So it’s no wonder that some startups think the way to break through the communication barrier between you and your pooch is with a nice big helping of technology. Welcome to a world with AI-enabled dog and cat collars that try to interpret a pet’s needs and then share those wishes with their human. The only problem with these devices is that the pet won’t actually be a part of the conversation, as the collar is just g...
Ring cameras have come a long way. Since the security camera brand launched 11 years ago, its video doorbells and cams have become vigilant, constant surveyors of patios, porches, and vestibules everywhere. Amazon now owns the company, and has ushered it through controversies over privacy concerns, incidents of vigilantism, and the company’s cozy relationship with law enforcement. The drama has not slowed growth; over 10 million Rings have been installed, and the cameras currently blanket our ur...
