#1765 AI Capitalism Will Not Deliver an AI Utopia

#1765 AI Capitalism Will Not Deliver an AI Utopia

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics January 17, 2026 Duration: 2:58:10

Air Date: 1/17/2026

There's a lot to be concerned about with AI but the biggest concern is the economic system we have in place at the moment when AI is being introduced. Capitalism is not a good steward of new and potentially dangerous technology, as we've seen from Zuckerberg's move-fast-and-break-things era of social media that he later recognized as having triggered a genocide. When the profit drive necessitates light-speed growth, ethical and safety considerations are the first things to be jettisoned and things get broken.

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KEY POINTS

KP 1: What Sam Altman Doesn't Want You To Know - More Perfect Union - Air Date 12-19-25

KP 2: The AI Bubble Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 10-28-25

KP 3: The Hidden Forces Driving the AI Bubble Part 1 - Instant Genius - Air Date 11-13-25

KP 4: Desperate OpenAI Turns To Erotica - Novara Media - Air Date 10-16-25

KP 5: Avoiding Fake News in the AI Era Part 1 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-8-25

KP 6: Trump Considers Order to Override State Regulations on Artificial Intelligence - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 11-20-25


(00:48:47) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On why capitalism is the biggest problem of AI


DEEPER DIVES

(00:57:14) SECTION A: AL BUBBLE

A1: So Are We in an AI Bubble? Here Are Clues to Look for Part 1 - Planet Money - Air Date 1-9-25

A2: The Hidden Forces Driving the AI Bubble Part 2 - Instant Genius - Air Date 11-13-25

A3: The AI Bubble Part 2 - Today, Explained - Air Date 10-28-25

A4: AI Robot Slaves and Other CES Miracles Part 1 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 1-12-26

A5: So Are We in an AI Bubble? Here Are Clues to Look for Part 2 - Planet Money - Air Date 1-9-25


(01:39:59) SECTION B: PORN AND SLOP

B1: Avoiding Fake News in the AI Era Part 2 - The Brian Lehrer Show - Air Date 1-8-25

B2: Deep Fakes, Data Centers, and AI Slop — Are We Cooked Part 1 - On the Media - Air Date 12-19-25

B3: Meet The Women Being Deepfaked Into Porn by AI - BBC - Air Date 9-4-24

B4: Digital Stimulation AI and Porn - The Economist - Air Date 12-10-25

B5: How AI Porn Isolates Us with Noelle Perdue Part 1 - The 404 Media Podcast - Air Date 12-9-25

B6: AI Robot Slaves and Other CES Miracles Part 2 - It Could Happen Here - Air Date 1-12-26

B7: How AI Porn Isolates Us with Noelle Perdue Part 2 - The 404 Media Podcast - Air Date 12-9-25


(02:30:14) SECTION C: REGULATION

C1: Two Proposed Bills Cover AI and Deep Fake Pornography in Indiana - WTHR - Air Date 1-2-26

C2: Deep Fakes, Data Centers, and AI Slop — Are We Cooked Part 2 - On the Media - Air Date 12-19-25

C3: AI 1 — Humanity 0 - Today, Explained - Air Date 12-17-25

C4: Trump Family Businesses Rake in $4 Billion After His Reelection with Focus on AI, Crypto, & Nuclear - Democracy Now! - Air Date 1-6-26


SHOW IMAGE CREDITS

Description: Composite image of a high-tech robot running on a road while money falls into flames behind it.

Credit: Internal design. Images via Pixabay | Pixabay license

 

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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