Journalist and author Brian Merchant (Motherboard, LA Times), joins to discuss his book Blood in the Machine, and what the AI revolution should learn from the Luddite movement. Brian’s substack functions as part of Greg’s conscience, and they talk about the current political climate in AI, and why AI companies face a strategy challenge after driving adoption with free services.

When a tech critic and an AI CEO compare notes, where do they find common ground?

Plus, Greg pitches Brian on his vision of future supercompanies. For more on that, see Juliet Bailin’s analysis in Episode 2 - Who’s Going to Win in the AI Economy?

Episode links:

Brian’s newsletter, Blood in the Machine

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cokKQKhBtPw

AI is driving an arms race in classrooms, but what about the tech’s potential to give individualized instruction? What other ways might new technology change how we learn for the better? What’s ahead for the education tech landscape?

Claire Zau, venture partner at GSV Ventures and author of the AI & Education newsletter, specializes in educational technology investment. She joins Greg from New York to discuss what’s next for education.

Episode Links:

Claire's newsletter AI & Education

Claire's Instagram Zauey Talks

GSV Venture's website

It’s been a big year for fake news. So this New Year’s Eve, we look back at the hype, pitches, and rumors about AI we’ve heard in 2025, and Greg shares his predictions for 2026.

And are we in a bubble? There may be a few, but there’s more to the story. If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s another year of AI’s presence growing in our lives.

This episode has presentation visuals on YouTube.