Episode Details

Back to Episodes
AI, the Pentagon, Labor and Capitalism: The Fight Over Who Controls the Future

AI, the Pentagon, Labor and Capitalism: The Fight Over Who Controls the Future

Episode 1778 Published 2 months ago
Description

Air Date: 3/19/2026

Today we explore the long history of technological disruption — from the Industrial Revolution to the rise of software engineering — and ask whether AI is genuinely different this time, all while autonomous weapons dissolve accountability for the militaries using them and capitalism prevents AI companies from maintaining their ethical aspirations.

Be part of the show! Leave a voice message, message us on Signal at the handle bestoftheleft.01, or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com

Full Show Notes

Check out our new show, SOLVED! on YouTube!

BestOfTheLeft.com/Support (Members Get Bonus Shows + No Ads!)

Use our links to shop Bookshop.org and Libro.fm for a non-evil book and audiobook purchasing experience!

Join our Discord community!

TOP TAKES

KP 1: How Long Until AI Takes Your Job - Consider This - Air Date 2-23-26

KP 2: Is AI Coming for Our Jobs - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 2-18-26

KP 3: AI Goes to War Part 1 - Today, Explained - Air Date 3-4-26

KP 4: The AI-Powered War Machines Are Here Part 1 - On The Media - Air Date 3-6-26

KP 5: The Race to Build God AI's Existential Gamble — Yoshua Bengio & Tristan Harris at Davos Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 2-19-26

KP 6: Don't Download Claude, Either. - Why, America with Leeja Miller - Air Date 3-4-26

(00:51:47) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

On Why AI Won't Ruin Your Life — Unless We Let It

DEEPER DIVES

(01:04:45) SECTION A: LABOR FUTURE

A1: Is AI Coming for Our Jobs Part 2 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 2-18-26

A2: AI Wont Decide the Future of Work—We Will (with David Autor) Part 1 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 2-24-26

A3: How Work Got So Bad Part 1 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 3-4-26

A4: AI Wont Decide the Future of Work—We Will (with David Autor) Part 2 - Pitchfork Economics with Nick Hanauer - Air Date 2-24-26

A5: How Work Got So Bad Part 2 - Confronting Capitalism - Air Date 3-4-26

(01:47:01) SECTION B: WARFARE

B1: The Race to Build God AI's Existential Gamble — Yoshua Bengio & Tristan Harris at Davos Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 2-19

Listen Now