The problem with AI

The problem with AI

Author: BBC World Service April 7, 2026 Duration: 26:28

Can we trust AI? Its answers are not always correct. And it only knows what it's been trained on, so some of its responses can contain bias. Tech experts offer us some solutions.

Also this week: digital twinning is helping the restoration of a three hundred year old palace. And the joy of mundane video gaming!

Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn

(Image: A person is typing on a laptop computer. Digital icons for AI, ticks (checkmarks) and warning signs float above the keyboard. Credit: Getty Images)


From the studios of the BBC World Service comes Tech Life, a global conversation about the tools reshaping our everyday existence. This isn't just a show about new gadgets; it's a deep dive into the human stories behind the silicon. Each episode takes you to the front lines of innovation, introducing the thinkers and tinkerers whose bright ideas are redefining how we work, learn, and connect. We go beyond the press release, getting hands-on with emerging products to understand their real-world impact. But Tech Life also tackles the harder questions, scrutinizing the immense power wielded by tech giants and examining who truly benefits-and who gets left behind-in this relentless transformation. The podcast serves as an essential guide to a future that is constantly being written, offering clarity and context on the forces that are actively making and remaking our world. Tune in for thoughtful, international reporting that connects the dots between a line of code and a change in your daily life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Tech Life
Podcast Episodes
Chatbots changing minds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:32
A study found AI chatbots can persuade us with fake facts. We explore what this means for politics. Then we speak to author of The Web Beneath the Waves, Samanth Subramanian, about the importance of undersea cables. Plus…
The darker side of streaming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
Twitch streamer QTCinderella talks about the unwelcome attention she receives in real life. Shiona McCallum reports on robotics for offshore wind farms. And polar rover tech.Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producer: Tom Quinn…
The secret ways AI is used to write hit songs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:31
We’re all about AI today. As AI-generated music tops US charts, a musician explains how he uses AI in the songwriting process. A fashion house explains how they use it to help sizing issues. And with the festive season a…
Should we allow AI into the classroom? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
Does AI have a role in education? Some private schools in the United States are swapping traditional teacher-led classroom lessons for laptops and personalised apps. We speak to pupils and the co-founder of the school ne…
Living the digital nomad life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
We look at how tech and visas have freed some employees from their desktops, allowing them to continue their work from other parts of the world. They're called digital nomads.Also in this edition: Shiona McCallum speaks…
The King and AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
Seven pioneers of artificial intelligence gathered at St James's Palace to receive the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, presented by King Charles. Zoe Kleinman was there. In this week's edition you can hear Zoe tal…
Digital parenting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
We look at a particular use of tech in family life - using trackers to know where your children are, or your partner, or other relatives. What are the safety and privacy issues ?Also on Tech Life: Shiona McCallum speaks…
Web-scraping bots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
We look at the impact data-scraping robots from AI firms are having on the online encyclopedia used by hundreds of millions of people. Also in this edition of Tech Life: if you work in the fashion industry, if you are a…
Red lines for AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
More than 200 prominent individuals and 70 organisations want international agreement on 'do not cross' red lines for artificial intelligence, to prevent risks to humanity. We speak to Stuart Russell, professor of comput…
Drones with Tasers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:29
We speak to the founder and CEO of Axon Enterprise, maker of the Taser, about the tech's future. And the future includes drones armed with Tasers.Also in this edition of Tech Life: why an underwater glider is circumnavig…