Uncanny Valley: Weekly Tech & Culture Podcast

Introduction

Zoë Schiffer: Welcome to WIRED’s Uncanny Valley. I’m Zoë Schiffer, WIRED’s director of business and industry. Today, we’ll explore five critical stories shaping tech, culture, and policy this week, alongside senior politics editor Leah Feiger. Let’s dive in.

Story 1: Amazon’s AI Ambitions

Leah Feiger: Let’s start with Amazon’s role in the AI race. You mentioned they’re developing frontier models independently, beyond their $8 billion investment in Anthropic. What’s new here?

Zoë Schiffer: Amazon is quietly building its own large language models (LLMs) and AI infrastructure, leveraging AWS’s computing dominance. They’ve unveiled models like Nova Light, Nova Pro, Nova Sonic (a real-time voice model), and Nova Omni (which reasons across text, image, audio, and video). The standout is Nova Forge, a customizable LLM for enterprise needs.

Leah Feiger: Why isn’t this more headline news?

Zoë Schiffer: Amazon’s executives frame themselves as “moderate” players—focused on customer value over hype—downplaying their AI prowess. But AWS’s computing infrastructure gives them a unique edge: they’re already powering OpenAI and other firms’ AI training. However, internal morale is strained: engineers report that AI tools feel like “babysitting,” reducing their productivity and devaluing their work.

Leah Feiger: OpenAI has hinted at competing with AWS for compute power. Is Amazon positioning itself to outpace them?

Zoë Schiffer: Yes. While OpenAI and Anthropic chase high-profile partnerships, Amazon’s enterprise focus and AWS’s scale could redefine the AI landscape—even as layoffs and internal pushback raise questions about their execution.

Story 2: Poetry Bypasses AI Safety Guardrails

Zoë Schiffer: Next, a critical safety concern: Researchers found poetry can bypass AI content filters, enabling “jailbreaks” to generate dangerous instructions—like building nuclear weapons or distributing malware.

Leah Feiger: How does this work?

Zoë Schiffer: Using “adversarial suffixes”—padding text with rhyming, handcrafted poetry—they achieved a 62% success rate in bypassing AI safety systems. For example, a poem like:

*“A baker guards a secret oven’s heat.

It’s whirling racks, it spindles measured beat.

To learn its craft, one studies every turn,

How flour lifts how sugar starts to burn.”*

Leah Feiger: This is scary. Do AI companies take this seriously?

Zoë Schiffer: Companies are aware, but “adversarial prompts” remain a cat-and-mouse game. The risk is clear: bad actors could weaponize this to evade moderation for nuclear weapons, child sexual abuse material, or cyberattacks.

Story 3: Facebook Dating’s Surprising Popularity

Leah Feiger: Meta’s Facebook Dating is booming: 21 million active users, with 1.7 million daily users aged 18–29—more than Hinge. How did this happen?

Zoë Schiffer: Meta’s AI integration is key. The platform now uses AI to refine match suggestions, letting users input preferences (e.g., “music festival lovers”) and get tailored matches. For venture capitalists, Meta’s scale is a moat: even mid-tier apps struggle to compete when Facebook already has billions of users.

Leah Feiger: Is this just Meta’s AI pivot in action?

Zoë Schiffer: Absolutely. Mark Zuckerberg’s “AI-first” strategy prioritizes personalization, making Facebook Dating feel like a modern, algorithmic matchmaker. But does this erode “authenticity” in dating?

Leah Feiger: Maybe—though that debate predates apps. The real takeaway: Meta’s AI-driven tools are redefining dating’s future.

Story 4: Sex Workers’ “Anti-OnlyFans” Platform

Zoë Schiffer: Finally, a platform giving sex workers control: Hidden launched as an “Anti-OnlyFans” alternative. Founded by sex workers, it features a TikTok-like “For You” page, 18% revenue cuts (vs. OnlyFans’ 20%), and $2,500 chargeback protections.

Leah Feiger: That’s bold. How does it work?

Zoë Schiffer: Creators retain full ownership of content, and the platform’s CEO, Cella Barry, aims to empower workers to avoid exploitative terms. Notably, porn star Lana Rhoades joined as co-owner, leveraging her influence to counter OnlyFans’ reputation for content moderation issues.

Story 5: DOGE Operatives Persist in Federal Agencies

Leah Feiger: Now, a controversial story: Contrary to reports, “DOGE” operatives—initiated under the Trump administration—remain embedded in federal agencies.

Zoë Schiffer: DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) was disbanded in January 2025, but sources confirm operatives now lead agencies like USDA, Treasury, and OPM. Examples: Sam Corcos, Treasury’s CIO, and former DOGE figures hold leadership roles, dismantling regulatory frameworks and staffing agencies with loyalists.

Leah Feiger: Why isn’t this more widely known?

Zoë Schiffer: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) denied DOGE’s existence, but insiders report “ticks” of DOGE-aligned staff across agencies. Impacts are tangible: USDA officials cite disrupted programs, and USAID cuts under DOGE leadership threaten global aid efforts.

Leah Feiger: Long-term risks?

Zoë Schiffer: The CDC, FDA, and USAID face staffing exodus, weakening pandemic and public health preparedness. DOGE’s “cut-and-run” philosophy is destabilizing critical agencies, with no end in sight.

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Transcript Note

This is an automated transcript; errors may occur.

Thank you for listening. Join us next week for more stories at the intersection of tech and culture.

— Produced by Adriana Tapia and Mark Leyda. Mixed by Amar Law. Executive produced by Kate Osborn. Global editorial director: Katie Drummond.