Tech Optimism to Cynicism: Personal Journeys

Air Date: 3/19/2026

Today we explore the long history of technological disruption — from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of software engineering — and ask whether AI is genuinely different this time, all while autonomous weapons dissolve accountability for the militaries using them and capitalism prevents AI companies from maintaining their ethical aspirations.

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

TOP TAKES

KP 1: How Long Until AI Takes Your Job - Consider This - Air Date 2-23-26

KP 2: Is AI Coming for Our Jobs - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 2-18-26

KP 3: AI Goes to War Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 3-4-26

KP 4: The AI-Powered War Machines Are Here Part 1 - On The Media - Air Date 3-6-26

KP 5: The Race to Build God AI's Existential Gamble — Yoshua Bengio & Tristan Harris at Davos Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 2-19-26

KP 6: Don't Download Claude, Either. - Why, America with Leeja Miller - Air Date 3-4-26

(00:51:47) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On Why AI Won't Ruin Your Life — Unless We Let It

DEEPER DIVES

(01:04:45) SECTION A: LABOR FUTURE

A1: Is AI Coming for Our Jobs Part 2 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 2-18-26

A2: AI Wont Decide the Future of Work—We Will (with David Autor) Part 1 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 2-24-26

A3: How Work Got So Bad Part 1 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 3-4-26

A4: AI Wont Decide the Future of Work—We Will (with David Autor) Part 2 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 2-24-26

A5: How Work Got So Bad Part 2 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 3-4-26

(01:47:01) SECTION B: WARFARE

B1: The Race to Build God AI's Existential Gamble — Yoshua Bengio & Tristan Harris at Davos Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 2-19-26

B2: Anthropic–Pentagon Contract Dispute Raises Questions About AI's Use in the Military - Soundside - Air Date 3-4-26

B3: Anthropics AI Ethics Vs. the Pentagon Part 1 - Brian Lehrer A Daily Podcast - Air Date 3-5-26

B4: The AI-Powered War Machines Are Here Part 2 - On The Media - Air Date 3-6-26

B5: AI Goes to War Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 3-4-26

(02:27:37) SECTION C: SURVEILLANCE

C1: Anthropic Doesn't Trust the Pentagon, and Neither Should You Part 1 - Decoder with Nilay Patel - Air Date 3-12-26

C2: Anthropic–Pentagon Contract Dispute Raises Questions About AI's Use in the Military Part 2 - Soundside - Air Date 3-4-26

C3: Anthropic Doesn't Trust the Pentagon, and Neither Should You Part 2 - Decoder with Nilay Patel - Air Date 3-12-26

C4: Anthropics AI Ethics Vs. the Pentagon Part 2 - Brian Lehrer A Daily Podcast - Air Date 3-5-26

(02:57:16) SECTION D: CORPORATE POWER

D1: The Left Doesn't Hate Technology with Gita Jackson Part 1 - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 3-12-26

D2: Don't Download Claude, Either. Part 2 - Why, America with Leeja Miller - Air Date 3-4-26

D3: The Left Doesn't Hate Technology with Gita Jackson Part 2 - Tech Won't Save Us - Air Date 3-12-26

D4: We Need a Moratorium on AI Data Centers NOW. Heres Why. - Senator Bernie Sanders - Air Date 3-11-26

SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Image of a robot walking across the street holding two leather briefcases. A thought bubble shows it is thinking about, or launching as it walks, missiles.

Credit: Internal composite design. Images/License: Pixabay

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

Visit us at BestOfTheLeft.com

Listen Anywhere! BestOfTheLeft.com/Listen Listen Anywhere!

Follow BotL: Bluesky | Mastodon | Threads | X

Like at Facebook.com/BestOfTheLeft

Contact me directly at Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com