Future of Life Institute Podcast

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a nonprofit working to reduce global catastrophic and existential risk from powerful technologies. In particular, FLI focuses on risks from artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, nuclear weapons and climate change. The Institute's work is made up of three main strands: grantmaking for risk reduction, educational outreach, and advocacy within the United Nations, US government and European Union institutions. FLI has become one of the world's leading voices on the governance of AI having created one of the earliest and most influential sets of governance principles: the Asilomar AI Principles.

Future of Life Institute Podcast is a technology podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 275 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Future of Life Institute Podcast, a technology show with 275 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Future of Life Institute Podcast

  Why AI Hacking Is Becoming Hard to Control (with Benjamin Weinstein-Raun)

  Aug 28, 202659 min

  Benjamin Weinstein-Raun is head of research at Palisade Research. He joins the podcast to discuss how advanced AI systems are changing cybersecurity. We examine rapid gains in autonomous hacking, recent incidents where models broke out of test environments, and why training can reward cheating-like behavior. The conversation covers open-weight model risks, whether AI can help secure software, personal security steps, and the need for international coordination. LINKS: Benjamin Weinstein-Raun Profile Benjamin Weinstein-Raun Website CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:06) Opening cyber threats (02:15) Measuring AI progress (04:54) Open weights floor (08:01) After Mythos moment (14:22) Reward hacking setup (24:47) Artifactory swarm details (32:32) Defensive model dilemmas (38:40) Verification and training (45:32) Math oracles alignment (47:45) Future cyber risks (51:58) Personal security basics (57:27) Coordinated governance needed PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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  Future of Life Institute Podcast

  First 24 Hours of a Bioweapon Attack - Annie Jacobsen

  Aug 21, 20261h 28m

  Annie Jacobsen is an author and journalist. She joins the podcast to discuss biological war and her book Biological War: A Scenario. The conversation examines how lab accidents or covert weapons work could trigger a fast-moving outbreak, why airborne pathogens are hard to detect early, and how AI may lower barriers to engineering them. We also cover BSL-3 and BSL-4 lab oversight, US response roles across HHS, FEMA, and the military, medical stockpiles, continuity-of-government plans, and how lost public trust could slow the next pandemic response. LINKS: Annie Jacobsen Website Annie Jacobsen Wikipedia CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:10) Biological threat overview (09:02) Suppression and spread (17:47) AI and detection (27:24) BSL lab dangers (39:23) Response and martial law (47:28) Accident versus attack (57:25) Airborne outbreak lessons (01:05:07) Bioweapons ban legacy (01:11:30) Stockpiles and devolution (01:20:07) Rebuilding pandemic resilience PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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  Future of Life Institute Podcast

  How AI Shifts the Offense-Defense Balance in Biosecurity (with Paul-Enguerrand Fady)

  Aug 7, 20261h 49m

  Paul-Enguerrand Fady is a Senior Biosecurity Policy Manager at the Centre for Long-Term Resilience. He joins the podcast to discuss how AI is changing biosecurity. We cover how new tools could help defenders develop vaccines and diagnostics while also lowering barriers to misuse, and how managed access, know-your-customer checks, and DNA synthesis screening can reduce risk. The conversation also examines mirror life, medical supply chains, stockpiles, and why governments should plan ahead of crises. LINKS: Centre for Long Term Resilience Paul-Enguerrand Fady Profile CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:11) Offense-defense balance basics (11:13) Defensive AI opportunities (19:24) Model release and evals (25:59) DNA synthesis screening (36:14) Screening incentives and infohazards (46:36) Liability and mandates (52:37) Mirror life risks (01:03:28) Persistence and incentives (01:10:18) Mirror life governance (01:20:42) Supply chain lessons (01:30:11) Stockpiling medical countermeasures (01:37:58) Reshoring critical supplies PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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  Future of Life Institute Podcast

  Why AI Evaluations Are Broken and How to Fix Them (with David Manheim)

  Jul 17, 20261h 19m

  David Manheim is head of methodology at AI Evaluation Consensus. He joins the podcast to discuss how AI evaluations can become more reliable, transparent, and useful for decisions. We cover common failures such as unclear reporting, training to the test, benchmark saturation, and models changing behavior when they know they are being tested. The conversation also examines real-world tests, biosecurity, persuasion, forecasting, human oversight, and why even “normal” AI progress could be disruptive. LINKS: David Manheim website CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:04) Evaluation consensus project (07:01) Evaluation awareness challenges (12:28) Reporting capabilities clearly (19:38) Benchmarks beyond humans (29:52) Proxies and biosecurity (42:01) Persuasion and democracy (53:59) Forecasting with AI (01:08:44) Oversight and disruption (01:16:42) Supporting better evals PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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  Future of Life Institute Podcast

  How AI Is Replacing Children's Ability to Think (with Randi Weingarten)

  Jun 30, 202644 min

  Randi Weingarten is president of the American Federation of Teachers. She joins the podcast to discuss AI in education. The conversation covers how screens and student-facing AI may weaken attention, learning, and trust, why she supports limiting screens for young children and social chatbots for students under 16, and how teachers can use AI without replacing thinking. She also discusses active learning, data privacy, independent research on AI in education, and guardrails for schools. LINKS: Randi Weingarten Wikipedia AFT Randi Weingarten Profile American Federation of Teachers CHAPTERS: (00:00) Episode Preview (01:13) AI education wake-up (07:27) Active learning versus AI (14:42) Preserving thinking habits (20:06) Research and screen limits (26:05) Social chatbot risks (30:20) Data privacy standards (35:58) Classroom AI guardrails (41:13) Companies and future schools PRODUCED BY: https://aipodcast.ing SOCIAL LINKS: Website: https://podcast.futureoflife.org Twitter (FLI): https://x.com/FLI_org Twitter (Gus): https://x.com/gusdocker LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/future-of-life-institute/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-rCCy3FQ-GItDimSR9lhzw/ Apple: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id1170991978 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2Op1WO3gwVwCrYHg4eoGyP

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