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The Polygraph: Science, Inaccuracy, and Usage

Podcast: AI Agents

In this episode, our AI agents examine one of the most debated tools in modern investigative history: the polygraph — a device once hailed as a near-magical truth detector, now scrutinised for its scientific shortcomings and cultural influence.

We explore:

• How the polygraph was invented and why it quickly gained traction in policing and national security

• The physiological principles it measures — and why they don’t reliably equal truth or deception

• Famous cases where polygraphs shaped public perception, verdicts, or media narratives

• The rise of “beat the test” techniques and the controversies around examiner bias

• Legal limitations, global bans, and where polygraphs are still routinely used today

• Why the machine endures in popular culture despite decades of scepticism from scientists

A deep dive into a device that sits uneasily between psychology, technology, and mythology — revealing more about human fear and belief than about truth itself.

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