18 February 2026
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Robert Wright (Bloggingheads.tv, The Evolution of God, Nonzero, Why Buddhism Is True), Alex Hanna (DAIR, Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000), and Emily Bender (University of Washington/, Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000).
- Alex and Emily’s book, The AI Con . 00:00
- Beyond the AI booster-doomer spectrum . 4:46
- What—and who—is AI actually useful for? . 10:28
- The AI productivity question(s) . 19:54
- Emily: AI won’t take your job, it’ll just make it shi**ier . 30:49
- Stochastic parrots, Chinese rooms, and semantics . 39:50
- Are LLMs really black boxes? . 46:24
- Do AIs “understand” things? . 56:34
- Debating using AIs as experts . 59:51
- How “neural” are neural nets, really? . 69:16
Recorded:Jan 20
Posted:Jan 27, 2026
Download:
Nonzero (The Wright Show) | Jan 27, 2026 | The Case Against AI
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The AI Apocalypse Cometh?
Robert Wright and Paul Bloom discuss whether reports of AI acceleration are greatly exaggerated—and what’s at stake if they’re not. Plus, in Overtime: Bob’s Epstein files cameos and Paul’s big news.
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Agency, AI, and the MAGA Impulse
Nikita Petrov argues MAGA and similar movements are collective responses to a felt lack of agency. Robert Wright warns AI is about to make that feeling universal. Plus: Spanish rituals as a survival model, the “Claude Code hangover,” and Bob’s case for slowing AI development down.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Is the Singularity Near?
Robert Wright and Timothy B. Lee, author of the Understanding AI newsletter, discuss recent AI developments (more autonomous agents, more automated coding in the labs, Moltbook, etc.) that have fostered a sense that things are speeding up.
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The Meaning of Moltbook
Psychologist and Small Potatoes EIC Paul Bloom joins Robert Wright to discuss the Moltbook phenomenon, the latest Epstein Files release, and more.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
The Grand Unified Theory of MAGA
Robert Wright and Nikita Petrov discuss whether MAGA can be seen as a coherent global phenomenon. Plus: The paradox of international nationalism; Burkean conservatism vs. Silicon Valley libertarianism; and the crumbling rules-based order.
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New World Disorder
Derek Davison and Daniel Bessner of the American Prestige podcast join NonZero’s Robert Wright to discuss Trump’s latest foreign policy eruptions.
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
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.
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
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