Why public opinion turned on AI

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

AI was supposed to make our lives better. Instead, it’s made many of us scared and angry. Communities are protesting data centers across the country, and polling shows most Americans think AI is moving too fast.In today's episode, guest host Miles Bryan talks with independent journalist Jasmine Sun, who argues that public attitudes toward AI are undergoing a fundamental shift. Jasmine argues that AI is seen not simply as a technology to adopt, but as an elite political project to resist. The two discuss “AI populism,” the parallels with the Industrial Revolution, how public opinion about AI may affect US politics, and how the leaders of Silicon Valley are unprepared for the growing backlash against AI.

Guest Host: Miles Bryan, Vox reporter and senior producer

Guest:Jasmine Sun, journalist

Find Jasmine’s Substack here: https://jasmi.news/

We would love to hear from you. To tell us what you thought of this episode, email us at thegrayarea@vox.com or leave us a voicemail at 1-800-214-5749. Your comments and questions help us make a better show.

And you can watch new episodes of The Gray Area on YouTube.

Listen to The Gray Area ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices


Read more

The podcast:

A podcast looking to share authentic and open discussions with listeners, by way of conversations with the “brightest minds and deepest thinkers” of our time.

Explore more content:

Society A random podcast

How can I listen to other podcasts?

Click here to discover another podcast randomly, or here to browse our categories. Lazy? That's okay, we did some research and selected podcasts just for you.


And what is Podmust?

Podmust is a french project aiming to promote the best podcasts. You can help us by sharing this page (this also helps the podcast, by the way). Thank you! 🙏

Stay informed, the audio way.

Podmust curates what you need to listen.
Discover some of our collections: our best TV & Film podcastsour best News & Politics podcastsour best Music podcasts.

Well, the bad news is: we're French. But the good news is: Podmust curates the world's podcasts so you can focus on staying informed or entertained. And voilà!

© Podmust
Navigation