Uncanny Valley | WIRED
WIRED
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
19 snips
May 12, 2026 • 43min
The Creators of Hacks Really, Really, Really Hate AI
Lucia Aniello, director and co-creator of Hacks, and Paul W. Downs, comedian and co-creator of the Emmy-winning series, join to talk shop. They discuss writing the show’s female-driven comedy and how Hollywood sexism shaped the characters. They unpack corporate censorship, streamer consolidation, and why they find AI deeply disturbing.
35 snips
May 7, 2026 • 27min
Trump Pivots On AI Regulation; What Is Hantavirus?; Worker Ousted by DOGE Runs for Office
Emily Mullen, WIRED science reporter who covers infectious disease, breaks down the hantavirus cruise cases. She explains what hantaviruses are and how they usually spread. Short takes on human-to-human risk and public-health response. Also discussed: a surprising shift in AI oversight thinking and a fired federal worker running for Congress.
May 5, 2026 • 40min
What’s the ‘Chicken Shop Date’ Creator’s Secret? Creative Control
Amelia Dimoldenberg, host of the megapopular Chicken Shop Date, joins Katie to talk about control. Who has it, who doesn’t and why it matters so much for success in our influence-focused internet economy. They also talk red carpets and the surprising joy of editing.Join WIRED’s best and brightest on Uncanny Valley as they dissect the collision of tech, politics, finance, and business, from Alexis Ohanian’s newest tech venture to the effects of inaccurate information from artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots on social protests.
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47 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 33min
Musk v. Altman; Is the AI Job Apocalypse Overhyped?; DOJ Dismantles Voting Rights Unit
A courtroom drama over control of a major AI lab and the corporate players circling the trial. Tech layoffs and contractor shakeouts as companies recalibrate AI hiring and roles. An investigation into how the Justice Department hollowed out its voting-rights unit and what that means for future elections.
29 snips
Apr 28, 2026 • 34min
‘Stop Trying to Unmask Satoshi Nakamoto’ Says Actor Ben McKenzie
Ben McKenzie, actor-turned-crypto critic and documentarian, explains why the hunt for bitcoin’s creator only fuels mythology. He calls crypto a speculative, often harmful industry and outlines its primary uses: gambling and illicit activity. He also recounts pushing for Congressional scrutiny and the making of his film tracking crypto’s promises and pitfalls.
34 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 36min
Apple’s Next Chapter; SpaceX and Cursor Strike A Deal; Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto
Tim Cook’s departure and what it means for Apple’s future direction. A puzzling SpaceX purchase of an AI coding firm and the business reasoning behind it. Palantir’s controversial 22-point manifesto and the backlash it sparked. A political shift as some MAGA figures turn away from Trump. A scam using an AI-generated MAGA persona to manipulate and grift supporters.
26 snips
Apr 21, 2026 • 36min
LegalEagle, the Internet’s Favorite Lawyer, Makes Sense of ‘Multiple Watergates per Week’
Devin Stone, practicing lawyer, Georgetown law professor, and creator of the LegalEagle YouTube channel, explains his shift from big-firm practice to online legal explainers. He breaks down how TV gets law wrong, why scandals from the Trump era kept him busy, and the risks of too many simultaneous corruption stories. He also chats about YouTube’s role in legal coverage and monetizing legal analysis.
12 snips
Apr 17, 2026 • 6min
Artemis II Astronaut Reflects Upon Return
Victor Glover, NASA astronaut and pilot of Artemis II, who flew farther from Earth than any humans, reflects on life after return. He recalls the 40-minute far-side blackout and how the crew stayed grounded with humor and calm. He also walks through the intense risks and sensations of reentry and splashdown.
42 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 32min
Kara Swisher Is Trying To Live Forever
Kara Swisher, veteran tech journalist known for sharp Silicon Valley reporting and a longevity docuseries. She explores why billionaires chase extended life, separates real science like GLP-1s and AI drug discovery from hype, questions performative self-experiments and philanthropy, and considers practical approaches like preventive health, social connections, and ethical issues around digital immortality.
39 snips
Apr 14, 2026 • 41min
Silicon Valley Is Spending Millions to Stop One of Its Own
Alex Bores, a New York Assemblyman and former Palantir engineer focused on tech policy, talks campaign dynamics and why he left Palantir over civil‑immigration work. He walks through New York’s RAISE Act on AI safety and transparency. He describes attacks from pro‑AI PACs, a 43‑point AI framework, and concerns about kids, labor, and rapid AI timelines.
