A.I. Backlash Turns Violent + Kara Swisher on Healthmaxxing + The Zuck Bot Is Coming
4/17/20261 hr 3 min
This week, amid violent attacks on the homes of the OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and the Indianapolis councilman Ron Gibson, we debate why artificial intelligence and data centers are so unpopular. Then, Kara Swisher returns to the show to discuss her new docuseries on Silicon Valley’s obsession with living longer. And finally, can chief executives replace themselves with A.I.? Mark Zuckerberg seems to be trying.
Guests:
- Kara Swisher, tech journalist and host of the podcasts “Pivot” and “On With Kara Swisher.”
Additional Reading:
- Shots Fired at Indianapolis Councilman’s Home, After Vote Backing Data Center
- Man Held in Attack on OpenAI Chief’s Home Had List of A.I. Leaders, Officials Say
- Kara Swisher Wants to Live Forever
- Meta Builds A.I. Version of Mark Zuckerberg to Interact With Staff
We want to hear from you. Email us at hardfork@nytimes.com. Find “Hard Fork” on YouTube and TikTok.
Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 00:00
What would you like the power to do?
Speaker 10:01
Don't worry, you got this. [sighs] Whoa.
Speaker 00:05
Hear that?
Speaker 10:06
I did it.
Speaker 20:07
Great job.
Speaker 00:07
That's the sound of you helping your child find confidence that lasts a lifetime. Bank of America invites kids six to 18 to join Golf with Us. For a limited time, sign them up for a free one-year membership, giving them access to discounted tee times at thousands of courses as we champion the next generation who dares to ask, "What would you like the power to do?" Restrictions apply. Activation required. Cbfa.com/golfwithus for complete details.
Kevin Roose· Host0:29
Casey, how are you?
Casey Newton· Host0:32
I'm good. I'm good. I'm feeling a little bummed because this morning I was, uh, listening to Be My Lover, the '90s jock jam- Mm-hmm ... at kind of a loud volume. It was about 6:50 in the morning, and, uh, my, you know, fiance kind of came into the bathroom and I tried to dance with him. [laughs] And he was like, "I, I don't wanna dance right now." [laughs] "I just wanna go to the gym." [laughs] I was like, "Who can resist Be My Lover- Yeah ... by La Bouche?"
Kevin Roose· Host1:01
Yeah. And- Those people knew what they were doing ... I think if you are asked to dance before 7:00 AM, it is within your rights as an American citizen to say no to that.
Casey Newton· Host1:10
I thi- here's my invitation to America. Let the spirit move you. [laughs] There's a lot going on in this country, and if you hear a sick beat, show it some respect.
Kevin Roose· Host1:19
[upbeat music] I'm Kevin Roose, a tech columnist at The New York Times.
Casey Newton· Host1:27
I'm Casey Newton from Platformer.
Kevin Roose· Host1:28
And this is Hard Fork.
Casey Newton· Host1:29
This