Podcast / Tech Won’t Save Us / Feb 23, 2026

What’s Driving the Push for Humanoid Robots—With James Vincent

Paris Marx and James Vincent discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, and the social implications of achieving it.

Attendees interact with Elixis-W, a humanoid robot made by Addverb Technologies, at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, on February 20, 2026.

Attendees interact with Elixis-W, a humanoid robot made by Addverb Technologies, at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, India, on Feb. 20, 2026.

(Ruhani Kaur / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Paris Marx is joined by James Vincent to discuss why we’re seeing humanoid robots everywhere, the motivations to pursue an all-purpose robot, how close we are to achieving that goal, and the social implications if we were to achieve it.

James Vincent is a UK-based journalist and author of Beyond Measure: The Hidden History of Measurement from Cubits to Quantum Constants.

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Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.

Cybertrucks Are a Safety Disaster With Dara Kerr | Tech Won’t Save Us
byThe Nation Magazine

Paris Marx is joined by Dara Kerr to discuss how Elon’s decision to prioritize aesthetics over safety has created a safety crisis, causing people to burn alive in their Cybertrucks and other Tesla vehicles.

Dara Kerr is a technology reporter at Guardian US.

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Paris Marx

Paris Marx is a tech critic and host of the Tech Won’t Save Us podcast. He writes the Disconnect newsletter and is the author of Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong about the Future of Transportation.

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