21 January 2026
AI After Us
Robert Wright and Daniel Faggella, host of the podcast The Trajectory, discuss the fate of humankind in a world of increasingly powerful AI—including the “succession” scenario.
Play entire video
In this video:
- Teaser
- Defining AI succession
- How positive psychology led Dan to AI research
- Is Dan a “successionist”?
- Does it matter whether AI is sentient?
- Two traits of a worthy successor
- The varieties of succession scenarios
- Values and interests
- Will AI have any use for us?
- Succession scenarios to avoid
- Heading into Overtime
AI Consciousness: The Hard Problem
Robert Wright and AI researcher Cameron Berg discuss whether AIs are (or may someday be) sentient–including why it matters, why it’s such a hard question to answer, and what Cameron’s innovative LLM experiments tell us about it.
Is Space Still the Final Frontier?
Robert Wright and Joel Achenbach, author of a recent Slate deep dive on America’s new moon program, discuss the history and future of NASA—and its Elon-friendly new chief. Plus: The prospects for a Star Trek future, Mars, aliens, and more.
2025: A Year-End (And Quarter-Century-End) Reckoning
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom look back on the past year, and the past quarter century, and ahead to 2026—and 2050.
What Era Are We Living In?
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov grapple with the weirdness of our time—discussing whether Covid broke reality, the alienness of AI, the prospect of human obsolescence, why we need planetary unity pronto, and more!
Elon, Trump, Fuentes: Bad Men or Trolls or Both?
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom discuss the Brown shooting and Rob Reiner’s murder—and how Musk and Trump responded to them. Plus: Susie Wiles gone wild, Morgan/Fuentes, the Oliver Sacks revelations, and more.
The Life and Legacy of William F. Buckley
Robert Wright talks with Sam Tanenhaus, author of a sweeping new biography of Buckley, about the conservative icon’s influence and impact, from moving the GOP rightward to foreshadowing the age of Trump and Tucker Carlson.
China Hawks in Retreat?
In conversation with Robert Wright, Kaiser Kuo, host of the Sinica Podcast, argues that China hawkism has waned and assesses the causes and consequences.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Past and Future of Digital Media
Robert Wright talks with Mike Pesca, host of the long-running daily podcast The Gist, about new technological challenges to independent journalists and the perils of opining on Israel.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Minneapolis Shooting Rorschach Test
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom discuss the killing of Renee Good—and what it says about the state of the nation. Plus: Trump & Hitler compared (carefully); Elon & a madman compared (less so); Should professors fear AI?
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Does Trump have a coherent foreign policy?
Robert Wright reviews the year in US foreign policy with Connor Echols of Responsible Statecraft and Andrew Day of The American Conservative.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Venezuela, China, and Trump’s Incoherence
American Prestige podcast hosts Danny Bessner and Derek Davison join Robert Wright in trying to make sense of the second Trump administration’s foreign policy, one year in.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Hard Truth about Peace in Ukraine
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov discuss the state of Russia-Ukraine—including the latest on peace negotiations and whether Trump’s bargaining strategy is working; the military and economic realities; Zelensky’s corruption scandal and political future; what the Blob is “thinking”; and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Larry Summers, Jeffrey Epstein, and Other Elite Malefactors
