Down With the AI Overlords—With Sarah Myers West
Tech expert Sarah Myers West discusses how AI is concentrating power among a handful of oligarchs—and how its future could be made more democratic.
The Nation Podcasts
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Down with the AI Overlords w/ Sarah Myers West / Fighting Fascism
You've already heard us rant about AI. What if you could hear someone who's actually super smart and profoundly informed… also rant about AI? We're joined by tech expert Sarah Myers West, who lays out why AI, as it's currently structured, is all about the consolidation of power among a handful of oligarchs, but also how that's not how it needs to be.
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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrives to court at the Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building on April 30, 2026 in Oakland, California.
(Benjamin Fanjoy / Getty Images)You’ve already heard us rant about AI. What if you could hear someone who’s actually super smart and profoundly informed… also rant about AI? We’re joined by tech expert Sarah Myers West, who lays out why AI, as it’s currently structured, is all about the consolidation of power among a handful of oligarchs, but also how that’s not how it needs to be.
Subscribe to The Nation to support all of our podcasts: thenation.com/subscribe.
The Nation Podcasts
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.
An Antifascist Guide to the World Cup w/ Alex Shephard / Fighting Fascism
We swear to god, we haven’t turned into a sports podcast (despite all Matt’s efforts). But it turns out there’s a not-insignificant intersection between the World Cup, democracy, and authoritarianism. So we invited Alex Shephard—a senior editor and writer at the New Republic and founder of Golden Goal, a literary magazine about the 2026 World Cup—to walk us through the dramas, controversies, and political implications of the global tournament that’s kicking off this week. Whether you’re obsessed with sports, like Matt, or have barely heard of them, like Aaron, there’s something in this conversation for you.
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