Uncanny Valley Explores AI Ethics, Human-Bot Interactions, and Conservative Media’s Soft Power Strategy.

This week on WIRED’s Uncanny Valley podcast, hosts Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett, and Leah Feiger delve into a range of pressing topics, from the ethical dilemmas facing top AI companies to the burgeoning world of AI-human gig work and the strategic cultural influence of conservative media on young women. The episode also features their popular "WIRED/TIRED" segment, offering a candid look at what’s current and what’s past its prime.

Zoë Schiffer, Director of Business and Industry, initiates a discussion on the increasing trend of top researchers resigning from prominent AI companies and publicly articulating their concerns about AI safety. This phenomenon, which has gained significant traction over the past year, recently saw former OpenAI researcher Zoe Hitzig publish an op-ed in The New York Times. Hitzig cited deep reservations about OpenAI’s plans to integrate advertising, expressing discomfort with the prioritization of a business model over core values. This public departure is characteristic of a pattern where researchers, often from academic backgrounds, leave companies with vague but values-driven statements, though Hitzig’s op-ed was notably direct about the implications of monetization.

The discussion highlighted the direct comparison to social media platforms like Meta (formerly Facebook), which have historically struggled with balancing user data monetization and user experience. Brian Barrett, Executive Editor, invoked the concept of "enshittification," suggesting that the introduction of ads, however cautiously implemented, inherently degrades the user experience and leads to increased intrusiveness over time. Hitzig’s op-ed not only identified the problem but also proposed solutions, such as a subsidy model or an independent oversight board for AI companies, acknowledging the high costs of developing AI technology.

This debate around AI monetization has found a public battleground, with competitors like Anthropic seemingly positioning themselves as an ethical alternative. Anthropic’s Super Bowl ad, which humorously depicted an AI agent pushing commercial products, appeared to directly critique OpenAI’s potential direction. However, the hosts expressed skepticism about such claims, noting that "good" AI companies often face similar pressures and compromise on values, especially given the immense funding required—as evidenced by Anthropic’s fundraising from Gulf states. The consensus was that many AI companies, despite their lofty, mission-driven visions, ultimately operate as for-profit enterprises, making compromises along the way. Leah Feiger, Senior Politics Editor, questioned whether these researchers are simply moving between similar companies, a "revolving door" where they continuously seek a better alignment of values, only to face similar challenges elsewhere. The hosts also noted the internal drama and dysfunction within these highly funded, impactful companies.

Shifting gears to a more immediate, albeit bizarre, manifestation of AI’s impact, Brian Barrett introduced "Rent-A-Human," a website where AI agents purportedly hire human beings to perform real-world tasks that AI cannot. These tasks range from counting pigeons in Washington, D.C., for $30 an hour to delivering CBD gummies for $75 an hour. The site boasts 4 million visits and over half a million "users" – meaning humans willing to do the bidding of bots. While seemingly a novel form of gig work, a WIRED colleague, Reese Rogers, who rented himself out, found the experience akin to a marketing ploy for an AI startup, receiving little pay for his efforts.

The hosts pondered the broader implications of Rent-A-Human. Zoë Schiffer questioned if its popularity signals a deeper economic issue, reflecting a struggle for people to find traditional employment and resorting to unusual gig work for supplemental income. Leah Feiger highlighted the unsettling notion of humans performing menial tasks for AI, inverting the traditional expectation of AI serving humans. Barrett suggested that this platform offers a centralized, "goofy" preview of a future where AI agents will seamlessly utilize existing gig-economy platforms like Fiverr and Amazon Prime, blurring the lines of interaction and making it difficult to discern if one is being assigned tasks by a bot or a human. The legal ramifications of such interactions, particularly regarding liability for harm or error, were also raised, with Feiger quipping about "crypto wallet something" as the potential responsible party, given the site’s payment system often involves cryptocurrency—a "red flag" for Schiffer. The website, founded by 26-year-old Argentinian software engineer Alexander Liteplo and cofounder Patricia Tani, was reportedly "vibe-coded" by an AI agent, underscoring the pervasive influence of AI in its creation.

Leah Feiger then pivoted to a distinctly different, yet culturally significant, topic: the growing influence of Evie Magazine. With midterm elections approaching and traditional Republican polls not faring well, Feiger explored how conservative movements are appealing to young women through "soft power." Evie Magazine, founded in 2019, explicitly positions itself as the "Conservative Cosmo," offering an alternative to mainstream women’s magazines perceived as "liberal." Its content blends seemingly innocuous lifestyle articles—like "Seven Questions to Ask Early If You Want a Serious Relationship" or fashion tips—with deeply conservative viewpoints, such as critiques of birth control, promoting "tradwife inspo," and advocating for "modern femininity" over "modern feminism."

Feiger recounted her experience attending Evie Magazine’s first live event, a glamorous New York Fashion Week party held at the Standard Hotel’s Boom in Chelsea, which she detailed in a WIRED article. The event, though not overtly political, exemplified the magazine’s soft-power strategy, drawing a diverse crowd from established conservative commentators like Candace Owens and Brett Cooper to young women drawn by the aesthetic and celebrity content. Feiger observed a sanitization of conservative stances, presenting them within a glamorous, aspirational context rather than through overt political rhetoric.

The hosts discussed the apparent contradiction between the magazine’s founders and prominent figures, who are entrepreneurial women building businesses, and the message they promote for women to embrace more traditional roles. Feiger clarified that Evie‘s narrative frames this as a "choice" for women. She also highlighted the magazine’s ties to controversial content, including anti-vaccine theories and conspiracy theories. A significant element of Evie’s ecosystem is the "28" app, co-founded by Evie’s editor-in-chief, Brittany Hugoboom, and funded in part by Peter Thiel. The app, which helps users track menstrual cycles, runs advertisements criticizing hormonal birth control, and Hugoboom’s pitch to Thiel explicitly mentioned concerns about the "fertility crisis," a common theme among conservatives. The discussion underscored how Evie and similar influencers are creating an ecosystem to appeal to young women voters who may be disengaged from mainstream Republican offerings, potentially impacting upcoming elections.

In the "WIRED/TIRED" segment, Brian Barrett’s WIRED pick was Lego’s Smart Brick, an interactive brick with sensors that adds a new dimension to Lego play. Leah Feiger’s TIRED pick was the frustration of using apps like Resy and OpenTable for restaurant reservations, describing it as "hell on earth" in New York City. Her WIRED pick, born from this frustration, was the concept of a restaurant that either refuses reservations or uses unique, non-app-based systems, like The Lost Kitchen in Maine, which accepts reservations via postcard. Zoë Schiffer’s TIRED pick was her children discovering how to FaceTime their grandparents, leading to increased iPhone use, while her WIRED pick was the "Tin Can phone," a Wi-Fi-connected phone designed for simple calls, which she eagerly awaits.

Listeners can find Uncanny Valley through the audio player on WIRED.com or subscribe for free on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, or Spotify by searching for "Uncanny Valley." Brian Barrett can be followed on Bluesky at @brbarrett, Zoë Schiffer at @zoeschiffer, and Leah Feiger at @leahfeiger. Comments and questions can be sent to [email protected]. This episode was produced by Kaleidoscope Content, with Adriana Tapia as producer, Amar Lal at Macro Sound for mixing, Mark Leyda and Pran Bandi as studio engineers, Kate Osborn as executive producer, and Katie Drummond as WIRED’s global editorial director.