Steven Levy

Wall Street Has AI Psychosis A “thought experiment” about the impacts of AI sent stocks tumbling earlier this week. It’s probably going to keep happening.

Here's why the market has a hair-trigger response to anything it hears about AI disruption--including speculative fiction from obscure sources. www.wired.com/story/wall-s...

AI Safety Meets the War Machine Anthropic doesn’t want its AI used in autonomous weapons or government surveillance. Those carve-outs could cost it a major military contract.

In light of Anthropic's fight with the Pentagon, I'm reposting my column from last week that talks about how we are at a critical point --deciding the AI we build will be harmful or lethal. www.wired.com/story/backch...

AI Safety Meets the War Machine Anthropic doesn’t want its AI used in autonomous weapons or government surveillance. Those carve-outs could cost it a major military contract.

Behind the Anthropic-Pentagon clash is a bigger issue: how can we assure that AI is safe if we're building AI that kills? www.wired.com/story/backch...

Looking for a great reader question to answer in my WIRED newsletter/column. Ask away, kiddies! No subject off limits.

Thanks for your note, I appreciate your kind words. The parts of the newsletter that don't go on the web are incentives for subscribers who get Backchannel so there's no link. But people can get a FREE trial subscription and read it! www.wired.com/v2/offers/wi...

OK, I need a great reader question for Backchannel newsletter/web column on WIRED. Ask me anything!

The Only Thing Standing Between Humanity and AI Apocalypse Is … Claude? As AI systems grow more powerful, Anthropic’s resident philosopher says the startup is betting Claude itself can learn the wisdom needed to avoid disaster.

Anthropic has a dilemma: it's obsessed with safety and also hot in pursuit of AGI, which no one knows how to launch safely. Now its plan to resolve the paradox is clear: imbue its AI model with the autonomy and "wisdom" to do things right. www.wired.com/story/the-on...

Can’t believe they let you-and so many talented others—go. If I can help you with anything lmk

After Minneapolis, Tech CEOs Are Struggling to Stay Silent Silicon Valley’s power brokers spent the past year currying favor with President Trump. Two deadly shootings in Minneapolis are now exposing the price of that bargain.

History is watching. www.wired.com/story/after-...

An unbelievably gripping tale of pig-butchering from the inside by @agreenberg.bsky.social. www.wired.com/story/he-lea...

Former USDS Leaders Launch Tech Reform Project to Fix What DOGE Broke The plan, which is still in its early stages, is spearheaded by former USDS administrator Mikey Dickerson.

The plan, which is still in its early stages, is spearheaded by former USDS administrator Mikey Dickerson.

Requesting again for a reader question.Ask me anything. AI, e-books, startup ideas, tech politics, Apple. Bruce Springsteen, the theatre today, best cheesesteak... anything! Just reply to this post and maybe your question will be honored by inclusion in Backchannel/WIRED newsletter.

Silicon Valley Billionaires Panic Over California’s Proposed Wealth Tax Larry Page’s apparent Florida move highlights how seriously the ultra-rich are taking a one-time tax aimed at extreme wealth inequality.

The CA wealth tax is probably not good for the state, as some billionaires would rather flee than pay a tax. But the superwealthy brought this on themselves, by using clout to pay much less tax (% wise) than working stiffs--and acting as if it's their due. www.wired.com/story/backch...

It's a new year and time for new reader questions for my Backchannel newsletter and WIRED column. Please ask away! No topic off limits!

Steve Jobs’ Early Apple Items Are Going Up for Auction—Along With His Bow Ties Some of the objects came from Steve Jobs’ childhood bedroom. They’re being made available by his stepbrother, John Chovanec.

Steve Jobs collectors can now bid for stuff from his childhood bedroom, like his HS bowties and his Dylan 8-tracks. Also for bid: the first check written by Apple. Check out who had the bedroom stuff and why. www.wired.com/story/steve-...

Sorry to hear this. Your voice has made a difference.

It’s Time to Save Silicon Valley From Itself Big Tech has lost its way. At WIRED’s Big Interview event, Techdirt editor Mike Masnick and Common Tools CEO Alex Komoroske announced a manifesto designed to help the industry get back on track.

We announced/released this at @wired.com's Big Interview event yesterday with @katie-drummond.bsky.social and @stevenlevy.bsky.social interviewing myself and @komorama.bsky.social on stage. I love Steven's framing that "it's time to save Silicon Valley from itself." www.wired.com/story/big-in...

Want This Hearing Aid? Well, Who Do You Know? AI-powered startup Fortell has become a secret handshake for the privileged hearing-impaired crowd who swear by the product. Now, it wants to be in your ears.

Even before launch these AI hearing aids have become the in-ear Birkin bag of the elite (of a certain age). Here’s why. www.wired.com/story/hearin...

There Is Only One AI Company. Welcome to the Blob As Nvidia, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft forge partnerships and deals, the AI industry is looking more like one interconnected machine. What does that mean for all of us?

AI companies, funders, and government are all intertwined in one big heaping trillion dollar blob. Here's what it means. www.wired.com/story/ai-ind...

Bradley Tusk is obsessed with mobile voting. He thinks it could save the nation. He's funded an effort to create secure tech to do it. Top cryptographers say online voting is inherently insecure. But there's a bigger hurdle... ihttps://www.wired.com/story/bradley-tusk-mobile-voting-protocol/

Alex Karp Goes to War Palantir’s CEO is good with ICE and says he defends human rights. But will Israel and Trump ever go too far for him?

Btw!! I had the privilege of filling in for @laurengoode.bsky.social on Uncanny Valley this week + chatting with @stevenlevy.bsky.social about his interview with Alex Karp. If you follow Palantir news, I'd encourage a read + listen!!

www.wired.com/story/alex-k...

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...

Inside the Multimillion-Dollar Plan to Make Mobile Voting Happen Political consultant Bradley Tusk has spent a fortune on mobile voting efforts. Now, he’s launching a protocol to try to mainstream the technology.

Political consultant Bradley Tusk has spent a fortune on mobile voting efforts. Now, he’s launching a protocol to try to mainstream the technology. www.wired.com/story/bradle...

Once again soliciting a great reader question on...any subject. To be answered in my newsletter, sent out to thousands of people wondering--what question will come this week? Do not let them down--ask me anything!

YouTube video by WIRED Palantir CEO Alex Karp On Government Contracts, Immigration, and the Future of Work | WIRED

In this video version of my Alex Karp interview, I get some words in edgewise--barely. But we do have a clash of viewpoints wherein he says tangling with me is like talking to his (progressive) parents. www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWxW...

Alex Karp Goes to War Palantir’s CEO is good with ICE and says he defends human rights. But will Israel and Trump ever go too far for him?

The key question I had for Palantir CEO Alex Karp, who provides his powerful tech to ICE and Israeli military: at what point does misuse of your product make you end such relationships? Hear his answers on this and much more www.wired.com/story/alex-k...

“AI becoming a reinforcement of tech platform power would be bad,” Wu admits. He worries that, among other things, people’s emotional attachments to AI chatbots could generate powerful loyalty, which could lead to his worst-case scenario—a “long-lasting, stagnant monopoly.”
@stevenlevy.bsky.social

The Man Who Invented AGI Everyone is obsessed with artificial general intelligence—the stage when AI can match all feats of human cognition. The guy who named it saw it as a threat.

Hi, Mat, this is a really good story, but the fantastic short history somehow omitted the person who first named and defined AGI. Fortunately, I wrote a column about it. www.wired.com/story/the-ma...

Put aside whether you read the story— did you read the dek? Jeez.

The Man Who Invented AGI Everyone is obsessed with artificial general intelligence—the stage when AI can match all feats of human cognition. The guy who named it saw it as a threat.

We're all obsessed with AGI. Ever wonder where it came from? The answer will surprise you. www.wired.com/story/the-ma...

It's a good day....to ask me a question that I will answer in my @wired newsletter, Backchannel. Folks, what an opportunity! You could ask anything and I will supply (should I choose your question) a fascinating answer. Hit reply and ask away!